Moving on....

Hello. Not sure if anyone wanders this way anymore but if do then have I have moved to here!x

And here are some I made earlier...

Hello. I've still been crafting whilst I've been on my extended holidays so here's just a couple of cards to show you.

My latest passion is quilting and I am now hooked on it...but so is my credit card :(

I've also taken up knitting so we are all proudly wearing new scarves this winter lol :)

Still missing my boy and can't wait to see him in 4 weeks for his passing out parade.

Hugs,
Emma

Finally....

Hello all. Have finally got round to looking at my blogs after months of neglect and nearly ran the other way. So after much thought (and a couple of glasses of Merlot) I've decided to simplify things in the hope of not feeling quite so daunted by the whole prospect of blogging again.

I realised many months ago that I was spending so long blog hopping that the crafty side of me was being completely neglected and that is the whole point of my blog! Don't get me wrong I love looking at other peoples work (that's where the inspiration comes from) but sometimes the pressure to create and keep on top of challenges can be a bit overwhelming and then spending up to 3 hours going through my blog list, everyday to keep up with you all :), is just...well...overwhelming.

So my blog list is empty. I plan to slowly and gradually build it back up and spend the time appreciating my friends creativeness instead of worrying that I may offend them if I don't comment on their blog every day...and yes I know I'm not the only one that thinks like this ;)

A lot has happened in my personal life since my last post and all good for a change. My wonderful son has become a junior soldier and hopes to become part of the Royal Artillery. To say I'm the proudest mum in the world is a very small understatement. Missing him like mad and still not used to music not blaring out of his bedroom every night!

We are also having a new addition to our family in April...and no I'm not expecting. My darling Nana is moving back from New Zealand to live with us and we are over the moon. I just wish I could persuade my mother to move back to the UK as well...if you are reading this mother please take note!

Finally (you can stop snoring now) many thanks to everyone that has kept in touch and for all my lovely cards...I have a huge boxful and I promise that when I get the time I will display them all for you to see that I really did appreciate them and keep them!

So I will be over to visit you in the not to distant future and look forward to seeing what you've been up to.
Hugs,
Emma

Lazy summer days embroidery

Hugs,
Emma

Angel Asylum!

Angel lovers look away now....

Stamps and papers by Crafty Individuals

Spring stolen from hubby's pen

Everything else from stash.

Hugs,
Emma

Twin bird Wedding Anniversary card.

Commissioned Anniversary card.

Papers Basic Grey 'Eva'

Scroll stamp by HOTP

Bird template kindly donated by Jane

Everything else is from my long forgotten stash!

Hugs,

Emma.x

(And if I've not got round to your blog yet...please feel free to kick me!)

Boo...and a bit of bling...

Honey I'm home!

Yep I'm back but under strict orders to take things easy for a while...and so you may notice a few changes to my blog.

Not going to bore you with my trials and tribulations of the past 4 months (gulp it really has been that long!) but I've taken up a few new crafty obsessions and we also have two new additions to the household.

Below is a few items I've made recently for a greyhound charity auction...can you guess yet what the new additions are!?!

Earrings made with greyhound pendants...
Key rings made with greyhound pendants as well!

This is our gorgeous Toby who has only been with us a few weeks but he has fitted in so well. Its his 4th birthday today and has been spoilt rotten.

And my gorgeous girl Holly, who came to us quite by chance in January but God help her previous owner if I ever find them.....grrrrrrrrr.

Thanks to everyone for everything and I'm really happy to be back.x

A 'Faith' brooch at The Craftypad

Hello. I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas. I'm still not here so if you are reading this...delayed posting works. I've made this brooch for the latest challenge over at the Craftypad. This week you have to add some bling to your creation.

A few years ago when I lived in Gibraltar I got into the awful habit of destroying my hubbies CD's to make jewellery...so when Tina sent me a link recently on this subject it gave me the perfect excuse to start destroying again.

Debbie has asked for a tutorial and I know there are tutorials out there showing how to make them but this is how I do it...

*Colour your image in using Distress inks and then put a very thin layer of crackle glaze over the top and allow to dry.

*Cut a CD (needs to be cut at a 45 degree angle or it snaps) into the shape you roughly need. Sand it on the shiny side. Paint a layer of Acrylic paint and once dry stamp all over with alcohol inks finishing with a touch of gold.

* Edge in Walnut brown Distress ink and then decide where to punch your holes. I used my Big bite for this. Then just thread lots of gold wire in and out and add beads.

* The crown was originally silver so I used espresso and gold alcohol inks to give it a distressed look. Then very carefully glue gems onto it and attach to your image with silicone glue. DO NOT attach to your brooch just yet.

* On the back of the brooch adhere twisted and beaded wire in a position you like. Once they are stuck in place and completely dry turn over and glue down your image. Once the whole brooch is dry attach strong card to the back and then used silicone glue to add a brooch attachment.

* Spray with varnish and allow to dry.

Voila one unique brooch!

A Christmas video from Elf land....

Put your sound on...press play...wait a few seconds...and let me and Belle entertain you!

Have a great Christmas everyone!

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!