Vicky's Craft Room

Mag inspiration no 2

2012-01-27T18:05:00.002Z

Very exciting title! Yeah!
Hope you are all having a lovely day. We have had a day of sunshine, yeah-hoo, may still be very cold but it was dry and sunny.
I have being busy making my second magazine inspired card this week. Well, that is what they are for, isn't it?

Lots of freebies on this one. The backing paper is a digital freebie from Sugarplum Paperie - Paper Daisies. These are lovely papers because no matter what type of paper you print them out on they have a lovely textured look. The image is another freebie this time from a magazine. Don't know what mag, but the stamps are called "Fairies of the season" by Sarah Williams. She is the summer Fairy, I just needed to think SUN for a while, but doesn't she just have a carefree attitude?

I inked her up with Archival ink in black and then coloured her with pencils. I glittered her wings with glamour dust - love that stuff, it is very fine and great for small areas like this - though you cannot see it! I thought that there was a lot of "white" space on the top left corner so I just punched it out with a corner punch. As the backing paper has a distressed effect, I distressed the stamped image to match.

The sentiment is a papermania stamp.

Recipe:

Card: Stash

Backing papers: Sugarplum paperie - Paper Daisies (freebie).

Image: Sarah Williams - Fairies of the season (freebie).

Colour medium: Pencils.

Ink: Archival Ink.

Glitter: Decoart - Glamour Dust.

Entering this into the following challenge:

Creative Inspiration Wednesday Blog Challenge - Anything goes.

Hope you like,

Magazine inspired.

2012-01-25T13:26:00.000Z

Some time ago.............well, a long time ago, I decided to go through all my crafty magazines to get inspiration and ideas. My mojo had gone on an extended holiday and I needed some help in getting it to return. And return it did, yahoo!
Here is what I finished with my returned crafty mojo.

The magazine I used for inspiration is Crafts Beautiful January 2012. It does not give a name for the fold but I would call it "accordion" fold.

This was my first time making this card and it was a little time consuming but worth it in the end. I will certainly be making it again.

Recipe:

Card: Stash

Backing Paper: Green dotty paper - Hot Diggiety Dog by Andrea Jayne

Solid Green paper - Download from Pink Petticoat

Yellow Card - DCWV Cardstock - Brights.

Image: Papermania- Retail Therapy.

Punch: MS Scallop Dots Border Punch.

Die Cut: Nestabilities Oval and Scallop Ovals.

Embossing: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder.

Colouring Medium: Colouring pencils.

Hope you like,

Back to Butterflies.

2012-01-21T23:38:00.000Z

For some reason I really like butterflies, it must be that they signify summer for me but I have not noticed many around in the past few years.

Here is another card featuring a Butterfly. This time it is a googled download from a children's colouring site. Don't know if this is legal but it will be going to a friend rather than being sold on.

The backing paper is a freebie I got with a magazine some time ago. It is a Kate Knight stack. I like her papers but sometimes I just don't know how to use them as they have big prints and I am not good with big prints.

This is a close-up to show the glittery wings. The image is coloured with chalks.

Recipe.

Card: Stock

Backing paper: Kate Knight

Image: Google

Colouring medium: Chalk

Glitter: Glamour Dust - Decoart

Hope you like,

A Lesson in Irish

2012-01-21T13:36:00.001Z

I was asked to make a thank you card for someone who very kindly donated to our rugby club. As we live in an Irish speaking part of the county I decided to put the sentiment in Irish.
Mile Buiochas (me'la bua'chuis) meaning a "Thousand Thanks"
The colours of the club are Red, Black and White, I layered the sentiment on black and red using Nestabilities Label 4 just to keep with the Rugby Club theme.
A nice simple card and to the point.

Recipe.

Card and Backing Card: All from stash.

Dies: Nestabilitues Labels 4

Sentiment: Computer generated

Hope you like,

December is here

2011-12-01T12:46:00.002Z

Happy December.

I love this month in many ways, I love the excitement of the build up to the big day and the holidays. Then there is the weather, usually grey and dull lots of rain, which I do not like. I don't understand why we put ourselves under so much stress to have the biggest Christmas tree, the biggest turkey with ALL the trimming. To go out every night for the month of December and on into January. Why do we do this? Christmas to me is about family, friends, a warm and welcoming fire and lots of TV. Do others really care what size of tree you have or how many different types of vegetables we have on our dinner plate?
I was listening the Christmas FM last night, it is an Irish Charity station that is broadcast only at Christmas (as the name suggests :) ). Its nice to hear Christmas music again. The first major sign that Christmas is on the way.

Even though it is December I am going to show you a card I made for Halloween, yep nothing like keeping up with the seasons. lol
This is a card I sent to a friend. I must confess that the only scary thing about this card is the color!
I sent one like it to another friend, Bridget, but she never received it, bummer! What is up with the mail these times. Bridget's card had same image but the dress was colored in purple and the backing paper was black. The border on the edge was also purple. The sentiment reads, "Have a Brooming Great" and "Halloween" is on the inside.

Recipe:

Backing Paper: Halloween Crackle Paper,

(it was a freebie that I picked up a few years ago but never kept the source.)

Other Paper: Ordinary card from stash

Image: Bewitched - Sassy Designs.

Coloring Medium: ProMarkers

Die Cut: Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels 4

Border: Martha Stewart - Scollop Dots

Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug - Herringbone

Sentiment: Computer generated

Hope you like,

Thanksgiving.

2011-11-23T21:39:00.002Z

Just want to wish all my American readers a Happy Thanksgiving. Hope you all find lots to be thank full for.

This is a card I sent out last year. The backing paper is a freebie but I cannot remember from whom, if anyone knows, please let me know as I would like to give credit where credit is due.

The image is a download from Google. I coloured it with my promarkers and glittered it up with Glitz glitter glue. The little flower heads are from my stash, I have them so long, I am sure they are budding again. lol The sentiment is computer printed and die cut with Nestabilities Fancy Tags.

P.S. The sentiment is "Happy Thanksgiving".

Hope you like,

It's Monday.

