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

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!)

No embellishments...OMG!!!!

After finishing my DT work last night (finally!) I was sat playing with my new Leanne Mills stamps (that I accidentally purchased yesterday in the house of Sugar Nellie whilst wondering around it!) when hubby poked his head round my craft room door....

and after shaking his head at the mess and chaos that I had caused he challenged me to make something with NO embellies....eek!

It's probably the hardest challenge I've ever been given! Anyway I used watered down Distress ink pads to colour it in...hand drew the scrolls as none of my stamped ones were suitable. I actually like the washed out colour of it and have fallen head over heels in love with these little stamps.

I'm going to enter this tag into two challenges....Arty Girlz where they want a small piece of art......and Tag you're it which is to make a tag in the Secret Santa style. So this card is for my beautiful friend Gill...who started me on my crafting journey...and has been with me all the way...and is as calm and serene as the 'wish' image....oh and she loves these stamps as well!

Well a whole post and not a mention of the 'C' word!

Witches and Cr%p!

Hello. This is the box that I altered for Tina for her birthday. It actually started life clear...then got the Elf distressing treatment! I loved making it as it was such a personal gift and I have included all of her favourite things including witches, tarot cards and purple beads.

I made the bracelet using her favourite colours and butterflies as she loves them....

And I did warn her that due to time issues her card would be crap...but she didn't believe me....

She was in hysterics when she saw it and I'm so glad that I went to all that effort with it! PMSL!!

If you would like to commission a crap card like this please do not hesitate to contact me...lol!

I am also going to enter the altered box into CraftawayaSunday challenge which this week is....magical!

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

One for the boys....(yikes!)

The challenge to my horror over at the BG challenge blog...is to create something for the boys. I absolutely detest making cards for men....so much so that I have been known to actually BUY cards for male friends and relatives...just don't tell my hubby ;o)
Anyway I'm not overly happy with this card but wanted to take part. Papers are BG 'Phoebe' and I've used distressing inks to colour the image in.
I'd like to say a big thanks to Zuzu as well for inviting me to join her forum. I feel very honoured as I have worshipped this womans work for a long time and can quite happily spend an hour or two wandering round her blog.

Oh I have a favour to ask...if you happen to have any spare hours in the day right now could you throw them my way!?!
Hugs
Em.x

Craftymuse is now open for fun!

This is my DT for Sammi's new challenge blog...

The fantastic new Craftymuse challenge blog is NOW OPEN!! Challenges will be held fortnightly and you can use any image or one of Sammi's....you have the opportunity of using one of Sammi's lovely images free for the first one!

Craftymuse also needs another two members to join us on the design team...if you are interested then play along to this weeks challenge and you may be picked!

So come along and see what its all about...just click on the banner and it will take you there!

Thursday's 'mojo' and a new DT...

Hello. This weeks challenge over at thisthursday is 'Mojo surfing...You can either Click on any random 5 of our participants blogroll links and take inspiration from something on each of those blogs or something on one of them or click on any 1 of our participants blogroll links and then follow 1 link on there and so on until you reach 5 links and then take your inspiration from there.

Well I ended up on Zuzu's blog and was over the moon as her creations are absolutely stunning! It took me forever to get there though as I had to get through 4 other blogs and they were all gorgeous as well...I love blog surfing as the inspiration out there is amazing.

Anyway there is no way I can come even close to Zuzu's masterpieces but she did inspire me to try different backgrounds and textures. On this card I have stamped, distressed, torn, punched, filed and basically grunged it all up!

I used distressed inks to make my own background...then stamped over it...then sprayed with water...then sprayed with perfect pearls in copper...oh and then did a bit more stamping! I threw chalks, inks and doodling at it and even though it has not turned out like I imagined I really had fun making it...and that's what its all about!

Now....do any of you fancy being on a new DT? Sammi is bringing out a new challenge blog 'Craftymuse' which will also highlight her own images. I am thrilled to bits as she has asked me to join the new team and there are now 4 of us...but I know Sammi is looking for another two who will be asked to join after our first challenge! So if you fancy being on the team just take part in the challenge which is going to be announced very, very soon!

Hugs,

Em.x

~Twinkle toes~

Hello again. Its my nieces birthday in a few days and so I decided to go pink and glittery for this one. The image is 'Angelique' by the fabulous Sammi and she is a real cutie. Papers are BG 'Euphoria' and I used my Martha Stewart 'doily' punch for the scalloped edge. I used Sakura pens with water to colour her in.


Many thanks to everyone who left comments on my last post and for the one or two e-mails I received...lol! They were all much appreciated and I will be popping by to thank you all personally. Have just made some more scrummy bread so off to find the peanut butter...catch up with you all soon.
Hugs,
Em.x

Throwing a curve and stamp storage.....(4 of 4...finally!)

