OOOPS - Long time, no blog!!!

Oh how time flies!!!! Sorry guys, havent blogged for ages. Just been so busy (as we all are at this time of year) Have a few cards to show, but I am such a doughnut - I made a couple of notebooks for Rileys teachers and gave them to them before taken the photos. Also I finished my mums scrapbook, which I couldnt show anyway as I know she frequents my blog,(she knows she is getting it - so its ok to mention) but I forgot to take the pics of that aswell and now ive wrapped it!!!!!!!

Anyway here are a couple of cards for my parents and the teachers and children at school. As I am being a naughty blogger right now its probably best if I wish you all a great big Magical Christmas now and I hope you all have a really FABAROONIE time.

Best wishes,

Mich

xxxx

xxx

New Designs!!

My first designs are on Pink Petticoat today. You can of course see them in far more detail here: http://www.pinkpetticoat.co.uk/

Hope you all like them. x

Glitter, Glitter, everywhere!!!

Made this today for my cousin, who is in Australia for a couple of years. I started off by using Sakura pens to colour Lilli and also the pattern on the papers and the black stripes and throwing some glamour dust on quickly, but for some reason it kept coming off today. ( I dont know if anyone else has experienced this - but ive got glitter on my cheek somewhere and keep seeing it out of the corner of my eye, but when I look in the mirror its NOT THERE!!! Ive obviously tried to wash it off, but its still there now, its driving me flipping mad. Its mustve been there since about 11am its now 10pm. I bet all the other mums at school could blimmin see it...aaagghhh!!!)

Anyway back to the card, so I decided to seal it with some good old clear 3D glaze and actually its come out ok, with a nice bit of texture to it. Added some beautiful tatty looking ribbon.

Papers and image - Pink Petticoat. Ribbon - Ribbon Oasis.

(Just uploaded pics - very disappointing, you cant see the sparkle on it really, Oh well nevermind, give the pic a click if you want to see it in more detail) TFL

Papertake Weekly Challenge

Joined in the fun again, over at Papertake, the challenge was this:

This weeks challenge is Christmas Trees! (sorry, I know that one of the other challenge blogs have done tree's this week but the challenges are set for the design team a week in advance! Sorry folks!) Anyway, if you'd like to take part, we'd love to see your creations!

So, my interpretation was this...
Hand cut tree, sparkly ribbon tree trunk, punched Pink Petticoat sentiment.

Papers - Pink Petticoat. Brads, pins and eyelets - my shop. Ribbons - Ribbon Oasis.

Jumbo Peg!!

Had a go at altering a rather huge peg today. I tried to make it, so that I can either up end it and pop a photo in, or hang it up in the kitchen to put all those important things on - like shopping lists and the "whats happening at school" stuff, so I drilled a hole in the back first so I can put it on a hook. Covered it in Pink Petticoat card, inked the edges and added some blooms and brads from my shop. I was quite pleased with the outcome. TFL and hope everyone had a fab weekend!!!!

Lilli for Poppi

Well heres the Lilli card for my little fairy. Totally O.T.T with glitter. (not sure if it shows in the image)Poppi will love it, she loves pink and anything that is touchy feely. So I added some velvet and spotty ribbon. Threw loads of Glamour dust over all the images and in the shaker bit. Like I said earlier Poppi will no doubt pull it to pieces, but I know she will play with it for a while. Next up is Rileys card. I'm sure he is secretly part of the DCM team. "I'd like my card to be Red, Gold and Silver please, mummy" Blimey - setting the challenges at 4 years old!!!! Hmmm, Red, Gold and Silver - I'll give it a shot, but the words "bling" and "hideous" spring to mind. But, if thats what he wants, then thats what he shall have.

Bye for now and have a great weekend!! xxx

MORE Christmas Cards!!!

Finding it a bit hard at the moment, having soo many Christmas cards to make, its a bit overwhelming. I know I still have lots of time, but I do like to try and get them done well in advance, so that I can sit back a couple of weeks before Christmas and soak up the atmosphere. Ive also still got a couple of scrapbooks to be done aswell (oh Blimey!!!). Anyway, thought I would show the cards that I can. I must go and make my beautiful little girl a Lola or Lilli card, everytime I print the images, she says "pwitty" or when I colour them in glitter pens "pwitty,sparkwee, aaw!!" So i am going to make really bright, sparkly and pretty glittery shaker card for her. I have no doubt that it will be pulled apart in minutes, but if she enjoys it for a few moments, then it is worth making. I'l post it when its done, but you may need your shades.

