my entry for Taylored Expressions #70

Here's my entry for Taylored Expressions Cupcake Challenge no 70.

This is a fantastic sketch, so easy to use. I'l definitely be using this again. As well as the Tilda (stamp from my friend,Carole's collection), I used Hero Arts cupcake stamp, SU 'Oval All' set and oval and oval scallop punches and HOTP papers, (ribbon from my stash).

I used these Copics:

Dress - R20, R35, R32, Skin -E000, E02, E50, E51, Hair, Shoes, Spoon- E31, E37, E35, E47, Shirt - B00 and Blender Pen, Wings - B60, Cupcake - YR31, YR28. I added a few white highlights with a white Ranger Inkessentials pen, and added some shimmer with a Sakura stardust pen.

After reading Aimes' news about her being featured on Stamp a Sweet Impression, I was so chuffed for her! The gals goin' global!

I've been altering things again, but nothing finished to show you yet. Works in progress - altered catfood box to make a letter holder, and an altered noodle box to make a bird house.

The errant son has been better behaved this week, a good telling off by my DH, a thorough grounding and removal of his privileges seemed to work. In particular, removal of the laptop - he has a MSN addiction. Let's hope it lasts!

Jan Tink's story she shares about her son with the 'Wayward Finger ' came at just the right time to make me laugh about the trials and tribulations of parenting, check it out, she's got a great sense of humour.

I've recently found a fab site called The Pioneer Woman, I love it! As well as amazing photos and stories of life on the ranch, Ree shares loads of fab recipes. I'm making her 'Chicken Salad' to take to work with me for at least the next two night duties - easy and delicious!

TTFN!

Isn't she lovely, isn't she wonderful...

My entry for the Copic Creations challenge no 4, Blonde Hair.
Copics used - Y00, Y21, YR31, E31.

Go on, sing along to the title...

At last a bit of crafting time and I've finally made a card this week!

I love this Tilda, she's just so cute. I made the mistake of colouring her before I'd chosen paper to make the card though - finding something to match took ages. In the interests of 'using up the stash' I used some HOTP papers (stripe and pale green) along with the scalloped polka dot paper I had left over from the acrylic album.

I turned to the trusty Diamond Glaze to highlight the raindrops and the puddle, and for once it flowed out straight away because last time I used it I remembered to rinse out the nozzle (I usually spend several minutes cursing the nozzles as I unbung them!)

I ordered quite a lot of craft stuff this week because I was

1. fed up with my son, and

2. fed up with having increased my hours at work

3. reasoning that increased hours at work this = more spending money



So, most of my stuff has arrived, except for the stuff from 'create and craft' (which incidentally had the highest postage charges, hmmph!).

Amongst other things, I ordered a couple of Tildas and various objects/backgrounds to make little scenes. Oooh they're very cute, wait til you see them!

Oh dear, I'm really struggling to find time to craft at the moment. I've not made anything this week, and I think I'm regretting increasing my hours at work. On top of that, my 13 year old son is being a right pain in the arse.

Michelle loved the acrylic album, BTW. There were tears in her eyes when she saw it! Tears of joy of course LOL!

I've received a blog award from my crafty friend Helen, thanks Helen, this is an interesting one. I have to list 10 honest things about myself, so here goes:


1. I am short and fat (does this count for two?) with a BMI of 39. I don't need a number to tell me I'm fat, I have a mirror for that, as I told the practice nurse at my GP's.


2. I have a big sense of humour, and love to laugh and make others laugh.

3. I find being a parent hard.

4. I only own one dress (worn once!) and hate wearing high heels.


5. I don't like gardening, but I wish I did.

6. I like body art, I have two tattoos. Oh and I had my navel pierced 15 years ago, way before it was popular (and before I was the owner of a BMI of 39!). Because we didn't know any better, a friend did it with the gun she used for piercing ears and the whole thing got stuck. Which made me hysterical with laughter while my friend was panicking, trying to get it out.