The challenge over at ThisThursday this week is to create something using curves...'Thrown a curve. now you can use that as a title or you can use anything that curves eg arches arcs, circles ovals waves, well even let you use squiggles'...so I'm hoping this altered CD will suffice?
The image was kindly given to me by Tina and the corners were done in my bug. The ribbon is actually a really deep purple and not black as it has photographed. I've stamped, inked and distressed and added a few adhesive pearls for some texture. I think the papers are HOTP but wouldn't swear to it!

And finally...I know its been a whopping 4 posts in one day but I've been really busy unmounting all my wooden backed stamps...and boy have I been cursing to Tina's amusement! I've wanted to do this for a while as they were taking up so much room and to be honest as some were in draws I just forgot about them.

And this is the final result of three days of wanting to throw them all out the window!! All my really large stamps are still mounted and any unwanted were donated to the Belle craft box!
Its much easier to find exactly what I want now but I think my hubby is now sick to the back teeth of laminating card for me!! Big thanks to Mrs T as well for helping me to cut some of the unmounted stamps out. So if any of you have a better way of storing your unmounted stamps....PLEASE DON'T TELL ME AS I MAY CRY AFTER THIS MAMMOTH TASK!!!
So now you know why I've not been around and why I'm cramming a weeks worth of posting into one day. Sorry!
Hugs,
Em.x

Small changes...

Hello. Yes I've changed things again but change is good so I keep telling myself! I recently set the challenge swop for my SBS which had to have the word friend or sister on an ATC...and then with everything that has happened forgot to make one myself! So big, huge, groveling apologies to Lisa. I know she loves black and pink and is a fan of PB so I hope she likes this. Picture isn't very good as the pink is a lot brighter.

The postie has been busy delivering cards for the appeal and some beautiful ones for me from you and I've been tagged and awarded from every direction so will do them all later when Belle is in bed. Thank you all so much for everything...its been a lot tougher than I could have imagined...and an extra special thanks to Tina who has somehow kept me sane this week.

I hope everyone is well and I WILL catch up with you all soon...just doing things as and when I'm in the mood right now.

Demented, crafty hugs,
Em.

Busy bee's and PB!

Hi all. Hope everyone had a great weekend. This is my first offering to the PB Saturday challenge which this week is 'ribbons'. Really enjoyed taking part and I don't think it will be my last time. Papers are BG, flowers are Poppicraft and the image was from Debs...thanks babe.

Well my dining room has been a hive of activity today and we have been very busy bee's...Belle included! Tina and I started on our big push for making Christmas cards for the Troops and had a right giggle doing it....red glitter in August seems so wrong! Many thanks to everyone who has agreed to help and I think we will be saying that a lot leading up to October when all the cards need to be in.

I'd also like to thank all the girls over at our 'twaddle and blab' blog for the hugs and kicks today...you lot are so vicious! LOL!
Catch up with you soon,
Crafty hugs,
Em.x

The riddle solved!

Well after fighting with the bees all summer the riddle was finally solved today. There are bee hives a few fields down behind our house! Don't get me wrong the little darlings have done wonders for my tomato plants but boy...I'm sure this lot have been force fed steroids as they are huge!
I'm definitely going to grow peas next year if these boys are around to help out!

Anyway I'll leave you with this little ATC that I did as an example for my lovely SBS sisters. It was my turn to pick the swop so I decided on ATC's with a friendship theme.
I passed it on to Tina because even though she is not an SBS sister she is a wonderful friend and a fantastic play mate for Belle!
Hugs,
Em.x

Summer stamping..

Hi. I've made this card for someone who I wish I lived nearer to so I could give her a hug right now. Can't say who in case she reads this but hopefully when the card arrives she will understand just how much I do worry about her!
Papers and stamps are by craftyindividuals and I used chalks on the flowers. The butterfly is stamped as well.

You need to go and check Tina's blog out as well today as she can claim the prize for bargain of the day!!!
Hugs,
Em

Vintage...

Morning all!
'This weeks Challenge over at Artyzgirl is 'Vintage' so you could use a vintage photograph on your creation, give your creation an aged effect, or go shabby chic use old ribbon or lace etc. As always you choose the format for your creation.'
Well after having my backside kicked last night by Mrs T who told me to stop mumbling about doing things and actually do something...this is what I came up with!
I've kept it quite simple as its for someone who I don't think likes to much fuss. The stamp is from craftyindividuals. Distressed using distressed inks and the button is original vintage!
I hope everyone is having a lovely weekend....we are off for lunch at Mrs T's so will have to be on our best behaviour......
Hugs,
Emma.x

Time flies....