2011-11-21T15:20:00.001Z

It's Monday. So? So it is the beginning of a new work week and I have made a decision regarding my work V craft time. As I pointed out yesterday, I am no where ready for the festive season that is fast approaching so I have decided to divide my day in 3, morning - house work, afternoon - crafting while helping Sonny with his homework and while he is playing, than evening - either crafting or catching up on here.
This is our 6th Christmas since we adopted Sonny and in that time, we have had only one Christmas day here. Other Christmases we have traveled to Limerick to family on Christmas day. It's great, no cooking but it is nice to spend the day here at home. Therefore, I have to do a big clean out of the house, and I detest house-work but it has to be done. :( Anybody care to help?

The following is a card I made. The verse is one that hangs in my mother home and I seem to read it every time I visit her and I thought it would make a lovely sentiment for a card. I just googled it when I got home and printed it out from there. I had some "fun" trying to line it up so it would appear in the aperture windows created by Spellbinders labels 4. I used MME Wild Asparagus backing paper and embossed it with a Cuttlebug embossing folder. The ribbon is a Martha Stewart ribbon. The little flourishes are a Waltzing Mouse Stamp from the Very Vintage Labels No. 4 set. I stamped them first in pink than again with a clear embossing pad, sprinkled some clear embossing powder and heat embossed them to give them a little 3D effect. I used some clear gems just for some bling.

Recipe:

Designer Paper: My Minds Eye - Wild Asparagus

Aperture: Spellbinders Label 4 Die Cut

Cuttlebug Folder: Victoria

Stamp: Waltzing Mouse - Very Vintage Labels No. 4

Ribbon: Martha Stewart

Bling: Clear Gems.

Hope you like,

No Christmas cards ready yet......

2011-11-20T20:49:00.001Z

Yeah! I had the whole day to myself. No hubby or Sonny to look after, checking to see that he (Sonny) was not swinging out of the light fittings or watching too much TV. I was going to make a start on my Christmas cards and maybe a gift or two. But instead of doing that, I got lost in blog land, why does this always happen to me? But I did come across a wonderfully written blog, not craft related at all, the blog is written by a Doctor, a GP, and he talks of the people he encounters in his day to day clinic. He just describes the suffering some people go through and the strenght these people have. The love of those around them and how it helps the sufferer. It was just so beautifully written and from the heart, I could not stop reading.

This week I have to get down to business and get some Christmas stuff done. I should have time, as my part-time job is coming to an end for the season, that's the problem with working and living in a tourist area, the jobs dry up for the winter.

Since the Secret Pal swap has finished on PCP, I have received some other gifts and cards from both my Anonymous Friend and the person I was Special Friend too.
The first is from the person I was sending to as Special Friend, Anne, in fact I received it before the "big Reveal" she had guessed it was me.

The second photo is a "load" of goodies I received from Maria who was my Anonymous Friend for the year.

Thank you both, I love both the packages.

Hope you like,

Reveal Day has come and gone.

2011-10-11T12:59:00.001+01:00

As a follow on from the previous posts, I have now found out who my SP is and my AF is. This was revealed and confirmed yesterday.
It was such a fun year for most involved, especially if we followed the discussion thread. As people received mail from their SPs they posted photos on the thread so all could "oggle" the new cards and gifts.

My SP or Secret Pal was Rita Hartsock, she sent the most gorgeous cards and gifts, I will be using the stash she sent for a long time to come.
Then my AF or Anonymous Friend was Maria Rudolph from Germany. Not alone was she my AF but she has become a friend and has being sending me cards as herself, how hard was that. lol

********************

Today, I am showing you the Easter Cards that I received not just from my AF, but Maria and Easter Bunny. but the first card is from "Coles World Traveller" this is another one of the cards that I received from someone that I did know!

These are the Easter cards that I received. The first card is from Anonymous Friend.

Maria sent me this card. A basket of bunnies, so cute.

This is from The Easter Bunny!

Hope you like,

Sad but not down hearted.

2011-10-08T21:19:00.001+01:00

I did not get up this morning to watch the match (scroll down and see last post) but Ireland still lost to Wales. :(
Well done Wales, continue to play like you did today and you will go far.

Todays installment brings us to St. Patrick's Day. In this lot I received cards from Leprechauns that don't even have proper names. lol.

First up, is a card from My Anonymous Friend. Four leaf Clover is dry embossed and then coloured in different green colours. The image is a really cute House Mouse Stamp (I think, if I am wrong let me know and I will correct).

Next up is from 1/2 Irish Leprechaun. I really like this card the backing paper, just behind the sentiment is hand made. It is divided into grids and each little square in stamped with a single shamrock and a little group of shamrock. I also like the way the sentiment is "torn" and inked.

Lastly (but only because this is how they were uploaded) is from Leprechaun #13. This is special because of the 3D printed sentiment on velum. Velum is something I have not tried using but would love to give a go. An other thing added to my ever extending "to try" list. lol It also has a lucky leprechaun on the inside, not shown here.

See I told you they were weirdly named. lol

Hope you like,

Slow brain night!

2011-10-07T21:41:00.001+01:00

Tonight my computer is going very slow but that's ok as my brain matches it. lol

For tonight we have, taada:

Valentines Cards.

The first one here is from my Anonymous Friend. The "smiley" heart in the middle is heat embossed and is really shiny and raised. Nicely tactile.

The photo above and below are part of my SPs Valentines package. I love ribbon and she has sent me loads which I just love. Aren't the big hearts so cute?

This card in from ???? I still do not have a clue, and it was not from my hubby or Sonny. Its a mystery! But a lovely card. I really like the heart embossed border down the side. Thank you who ever you are for sending it. xoxoxo

*******

I have a busy day ahead tomorrow. It could start as early as 6am (but will not), Ireland are playing Wales in the Rugby World Cup at that time, but as it's being played in New Zealand the time is perfect for them. I find that any time I watch an important match the team I support looses, so that is the reason I am staying in bed in the morning. That's my excuse and I am sticking to it!!! lol

After the excitement of the match there is junior rugby practice to attend but I will only be there for a few minutes as I have to go to a neighbours house for "The Stations".
This is where Mass is said in the house and the local villagers are welcome to attend. "The Stations" passes from one house to another twice a year. We had our a few years ago and will not have it again for another decade or so. It is a very big thing here. The house in which "The Stations" are being held in usually gets painted and decorated. All the best china and silver is taken out cleaned and used for the day because after Mass has being said, there is food and lovely things to eat for all. Yummy!

After that, (if I can still stand. lol) I have to go to the local town to help with a flag day to raise funds for our - yes you have guessed it - our Rugby club. lol It will be Rugby from morning to night tomorrow. Lucky us!

