Wednesday 12th September

I have to go to the dentist today. To have my abcess checked out, and to get some antibiotics. I hate going to the dentist Lucky that I have one mind you, but even so I really am not looking forward to it. I just want a magic wand that will make the abcess go away. No such luck, so a visit to the local torture chamber is a must. Anyway as much as I feel sorry for myself, I am sure it is of little interest to anyone else. Other than crafting related stuff its the most excitement Ive had since coming back of holiday. Other than looking through my pics.
Have had some good news I have a project coming out in Simply Cards and papercraft in October , using my favorite craft tool the Craft Robo (kisses the Craft Robo on the desk) best craft item I ever bought.
Recieved the English Paper Company Christmas paper stack as well. Its really nice have fallen very heavily for a few of the papers and the others are really nice too. I know that they will all get used for cards and scrapping projects I have to do some Christmas cards for a Magazine project with them , but I hope to have a few extra to put on here at the end of next week, and possible some Christmas gift ideas with them as well.
Anyway yesterday I promised another in the swirly paper set as a freebee download so here it is

available to download HERE

Tuesday 11th September

I saw my grandchild for the 1st time yesterday, not that you could make out much on the scan picture, but I am so pleased and chuffed to be a nanny (well almost) Can t wait till Feb oh well must learn patience.
Messed around with more swirly paper designs today. This one based on the last swirly paper. I am offering it for free download. It looks much better full size . Just click and see for yourself

available to down load HERE
I also have another free paper based on the same design which will be available for download tommorow. So come back tommorow Please feel free to leave comments here . I look forward to seeing all the blogs of the people who download my papers.

Monday 10th Papercraft Junkies Challenge no 5

Well its Monday again and this is the 5th Papercraft Junkies Challenge.
This week is Natalie's (Natbag) turn to pick a subject - 'A to Z'
Nat says
"My challenge is called A to Z and I'd like you all to incorporate a letter or monogram in your LO/card/ATC/altered project. It can be one single letter, or a whole alphabet, and it can be about or for anyone you like - the choice is yours. "
Nice challenge nat with loads of scope for altered artists,scrapbookers and cardmakers
So here are my two examples


Both my examples are based around a monogram with a word cut out . These were both done with the Craft Robo (oh how I love my craft robo)
My favorite is the baby boy card I used the Clear Choice baby stamp set and whispers ink pads. I inked the monogram with two shades of blue then stamped the baby palm prints onto it, and used the its a boy stamp for the sentiment. I used a baby boy zipper pull by Junkitz, To finish I punched three holes wih a hole punch horizontally along right hand bottom edge. Then used the punch outs vertically on left hand edge

For the Mum card I used pink paisly patterned vellum over a dark green card base nled the monogam in pinks and stamped in black. I used pink flower brads and green permant maker from Sharpie to add the centers finished of with Amy Butler stickers.

I have as always designed a freebee paper to match the challenge so here it is

available to download here
Don t forget the winner of this weeks challenge will win a 15% discount code for Crafty Carrot

Sunday 9th September

Hello all

Well today hasd been another thrilling day in the life of Tracey.
Still suffering with an absess on my tooth (arrh) and pulled muscles over my ribs (aarh) which have curtailed my exploits in the tidying department . So again I have been playing around and have designed you another freebee paper. (Yeahhh) i really liked the last swirly paper so have been experimenting with more swirls. This time a more tropical and bright feel to the paper. Don t forget its Papercraft Junkies Challenge day tommorow and I have my examples already and my team mates examples are really lovely. So make sure you drop in and have a go. Dont forget that the entry picked as the winner will earn the entrant a 15% discount at Crafty Carrot so well worth taking the time to enter
anyway here is the freebee paper Hope you like it


which is available for download here

Friday 7th September

So what is happening in my world today. Im teaching this morning, and hoping to catch up on Magazine projects this afternoon. That is if I can tidy my craft room up 1st. Im definatly not one of the tidy craftroom gurus. Im way too disorganised, and I tend to get distracted and start experimnting when I should be tidying. Oh well one day my craft room will be orgnised properly, so that everything I want is not always at the bottom of the pile.

