Has anyone seen.....

...my MOJO? It's gone AWOL! I have done a bit of creating but they are all cased projects. There's not really much I can call my own. I've taken a weeks leave to be off with my girls this week and have done these few bits and my MOJO is gradually coming back.I've been a bit stressed(for a change)and am working full time so haven't got as much time to craft even if the ideas were flowing. Even the delivery of new stamp sets hasn't managed to get me going. I have stroked them lots and ooo'd and ahh'd over them though. I have eventually used them on these cards and am happy with the end results.

To help I've used some inspirational sketches. This one is Mojo Monday sketch 58.

Supplies: All SU (unless otherwise stated)

Stamps: Crazy For cupcakes, Circle of Freindship

Cardstock and Papers: Whisper White base, Pink Passion,. Summer Fun, Only Orange, Regal Rose

Ink: Basic Gray

Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch Non SU Ribbons, Stickles

The next one using the same supplies and Stamp set uses a sketch from Cats Pyjamas Designer Team Member Leigh. I have embossed the whole image with crystal clear embossing powder so it's super sparkly. I've coloured the images using my Watercolour pencils.

This one is a complete case of a card by Beate for Ed's Mum's birthday on Friday. (snigger at Mother in Law's birthday on Halloween!!)

Supplies: All SU! unless otherwise stated

Stamps:Pocket Shilloettes, Cheers and Wishes, Season of Joy

Cardstock:Old Olive, choc Chip, Bordering Blue, Whipser White

Ink:Basic Gray, Bordering Blue

Accessories:Choc Chip Double Stitched Ribbon,Rhinestone Brads, White Signo Pen, Nestabilities oval die, Woodware large Scallop Circle punch, Flower Punch, Ticket punch, Coluzzle, Non SU! Watercolour pencils,

I've got a few more bits to show you that I'll upload tomorrow using some of the new sets and papers from the new catalogue. I feel a bit more inspired now I've shown you those!

Bye for Now

Lou x

P.S. Look at these gorgeous little bundles of gorgeousness. They're my sisters new additions to the family. A pair of Jugs! Cross between a Pug and a Jack Russell. Coco and Alfie. Spencer tolerates them but is not that keen because they keep biting his nose! Bless him.

Summer Mini Book

I went to Carol's yesterday and had a lovely afternoon. Carol organised for us to make a mini paper bag book with a Summer theme. Carol supplied some lovely mini paper bags and had lots of summery themed stamps, dies etc on hand for us to use. I'd had a look at what photos I've not scrapped yet(loads) and decided to make my book about last years holiday in Alcudia. My printer is not well so I couldn't print out the photos i needed but got the gist of the colours etc I would need.
This is my end product!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

I only got half way through at carol's but couldn't stop when I got home and finished it last night. I'll post photos again of the completed book with photos and journalling when my printer is working again.

Thanks Carol I had a fab time again.

Lou x

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Hero Arts -moments, Family

Paper: Sandylion DP, SU Cardstock -Certainly Celry, So Saffron, Bashful Blue, Regal Rose, Bazzill

Ink: SU -Taken with Teal, Versamark,

Accessories: 3 4" paperbags, Sizzix and Quickutz dies, Prima Flowers, Buttons, Paper Yarn and Ribbons, MM Hardware, rub ons and stickers, Shrink plastic, SU Tab punch, Cuttlebug Embossing folders, SU Stampin write marker.

More cards!

Hello again!
Just posting a few more cards I've made recently.

This first one is made using the Loads of love stamp set. I really love this set. I originally thought it would be great for male cards, but I think it's fab for more girly cards too, like this one.
I used the colour combo So Saffron, Cameo Coral and Only Orange.

The colours haven't come out to good on this next one. I made this one for this challenge on ILWS.

It's hard to see from this photo but the base of the card is actually Bashful Blue. I used All the Best retired set and clear embossed it onto Basic Black cardstock. Matted it a few times and added Chocolate Chip taffeta ribbon and the sentiment.

A non Stampin' Up! stamp next. This was a sketch challenge on a blog somwhere, sorry can't remember where though. I've coloured the image and layered him up and added the sentiment from the Cheers and wishes set. The card stock is Creamy Caramel and Certainly Celery. There's some MM paper there too. I also used the Cuttlebug swirls embossing folder too.Happy crafting peeps!

Mini Book Madness!

I challenged Linz to make a Magnolia mini book about a month ago. She's totally mad on Magnolia stamps, so her challenge last time we met up for a crafting sesh was to make a mini book. I've not scrapped for over a year now and I can't remember the last mini book I made so I made one myself. There's hardly any stamping in it. It's mainly MM papers and embellies and Cuttlebug die cuts and embossing folders.