Supplies for the cards above are: All papers - Pink Petticoat Brads, eyelets and pin - My shop. Ribbon - Ribbon Oasis.

TFL

Papertake Weekly challenge

Thought I would join in the fun, over at Papertake Challenge, which was this:

Snowy Days!
Hi everyone, thanks for all the great cards you've made for the challenge last week, they really are lovely!This weeks challenge is Snow! Snowy scenes, snowmen, snowflakes etc etc. Come on everyone! Let it snow!!

So this is my interpretation. First time Ive joined in and really enjoyed it. Havent made a shaker card for ages and as I wanted it to include snow somewhere, thought it would be a good opportunity to make one again. So I used a punch for the scalloped circle and used my Cricut for the others. Bit fiddley getting it into the right position, but I think it worked OK. Filled it up with glamour dust and voila!! Continued the snow scene by using liquid pearls at the bottom sprinkled again with glamour dust. Just so happened to have my favourite Pink Petticoat dotty paper to hand, (which of course is snow at night!) All papers and dinky snowman (who did get a bit too buried in the snow!)Pink Petticoat .

Anyway thanks Steph for a great challenge, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Hope everyone had a great weekend and thanks for looking. x

DCM Challenge

Blimey! I haven't blogged all week - what a bad blogger I am. The week has just flown past. I am getting to the time of year, when I start panicking - Will I finish all the cards and scrapbooks by Christmas? Who knows, but I'll have a good go anyway!!

The DCM challenge this week was this:
Getting Corrugated...
Hi all :) This week it is Jo here to set the dare...
I seem to have developed a little bit of a fixation with old cardboard boxes....! My dare this week is to use some corrugated card on your card - it could be corrugated craft card or an old box etc. taken to pieces :) You could make the card blank from it or die cut shapes etc...

So I made this.
Thanks to everyone last week for all the lovely comments. It is so refreshing to check your blog and find that not only have people stopped by to have a look, but they have taken the time to leave such great comments too.

Have a great weekend!!!!!

Christmas has come early!!

Yippppeeeee!!!

Well Christmas has come early in this home today!!! The Fantabulous Liz from Pink Petticoat has kindly asked me to become a creative designer. Well, I just had to say YES!!!!! I am absolutely thrilled to bits and feel so very privileged. I am really looking forward to being part of a very talented team and having fun with the lush papers created by Liz. Her designs have everything I want from paper, from bold and bright, to soft and pretty. I cannot seem to make anything without adding a bit of PP. ( as you may have noticed!!!)

Dont have anything to show tonight as I am making a number of scrapbooks, that are Christmas prezzies, so cant show them at the mo!!

Hope you are all having a great weekend...

and CUT!

So pleased, received my Cricut this morning-yippeeee!!!, but first took part the DCM challenge, which was this..

and CUT!!!
We've all loved looking at all your beribboned cards for Christmas and how you've cooked up the Little Extra Recipe. As for who's won the luscious ribbon giveaway, we're going to keep you in suspense a little longer!

This week its Tracie setting the dare and it is to make a card and CUT!
Any theme goes, so for those of you needing a break from Christmas crafting this is the perfect opportunity to have a change. All styles are welcome but there MUST be an element of handcutting somewhere. It could be a greeting, a shape, letters printed on your pc and hand cut, anything goes as long as you did it by hand.

Oh well I'll have to play with the Cricut later.......So I hand cut the blooms, letters and scalloped strip.

Papers are Pink Petticoat (as are the templates I used for the blooms and letters)

Ribbon is from Ribbon Oasis

Brads from my shop.

Had parents evening in the week. I am so proud of Riley. His teacher said that he was very bright, really keen to learn and always puts his hand up to answer the questions. He may have to have a bit of speech therapy though, as he is getting a little lazy with his words. All in all, I left feeling really chuffed!!! As you never really know how children behave when they are not with you. He was also V.I.P today, so was very pleased with himself. I am so reassured by the fact that he skips into school each day beaming from ear to ear - long may it continue!!!!!!

DCM

Joined in the fun again this week over at DCM.

I have only joined in twice, but im really enjoying being made to leave my comfort zone, it actually makes you stop and think about what you are making. Its sooo challenging.....

