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

The colours of Autumn...4x4

Hello. The challenge over at Mixed Media Monday this week is to make something using Autumnal colours. I'd already started on this 4x4 at the weekend so hope it fits in with what they wanted.
I used distress inks, alcohol inks, acrylic paint, spritzed Perfect Pearls for the background which was also stamped with a vintage style leaf. The leaves are stamped shrink plastic and the tree was a black and white down load that I coloured.
Can't think of anything else...oh yes...the sun was actually a Belle 'splodge' that I had to then fit in with the theme...it was purple to start with!
Hope everyone's having a good week.
Big 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

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

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

Scalloping and smiling!..

Hello. I hope everyones having a lovely weekend. I have the pleasure of being Guest Designer for the Basic Grey challenge blog this month and this weeks challenge is to create something using scallops.
This hanging picture frame is using the new 'Eva' papers which are now my firm favourites.
And this circular picture frame is using 'Gypsy' papers.
I hope everyone enjoys this challenge as much as I did.
Out with the girls tonight for a meal and tomorrow has been booked for blog hopping...all day...so see you then for a catch up!
Hugs,
Em.x

Shock, horror!

I've actually made something!
This is for the Basic Grey challenge which this week is all about 'distressed'. Papers are 'Infuse' and I've just distressed away!
I'm meeting all the other Mum's this afternoon for a walk round the park and then cake and coffee. Its the first time I will have been out of bed and out the house so really looking forward to it.
This evening I'm sitting down with a decent bottle of Shiraz and am going to spend the time doing something I have really missed....looking at what you have all been up to! LOL!
Big hugs,
Em.x

BG+Buttons=HEAVEN!!

My oh so talented pal Chris is one of the DT for the new Basic Grey challenge blog so I had to join in with the fun as 1) I adore BG and 2) she may shout at me! LOL!
The first challenge is to make a card using buttons...so here is my effort using acetate. My one button is vintage, papers are BG 'sultry' and there is memory wire behind the flower. I've really enjoyed making this so many thanks to Martine for coming up with such a brilliant challenge blog!
Hugs,
Emma,x

Black is back....

Hello. The challenge this week over at thisthursday is 'Black is back' in honour of Susie now becoming a lovely wife...many congratulations Susie...I hope the honeymoon is fantastic.

I've made this for my step mothers birthday next week...except Tracey is 6 months younger than me so its very bizarre calling her that!

Hope everyone is well.x

To you from me...

Hi. Papers are HOTP and have been distressed. Pearl brad from Poppicrafts and swirl is distressed chipboard. Ribbon flower hand sewn from stash.

Crafting + Tina + Belle + rainy afternoon = therapy for the soul.

Hugs,
Em.x

Royal birthdays...

Hello. We have lots of birthdays coming up so thought I had better make a start on the cards.
Recipe...frame was stamped then embossed then had 'photo' distressing ink rubbed over it.
The image is craftyindividuals. It was stamped onto card that had been coloured with aged inks and then re stamped onto tissue paper...carefully cut out and layered back over the image. Crown was stamped with writing and then glazed. Post mark was stamped and embossed with clear and then re stamped. Scroll was done on card distressed with ink then rolled. Button in flowers is a real vintage charity shop find!

I really do appreciate everyone that finds the time to stop by and read my blog so many thanks to you all.
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!

Distressed friendship

This is probably going to be my last 'post' for a couple of days as I've come down with a bit of a chest infection and its knocked my FM for six.
I decided to distress away on this for a bit of fun. Ripped paper (Basic Grey!) inked flowers, stamped image that I've coloured and then used crackle glaze on. The corners were done through the 'bug' and then I ran a distress ink pad across them.
I'm afraid I don't know where I got the verse from as its been on my laptop for ages so many thanks to whoever wrote it...its beautiful.
Finally, as I can hear my bed calling, I've got something really great for you to take part in towards the end of the week...but can't say anymore yet (but you will like this one!!).
I'll catch up with all your blogs when the 'lurgy' has left!
Hugs,

Crafters block.....

So to get our creative juices flowing again Gill and I set ourselves a challenge. Both of us had beautiful papers and stamps from http://www.craftyindividuals.co.uk/ so we each made a card to see what different styles and techniques we could come up with.

Gill's is beautiful with soft lilacs, pinks and purples. She used beads and ribbon to add texture and a graduated Versamarker for the stamp. Its so lovely and girlie!

Mine on the other hand is made using deep colours, chipboard, ribbon and acetate. To get the effect with the acetate I first stamped the image in deep red onto my paper. Next I stamped the image again using a black Stazon onto the acetate.

I then put the acetate on top of my paper image and slightly moved it so that you can see the red underneath the black.

The acetate is attached with brads.

We were amazed at how different they had turned out and both wanted each others!! LOL!