Hope you like,

What happened to yesterday?!

2011-10-06T22:36:00.000+01:00

Yeah! What happened to yesterday, I had intended to post each day but yesterday passed me by in a blink. :( Not funny at all.
Oh! Yes I watched "Twilight" it was on TV last night. Doh! The Books are so much better. I think that goes for all books V films. I cannot think of one film that was better than the book. Let me know if you think of any and we can discuss - only joking about the discussing part. :)

I want to welcome my new followers, I still notice the new "faces" popping up in my followers list. I shall be back to visit you. lol

*************

This is my birthday card and gift I received from my SP. I have used the little monkey note book to write down information about my fathers family I am trying to do a genealogy search for him, it is interesting but very time consuming.

I have seen this type of "stringy" twine before but I often wondered how to use it on a card and here it is used perfectly. It feels so soft and gives a blizzard effect. Beautiful.

I also received this superb calendar. Each month has its own page with complementary embellishments. It is sitting on my desk and it is most useful. It all stands (when not spread out like this) on a CD disc cover. I will be ordering another for next year! lol

Hope you like,

Second installment of SPs cards.

2011-10-04T22:53:00.001+01:00

Very imaginative name for a post! But as it says here is the second installment of cards I received over the past year.

I have now come to Christmas and my Birthday, these cards and pressies are from my Anonymous Friend. Cannot wait to find out who she is. I love the tri-fold card and I have since made a few of them, even Hubby was impressed with in!

This is the Christmas Card that came with the package. Aren't the dancing Santas so cute. I have since found out that they are Nellie Snellen dies.

Hope you like,

Secret Pals!

2011-10-03T21:04:00.001+01:00

A year ago, well 51 weeks ago to be precise, I decided to take part in a year long Secret Pals swap over on Paper Craft Planet's Anything Goes Discussion. During the past year I have made lots of virtual friends and received lots of lovely cards and presents from my Secret Pal and other still unknown people.
As the year will be up next Monday, 10th October, I would love to share the creations that I received and also if I have time show you some of the creations I made using items for the presents I received.

This is one of the first cards I received from an "Anonymous Friend", look at all the colorful snowflakes she sent along to me. When I received this card, we did not have any snow yet but by the end of the winter we had too much show. lol But that does not take away from the lovely snowflakes here.

This card is the first I received from my "official" Secret Pal. The card is lovely, but I have to still figure out if the image is to represent me at my computer or is a clue to what my SP (Secret Pal) does for a living! It is coming up to the season where I can use some of the gifts she sent. Looking forward to that.

I just want to add, to this post, an update on your "chimney sweep" fiasco. See here for initial post. Today BIL came and got down the brush from the chimney that has being stuck up there for the past 2 weeks. Because of that we have not being able to light a fire in the house. Luckily the weather did not warrant a fire yet! Phew. lol

Hope you like,

Nothing to show....... yet!

2011-09-22T21:05:00.000+01:00

Hi all,
I have gotten myself involved in our local Rugby club as secretary. I have never being secretary of a club before so I am learning as I go, but it is fun and time consuming. As it's the beginning of the Rugby season here there are things like membership forms to get out and back in, with payment and all that has to be recorded. Then there are the new players to be registered, that has to be done before the players can play a competitive game so it is rush, rush, rush atm.

Also my BIL has being very ill over the past few months and he is back in hospital again. He was taken in, this time, with a suspected stroke. He is only 56 yrs way to young for anything like that. He did have a bleed on the brain but luckily it has stopped and there does not seem to be any lasting effects. Sonny and I are heading to see the family this weekend. My BIL is in the right place to be looked after but I worry about my sister and how she is coping.

In the mean time I have being busy crafting away but, I cannot show anything at the moment - its all a secret!
Intriguing isn't it. lol

Our Weekend visitor

2011-09-13T21:31:00.000+01:00

We, here in Ireland, had a visitor over the weekend. Not a very popular one but nevertheless she arrived. I am talking about "Hurricane" Katia. She blew up for the Caribbean thankfully never really hit the East Coast of the US but instead swept across the Atlantic loosing most of her power and force so by the time she reached us she had being down graded to a storm with winds gusting up to 122km/h (66 knots). She landed in the northwest of the country and crossed over us and headed for Scotland and Northern England. It has since dissipated over the North Sea.

After experiencing some of the gusts here in the South of the Country that where quite strong, and seeing the disruption she caused in the Northern parts of the Country I just cannot imagine what it feels like to have a full blown hurricane rip through our home. My thoughts and prayers go to all those in other parts of the world that experience much more than we have over the weekend.

Here are a few photos I took yesterday.

Mag installment 2 ......

2011-09-05T20:02:00.001+01:00

It has been some time since I added a card from my magazine pile. Well, it is one that I made a while ago but I forgot to add it. :0

This was very easy to put together. Most of the items were freebies from the mag, all I had to do was cut it out and put it together, add the ribbon and the flower. It is such a cutie IRL, lol I just love the little puppies expression. "What am I to do with this card, not eat it!", he seems to be saying. LOL.

The weather here has turned autumnal suddenly after all the sun and warmth last week, we are having heavy winds and lots of rain here today. Bummer! As usual we waited to the last minute to get the chimney cleaned as it is beginning to be fire weather.
Hubby went and got the brushes today and started cleaning. He was nearly finished when he came to me and said "I have a bit of a problem!" Oh! no, I thought, the room is covered in soot. But his "bit of a problem" is a little more serious, the actual brush is stuck up the chimney, it had come unattached from the poles and he could not dislodge it.
We now have to wait until next week when my BIL can come and climb on the roof and try poking down from the top. We live in a two story house and the roof is very steep, I don't like heights and hubby cannot climb ladders due to a foot injury he sustained after a motor bike accident many years ago. I do hope BIL can come sooner and the wind has died down enough for him to climb the roof.
Its kind of funny when you think of it but hubby is in a bit of a strop over it. lol (Hope he does not read this before we have fire. hehe)

I have added a blog badge to my side bar. It is for a new Irish Crafting Online mag (might get new inspiration from there too :)) pop over and have a look.

Hope you like,

Procrastinator Cheetah!