If you've already done your "Wrap it in Ribbon for Christmas" card and you're ready for a new challenge how about trying our Little Extra for this week. We're still playing with those wonderful Ribbon Oasis ribbons but this time we've got a Ribbony Recipe for you to play with.
The ingredients you need to use on your cards are:
4 brads/eyelets
3 circles
2 rectangles
and lashings of ribbon!
What sort of card you make is up to you this time - as long as you've got all those ingredients on there the choice is yours.

Supplies are:

Pink Petticoat Papers

Grosgrain brad and mini brads - My shop

Ribbon - my shop and Berisfords

Tagged!!!

Ive considered myself tagged by Jo. So here goes, 7 truly fascinating facts, that you never wanted to know about me.
1. I once came second in the world disco dancing championships (as coached by Len Goodman from Scrictly come dancing)

2. I love my mums roast dinners more than any other food.

3. I once did a bungee jump.

4. I still get excited on Christmas eve and cannot sleep.

5. I hate tangled up coat hangers, they make me feel quite aggresive.

6. I was a vegetarian for 23 years.

7. I have an HGV licence.

Well that was interesting wasnt it?????

Anyway, I have been playing with PP papers (just for a change) and made these. I really love the papers, I just can never decide which ones to use. I used sakura and american crafts glitter pens (not that you can really see how sparkly they are in the pic) I have also just ordered a cricut machine i'm sooo excited and made a few purchases at ribon oasis, their ribbons are rather yummy!!!

I was hoping that we would hear this week whether we have got our planning permission or not, but Ive got a feeling it could be a few more weeks yet. We are planning to build 2 more rooms upstairs on top of the current ground floor extension.I hope and pray that we get it, then I can have a crafty room again, rather than a little sectioned off bit in the lounge. We havent been able to decorate or anything since we moved in, because until we know if weve got the permission, we dont know whos going to be having which bedrooms. Mind you im not sure if Riley is going to want to change bedrooms, as he is currently in the largest room, which is the loft conversion, its quite big with his own bathroom. So he feels quite grown up and tells everyone he has his own bathroom (mmm!! not for long sunshine!) so I cant see him wanting to move out of there!!!!

Have a great day!!!

CAN ANYONE HELP!!!

I bought a couple of american crafts "glitter markers" today, they only had 2 in the shop. Does anyone know where I can get these from online. They are gorgeous, even nicer than sakura!!!!

Thanks,

Mich x

Feeling fab!!!

Well, Monday morning again and what a way to start the week. Checked my blog and the wonderful Terrie Bailey from the Pink Petticoat design team has looked at MY blog. How amazing is her work. and how privileged do I feel.!!!!I do go along to the PP inspirations website and have a peek regularly and just love all the cards on there, they are so very original and inspirational to say the least.

Anyway Terrie tagged me so here goes.

1. If you could have 100.00 worth of scrapbook paper or assorted embellishments, which would you choose?
Embellishments. Because I have PP papers and at the moment, dont really like working with anything else.


2. If you had to choose between using only stamps or rubons, which would you choose?
Rub ons. I am useless with stamps.



3. If you knew how to do both awesome cards and layouts but could only do one for a whole year...which would you do?
It would have to be cards. I love scrappin, but I do tend to let my pile of photos build up before actually doing a layout. Cards are so much quicker and I feel like I have acheived more if I make a batch of them.


4. Would you rather own a scrapbooking store or have your own scrapping room at home...(can't have both he he he)
It would be a scrapbooking store of course, with a huge table in the middle so I could do demos all day every day



5. And last but not least, what is your CURRENT cardmaking or scrapping style?
I would say - maybe a bit "funky with ribbon attached". I always have to add ribbon to everything at the moment.

TFL
xx

Thank you!!!

Just wanted to say a big Thanks to everyone who left such lovely comments about my card for the DCM challenge this week. It is the first time that I have joined in the fun, allthough I have looked at all the fantastic inspirational cards over the months. It has given me a real boost to join in rather than spend hours just looking at all your fab work.

Anyway made this note book for mum. Thought I would quickly try out the bind-it-all. I made some A5 covers from 2mm chipboard and covered them, then decorated the cover, leaving it nice and simple. I triple embossed some chipboard letters (dont know why - i am useless at heat embossing) and added some white rub-on lettering. Inside i just put some plain pages and a few little envelopes, so she can keep her seeds and stuff in them. She has such a superb garden and over the last couple of years I have made her quite a few detailed scrapbooks to keep all her wonderful photos in. I am not a gardener myself, but really appreciate her love for her wildlife garden. The time she spends working out in her "sanctuary" pays off every year when it just blooms into all its glory and it is so peaceful, with rare butterflys and insects fluttering about. Anyway, she can keep her notepad in her shed and jot down bits and bobs as and when. Whenever I make something new, be it a card, scrapbook, paperbag album or tin, she always has the first one. It is quite nice to look back over the years at how my crafting has changed and hopefully improved.

supplies are: chipboard letters - papermill shop. White rub-ons - MM. Big bloom - bargain at Wilkinsons (think the sales assistant thought I was going to put them in a vase, as she turned her nose up at them.) Small blooms and Big brad - my shop.