I have created another free paper for you

which is available to download here

Thursday 6th Sept

Have been back now for 4 days three of which I have had a migraine from hell. Today is my 1st day really back on track so have been working to catch up with Papercraft Junkies challenge for Monday . The winners of the previous challenges can be seen on the Junkies challenge thread.
Anyway I have also designed another freebee paper. Based on tooled and embossed leather

available to download here

Monday 3rd Sept 1.47 am

Told you I could nt wait to do a layout. Had a quick dabble with a simple digital layout using the paper and the photos . I will be using these on a paper layout in the near future but really wanted to see them all together straight away. (like you do) hope you like it

Sunday 2nd Sept

Well have been trawling through my multitude of piccies, I am really proud of some photos I took of a Cormorant or shag. So I thought I would take this opportunity to share them with you.







I can t wait to put them in a scrapbook layout. Talking of wildlife photography I am thinking or organising a wildlife photography crop with a professional Wildlife photographer. It would be a full 1 week residential on the Black Isle in Scotland where there is a wide variety of stunning wildlife with a photography course and scrapping projects based on the photographs you take during the day. The cost of the crop would be around £850.00 it would nt be until next year if this sounds of interest please e mail me rattytatty@fsmail.net

I have created a free paper for you based on my photographs its called feathers hope you like it



available to download here

Don t forget that its the new challenge at Papercraft Junkies tommorow (Monday just in case you are reading it on Monday) I am not doing an example for this weeks as half a day is not enough time, but I am already working on my example for next week so until next week enjoy this weeks wonderful examples from my talented team mates

2nd Sept 2007

Well two weeks and 3500 photos later and I am back from a wonderful holiday in Scotland. Loads of great inspirtion for my crafting and for papers. Don,t forget its the Papercraft Junkies Challenge on Monday. This time I dont have an example as I was away. However looking and the other design team members examples, you are in for loads of great inspiration. Catch you later

Monday 27th August

Papercraft Junkies challenge day again. Papercraft Junkies forum .Papercraft Junkies is the sister site of Crafty Carrot a great online shop owned by Tracey who's blog is here
As you now know, we are a very varied design team with everything from Atcs to Srapbooking and altered art included. More often than not we get carried away and have more than one example each for the challenges. So here is the challenge Something Old, Something New.
It can be old stash, new stash. Whatever old and new brings to mind. Wedding related. Grandparents with new grandchild. My 1st example is old stash new stash and old love new love.



Its my anniversary card for oh . Starting point I dug down to the bottom of my oldest stash box and took out the bottom paper. When I saw it . I thought it was a bit girly for a male anniversary card, however I think that the slightly oriental feel to the card. strengthens it. The Lillie's I bought when I 1st started card making . I bought a job lot of flowers and ended up with 100 lilies, of which I have probably used 10 all on sympathy cards. So that's the old. The new is the papermania chipboard stickers and reasonably new are the K & Co papers. It doesn't close flat so its a boxed card.

My second example is an old ufo in fact my 1st unfinished layout.



I had the two papers and the fibres done and the photos were adhered with re positionable in the center, Sometimes when I am planning I place repo in the center of my matted photos and then just move them around. When I am happy I can add glue to the edges of the photos without moving them. However the repo was nt very re positionable anymore well it was about 3 years ago that I did it. So that was my starting point. The new is the little metal flowers which I bought at a bead fair , The small photos are enlarged sections of the paintings in the main photo. I liked the subdued effect the blurring created.