2011-09-01T20:51:00.002+01:00

I was to update last night but I had to go to a Rugby Club AGM, I am now the secretary of the club, don't know what I have let myself in for but will find out soon enough. ......

Sorry about that, I was disturbed and had to go and play "fetch" with Tiny, the dog. "Fetch" finished early as I lost the ball in the hedge. lol

This is a card that I finished in a rush but had lots of time to do it in. I am a major procrastinator! Last minute Vicky is what I should be called. :(

Anyway back to card.

The "Cheetah" paper is actually gift wrap. When I saw it I thought it could make nice backing paper for an animal card.

This is a "crisscross" card closed with a belly-band which is decorated with nestabilities circles and scalloped circle and a cheetah image. I edged the edges with narrow lace ribbon.

This is the inside of the card, I just used my PC word processing software to create the sentiment.

I entered this card into PCP monthly challenge.

Recipe:

Card Stock: Core'dinations - Vintage Collection.

Lace: Stash

Image: Google!

Coloring medium: ProMarkers

"Designer Paper": Wrapping Paper.

Dies: SpellbindersNnestabilities Circle and Scollop Circles

Hope you like,

Back to earth with a bang.....

2011-08-29T23:53:00.001+01:00

Well, tomorrow is the start of the school year. Summer is over and Sonny starts his final year in primary school, (please do not ask the equivalent years for other countries as I do not know, but he is 12 that may help)
Today we spent the morning cleaning his room, every week he changes his bed linen and vacuums the room but he never dusts or tidies under the bed or behind stuff. I think I am lucky that he does as much as he does. lol. I had wanted to do this all summer but he never wanted to, naturally, who wants to take their room apart and clean it during the holidays? So today had to be the day, the last day of hols. We had some words about it this morning so hubby and I started, but, eventually he came in little by little to help. Think he was afraid that we would throw out some things he wanted to keep. :) Going to bed tonight he was happy and said that his room smelt clean!
Tomorrow is back to alarm clocks, lunches and getting breakfasts, yep, back to work!

As usual the day before the schools re-open the weather clears up, today was no exception. We had a beautiful sunny warm day. The sky was blue as was the sea and even the breeze was balmy. It is days like today that remind me just how wonderful the place I choose to live in is.

Here is a simple and quick card that I would like to share with you all today.

I tore a square of white card stock than inked the edges with Distress ink. I stamped the lower part of the cardstock with a Waltzingmouse background stamp. The sentiment layer is also stamped with a Waltzingmouse stamp then cut out with Spellbinders Nestability Label 4 tag before layering this on the background I added some lace ribbon. I then attached it to a square card blank. There is no "bling" on this card, I just wanted a quick and simple card but an elegant one.

Recipe:

Card Blank: Anita's square card blank

Dies: Nestabilities Label 4 Tags

Sentiment: Papermania

Ink: Whispers- Blue Azure and Tim Holtz Old Paper

Stamps: Waltzingmouse Pic-Nik Patterns and Very Vintage Labels No. 4

Ribbon: KaiserCraft - Lace Pack (Natural)

Hope you like,

Another Butterfly Card

2011-08-25T22:14:00.002+01:00

A PCP friend has thrown down the gauntlet by suggesting that I update my blog! Well she is right. I know that I posted yesterday, but I really should post more often.

I said in a few post back that I was going to use some magazines that I bought as inspiration. All I did, so far, was to go through them and mark the pages that interested me, at least it is a start, now I just have to continue making the cards. lol

This card is NOT inspired by any of the magazines but by a blog post by Susan Raihala who owns Simplicity. Susan makes the most wonderful CAS cards and I have being lurking on her blog for some time. The following card is influenced by Susan. Thank you Susan for you inspiration.

I cut an A4 card in half, length ways and folded it in two to make the long card blank. With the other half of the A4 sheet I cut a rectangle shape and using my Spellbinders Butterfly Shapeability set I cut and embossed a butterfly. I mounted this rectangle on to the most lovely colored and glittered paper, the photo or any photo I took, does not do this paper justice. It is a rich teal colour and so glittered. Its Yummy! While the butterfly was still in the die, I used embossing glue and sprinkled glamour dust on to it and let it dry.
I mounted the yummy paper on to the card blank, I then stamped the sentiment and glittered this also. Once the card was finished I added the butterfly on a 3D foam pad.

Recipe:

Card: A4 Card pack

Yummy Paper (lol): DCWV Hippie Chic

Glitter: DecoArt Glamour Dust - Crystal

Dies: Spellbinders Butterfly Two Shapebilities

Sentiment: Papermania

Hope you like,

What happened to Summer.....

2011-08-24T17:50:00.001+01:00

And I don't just mean about the weather but the last 8 weeks? Sonny got his summer hols from school at the end of June, a whole summer of free time spread out before us and now it is all, but gone. This time next week he will have finished his second day of school. Boo Hoo! It means back to getting up earlier, making lunch, then homework after school and getting him to go to bed ON TIME. That's enough about the future, what have I being up to over the summer, in a nut shell not-a-lot.
Hubby and I did get to go to visit my sister and family in England. They were having a party and we popped over for a few days. One of the reasons for the party was to celebrate their move into a new house, just over a year ago. Their new home is just so picturesque. It is a type of house you can only get in England, a small cottage built centuries ago. It is so quirky inside, all the ceiling heights are different and the stairs is enclosed in a cupboard and very low. But beautiful. The garden there, is out of this world. The whole setting reminds me of a setting in "Midsummer Murders" or an "Inspector Poirot" film.
Here is a photo of the house, I just love it!

I love my sister and BIL very much but I was kind of wondering whether or not they really wanted us there at all, for this is where we slept. Yes, outside in the shed!

But to be honest, it was nicely decorated and we even had our own lounge area with couch and coffee table.

It became know as the Beach House or the Honeymoon Suite!

I, naturally, had to send her a Thank You card after coming home!

The butterfly I got over there, in shop called "The Fuff-a-Torium" isn't it a wonderful name, it is mainly for felting and knitting but I snagged some of these and others like it. They may pop up in some other cards over the next few months.

The butterfly is attached to the frame by 3D foam pads. The frame is created using my nestabilities circle die cuts and cuttlebug behind the butterfly is some acetate so it looks like the butterfly is flying through the hole.