Hope you all had a good weekend...

Ribbons Galore !!

Joined in the fantabulous DCM challenge this week.

Did I read "use ribbon" in the challenge - Well, having a ribbon fetish I had to join in - didnt I???

Managed to use 8 pieces of ribbon, a tad OTT I know, but i really enjoyed it. I was going to add some ribbon covered brads, but thought this maybe taking it a bit too far.

Thanks ladies for a great dare...
"So this week we'd love you to join in and make Christmas cards using lots and lots of fabby, yummy ribbon - now that shouldn't be too hard, after all we all love ribbon, don't we?"

Supplies are:

Ribbons - little silver hat and my shop

Papers - Pink petticoat

Handcut prezzies and tags.

Brads - MM

Thanks for taking a look

Mich x

How cute is my little lad!!!

Today, Riley and I were merrily chatting about Christmas and he was telling me what toys he would like. Of course I went down the "well if your good, who knows what santa may bring" route. Then he said "I know what i'm getting you, BATS" Bats? I reply, racking my brain to think what he maybe thinking or trying to say. (He does get quite cross, if I dont comprehend immediately what he is trying to tell me) "Not bats, Bats mummy, you love them!!"

"Try and describe them, I might understand a little more" I tell him.

"You know BATS, those things that you have lots of, put on your cards and are always buying"

"BRADS?" I question. "Yes, thats it mummy, Bats"

OMG I realise that I am inflicting my obsession onto my four year old son. I dont know whether to be amazed that he pays such interest in my addictions and knows me so well, or do I question the fact that maybe I talk about brads and embellishments all day or something, do I??? I hope not. Either way , he is the cutest little chap in the whole world and he OFFERED to do the vacuuming today, oh yeah.... for £1.00 he..he.. (hes learning young)

I must confess though, I am not really a paper stroker, but I do like a nice stash of ribbons and embellishments and yes maybe it is spiralling out of control... Perhaps I do need help!!!!

Anyway made this today, for an ongoing order I am doing,

Supplies are:

Papers - Pink petticoat

Small brads, Jumbo fabric brads and Stitch and doodle rub ons - my ebay shop

Cheeky clip - MM

Bare Chipboard flowers - papermill shop

Sentiment - Cuttlebug embossing folder

Paper frills - doodlebug

TFL

Mens card and cakes

Made this today for my mums friend.

Supplies are:

Papers and sentiment - Pink Petticoat

Brads and ribbon - my ebay shop

Me, Riley and Poppi made some yummy butterfly and chocolate cakes today. Mind you, by the time Riley had gobbled all the mixture and toppings from the bowl, he was too full up to try a cake. Had fun anyway, and its nice to make the most of doing stuff together in the half term. Have a fab day - gosh its cold!!!!

The Bind it all has landed!!!

Got my new bind it all machine today. How exciting!!!! I will try it out, as soon as I have time. Have a few ideas Ive been putting together for some Crimbo pressies. Also, bought a chissel it- think I may need a bit more practice with it, used the ageing/ distressing tool on some paper covered chipboard blooms, but it looked more like something you'd drag out of the bin than aged. he..he.. Made a few cards over the weekend, pictured a couple, but the others have already gone - oops!!!

Supplies are:

Papers - pink petticoat and DCWV

Ribbon - from my ebay shop and berisfords.

Brads, blooms and clips - My ebay shop

Sentiments - Pink petticoat

cuttlebug happy birthday embossing folder.

Bear die cut - Die cut dreams on ebay, hundreds of fab dies cuts to play with take a look: http://stores.ebay.co.uk/DIE-CUT-DREAMS

Thanks for taking a peek!!

Lolas boudoir

Had a go with the lush lolas boudoir from Pink Petticoat. Came up with these. Had fun trying to get a sparkly look. In the end decided to use sakura stardust, threw on some stampendous transparent stardust embossing powder while it was still wet, bit of heat it up tool and voila!!! Quite pleased with just how sparkly they are, allthough they probably dont look it in the pics.

