New goodies

Wow I can't beleive it's July already. Where is this year going. It only seems like the other week was the Royal wedding.

I'm still trying to do my x stitch dragon. I had almost finshed it when I dound I'd made a mistake almost at the very beginning of the pattern. I ended up undoing almost a third of it to rectify the mistake. It wasn't a mistake I could bluff my way through unfortunately. Then as a result I didn't have enough thread to finish it. Luckily I found some spare thread the same DMC 701 in another kit so I was able to finish the x stitching. I'm now doing all the back stitch. And back stitch is not my favourite part of x stitch lol.

I have managed to get a couple of cards done in the interim though. One is for my lil sis for her nephews to give to their mum and dad on Saturday for their wedding. The other is for a fellow committee member's birthday next Tuesday. Happy Birthday Delphine.

Delphine's birthday card

Wedding card

For the wedding card I took the image from Design Objectives new Forever Friends triple cd. I can't wait for the launch of the Me To You version of the new range of cd's. I also triend out the new paper roses. after having a play with scrap paper I have now mastered the technique. I was watching Clare curd on Create and Craft and have to agree using the hot glue gun does make it easier as it dries almost instantly. I'm usually a Pinflait glue gel girl. But for this technique a glue gun deos make it easier. I also see that Design Objectives are launching thier own version of nesties, yipee. I'm a huge fan of Design Objectives. And I do like the new Tim Holtz range from Core'dinations. I can see I me needing some of those too lol. I love textured card and core'dinations card means you can do so much more with your scrapbooking as well as your card making and much, much more.

I'm hoping to get some decorating done this month and next as my poor apartment is looking very sorry for itself now. I have everything and went to start it all last week only to find that yes I had all i needed but it would be helpful to get a paint tray for the roller's!! I need to take a trip to B and Q I think and find a paint tray. With this nice weather it's perfect as I can have all the windows wide open. Hopefully lil miss K will go out and not try and "help". Spirit will do her best to "help" as well. Bless!!! Once it's all done I can then wash all the carpets. Little babies can be so messy!! My next task will be to make them both slippers so they don't get their mucky paws all over my nice clean carpets.

Royal Artillery

Following on from a previous post here is a picture of my Royal Artillery badge that I did in memory of my grandad Alfred Arthur Townrow. I made it as a gift for my mum. As soon as I get some more supplies I'm going to make one up for myself.

Royal Artillery badge

My new cd from DOcrafts arrived in the post this morning. It was the Pick of the Day last Week on Ideal World. I can't wait to try it out. Phil and Sheila did some amazing demonstrations throughout the day and I loved every bit of it. It's also great to see that Create and Craft are starting to do scrapbooking. Finger's crossed they might just pick up Rosemary Merry as well as having Dawn Bibby. I love Rosemary's scrapbooking ideas.

I started a new cross stitch project last weekend only to find this weekend that I'd made a mistake almost at the start of it. I ended up unpicking almost two thirds of it to rectify my mistake. Needlees to say it got put down till my temper cooled off! I have another project on the go which is very hush hush for the time being so I'll go back to my cross stitch after I've met my deadline.

Father's Day card

I just adore this image from Sassy Cheryl's Golfer boy. It was ideal as my dad loves golf. I waster colored the image using Daler Rowney watercolor pencils. The papers are from Raspberry Road. They do some beautiful paper sets with add on embellishments. The ribbon I had in my stash and the buttons were from Craftime I think.

I've also managed to finish another cross stitch projsect which I am really pleased about. I seem to be sticking to my New Years resolution of doing one project at a time and finishing it before moving onto the next one. I absolutely love poppies so this DMC kit was perfect and well worth the time.

Poppies

Easel Gatefold card

Warren in a Bucket

I did this card as a workshop on the Crafty Ideas by Kaz forum http://forum.craftyideasbykaz.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=39&t=5547. I used the Warren products from Craftwork Cards. Also available from Crafty ideas http://www.craftyideasbykaz.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=830_1051_1078&products_id=16792. It took awhile to put together as I was photographing everything as I went along for the workshop, but I hope you will agree it was well worth it.
My next workshop will be a star card so watch this space.
Also tomorrow watch Create and Craft as the Walk on the Wildside is being aired for the first time. Do look out for the samples as they were amzing samples put together by the girls. Hayley will be demonstrating. If you are friends with Tina Fallon the check out her Facebook album Walk on the Wildside for more samples.

I'm still working on my Poppy cross stitch, hopefully that won't take too much longer to do. I also need to do my dad a Father's day card. I need to top all the others this year. The same with the gift. Though that may be hard after the gift I made him the other year. 

"Tiger" dad

Walk on the Wildside

Here are some cards I've done from the Walk on the Wildside cd which you will find on the Cupcake website http://www.cupcakecrafting.co.uk/shop/

 Aren't theses desgins by Phil Daniels absoulutely stunning. This cd was a real pleasure to work with. I am very much an animal lover and these designs were very realistic and didn't need much to finish the cards as you just don't want to detract from the designs.

