Weird experience.....

......I have been stuck at my boyfriend's for most of this week...stranded by all the white stuff!! I have been cut off from the internet and separated from my craft stash (I knew I needed to refill the goodies that I keep at his, but I kept forgetting!!). I have had the last chapter of a book and daytime TV to keep me going! My knee is still not happy at the moment, so I had to stay indoors!! It has been a slightly depressing week, and I thought that come today when I was reunited with all my crafting items that I would be rearing to go.

Image my disappointment to realise that my heart's just not in it today!

Its one of those days.....I've pottered around doing not much really, and half heartedly trying to make cards. Its a bit weird to be honest! I'm blaming the snow (and my dodgy knee), I just want to curl up in bed and try and keep warm....or I want to stuff my face with comfort food all day! Neither of these things are particularly productive though!

Anyway, thats my moaning out of the way......I have managed to make one card that is worthy of sharing....and it fits in with a couple of card challenges which always makes me happy!

Over on Cute Card Thursday they have a challenge called "All New!" and they want to see cards with a new theme.....I opted for the new stash option and used a new present topper that I have been given for Christmas (part of a set). The DT have come up with some fab examples to inspire you: http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.com/2010/01/challenge-94-all-new.html

The layout I have used for this card comes from Mina at Truly Scrumptious Challenges. Its the first time I have visited this blog and I love it! Check out the DT examples for this challenge: http://trulyscrumptiouschallenges.blogspot.com/2010/01/challenge-23_05.html. As well as the layout they gave an extra optional challege of using pink, green and black as the colour scheme......not sure what happened...I seem to have missed the green out! Whoops!

For the card I used a black and white funky flowers backing paper, along with some bring pink card squares. I then used two circles - the bottom one is a hatched vellum and that is topped with a circle of handmade paper. I added the present topper and some little flowers for a girlie touch!

I'm hoping that tomorrow I will get my mojo back and will be maling cards all day...but for now I think I hear my bed calling!

Just before I go....one last thing....HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHEREE! Hope you had a fab day Hun! xx

Thanks for stopping by,
Wedgie xxx

I'm a card making weirdo!

Morning everyone - I've made an overnight discovery.....I think I might just need a doctor's opinion, but I'm pretty sure that I might be obsessed with crafting!! After I posted last night and did some Tweeting, I then found myself hunting for more card challenges to do....thinking to myself that I'd write them down and complete them over the next week.......then I found one that I really liked.....and you guessed it.....I started making the card!! It was 11:30pm and there I was in my PJs making another card! I'm mad! The central heating was cooling down, my cosy bed was calling out to me....I couldn't feel my toes....and yet I carried on making away! What a weirdo!

Anyway, I'm pleased to share with you my latest make, which was design to fit in with the card challenge over at the Caardvarks blog - since my success with the last sketch card I decided to challenge myself and make another...luckily thats the challenge: http://caardvarks.blogspot.com/2010/01/happy-new-year.html The sketch was a nice simple one and the DT have produced amazing cards - each one so different, but all using the same sketch in one way or another - take a peek!

I've followed their sketch exactly, using a pre-printed Papermania card for the green backing, I then layered a piece of plain blue paper on top. I created the scalloped edge by cutting by hand (hence the little wonky look!). I've used mini flowers with a Papermania gem in the centre and tiny buttons as the embellishments, and a pre-printed sentiment which I cut to size. Finally I used some trusty glitter glue to make the little lines (slightly wonky once again!).

Anyway, just a short post this morning...but watch this space...there are plenty more card challenges out there for me to get stuck into!

Hope you have a good day and thanks for stopping by.
Wedgie xxx

New beginnings....

...evening everyone - Happy New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful new year, mine was spent on the sofa at a friend's house while our other halves played Scaletrix all night - yes you read that correctly....ALL NIGHT!! I had a little go, it was fun, but really...how long can watching little cars go around the same track be exciting for?? I suppose thats why I am a girl!!

So, another year has begun....as you'll know I've already set my resolutions and I'm pleased to say that I have already acted on one of them too. Over the holidays I did some surfing on the internet (as you do) and came across this fab website: http://www.cutehandmade.com/ that features everything cute and handmade! It truely is a celebration of cute handmade items - take a look and see for yourself! Inspired by my resolution of believing in myself more I contacted Brooke the blog host and applied to be featured. I checked my emails today and to my delight found an email from Brooke saying that I will be appearing on the blog! This is soooo cool, and I am a tad bit pleased with my efforts! I think I am appearing on 12th Jan - so watch this space! This is a great start to the new year!

Talking of new beginnings that is the theme of a card that I've created that fits into no less than three card challenges this week (yes, I am very pleased with myself again!). To be specific we're talking new babies......

....the basis of this sweet new baby card is the Sketchtastic challenge over on Cute Card Thursday. If you visit their blog they have provided the basic sketch to base your card on: http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.com/2009/12/challenge-93-sketchtastic.html. I'm only just getting into this concept of card making and I am really enjoying it. For inspiration the DT have produced an array of fab designs. The theme for the card came first from the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - the ladies there wanted to see projects featuring New Beginnings...it could be anything from new home, to weddings to new babies....again the DT produced some amazing designs: http://thesecretcraftersaturdaychallenge.blogspot.com/2010/01/challenge-64.html. While thinking about which new beginning to design I took a look at the Cupcake Craft Challenges blog and found my final inspiration....as they are looking for new baby cards! It was obviously meant to be!http://cupcakecraftchallenges.blogspot.com/2010/01/challenge-72baby-card.html

The card is made using lots of pink scrap paper, layered as the sketch shows. I've used a foam purple "Baby" sentiment, which compliments the pink and lilac rocking horse topper. Both the sentiment and the image are raised slightly, giving the card some depth. I've also used pretty ribbon to add a delicate touch to the card. I was quite pleased with how this has turned out.....