Recipe

Card Blank: Anita's square card blank

Designer Paper: DCWV Hippie Chic

Dies: Nestabilities Circles and Scalloped Circles

Sentiment: Papermania

Ink: Whispers

Buterfly: The Fuff-a-Torium

Hope you like,

Magazine inspired 1

2011-07-14T23:51:00.000+01:00

Here is my first Magazine inspired card. Yahoo! The magazine I got my inspiration from is "Cardmaking and Papercraft" issue 93. The card that influenced my "creation" was a wedding card but as I already pointed out in an earlier post, I do not have any weddings to go to this year so I changed it to a birthday card. It is already in the post of a member of the Cara Craft Supplies forum Birthday Club. Hope it got to her on time. :)

Recipe

Card Stock: Stash

Designer Paper: DCWV Cardstock Stack - Brights, Cosmo Cricket - Earlie Bird

Flower: Cosmo Cricket - Earlie Bird

Sentiment: Papermania - Sentiments

Chalks: Dovecraft Decorative Chalks - Pastel

Gems: Stash

Hope you like,

Not a "Mag" card.....

2011-07-09T20:42:00.000+01:00

I should have know that I could not do a card a day while Sonny is on his holidays. The day after I posted the last post, we went away for a few days so that put an end to starting my new project straight away.

I am here today, not to post a card I made but one I received from a "pal" from Cara CraftSupplies forum

Isn't it great? Di, she loves owls and these owls are "paper punched" as is the chicken on the front.

I love it, Di, thanks a million.

Hope you like,

Too many mags!

2011-06-28T17:00:00.002+01:00

I have bought "a few!" magazines over the past year, now, I enjoy reading them and looking at all the cards but I just seem to read them and put them away to gather dust. NO MORE.

I have decided to pull them all out again and make at least one card from each magazine each day over the next few weeks/months. This could be difficult as Sonny has gotten his summer holidays today so time in the craft room will be limited.

We will see how it goes!

No! This is not the first installment, I will start tomorrow. This is a card I made last year.

Recipe:

Green backing paper: DCWV Card stock Stack

First scalloped layer: As above

Second scalloped layer: My Minds Eye - "Wild Asparagus"

Stamp: Dovecraft Designer Clear Stamps - "Fantasy Fairies"

Flower: My Minds Eye - "Wild Asparagus" Decoupage Pad

Die Cutting: Nestabilities Oval and Oval Scallops

Ribbon: Stash

Windy!

2011-06-26T17:29:00.000+01:00

This is what happens when you post to the blog without first taking notes on the cards you are posting about. I never take note of what I use while I am making my cards so when it comes to posting about them on the blog I have to go back and check what "ingredients" I used to create a card - this is the result. A table full of products to get their details. LOL. It looks like a wind ripped through my craft room.
While the "wind" was ripping through the craft room inside, it was also creating havoc outside. The trampoline usually lives on this side of the hedge but it took off in the wind and landed right way up on the other side. Had to warn the cattle, in the field, to stay off but if they really needed to go bouncing they must first clean their hoofs. lol

We only have the trampoline a short time and it was tied down as securely as we thought it needed at this time of year, but with the weather we have had so far this summer, we have had to take down the safety net. That means that Sonny cannot use it and he is not happy about that, we have to get stronger poles for the safety netting so will take awhile to re-install!

Oh! the joys of living by the coast!

Hope you like,

Doodle Dog.

2011-06-24T17:13:00.000+01:00

Isn't this image cute, it is of a "Doodle Dog". Now to be honest, I never heard of this breed of dog until very recently but the person I made this card for has a "Doodle" so I looked it up. They are really cute. They are a cross between a Labrador and a Poodle. Just so cute. awwwwwwww But not as cute as our own little Tiny, (check profile photo).

This is a Tri-fold Shutter Card, here is the tutorial that I used for measurements. I love the paper she used on her card.

Recipe:

Card Stock: Stash

Embossing: Cuttlebug folders

Dies: Nestabilities "Fancy Tags" & "Labels 4"

Ribbon: Recycled from a Chocolate Box

Image: Google

Colors: ProMarkers

Hope you like,

Flower Power

2011-06-24T14:17:00.003+01:00

Another Birthday card, this time for a friend in the US. This is a Dalia flower card. Got the idea from here but I get the tutorial from Dawn here. I used a 2" circle punch, as it is the only size I have :(, so it is a little bigger than the other 2 links and because of that you can notice little gaps between the petals. The Bee is a children's button with the back cut off.

Recipe:

Card Blank: Anita's square card blank

Back ground: DCWV Card stock Stack

Embossed layer: Cutterbug folders

Ink: Whispers Ink Pads

Flower: Core'dinations Vintage Collection

Hope you like,

Side Step Card.

2011-06-24T13:15:00.000+01:00

This is a birthday card I made for my niece. She is just a the age where clothes and jewellery are everything.
The paper clip in keeping the wardrobe door closed. Once opened there is room for greeting.

Recipe:

Card Stock: A pack I got from a friend.

Pink Back ground paper: DCWV Textured Card stock Stack.

Designer paper: Papermania "Sweet Nothing" Paper Pack

Dress: Don't know!

Gems: K&Company received from my Secret Pal on Paper Craft Planet

Paper clip: Stash! lol

Here is a photo with the "doors" opened and the greeting space visible.

Hope you like,

When is a card not a card?

2011-06-23T22:52:00.000+01:00

When it is something like this! lol

Its a tri-folder sachet holder "thingy". I made this for a lovely lady who was going through a tough time. The two outside sleeves hold sachets of Hot Chocolate while the center has space for a greeting - which in this case I had written before I photographed the "thing"

I googled a "Hot Chocolate" poem and I came up with this,

HOT CHOCOLATE

You can't beat the feeling
Of the warm glass mug
Around your hands
Cozy and snug
Sipping the hot drink
Froth on your nose
Sometimes you sit and think
With this mug on your lap
Furling your brow
Eyes wandering... tap, tap, tap

The chocolate is sweet
It tickles your tongue
Reminding you of times
When you were young
When it's nearly gone
The best part is coming soon
The chocolaty syrup
Forgotten at the bottom by the spoon

Rebecca Kelwaski

I particularly like this poem because it COULD have being something I wrote, some parts rhyming, others making no sense but gives a lovely warm feeling. lol

Recipe:

Main Card Stock: Core'dinations Vintage Collection, Reminsce

Inside Backing Paper and Paper under image on front: Digi download from Bearly Mine Crafts

Ribbon: Local Haberdashery shop

Image: DawnMoore_CoffeeMugDots

Sorry the photos are not so clear, must check my settings.