Its freezing here today, heres a view from my bedroom window, where I frequently gaze from and get lost in deep thought before returning back to the real world!!! Its so very peaceful here, which is the complete opposite to my 31 years in the town. This is Rileys car on the drive, which is an old Riley Elf, I have had it for about 10 years now (which is why Riley is called Riley) It is a bit like a mini, but with a boot. He loves it and its fab for bombing down the country lanes. Whether it will still be around when RIley learns to drive, who knows - only another 13 years to go.

We noticed a little hedgehog last night shuffling around the garden, I havent told Riley yet, as he probably wouldnt have wanted to go to school and would have much rather gone searching around for his new found friend. So, we shall leave him some food tonight and see if he makes an appearance.

thanks for looking and have a good day. x

Altered tin

What a week. Had a virus all week. You know the type - shivering, aching, hot then cold. Nearly drove me round the bend. Thought I was better on Wednesday then it raised its ugly head again. Anyway, fingers crossed, it looks as though it is going now.

Tuesday morning had our log delivery, to some of you i'm sure this is normal, but we moved to the middle of nowhere a few months ago and the farmer who delivered them, was telling me how theyve been seasoned for 2 years, use this type for kindling and that type dont need chopping.... what??? Oh, its all new to me.

Then this morning I awoke at 0630, as I could hear a rather large vehicle outside bleeping away. So I glanced out and a man was filling our gas tank up??? Charged downstairs (not looking my best) asked my husband if he had ordered it "no". Went and had a chat with the man "oh no, he said, we just fill it up, as and when we can, and then you pay for it" Err... But no one has ordered it. "Oh, right, well you rent it from us, so thats how it works" I was a bit miffed by the whole ordeal, But I rang the supplier and thats how it works apparently as the previous home owner didnt cancel his account. Well on the upside at least we wont run out of warmth this winter. This rural living is fab, but it does take a bit of getting used to. Checking logs, gas, cesspits etc...

Anyway, back to the subject. Made this tin for nans birthday. Not really my cup of tea, but I know she will love it and the colours. And thats what counts.....

Supplies are - chipboard, blooms, ribbon and brads - my shop. pink trim - doodlebug. Paper from stash, cannot remember...

Well, must dash, gotta check the fire is still alight he..he...

Bind it all - question????

I wonder if anyone can help me please. I am thinking of buying a bind it all machine, but just wondered if anyone has one. If so, Can the wires be cut down to any size or just used at the standard length that they are sold in. I would really appreciate the help and any opinions if they are as good as they say they are? Thanks, Mich x

Finished - Well, one batch anyway!!!!

Finished mums 30 general Christmas cards today! Mind you, it wasnt at all tedious actually. Really enjoyed then, as they were simple (as requested) and of course I used Pink Petticoat papers and they are just lovely to work with. Pictures havent come out too well, but you get the general idea. Still have about 60 more to do, but at least mums are done. Oh, that is except for her special ones for family of course. I shall start those in the next couple of weeks.

Riley is still enjoying school, which I am absolutely thrilled about. Maybe its me, but why is it, I still dont seem to have time to do anything? Poppi misses Riley a little, but generally she is quite happy to amuse herself with Rileys toys. (not that I tell him that, I make sure they are all put away before we go and collect him, otherwise there will be grief)

Anyway must dash, going to make nan an altered tin for her 80th birthday on Sunday.

Thanks for looking x

Holiday snaps!

These are some of our pics from our holiday last month. The children had such a fantastic time. Poppi decided she would talk to the waves "get me" she kept saying as the waves came crashing in, she is so very sweet. Riley wanted to paddle out to a rock, but didnt want to get wet (Erm, how does that work then???) He plucked up the courage in the end... He also enjoys hugging trees, as his nanna told him that you get extra strength from them. Poppi insisted on having some cheap and tacky jewellery to play with and I think by the end of the holiday she was a tad fed up with me keep getting the camera out. My excuse is that I need lots of pics to choose from for my scrappin. x

Feeling Better!!

Had a bit of a virus over the weekend, so ive been taking it easy. Little Poppis got it now. She does look under the weather, poor little bean!!! Lots of TLC required me thinks... That reminds me I must post some pics of our holiday. she does look cute, even if I do say so myself...

Made a few toppers to put on ebay this evening. Have been playing with yet more yummy Pink Petticoat papers... I shall take some pics of those later. Hope everyone had a fab weekend.