So that's my two examples

Don't forget you can enter the challenge yourself at papercraft Junkies.
So go along to the forum and look at all Papercraft Junkies talented design team team mates wonderful examples. If you enter the challenge yourself , there is a 10% discount voucher for the best entry chosen by the design team.available to Uk and non uk residents .
My Design team mates blogs are all in my links section
Come along to Papercraft Junkies Challenge thread to see all the design team examples and join in the challenge for a chance to win a 10% discount at Crafty Carrot online shop

I also have a something old, something new freebee paper download for you
I started by photographing an old crochet doily to create this new paper for you

available to download HERE
craft

Wednesday 23rd August

4 Days to enter this weeks Challenge on Papercraft Junkies and 4 Days left till the New Challenge, again there are some stunnng examples by my Design Team mates, so come on and join in or just come along to take a look.
As I said last week I am extremly busy but just popped in to post a quick freebee. I will try and post a freebee later in the week, as per usual there will be a freebee paper on Monday in the same post as next weeks challenge.



available to download HERE

Monday 20th August

Well today is the day the 2nd challenge appears on Papercraft Junkies forum .Papercraft Junkies is the sister site of Crafty Carrot a great online shop owned by Tracey whos blog is here

When this challenge was announced I could nt believe my luck. I bought a frame from Wilkinsons a few weeks before to do a framed lo for my Oh for our Anniversary on the 18th. I was going to do our Favorite places (probably too many for one lo) when the challenge was announced well it just made it all so easy. My Oh loves steam trains, well to be honest I quite like them myself. especially the dark green ones with all the polished brass , They look stunning.
So the challenge Trains, Planes and Automoblies (Transport)was the answer to a prayer and here is my 1st example



He was over the moon when he received it.

I also did a quick ATC



Go along to the challenge thread to see wonderful examples by all the other Papercraft Junkies Design team members. Have a go at the challenge yourself and if you live in the uk there is a 10% discount for the best entry. Open to non uk crafters, obviously postage is more expensive,
Also I have designed this paper

which is available for download HERE
So come along to Papercraft Junkies Challenge thread and have a go
craft

Sat 18th August

Well not much in the way of crafting done today. Have my examples done for Mondays Papercraft junkies Challenge and have seen the other design team members examples. its a really good one. So make sure you come along to be inspired. You still have till Sunday night to upload your entries for this weeks.

Anyway heres a quick freebee

NEON REFLECTIONS

available for download HERE

Friday 17th Aug

Well I know that I am going to be even busier for the next two weeks, I can promise you that I will be Posting on Monday (Papercraft junkies Challenge Day) and Wednesday both With free papers , and the Monday of the week after. Other than that I will have to see if I can squeeze a minute here and there.

Beacause I was so kindly listed on the blog artyouspecial. A blog that lists all the non flowery usual paper downloads and lists those more grungy or arty papers I am posting two more freebees.

ARTYMESH Overlay

and
BATIK SPIN

both available for download HERE
You can combine the two for another look

Thursday 16th Aug

Again just nipped in to give away another freebee. Dont forget 3 days to enter the PaperCraft Junkies Challenge entries can be seen HERE Design team examples are on the challenge thread.

Anyway on to the freebee
here is a digi 12 by 6 I created with my freebee
a Vellum style frame

Frame is available to download HERE Please ignore how it looks on black background and wait for full preview. Dont forget to leave a comment on my blog thanks and if you ve used aby of my papers I would love to see them so leave a post

Wednesday 15th August

Well have managed another quick 5 minutes to do a quick post. 4 days left to enter this weeks Paper Craft junkies Challenge, and 4 days till next challenge. Great to see so many new members to the forum, Entries to the challenge can be seenHERE

Really love next weeks challenge examples can t wait to share them with you.

Talking of sharing here is a set of papers I think you may like


available as individual downloads (just download the ones you like) HERE
If you have downloaded any of my papers I would love you to leave a comment, or if you have used my papers in any projects a post with a comment so I can come to your blog and take a look.