Royal Artillery

I've now finished my latest cross stitch project. It is the Royal Artillery emblem. My grandad served with them during WW2. It was a labour of love but rather hard going. I found using metallic threads quite difficult but it has been very much worth it in the end. I will get a photo taken and posted as soon as. I just need to gently wash it and dry it first though.
I have now moved onto the next piece of cross stitch that needs finishing. It's of some poppies, which I absolutely love. The kit I beleive is from Heritage stitchcrafts.
The weather is awful at the moment, it sounds like a gale ripping round my apartment at the moment. Even poor KeishaBelle is rather reluctant to go out. And anyone who has ever met her will know this is very unusual. She loves being out. Even Spirit has been a bit reluctant to be out in it and she can hold her ground! 
I was very fortunate last winter when we had some appaling weather to be bought a beautiful pair of Emu boots. At christmas I was given another pair which I use as slippers they are so comfortable. And they keep my tootsies nice and toastie. Do check out Nature Shops website http://www.natureshop.com/ as they do some amazing products.

Monday 16th

One of my godsons is learning to do cross stitch so I have spent this morning photocopying some easy patterns for him. I used to subscribe to a few cross stitich magazines and have amassed a large pile of free kits. Many of them are sweet kiddy images so I've sorted through some that will appeal to a young lad. Hopefully he will enjoy making them and maybe even turn some into presents for his mum and younger brother. He would like to spend a day with me in my craft room crafting. He is a very creative young lad. Both he and his younger brother have made me a couple of little gifts which I cherish very dearly. I'm a bit of a hoarder when it comes to things like that but just don't have the space to show them off. I consider myself to be very lucky to have 4 very creative godsons. Unfortunately 2 of them now live too far away from me to see them.
I woke this morning to find myself lodged between a cat and a dog. Not sure what Spirit and KeishaBelle thought I was going to do whilst I was asleep but they certainly made sure I couldn't run away!!! It's that time of year now where all the windows are open wide and Keisha comes and goes as she wishes. But the silly monkey still comes home to use the litter. Most normal cats will go outside. Keisha has never been 'normal' to be fair. She's rather tiny and bullies poor Spirit( and she's no tiddler) something terrible.

KeishaBelle and Spirit

Sleeping babies

The little wee'uns are just so sweet. I can't stay mad at these 2 for very long bless 'em.

14th May

Hearts and Tall stories

I'm entering this Anniversary card into the TotallyPaperCrafts Anniversary challenge. 
I used Holographic card stock along with some pearl card. For the top layer I used swiss dots card from Hunkydory. The whole card was made using the Glitter Girls board Hearts and Tall stories. The flowers are from Wild Orchid. The ribbon I had in my stash though I think I bought it from Ribbonbox. The ribbin and pearl flowers I made myself.

Hello fellow crafters. It's been a long time since I last posted. I lost my mojo there for awhile and am still trying to sort myself out. I've been getting on with some cross stitch just recently. I had far too many unfinished projects sat in a bag so I have pulled everything out and have decided to bite the bullet and get on with it. Both my parents celebrated their 60th birthdays just recently so it was an ideal time to sort those projects out and make them so unforgetable gifts.

Freshwater pearl bracelet

Kanban and DOcrafts

Teddy Golfer

Debbi Moore Paris collection

Poppy Fairy

Forever Friends

I have also added some more pictures to my DOcrafts gallery. Please click on the link on the left hand side to go visit my Gallery.

Monday 28th February

I had a good tidy up of my stash on saturday. I was desperatley running out of space. Especailly as my long awaited for table and chairs arrived last week, yippee. Everything needed a reshuffle and my old desk put out for the bin man. I also needed to expose the back wall ready for the builders on wednesday. Once they have finished and everything is back in place I can get back to some crafting and do some much needed scrapbooking. At least now I can spread everything out. It was such a pain putting everything away with each and every project grrr.Spirit and KeishaBelle as always had to give their usual helping hand.......Not! But you've got to love them none the less. Spirit now kips on the futon whilst I'm crafting and Keish gets up on the table and steals my tools. I'm not sure that, that is a good idea but she is at least leaving the ribbons and flowers alone lol.

February 6th 2011

I'm trying to play catch up at the moment. I had to get a new motherboard fitted but it's meant that everything had to be wiped and the OS put back on afresh. I'm halfway through my Bare Basics calender. I've also run up some card sample for Cupcaking Crafting. Please look out for Lynda's show on Create and Craft on the 9th and 10th. Above is a sneaky peek of one of the designs.
I also received my copy of Debbi Moore's latest magazine on friday. Another great magazine from Debbi and her team. The Evergreen cd is stunning. It was also lovely to see my card in the readers gallery. I still haven't gotten used to seeing my name in print yet. I can't wait to make some cards from the new cd. Do go to her site and subscribe to the magazine, it really is well worth the money. 

Belated Happy New Year.

I've been rather busy with this and that and haven't had much opportunity to get online. Hopefully all that will change this year. I've aquirred lots of new goodies in the past few months that I am hoping to play with now I have my studio back. I made a lovely card using Debbi Moore's new Chrystal Dreams cd. I enterd it into a competition she was running just before christmas.I used some card candy and Martha Stewart glitter to accent the easel card.
I also had the opportunity to play with the lovely Seraphina Through the Ages.

I bought myself a Cuttlebug late last year and have a loads of fun using it. These cards were the very first that I did using it. I can't craft now without it. I made all my christmas cards with it along with two beautiful stamps I picked up from Lil of the Valley at the NEC in November.

I used water color pencils to color the images. The papers were from one of the Crafters Compainion cd's along with some card candy and card stock I had in my stash. 
I've also made some cards using Cupcakecrafting's cd.