Hope you like,

.

Chocolate!

2011-06-23T22:07:00.000+01:00

I took part in a Chocolate swap over on Paper Craft Planet organised by the wonderful Christi Usher. For the swap I decided to swap with 3 people - I was being greedy because even though I had to send out 3 packets of chocolate and cards, I also RECEIVED 3 packets of chocolates back. Yummy!
I made 3 card the same, just showing 2 here, the idea for the chocolate bar came from here.

Recipe (for first card):

Card Stock: Papermania Kraft card

Stamp: Waltzing Mouse Stamps Pic-nic Backgrounds

Die Cuts: Spellbinders Shallop Oval Nestibilities

Embossing: Herringbone Cuttlebug folder

Chocolate wrapper: Waltzing Mouse Digi paper.

Other paper: from stash.

Recipe (card 2):

Card Stock: Anita's Blank Card

Backing Paper: Papermania "Sweet nothings" Paper pack

Punch: Multi shaper Punch

Chocolate Wrapper: Kate Knightly paper pack.

Don't they look good enough to eat?!

Hope you like,

Butterflies, Butterflies, Butterflies

2011-06-23T21:23:00.000+01:00

This is a card that I made for no-one in particular but I just wanted to use my Butterfly die again.

It is a card made from 3 different layers with the third layer fixed in a diamond shape.

This is a close up of my sparkly layered Butterfly.

Recipe:

Card: Anita's White Square Card,

Backing Paper: Kate Knight paper stack, pink paper from stash

Ribbon: Recycled from Christmas crackers.

Dies: Spellbinders Butterfly Two Shapebilities, Marianne Design Creatables

Bling: Clear Gems, Glitter, and Glitter paint.

Brads: Papermania

Hope you like,

What I was doing while I was missing!

2011-06-23T10:29:00.013+01:00

I entered my craft room one day with the idea of making some birthday cards that I needed for family members and this is what I made instead! A wedding card, even if I say so myself a lovely wedding card, but I don't have any weddings to go to this year!

Recipe:

Image - Download from Papercraft Inspirations
Colored - ProMakers
Ribbon - Martha Stewart
Die Cuts - Nestabilities Scallop Ovals
Bling - Glitter Dust,liquid pearls and glitter glue
Sentiment - Stamp Papermania "Love Jesse Edwards"

Hope you like,

My Fairy Name

2011-05-30T11:08:00.004+01:00

My fairy name is Juniper Icefilter
She protects the vulnerable and brings justice to the wronged.
She lives in clear-headed pine forests.
She can only be seen on midsummer's eve.
She wears purple juniper colours and has icy blue butterfly wings.
Get your own fairy names from The Fairy Name Generator!

Parents Big Birthday

2011-04-21T17:10:00.004+01:00

Both my parents celebrate a big birthday this year, within 6 weeks of each other, won't tell you which, that would give my age away. LOL
We (siblings) decide to celebrate in style and we decided to have a party in one of my sisters houses for them.
Here is the invite we sent out to the guests.

It opens down by untieing the ribbon.
I got the idea for this invite when I attended a Card Making Workshop run by a wonderful crafter Jackie Mooney . She holds monthly workshops in Dublin, Ireland but as I live on the other end of the country I do not get up to them. :(
I am delighted to say the the invites were well received by all. :) so much so that my Mother asked my to make the Thank You cards.

My Morning Walk

2011-01-30T17:09:00.004Z

Most mornings I go the a local beach, Beal Bán, for a walk with our dog, Tiny. This particular morning there was a shower of rain coming in from the sea and with the sun rising from behind and shining into the shower cloud gave a real strange colour to the beach and cloud. Following is a slide show of some photographs I took. The first few photos were when we arrived, just before the shower and the last of the photos were taken when the shower had passed and the sun was out.
And yes, we got soaked. lol

Hope you like,

Time lines - whats that?!

2011-01-24T19:40:00.010Z

A little while ago, when my niece started college I thought I would make her a Recipe Book, where she could record some of her best recipes together, especially, as she was moving away from "Mom's cooking" for the first time. Now, nobody ever told me I was a fast worker and this is especially true for this project. My niece, in question, went off to college last September and it is only today I completed the Recipe Book. I have never done anything like this before and I think that is what delayed me. I had an idea in my head but I always find it hard to get it completed.

Here are a few photos and descriptions of what I did.

This is the cover of the Recipe Book. I had hoped to get screw type hinges but could not find them anywhere so had to use rings. I still put a "binding" edge to the book in case in the future I do come across these hinges. (I know very technical descriptions. lol.)

Most of the pages in the sections are blank so she can write in her own recipes or she can print recipes and just stick them in.

I have divided the book into 3 parts, Breakfasts & Starters, Main courses and Desert & Snacks. I used designer paper as separators and each separator has its own index page. I also "inked" the edges of each page in a different colour just to differentiate the sections more. I used Tim Holtz inks for this.

I have started her off with some different recipes that I hear students like, easy but filling recipes - just like an adult to put that in :lol:

I used Graphic 45 - “Domestic Goddess” as the designer paper. The tabs are cut with Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels 4 and then folded in half.

The paper I used for the “binding” I also used for the back cover.

The pictures are not all that clear but I hope you get the idea.

The next thing I must do is to post it to her.

Hope you like,

My Christmas Makes

2011-01-15T19:52:00.004Z

I was not really slacking over the Festive Season, even if I was not communicating with all you good people out there, I was busy elsewhere.

My Hubby also does some crafting of his own, timber work. He attends lots of craft fairs leading up to Christmas and while he was doing those I decided he could sell some of my cards and paper crafts. The following projects kept me busy for a while.

I came across these Purses or Bags on Maria Bells blog and thought they were wonderful if not a little hard to make, so I read the instructions on her tutorial and found that they sounded easy enough. Yeah! I gave them a try and voila! these are the results. I was very pleased with them.

This is a stationery box I also make for the craft fairs. They are boxes which holds 5 cards, 4 gift cards and a little pocket to hold stamps. I got the idea from Dannie Graves, mind you Dannie has a lot more in hers, hope to get around to completing one like hers in the future. They look much more impressive than mine.

