A time to share...

Hello. I just wanted to share some of the wonderful gifts and cards I have received from my crafty friends...

I've received this gorgeous card off my gorgeous friend Debbie as a thank you for a bracelet I sent her...her work is stunning and I am so honoured to be on her DT...thanks Debs...

This is a selection of the wonderful hand made Christmas cards I have received so far from my bloggy friends...they are all stunning and I love them! So many thanks to Chris in Gib, Debbie, Natalie, Christine, Cathy, Joana, Pauline, Ali, Nessy, Kath, Dawn, Lainy, Linda, Donna, Sammi, Chrissy, Cass...

Sammi also sent me my very own Princess Amber stamp...and its adorable...fab present from a fab friend....

And then the postie brought me a huge parcel from my SBS Secret Santa...and I was in heaven! (There should have been a big bar of Galaxy chocolate to show you as well wrapped in the star paper....now I wonder where that went! LOL!) So whoever you are...my lovely secret sister Santa...thank you....

But then I also received this oh so cute hand made phone charm from my pal Donna...its very me and goes perfect with the new pink phone that Santa got me as an early Christmas present...thanks Donna....

And then Chrissy sent me these!!! To say I was over the moon is an understatement as after my mammoth bracelet making session a few weeks ago my bead stash was wearing a bit thin....thanks hun...they are perfect....

My pal Tina decided this year not to make Christmas cards...but to make us individual calendars with personal photos on them...this photo is of my beautiful daughter Belle on her third birthday a few weeks ago...thanks Teen...it will be treasured...see you Christmas Eve!

And finally...well I couldn't leave this wee card out could I? Even after having a new born baby (and boy does he look like his mother!) my best mate Gill still managed to get hand made cards out to everyone...and its gorgeous...thank you babe.x

Considering I've only been blogging for less than a year I've been incredibly lucky to have made some wonderful friends...and I can't wait to craft along side you all for another year!

Thank you to everyone for all your support and love throughout the past year and I can't wait to see what 2009 brings us...

Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas!

Ribbon Christmas Tree tutorial...

Hello. I've been meaning to make one of these Trees for ages but finally got round to it last night. If you would like to make one you will need a large Polystyrene cone, lots of ribbon (most of mine was from Poppicrafts!) which you will need to cut into 4 inch strips (approx 200 of these!) and some sequin pins.

I painted the tree with a bright green acrylic paint first and allowed it to dry. I started at the bottom of the tree and just folded the ribbon in half and attached to the tree with one pin. Make sure your ribbons slightly goes over the bottom of the tree to so that it lays nicely. Just work your way up the tree, overlapping each layer.

I topped my tree with two wooden snowflakes that I had painted white, glued a needle in between them with about half an inch sticking out so that they could be stuck into the tree.

And there you have one tree to sit in the middle of your table on Christmas day!

I'm going to use this for the Artygirlz challenge this week which is to use your favourite colours and the Secretcrafter challenge which was to use layers.

Hugs,
Em.x

Guest DT for ThisThursday....

I was chuffed to bits when Tracey asked me to be Guest DT on the ThisThursday challenge blog which this week is all about 'playing with paint'. This 'red nose' puzzle piece was made by painting the background with acrylic paint then I used distressing inks, alcohol inks...you know the normal stuff I do to make a mess! The gorgeous stamp is by Toodles and Binks who are the sponsors this week and spoilt us rotten with the samples! The snowflakes are wood which I painted white, glittered, distressed and placed a dew drop in the middle to make them shine!

Obviously his nose was glossed!

This second one I'm really not sure on as these are colours I've not worked with for a while. I loved the stamp (Simone) and painted the swirls with acrylic and round the edge of the tag. The flowers are hand cut with dew drops as well. Belle keeps eyeing it up......hmmmm.....!

I really enjoyed this challenge so why not pop over to TT and have a go yourself! (Big thanks to the girls for inviting me this week as well!)

Hugs,

Em.x

**EDITED**A puzzled Christmas.....

** I've just heard from Julie that this has been nominated to be shown on the Inspirational blog. So a huge thank you to whoever it was who nominated it...you have really made my day!**



Hello. I've made this puzzle decoration for the Basic Grey challenge which is 'Christmas' this week and for the One stop craft challenge which is 'wings'.

I used acrylic paint dabbers in Espresso and Cranberry, Alcohol inks in Raisin, Oregano and gold mixatives, Distress ink in aged mahogany. Papers are Basic Grey 'Infuse' and the star chips are from my Basic Grey 'Sultry' pack. Images were free downloads from Crafty computer papers and the wings were stamps from my stash. Beads from a necklace Belle has yet again destroyed...!

Hope you're having a great weekend.
Hugs
Em.x

Lots of thank yous and 'THAT' Santa stamp! (2 of 4)

Yes its 'that' Santa stamp!! Pauline managed to get her hands on some extra ones, then did a draw to see who could buy it off her...and it was me!!! I couldn't stop grinning when I heard as its for another bloggy friend to use....I bet you can guess who! Many thanks Pauline.x

Belle then received this in the post from our friend Sammi in Oz and she hasn't stopped walking round with it. Its now looking slightly battered but she loves it so I'm not complaining! There was also lots of little crafty bits and pieces but unfortunately I cannot show them as Belle got to the envelope before I did...need I say more!?!
Sammi also included this beautiful card for myself which is one of my favourite 'Maggie's'...thanks hun.x
And then these gorgeous images arrived from Donna...perfect as I was running really low on Christmas images.....
and they were inside this stunning card which is so autumnal its gorgeous!
So I'm feeling thoroughly spoilt once again but its such a lovely feeling so thank you to everyone that has sent me cards recently!
Hugs,
Em