Tuesday 14th August

So nice to see so many new members signing up to the Papercraft Junkies Forum, so we are looking forward to seeing all the new members entries for the challenge.
Due to loads of commitments the rest of this week and the next two weeks. life is going to be very hectic, so I may find it difficult to post anything. I will be posting the challenge post on Mondays so please come back for that. But may not be able to post in between. I will be posting free papers on the challenge days, next weeks is already designed and waiting to go. Hope that you like it.
Just thought that Id put on a couple of more free paper downloads today.





available for download HERE

I will try to put some other downloads on during the next two weeks (Im not promising because with my schedule I will probably not have time to catch my breath never mind post, but if I can I will , So come back and check. However I will definatly be posting for the Papercraft Junkies on Mondays so see you then

There is still time to enter this weeks Papercraft Junkies Challenge HERE
you do have to be registered with papercraft Junkies Forum, but its free and easy to do so Come along and join in the fun
craft

Papercraft Junkies 1st Challenge Monday 13th August

Well today is the 1st challenge appears on Papercraft Junkies forum .Papercraft Junkies is the sister site of Crafty Carrot a great online shop owned by Tracey whos blog is here

The challenge is summer weather and here are my examples for the challenge this week .


Indian Summer pendant *well we are all hoping for an Indian Summer)


Quick Atc the using the phrases Summer Breeze,Summer Rain and Summer Sun. I decided to add umberellas as boats bobbing along because of all the rain we ve had this summer.



Thank you card using the verse from Summer Breeze (I think by the Isley brothers but could be wrong) Summer breeze Makes me feel fine, Blowing through the Jasmine in my mind. So used a picture of jasmine as the main part of the card. (I have always loved this line it always reminds me of summer and I love the smell of jasmine there is nothing quite so exotically, stunningly aromatic)



Quick summery get well card.
To see all the other team members wide variety of entries (including scrapbook Los, Atcs and cards ) look in the
Papercraft Junkies Challenge Thread and enter the challenge for a chance to win a small prize. You must register on the forum to enter the challenge. New registrations moderated daily Look forward to seeing all your lovely work. All entries for challenge must be in the challenge thread on Papercraft Junkies to be eligable to win.

All design team blogs are also in my link section
and as an added bonus I decided to design a 12 by 12 paper based on the theme Summer weather

which is available for download HERE
See you next Monday for next weeks challenge which I must admit to being really inspired by, so much so ,that I started it within 30 mins of getting the challenge. Must also admit to being really pleased with 1st example but will probably do one or two more before next monday. Be seeing you then.
craft

Saturday again

Here are a couple more freebee papers for you to download. Hope you like them



available to download HERE

Friday

Well Im all ready for tommorows demo at Alexander paper supplies at Dagfields. 11. till 4pm. Im demoing shaped cards and making your own templates. So if your interested pop along.
I have designed some faux embossed items for a card for those interested in rock music whic i am putting on as a free download

and

available to download HERE

Thursday

Just a toot to myself I have a project featured on Making Cards Magazines website. Have been in the magazine quite a few times. Its one of my favorite card making magazines as the free papers they give away each month are usually stunning and include printed vellum.
Anouther great peice of news I have a new camera Yeah
its a Panasonic Lumix FZ8 which is a bridging camera, it has the ability to be a simple point and shoot or be almost as adaptable as a digital SLR . I wanted it because its got a great zoom and image stabilization. It means you dont need to carry loads of lenses around with you.


Isnt she beautiful all I have to do is give her a name
Bertha (sounds reliable and stable what every one wants in a camera)

Wednesday again

well its the summer classes on UKscrappers, and I relly did nt think I would have time to do any but, well you know how it is. No intention of scrapping as you have housework and other stuff to do , then you find yourself inspired and off you go. Next thing you know you cant stop.
Anyway 1st Class Love Is... by Crafty Pastimes
Anyway I have had these pics and spiders (came with a net as a halloween decoration) since halloween and really could nt decide what to do with them. Anyway i really love this Lo. I used the spiders instead of photo turns and I think they work really well



Stamped the background using Autumn leaves flourish stamps.

Wednesday 8th August

have been really busy creating more samples for my demonstration at Alexander paper Supplies on Saturday, I will be demonstrating shaped cards, and template making. Which I am really looking forward too.
I have also been preparing my Papercraft Junkies design team examples for Monday. which are all now done and dusted. really enjoyed playing around with the theme.
So had a little time tonight to complete my UKS rikrak raver team mate Emmas challenge. Which was use a list, something tropical and the colour blue. So here is my lo
Things I am definatly not (digital)



I used a tropical flower photo to create the background, and Shabby Princess ornate stamps set,,which I really love.