Hello. The challenge this week over at thisthursday is 'WINGED THINGS. So you can put wings on things, use things that already have wings, whatever the title inspires you to create'.
So me being me decided to do a collection of ATCs with clocks...well time flies!
These are the first 'proper' ATC's I have ever done and really enjoyed making them. I did think that working on something so small would be intimidating but will definitely make more but if any of you have any tips, advice or suggestions for these please let me know...any help is always appreciated!

Golden oldies....

Hello. The challenge over at DCM this week is to make a card using some of your old stash.
The only problem was that I have so much 'old stash' that I still struggled to decided what to use!
So this is made using some old BG papers that were forgotten about...a stamp that I've not used for ages (from Crafty Individuals I think) which I embossed and an old button.

I hope everyone has a lovely weekend...and I promise to stop playing with my blog...I just wanted to confuse you all! LOL!

Happy, blessed and smiling!

A little something for my fairy godmother....Mrs T!


Hi everyone.
Well its been a really uplifting week and its only Wednesday! At the weekend I had a bit of a chat with the big guy in the sky. We fell out over twenty years ago and I had turned my back on him and my beliefs. As some of you know the past fours months have been incredibly stressful with lots of heartache and I have, from time to time, asked him for forgiveness and to help my family and friends.
Well he has listened and it looks like he has forgiven me and for that I am truly grateful.

We had left Gibraltar under a dark cloud but that cloud was swept away on Monday and the sun is finally shining down on us. There is now a completely different atmosphere in our home and we can now concentrate on the future and put this behind us...with a lot of valuable lessons learnt.

I also heard yesterday from a friend, who I have been so worried about, and it felt so wonderful to finally hear her voice and to know that she is safe.

Our beautiful cats arrive back from Gibraltar tomorrow and Belle has only one more sleep as she keeps telling us! We have really missed them so much and none of us can wait for our little family to be whole again....we've not missed having to do the litter tray though!

I've also received lots of lovely cards from non bloggy friends this week that were completely unexpected but gave lots of smiles to us all and some of the messages that have been left on my blog and on friends blogs have really made me feel that I am part of a wonderful circle of friends...yes Chrissy and Nessy you did both make me cry!

And my biggest blessing this week...Tina. You all know I have Fibromyalgia and lots of other grotty things, but its not often I mention them on here. Tina sees me on an almost daily basis and puts up with me walking like an old woman and my tears. The pain at the weekend was pretty unbearable but Tina has been giving me Reiki healing and I feel like a new woman! She brings so much peace and calm to not only me but my children and I am so grateful for having her in my life.

And finally, because I can hear you all yawning, thanks for reading this!! LOL!

Hugs and birthdays...and a waffle!

This is probably the quickest card I have ever made and I'm actually quite embarrassed about the fact as its for someone very special. The papers are by Crafty Individuals and the butterfly stamp has been done on acetate with a StazOn opaque. I've attached the acetate at the back of the card as I wanted it to be free on the front. Its also on an A6 card and its been at least a year since I made a card of this size.

NOT MORE CD'S...I hear you shout! Actually I've done quite a lot of these lately and am having great fun seeing what can be done with them! This one is for my friend Gill who is now back in the UK. The poem is actually stamped onto shrink plastic and...shrunk! Papers are BG and the stamp is Hobby Art.

Well its been a funny old fortnight...not side splittingly funny but emotionally funny. A year ago this month my hubby was doing his tour in Iraq and I had just received my diagnoses. Its been a tough year for lots of reasons, not just because of these two things, but a few things have happened over the past fortnight that have made me have a good old think about life.

Firstly a wonderful friend of mine has been diagnosed with breast cancer. She is the same age as myself and has two gorgeous young children. Struggling to write this so please forgive me if I make no sense, but its been caught late. You can all imagine the anger and frustration that her and her lovely hubby are feeling and my heart is breaking for them both.

Secondly my Mum heard last week that Stuart, who she had fostered as a child, has passed away from cancer. He was 41. What age is that?

I know that this should not be about me...and I feel so selfish for even writing this, but for the past year I have sat and grieved for the life that I can never have back...for the life that I had enjoyed so much and would do anything to have 5 minutes of again.

But...I'm not going to lose my life...I will watch my kids grow up...I will torment my hubby for quite a few more years. There is nothing for me to grieve for and its time to start enjoying what I have got...and boy what I have got is bloody fantastic.
Hugs,

Altered card swop....I hope!

Hello. Firstly I'm so sorry for not getting round every one's blogs today...I have missed seeing every one's creations but sorting my lists out took longer than I thought...and I still have my SBS one to do! I'll get it sorted tomorrow and will pop round to have a look at what you have all been up to.
I've made this altered CD for one of the girls on the Docrafts forum. We have been paired up for the July swop so I just hope she likes it!
Papers are BG and the stamp is by Elusive Images.
I hope everyone had a lovely weekend and didn't get sun burnt!
Hugs,