Who am I......?

2011-01-15T19:26:00.002Z

LOL, I have just completed a "Which Jane Austen Heroine are you?" I am Elinor Dashwood.

"You are Elinor Dashwood of Sense & Sensibility! You are practical,
circumspect, and discreet. Though you are tremendously sensible and allow your
head to rule, you have a deep, emotional side that few people often see."

I don't sound very exciting but that is who I am. LOL

If you wish you can do the quiz yourself, the link is at the end of the side bar.

Welcome 2011

2011-01-15T18:41:00.005Z

Hope you are all healthy and happy and that 2011 is treating you well.

I am starting off the new year with a card challenge. Enfys of Going Buggy is having a major party on her blog this week. She is celebrating a major milestone in her blogging life. Congratulations Enfys. Enjoy your week. Pop over and celebrate with her, after you read this of course. lol

I have to apologise for the quality of the photo, we had a dreadful dull, wet and windy day today so had to use the indoor lighting to take the photo, will have to organise a light box for taking photo's indoors.

It is a tri-fold card using plain white card stock with Pink Petticoat papers and image. The little image is coloured using ProMarkers and Sukura gel pens.

Hope you like,

And these are the last......

2010-12-16T23:00:00.005Z

Once again I have taken inspiration from Deneen of A Path of Paper. This little man is made using circular Spellbinder Nestabilities, I used 3 in all, the edges are sponged with Tim Holtz's "broken china" ink. The arms are just drawn on, as are the eyes and mouth using ProMarkers. The nose is cut from orange card stock. The ribbon is from stock.

I made a bunch of these cards also, so simple... The backing paper is from Pink Petticoat "Fairy Lights" kit. The sentiment is cut using Spellbinders Christmas tree Shapeabilities. I added a little ribbon from my stash just to finish the bottoms. I left the inside of the cards blank.

Hope you like,

Christmas cards galore....

2010-12-16T21:18:00.009Z

Here are some other cards that I made for Christmas this year. I know I am late posting but "better late than never."

This card, I cased from Deneen of A Path of Paper . The backing paper is just plain navy paper, (doesn't look navy in photo but it is, trust me lol) and I stamped a snowflake background on to it with clear embossing ink. The "snowflakes" are made with 2 Fleur De Li's Shapeabilities, lining them up at a 90 degree angle to each other. In the first card, I did not cut out the centre of the shape but cut out the smaller pendant and layer it on top of the other pendants. (Does this make sense.lol) Than for the second card I did cut out the centre of the larger pendant, both card are quite pretty (even if I say so myself). I decorated them with Papermania's clear adhesive stones.

This is what I did with the inside of the cards. I printed out the sentiment and then cut it out using Spellbinders Fancy Tags set. I sponged some Tim Holtz "Broken China" ink while it was still in the die cut. I mounted it on to the centre of the inside of the card. I sponged the bottom corner using one of the snowflake shapeabilities as a stencil, just to give the card a little extra.

Hope you like,

Its Christmas Time

2010-12-14T15:49:00.009Z

Well it is time I show some of my Christmas cards for this year. I have not made many just a few for a shop and them some for family and friends. I just find that people will buy Charity cards, which is a good thing, and they can be bought for such a great price, at Christmas. Some of these cards are lovely and cute though I do find that people will commission a card for that someone special in their lives.

I got most (if not all) of my inspiration for this years cards from Path of Paper. Deneen is so creative and I just love her style, simple but elegant. You should hop over and just see what she can do to a sheet of 12"x12"paper. Marvelous in my opinion. (No money changed hand for this endorsement, hehe) in second thoughts wait until you finish reading this. lol

This first set is very simple, I printed out the sentiment from my computer using different fonts on top of an A6 piece of Card Stock (CS), I then embossed the lower part of the CS with some Cuttlebug embossing folders. Than I added a ribbon between the sentiment and the embossing. This was then layered onto coloured pearlscent paper and then onto the main card. I left the inside of these cards blank.

In the second photo the cards are made in the very same way as those above, except, I have printed the sentiment in Irish, which is the official language of Ireland. The sentiment says "Nollaig Shona" meaning "Happy Christmas"

The card on the right is embossed using a Papermania embossing folder.

Since I photographed these cards, I have added some sparkles but I never updated my photo's - naughty me, tut tut.

Hope you like,

My Craft Room

2010-11-20T16:56:00.004Z

At last I have tidied and moved my craft room round so now I can craft in one place other than all over the house, as I was previously doing. I moved the desk to be in front of the window for more direct light. The room faces North West so needs all the light it can get.

The next photo is the view from my window in front of the desk. As you can imagine it can sometimes be a distraction. lol

Mami Doodles Challenge #10

2010-09-27T16:19:00.005+01:00

I have not done Mami Doodles challenge for a while but I love her challenges. The challenge #10 is "Make something for a boy that has the colour red in it"

This is my entry.

The main image is a Mami Doodles Digi stamp, love the confident pose of the boy. It is cut out using Spellbinders Oval Nestability. The backing paper is Cosmo Cricket mounted on a 10cm square card. The sentiment is from TLC , Create with TCL is a wonderful blog and Paulette is forever giving away great wordart and digistamps for f*ree!

Hope you like,

Oh! Why?

2010-09-26T01:01:00.003+01:00

Why do I let so much time go by before I post to my blog?
Is it because I never get on the computer? NO
Is it because I don't have time? NO
Is it because I don't have much to show? YES.

I am learning as I go, so I am never fully satisfied with my creations, to put them out there for all to see. I spend too much time blog hopping and enjoying others wonderful creations. Well done to you all, keep posting. LOL.

Irish Whale Watching Sunday

2010-08-22T22:52:00.003+01:00

Today was Irish National Whale Watching Day. As I live by the sea I decided that I would toddle on and have a look. Our local group were meeting at Slea Head. Did I read the info leaflet, did I heck, got there by 5.25pm, session finished at 5pm, stopped along the way to take a walk on the beach with Tiny ( the dog) as Son after saying that he would come decided that Whale watching was not interesting enough for him, so he stayed home with hubby to watch football.

I know I did leave it abit late because I forgot it was on today.

I did remember to bring my binoculars, yeah for me! Stopped off at meeting point, all on my tod except for Tiny, but who says that whales keep to a time table. lol. Sat on the wall just looking round, watched a few fishing boats return in the bay and some pleasure craft also but not a whale to be seen. I did take my camera so here are a few 'photos I took.