7. Occasionally, I still get emotional when I deliver a baby.


8. I'm calm in a crisis (vital in my job).

9. I like reptiles and have two pet snakes.

10. I wish I had travelled more when I was younger.

So, now you know a bit more about me!

The rules of the blog award are -


Thank the person who gave you the award and link to their blog

Put a pic of the 'Honest Scrap' award on your blog

List 10 honest things about yourself

Pass it on to at least 7 other worthy bloggers

Let them know you've passed it on!




So who do I want to know more about? I think I'll pass it on to


Aimes
Debbie
Teri
Alex

Sara

Elizabeth
Michelle


Right I'm off now to let each of these lovely ladies know that they've got an award!

under pressure

Sorrreee! I've not posted for a whole week, naughty!

After 4 night shifts, I wasn't human until Wednesday, so I've had no finished projects to show you until today. I've been making a mini-album for my friend, Michelle, whose daughter turns 18 this weekend.

This was a perfect opportunity to use this 'Brenda Pinnick' kit , bought (on impulse, as usual) from the QVC when it had free postage. This is the first acrylic album I've made (I know, I'm behind with the trends!) and it took a bit of planning out. So without further ado, I'll show you the goods.

Extras used include: stuff from my stash - flowers, gemstones, buttons, charm. A few extra ribbons and K&Co butterfly stickers , and stamping using white Staz-On onto the acrylic. The chipboard numbers were painted with Ranger acrylics/ covered with Doodlebug glitter CS, large letters are cut with QK 'Spicy Chicken' Revolution dies. The back is just finished with a Inkadinkadoo 'handmade' stamp.

I've made a useful discovery - Sansodor removes Stazon on Acrylic! I might clean all my acrylic blocks sometime...

Michelle was a bit limited for photos of her daughter - last year she had a house fire and lost all her photos, luckily her mum had a few pics that we copied. Michelle's collecting it later today, I think she'll be pleased with it!

I'm going to have a tidy now and decide whether to do some stamping or watch craft telly. I've got to catch up with the Stamp with Us classes too, and then before I'll know it, I'm going to be working all weekend again!

spring cleaning

Yep, that's right, I've been cleaning! What started out as a small job has bloomed into a major clear-out of my youngest son's room. I can't believe how much stuff I've got rid of, either given away, or taken to the tip for recycling. I'm surprised our house hadn't sunk under the weight of all the c*** we'd kept! Feels so gooood to throw away stuff!

Anyway his room now looks tons better (although I'm now painfully aware it needs decorating LOL).

Then I decided to take over a cupboard in our dining room. That's where I do all my projects, so the CDs, DVDs and PS2 games/console have had to move over. Most of my stuff is in the under-stairs cupboard, but of course I need more space! Anyway, it looks great, and all the cubbyholes that once housed CDs are now home to various stamps, cuttlebug folders, acrylic paints etc. Hopefully it'll stay tidy (I didn't call myself messy crafter for nothing!

So I'll share a quick pic of my nice tidy cupboard.

Ta da! OK, not perfectly tidy but all this is much better in here than lined up along the windowsill, right? Look at my Stampin Up! sets in the cubbyholes -hee!

And the bright green box at the left of the cupboard is holding all my chipboard, I have a plan to alter that at some time.

I did 3 more layouts for my friends album, I'll share those soon.

I'm working for the next 4 nights - groan, I've got too used to being off work for the last week. So as usual, no crafting until next week! See you then.

scrappy

Wednesday already. Actually that's a bonus, cos I thought it was Thursday today!! That's what having a week's holiday does to you. I've started the scrapbook 'commission' (I think that sounds a bit pretentious, but I don't have another word for it right now LOL).