I enjoyed making this one so much I've rustled up another today. A Princess mini book.linz and Carol were set tasks last week when we met at Carol's and they said i had to do a Princess mini book so here it is!

Supplies again are MM papers and embellies, SU! cardstock, cuttlebug embossing folders and die cuts .

Stampin Up have joined forces with Sizzix and an exclusive range of dies are going to be available to Stampin Up customers soon. Yum yum!

Take care
Lou x

Nearly finished!!

I challenged a few friends to make a mini book in two weeks.

Mines nearly done. It's going to be a paper bag book, cos I've not done one in ages. I've used MM papers and die cut flowers and lots of ink. More details to follow with the finished item photos.

I've done 8 pages. Just need to stick them into book, make front and back covers and make some inserts for the bags.

FREEBIES!!!!!!!!!

To celebrate my blog getting to 1000 hits, Woohoo! I am going to giveaway some Blog Candy Yay! I have made a Stampin Up! Soft Subtles bundle. There is an A5 sheet of cardstock in each of the 12 colours in the Soft Subtles colour Family plus Very Vanilla and Whisper White. Brads, buttons and ribbons. I have also stamped up a sheet of images from the Simply Said set in , you've guessed it .....Soft Subtles!

All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning the candy, is leave a comment to this post and I will randomly pick a winner next Friday at 4pm.

Staying with the SoftSubtles colour family , here's a card I made for the inspiration challenge on In love with Stamping froum ITC1. The bird is from the little Spring Fling set.

I did this card yesterday for a friend who wanted a 5oth Anniversary card. I've raised the people on the stamped image on dimensionals. I don't usually do mettalic but i quite like the waxy stuuf i rubbed on the cuttlebug embossed background. I got it free with a magazine years ago and have no idea what it is! The set is summer by the sea and Cheers and Wishes.

I've got a workshop at mine tonight with some of my crafting buddies and I'm looking forward to that. Also going to have a look around some rescue kennels for a little dog at the weeekend. So hopefully going to have a lovely weekend.

Hope you have agood one too.

Lou x

Water Colour Wonder crayons

Hello again!

Here's a card I made for my Mum's birthday on Saturday. There's a tutorial on SCS here to make the spring card. I used Earth Elements Water Colour Wonder Crayons directly on to the stamp, then added a little water with a paint brush to give the water colour effect. We were shown this technique at the Stampin' Up! experience tour last week. I think it looks great with this stamp set - Mixed Bouquet.

Thanks for looking.

Louise x

More Edwin and Tilda

another 3 cards I made with Linz' new Magnolia stamps. I coloured these in with the Stampin' Up! Water Colour Wonder Crayons. Lush!!

Supplies-

Card 1 - SU - Petals Jumbo wheel, Barely Banana, Regal rose, Very Vanilla cardstock, Versamark ink pad and pastels, Water colour Wonder Crayons, Ribbon from Fairytale pack, 1 3/8 Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch.

Cards 2 & 3 - Petals Jumbo wheel, Very Vanilla cardstock, Certainley Celery Ink pad, Versamark ink pad, Pastels, Water colour Wonder Crayons, Terrific Tags (hostess) set, Tag Punch, Certainly Celery Designer Paper. Other - Brown paper, Twine.

Organised Tuesday

Cor! How organised am I today posting this early!!

I combined a couple of challenges here over the weekend. The Papertake weekly challenge was to make a large box from two sheets of card stock. I used Basic Grey, Oh Boy! and Bazzill to make my box.

I then decided to make 5 cards to go inside the box to give as a gift. I again used Basic Grey papers, Bazill card stock, prima flowers, ribbons and magnolia stamps.

The Limited use challenge on Friday over on SCS was to make your own DP. I used Faber Castell pencils, low odor thinners and a stump to make my PP. Not sure how well it actually shows up on this photo. May do a close up if I get time this morning.

My own challenge was to not use my nestabilities! I lent them to Linz and panicked at the thought of not being able to use them for these cards! But I managed with rectangles, cut using my paper cutter.

Splitcoast challenges

I'm trying to complete as many challenges as possible at the moment and did quite well last week with these three. They're all made entirely with Stampin' Up! products too.

I'm also going to try and update my blog at least twice a week with the challenges. Yeah, I know you've heard it all before!!!