These are the cliffs I was standing on.

The only bit of wild life I did see. lol.

My companion, Tiny.

New profile photo

2010-08-20T13:00:00.003+01:00

No that is not a photo of me, lol, it is a photo of our little dog, Tiny. We have him almost a year now and has been a re-homed dog. He is really cute and so funny at times, he loves having his belly rubbed and his ears scratched. Where would we be without our little pets?

"Where has all the sunshine gone...."

2010-08-06T15:01:00.009+01:00

Summer Time.....

Where has the time gone, once again it is passing me by so fast, I just don't know....

This weekend in the busiest weekend here in Dingle, we have our annual Race Weekend and the town is "chocker block" full of cars, horses and people. This weekend also signals the end of Summer, "sigh".

But I just wanted to post some good news for all us crafter's, Julie M is having a blog candy giveaway, visit her wonderful blog here. Julie is a wonderful card maker, you will really enjoy reading and looking at her blog. And good luck.

I actually have not been card making for a while I had intended to do some today but here I am at my 'puter, this is just not good enough.

I have being putting together a set of "Sean Fhocail" (old saying, it is an Irish phrase) cards to sell in a local craft shop, An Gailearaí Beag, here is a sample of them.

The background paper is a digital download from Waltzing Mouse Stamps. The stamps that I have used are also from this company.

Hope you like,

Some Photographs of Brandon Creek.

2010-06-15T14:25:00.003+01:00

Here are some photos I took of Brandon Creek at an outdoor Mass some weeks ago. This is out the harbour mouth, next stop America!

This was taken looking straight down from where I was sitting. I love the sound and watching water moving, even on stormy days. I think if I did not live by the sea, I would have to have a babbling brook at the bottom of my garden.

This was taken "up stream" from the pier, it is a little stream (at the moment) that feeds into the sea. I know my photos are not the best but I just love water.

Well what a surprise!

2010-06-10T23:30:00.006+01:00

What, 2 posts in one day!

Today is my sisters birthday, she celebrates the 30th anniversary of her 21st birthday (Hope she never sees this blog, or she may never again speak to me.) and this is the card I sent to her. I knew she would either love it or hate it, luckily she loved it!

The backing paper and 3 "green" labels are MME Asparagus papers, love them. The bottom tag is ordinary cream card stock. The image is a Mo Manning digi-image, I just love that image, the expression says it all. I coloured the image using Pro-markers. Then finished the card off using little pink gems. The labels are Spellbinders Nestabilities Fancy tags.

I got the idea of using the tags as backing, like this, from this blog "A Path of Paper"

Hope you like,

Mami Doodles Challenge #4

2010-06-10T23:02:00.005+01:00

I am so lapse at writing that my blog is falling well behind, what would you say to me catching up some tomorrow, June 11th. Yeah, I agree, not much lol.

I am on here tonight just to enter Mami Doodles Challenge #4 hope I make it, last time I said that, I was a week early but today I don't have that leeway.

I used pearlescent card, not sure what you call the colour but to me it is a very pale grey. The backing paper is embossed with "Fleur De Ly's" Cuttlebug embossing folder. I cut the frame with nestabilities label 4 from the same pale grey pearlescent card. The image is coloured with Pro-markers.

Hope you like,

Mami Doodles Challenge #3

2010-05-20T21:28:00.005+01:00

I am delighted to be able to enter Mami Doodles Challenge #3 but I hope I am in time for this challenge. :)

Card size 5"x7"

I layered a plain blue sheet of Pink Petticoat digi backing paper on a white pre-scored card stock purchased from Easons some time ago. Then across the middle I layered some pre-printed vellum. For the bottom I tore some card that I had in my "left-overs drawer" and layered it on. The image is from Papermania - Retail Therapy, I stamped it in black and coloured with Pro-markers. I layered that on Core'dinations whitewash which was cut with a Spellbinders Oval nestability die, I embossed it with my cuttlebug then sanded it down to bring out the core colour of the paper. I finished it off with some ribbon and three gems and then on top I put a sparkled butterfly.

Hope you like.

A few Photos.

2010-05-14T17:03:00.004+01:00

Here are a few photos I took a few weeks back. The evening was hazy but lovely and calm.

The first photo is just of a roof but I love the shape of the slates.

The second is of a lobster pot thrown in on top of a hedge.

The third a wave has just come in and washed over the stones.

The forth some lichen on a rock, love the colour combo in this photo.

The fifth is of a sea pond, I use this as my computer wall paper, there is a stone in there and it looks like a smiley face. :)

A little about me.

2010-05-13T14:08:00.004+01:00

Hi all,

Just so you can get to know me a little better, here are 5 points about me and my life.

I was born in the latter half of the last century.

I am Irish born and bred but have lived in England and Australia for a time.

I now live in West Kerry, which I love, but do find a little isolating sometimes as it takes an hour driving to get anywhere.

I am married for almost 15 years to a wonderful man.

We have one son, adopted 4 yrs ago.

Along with card crafting I also like taking photographs, not great ones but some good ones. Over the next few posts I will let you see some of the photos and more of my cards.

Hope you like,

Mami Doodles Challenge #2

2010-05-12T23:03:00.002+01:00

Hi all,

Card size, A5.

The main image is a Mami Doodles digi image, very appropriate, don't you think. lol It is coloured with pro markers. I then "glossed" the Lady bird with glossy accents.

The backing papers are from Cosmo Cricket. The bow is make from recycled ribbon I received with a gift some time ago, just like most crafters, nothing goes to waste! The flower are two layered prima flowers with a gem in the centre.

This is my first time entering an challenge via my blog. For a long time I have put off entering challenges because I did not have a blog and I did not have a blog because I did not know if I could blog often enough to make it interesting. I think it is a bit like the ever famous question "Which came first, the chicken or the egg?" lol

Hope you like,

Intro

2010-04-19T09:46:00.000+01:00

Well here I am, in blog land.

I should start by showing you me Craft room as that is the name of my blog, but I cannot as I craft everywhere in the house where is a spare space! I am in the process of organising a spare room where I can escape too and keep all my crafting goodies together. Just need to organise it. And I promise you when it is finished I will post some photos of it, it will be nothing elaborate but will be serviceable.