So if your looking for a scrapping challenge. What are you definatly not

Yippie

Well its now all official, and I can announce that I have been chosen as part of the Papercraft Junkies Design team.Papercraft Junkies is the sister site of Crafty Carrot a great online shop owned by Tracey whos blog is here I would also like to congratulate all my fellow Design team members
Fiona Haigh-Gannon (Fe-Fe)
Jayne Loughlin (jay670120)
Melissa Smith (melissa)
Natalie Jubb (NatBag)
Paula Whittaker (BettyBoo)
Taslimah Dauhoo (Tassy)

Paper Craft Junkies is a crafters forum, so come along and have a look. Well we have chosen the 1st challenge, and I have already had a play. I have really enjoyed it so far and there are one or two peices vieing to be my final peice. The 1st Challenge will be announced and the Design team examples will be on the forum on the 13th August pop in and be inspired. We are a varied team so expect to see altered art, atcs, scrapbook layouts and cards. So no matter what your crafting adiction is there should be something for everyone

I also would like to share my 1st Canvas. Which I really like. Can see myself doing loads of these. Watch out friends and Family I see Canvases for Christmas



Also playing with framed los . so will enjoy that as well

Sunday 29th July

One of my favorite places for Digital designs is Designer Digitals. Not only because they have great Digi kits and packs for sale but because they run great challenges with free downloadables. This week I looked at the three challenges which were the Web Challenge, the quote challenge, and the ad challenge. I set myself a challenge to create a lo with all three freebees and fulfilling all three challenges. I had nt got a suitable photo so used a copywrite free photo from Revivals 10,000 photo cd.
I liked the blue that was left around this dancer on the photo and incorporated it into the design. I wanted to create a lo full of movement for the dance and full of joy of life. Anyway here it is

Friday 27th July

Well just come back from my £5.00 challenge layout day at my sisters. Really pleased with my layout and hidden tag. I wanted to use both sides of my papers. so cut a corner and slotted my photo into it then turned over the edge. My tag is the purple flower hidden behind the flap. It really helped to make me more creative to get the most out of my £5.00 , and I still have quite a lot left to play with. I also prnted my photo on matt and glossy photo paper , Then decoupaged the glossy on top of the mat paper to create more depth. I really like the effect and want to try it again with a coloured photo



So if you are looking for a lo challenge. Then limit yourself to spending no more than £5. If you do one i would love you to put a link here so i can see your creations

Thursday 26th July

Well yesterday My sister, her friend Ann and myself went shopping for items for a £5.00 layout challenge. Which we will be doing tommorow. I managed to buy 4 double sided cardstock pages that the shop was selling off from a partially used K and Co scrap pad . A set of Anitas peel offs 3 sheets of flower peel offs in 3 colours. 2 A4 peices of coloured acid free cardstock and 5 quarter meters of organza ribbon. I think thats it. All the purchases have been swopped till tommorow so no one can pre prepare any items. You are only allowed to use a straight cutter, scissors,hole punch, craft knife and one journalling pen. No clever bits and peices, no templates. You can print of 1 title to handcut but thats it. No die cutters. No items to be used that were not purchased yesterday.
I really love all my purchases and can#t wait to see what I can create tommorow. As soon as i have finished my lo I will upload it to my blog for you all to see.
Wish me luck

Wednesday 25th July

Love trying new things, so promised myself that I would try something new (to me) on my layout. Love Die Cuts with a View retro stack. So used some of those. I have never coloured the background of a photo and have never done anything other than put text onto a photo. So decided to alter my photos on this Scrapbook Layout.
Use scraffito and a hole punch and an orange permanant marker to match the photos to the layout. the scraffito is to mirror the straight lines and the punched holes the polka dot pattern.
I really enjoyed altering my photos . so if you want a challenge alter your photos on your next layout.