This card was made for Sketch challenge SC169 on SCS.
Using the So Lovely Hostess level 1 set I stamped the poppy in Chocolate Chip onto Very Vanilla card stock. I used water colour pencils and my SU Blender pen to colour the image. It was then mounted onto Regal Red and Chocolate Chip Cardstock. I stamped a piece of Creamy Caramel with Choc Chip ink and Sanded background stamp, then onto a Choc Chip mat and wrapped some organza ribbon around, warming it up with the heat gun to distress slightly. I inked up the positive side of a Cuttlebug folder with Choc Chip to get the effect on the Regal red card stock. The Old Olive was stamped with the Sanded stamp in Choc Chip. Both were matted on Choc Chipto complete.

This card was done for to Challenges. Sketch Challenge SC168 and Colour Challenge CC158.
I've used Very Vanilla, Creamy Caramel, Sage Shadow and Orchid Oppulence Card Stock. Te image is from Summer by the Sea set and Sanded was used on the two coloured cardstock pieces(think you may have to click for close up to see.) The image was stamped in Basic Black ink and the greeting in Choc Chip. THe image was coloured using watercolour pencils and a blender pen. It was then covered in UTE and frozen to create the cracked glass vintage effect. THe card stocks were layered up and ribbon (not SU) was playered on top. The greeting has chlak round the edge to give it a vintage look and layered using a Marvy punch and Sizzix circles.

For some odd reason As I've been typing my third card has disappeared!! So will try uploading that again another time.

My little crafting bud Linz has actually launched her Blog so take a quick look if you can.

Happy crafting!
Lou x

More Christmas cards

I did these two Christmas cards for the Daring Cardmakers Challenge to make a card with a Christmas tree on last week.

Supplies: Cardstock: Bazzill, Papermill,

Patterned Paper: Making Memories

Stamps: Stampin Up! - Flaky freinds, Hero Arts -Greeting

Other: American Crafts - ribbon and other, Cuttlebug embossing folder, Hero Arts buttons, Lasting Impressions brads

Christmas Cards

I've been making loads of Christmas cards with this lovely Santa collage stamp from Rubber Stampede. I'm really happy with how they look and am going to use the deep red and gold ones as one of the designs for our cards this year. The smaller cards (the ones in the top photo) are made from the off cuts of the larger cards. I am Mrs Thrify knickers! Large card dimensions are 12cm square and smaller are 9cm square. I originally used the Spiltcoast stampers sketch challenge SC146 and went from there. Supplies Card Stock: Papermill, Bazzill, DCWV

Stamp: Rubber Stampede - Santa collage

Ribbon: American crafts, other

Other: Cuttlebug embossing folders, stickles, sandpaper

Carol, I thought you might like this stamp.

The next 2 are using the same stamp and supplies just in black and white and I did them for the MOJO6 sketch challenge.

thursdays ramblings

It's soon come around to my day off again and I've been in the mood for crafting! Well thinking about it anyway. I've seen some gorgeous covered tealights and thought I needed to do some of my own. I bought some Christmas spice red tealights from Sainsbury's earlier this week and made these today. I used MM paper from the Sam range and CB snowflake embossing folder. I added a bit of stickles, sizzix tags, American Crafts ribbon and some bling. I think I'm going to make more for nice little pressies for folk. The spicy aroma is lovely and has got me in the mood to make more Christmas stuff. I can't think what to do with the red lollipops I made the other day. I've got a few ideas, but nothing is just right.

I made this diorama card a while back using a tutorial on SCS. It was a bit fiddly so if I was going to do another it would have to be someone spesh! I used SU Flaky friends set and Bazzill cardstock.

This next card was done for a SCS challenge. We had to use Basic Black, Basic Gray and River Rock. I haven't any SU cardstock so used what I thought were the equivalent in Bazill. I've had this stamp years and hardly ever used it. My watercolouring is not great. I need to work on that a bit (or a lot)

Next is another SCS challenge to make an acetate card. I used delight in life set. You can only just make out that the acetate has been stamped with a background stamp from the same set. I was really pleased with this card. It was very hard to photo though.

I made this little box before work on Tuesday. Ended up being a bit late, but you know when you just have to do something and your prepared to suffer the consequences....

The tutorial is on K werners gorgeous blog.

We cleaned the hammies out tonight and I thought you might like to see them. They are only about 10 weeks old. We got them from my friend Linz. She had to replace a hamster at short notice, as you do, and Bobby 2 was already pregnant. She was only about 6 weeks old. God! and we women think we've got it bad, I'd hate to be a hamster! Anyway, We took two of them, Fergie and Bella and here is one of them. They are more or less identical. Faye is the only one who can tell them apart. They are still tiny and so cute. Here is one of them. I think this is Bella.