Before I go I just want to share one other mini project with you - this one features my favourite embelishment os the moment.....you've guessed it....buttons!!  I've created this cute hanging ornament using a mixture of buttons from my trusty button box, some leftover ribbon and jewellery wire.

First off I selected the buttons I liked best and created the heart shape on my craft desk. I then cut a very long piece of wire and started to thread the buttons on one at a time. I shaped the heart as I went along, and then finally attached the ribbon at the back using the wire. This was actually a fairly difficult project, probably because I did use a ridiculously long piece of wire which kept pinging about the place! I thought I was going to poke my eye out at one point! Its not perfect yet, but I'm sure there is a saying about practice (and patience) making perfect! It was so cute I wanted to share with you!

Anyway, another long blog - sorry! Just so much to share this time.....I haven't been able to access the internet since New Year's Eve!!!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoy my makes - maybe even given them a go yourself!

Enjoy,

Wedgie xxx

New Year's Resolutions??

Morning all - see I told you I love having time off from work...here I am again....and yes I have been crafting again!! First of all though I've been thinking about resolutions....New Year Resolutions to be precise. At this time of year magazines, telly, friends and family are all asking what resolutions we'll be making for the coming year....I always rack my brain and come up with the same old ones that I never keep....stop biting my nails, get fit etc, etc!

This year I've decided to make a couple that I can keep.....I want to go to places that I've never been to, those places that I always think I'd like to visit but that I never have time to go to....I want to go to the Tate Modern and see what all the fuss is about and I want to experience a ballet (Becca would you like to join me on this one??). There are loads more places, but thats a good start. Its not necessarily about me-time, I'm happy to enjoy my experiences with others, its more about actually making time to do the things that I enjoy.

My final resolution is a big one - I'm going to start believeing in myself and my abilities.....I enjoy card making and love sharing my makes with everyone and I've always said I want to set up a small business selling them, but I've never actually got around to doing it - there is always something holding me back. Hopefully this resolution will help me with this little dream....watch this space!

Right, I'll stop rambling now and show you my latest makes...thats if you're still reading and didn't switch off in the last two paragraphs!!

I've really enjoyed making these cards, and have turned to my collection of old craft magazines for inspiration. My favourite magazine and the one I subscribe to is PaperCraft Inspirations - always full of great ideas!

The first card features a guitar, crafted out of blue and yellow paper. I created my sentiment on the computer, highlighted it using more yellow paper and I added music notes as a backing.

The second card is another one that could be given to boys as well as girls (no pink paper or glitter for a change!). I've created a game console controller from white and grey paper, along with some coloured dots for the buttons. Again, I used my trusty computer to create the sentiment.

The final two are directly inspired by the pages of PaperCraft Inspirations (Jan 2010 issue). The flowers are created from pink and green paper and I've added a little glitter to this one (couldn't resist!). Mum thinks these aren't delicate enough, but I like them!

I've created a London scene for the last one - my imitation Big Ben is again made out of coloured paper and lots of glue! The bus has been attached using 3D adhesive pads, giving a little depth to the card.

I enjoy creating cards like this, using paper to create images rather than using pre-made embellishments. There is something very satisfying about the process. You may not get it right first time, but try again, as when you get it right you'll be really pleased with yourself!

Anyway, this is probably my last blog of 2009 - thanks for joining me and I hope to see you again in 2010!

Happy New Year!

Wedgie xxx

Thank You!

Evening all. thanks for dropping by. If you're a regular reader you'll know that I got pretty spolit this Christmas with loads of fab presents. I am pleased to say that I've been using my time off really well and I have already made my thank you cards...now I just have to remember to send them! Ha, ha!

I wanted to show you a selection of the cards that I have created......

....first off is my favourite one, which features my embellishment of the moment...BUTTONS! I really like using buttons as they add a new dimension to the cards and make them more touchy feely.

On this card I have used a beautiful piece of backing paper and complemented it with rose coloured lacey ribbon and three buttons (chosen from my new Cath Kidston button box - thanks mum!). I like the number three for embellishments, not sure why, but I think it looks better. I've chosen three different colours to add interest and I have hand sewn them onto the paper.

I've finished off with another of my favourites - sparkly glitter glue!

A very pretty card I'm sure you'll agree!

My next two cards show off a new technique that I've been experiementing with....stamping...well to be honest I am rubbish at stamping, so I've been a little decadent and bought the images from EBay......

......I still think its a new technique however because I colour them in myself. I use pens called Whispers Strokes from Sugarloaf Productions. They come in vibrant colours and have a thick and thin nib, which means they are great for general colour and for more delicate work.

Buttons, ribbon and glitter glue all make an appearance again!

Finally I'd like to show you a very colourful card, I've kept this one simple using a pretty backing paper, co-ordinating papers on top and a cute little paper flower...topped off with another button (I told you I like buttons at the moment!).

Again the button is hand stitched onto the card, and I've used glitter glue to add sparkle.

There are others too....but I don't want to bore you! I'm enjoying not being at work, its nice to be able to relax when crafting instead of trying to cram a whole load of cards into one evening.

As well as crafting I have been to the cinema with my sister, done a little antique shopping (sis bought the most amazing tea cup trio from the 1830s) and I've even coloured my hair again! Shame that work is calling....still I have till the 4th Jan to enjoy and indulge!

Anyway, I hope you've enjoyed these cards.........Wedgie xxx