After trimming the pics then matting them all on cream paper, I've done 5 layouts so far. I love that K&CO Wild Saffron paper, but I'm having to be a bit sparing with it, as there's quite a few pages to go yet! Base cardstock is the DCWV neutral pad, lovely stuff. The LO's aren't completely finished as the embellies haven't gone on yet. I thought I'd do that last, when the album is finished.

Shall I show you a few pages then? BTW, as they're not my kids, and with the evils of the www, I've 'de-faced' everyone.

I've used one of my SU 'Hodgepodge hardware' pieces on the next 'Raffles' LO, I flooded it with diamond glaze, I think it looks rather good!

That's all for now, I'm going to try to do 2 more LO's tonight. I might even get time to do the SwU project.

all crafted out

I haven't done any creating today - I think I'm all crafted out after yesterday!

Tonight I'm going to make some notelets to go in the swing-hinged box (from the Stamp with Us classes), and then I've got a lovely little gift (it could be useful as a 'teacher gift' for the end of term). I don't have any plans for the other box yet.

This is the first time I've done on-line classes and 'Stamp with Us' is proving to be great value for money. I paid £20 for one class a couple of weeks ago, so the £15 for SwU is great!

I've mainly used products from the Stampin' Up! mini catalogue to make these boxes. I love the way everthing co-ordinates so effortlessly..I WANT MORE!! No, seriously, I do! My April SU order is coming tomorrow though, so that's exciting.

I've resisted buying anything from QVC (well, apart from a new cutting mat...yawn...) which, considering it's 'Craft Day' is pretty good, I think.

Speaking of tomorrow, I've got to start to get to grips with doing a scrapbook for a colleague. I'm finally going to use all that K&Co 'Wild Saffron' stash that I've been hoarding - I mean saving! I've got some gorgeous felt ribbons that I brought back from the USA, I can't wait to use those. Julie is coming round to be my 'labourer' LOL , she'll be matting photos etc. So it'll be another busy day!

busy, busy

The last 24 hours seem to have been a crafting whirl, I've been a busy bee.
I've finished the communion card, love this colour combo, (actually dark brown and aqua). I showed my new Stampin Up! set, 'In the Stars' some love, used as a background and part of the sentiment. Peel-offs for the main focal, stuck on mirri card. I think I'm happy with it.

And taking part with the Stamp with Us launch party and challenges took care of Friday night. Two cards, each with a time limit of 45 minutes - I've never cut, stamped and stuck so fast in my life! When I'd finished, the dining table looked like an explosion in a paper factory!

The card on the left is stamped with Stampin' Up! 'Soft Summer' and the card on the right is stamped with 'In the stars'.

I've also made two boxes, I'll post pics of those tomorrow.

Boo!

I've made this waterfall card for one of my orders - the remit was a 'cute' christening card.
Sorry about the pic of the co-ordinating box - it's a bit blurry!

Yes, you read that name correctly - she's called 'Boo Anne'! And no, the parents aren't celebs!

Anyway, it's taken a few hours to get this right to be honest, the name is stamped, but I had trouble getting it straight and joined up - I am just rubbish at straight lines! I've used a few peel-offs of crosses as I didn't want the expense of buying 'religious' themed stamps.

The stickers are by Eno crafts - fab value at only £1.95 for the sheet - and I've 2 left over to decorate the inside of the card.

Received a lovely parcel in the post today - some SU! goodies bought from Alex. Take a look at her blog, she makes such lovely things. I've bought the Hodgepodge Hardware set, In the stars stamp set and the star punch. I've got another order for a 1st communion card (for a boy), so I can see the star set being really useful for that. Although I have also seen a Magnolia 'Edwin' that may also be useful. (I can feel my left click /' buy ' finger getting itchy!) I had a look at decoupage sheets for communion cards, but TBH, they all put me in mind of funerals, so I think modern and fresh is the way to go!

Are we all excited about the Stamp with Us challenge tonight? I've got my envelope ready - I'm going to set out tools etc, I can't wait! See you on the live chat on there!