Saturday Sunday 20th 21st Still feeling under the weather

Well all
Have felt bad all day, class went well though. We did doodling your own journalling blocks, Very quiet class, it usually is if they feel its a challenge, still had a laugh though.
Anyway have nipped on again to give another freebee download. This time a vintage paper, if its popular I will do a different colourway tommorow Hopefully

If you like it you can download it Free Paper Download

Don't forget only 5 days left to comment before I draw the winner for the English paper Company christmas collection 72 real papers for you to use for Christmas projects and cards etc.

If I don't make it on tommorow , I apologise in advance , Hope I do to do the other colourway, by the way , can't wait for you to see Mondays Challenge paper its my favorite yet

Friday 19th October Feeling a little rough

Well I had planned to do some crafting and have loads of examples for you yesterday, as well as getting my examples finised for Mondays Papercraft junkies Challenge, but felt really off all day and have neded up doing very little. Still feel off and i am teaching this morning so wish me luck.

Anyway i have managed to nip on to leave you a freebee


If its to your taste you can download it free Free Paper Download

Don't forget to comment to have a chance of winning my blog candy giveaway for more info and samples of what you can make with the English paper company christmas collection if you are the lucky winner please read Blog Candy posts.
Don t forget you can get extra tickets for a layout about yourself, or for spreading news of my giveaway on your blog.

Thursday 18th October. Chipboard frames

As part of a design pack from Papercraft Junkies I recived some chipboard elements. Now although I thought they were really nice, they are probably something I would nt have bought myself. Always up for a challenge I decided to start with tht part of my pack. I wanted to do something special with them, They are so easy t adapt and I wanted to show thatbut just wasn't happy with my very numerous ideas. However I was looking at them yesterday morning and suddenly inspiration hit.
So I set to it and before I knew it I'd created this for my sister. Its to remind her of her wedding day and about how close her family are.



I punched holes in the frames . The wires in the middle section start on one edge of the top frame get wrapped around the title and end up on the opposite edge of the bottom frame. I used a large chipboard flower and inked it with black then edged it in green marker, added the prima flower and letter brad. attached the chipboard letters . Inked the edge of the family matters chipboard and adhered that to the bottom frame . Added the paper flower, Used the Heidi Swapp paper ribbon to create a stem and to pick up on the pinks in the photo, added th paper flower and button with thread detail. Added some fibres to the bottom and a dome sticker and a pink and green paper flower to the bottom frame to pick up on the pink from the top frame.

Anyway Yvette really loves it and is hanging it in her livingroom. Im always really pleased when Yvette likes my stuff as being a crafter herself, and a good one at that, she is really honest. You know when you've spent ages on something and you think that somethings still not right, well I always take them to Yvettes abd as if she likes it, If she does then I'll tell her what I think is wrong and see if she agrees. Its really great, she has stopped me throwing some of my projects away, funnily enough when I look at them the day after, they look like different cards LOL

Anyway have a freebee for you today again a matching paper to yesterdays and the day befores freebees

If you like it you can download it Free Paper Download and a lighter version Free paper Download

Don t forget to comment for a chance to win the English Paper Company Blog Candy Giveaway (for details read blog candy posts)

ps Simply Cards and Papercrafts Magazine is out today with my Craft Robo Christmas card project

Wednesday 17th October odd crafting bits

Thought you might like to know a bit about me, so here are a couple of los about myself

Digi Lo Things I am definatly NOT



About how my MUm myself and my daughter are very very similar another digi


Just a reminder about the era when I was born



Anyway if you haven't scrapped yourself, then what you should remember is that although we feel as if we arn't that interesting our grandchildren and great grandchildren will think we are. So lets give them something to think about, the more honest we are as scrappers the more valuable our scrapbooks will become, If we scrap both good and bad, our journey through life, it will be a useful tool for our grandchildren to see how we progressed through life, to see that we did nt always have it easy
This is a layout that is brutally honest about my strengths and weaknesses and how no matter what life has thrown at me, always manage to get up and start again. The brutally honest bit is in the mini book, my family have all read it, but its very honest. Its a digi lo and paper lo combination. I printed my digi and then scrapped it




anyway enough about me,
if you have a lo about yourself, post it on your blog and post a link here and you will get 2 bonus tickets in the English Paper Company Blog Candy Givewawy, and if you haven't scrapped yourself yet this is a good excuse to start. Any comment gets 1 ticket in the draw as per usual

Ps There will be 5 extra bonus tickets in the draw for the lo that grabs my attention and tells me something about you

Here is todays freebee paper based on yesterdays paper

If you like it you can download it free Free Paper Download

So everyone tell me about yourself in the form of a lo

Tuesday 15th October Craft Robo Cards

Well as my project is coming out in Simply Cards and papercrafts on the 18th featuring the Craft Robo I thought I would put a couple of Craft Robo Cards on my blog. I had been commisioned to do a 30th bithday femail and a 1st wedding anniversary card . so had a look on UK scrappers and found templates for shoes, and a template for a stunning wedding card. So decided to do those two.

The small tag reads congratulations on your 1st anniversary, and the second reads with all our love. This was from a stunning template on Uk scrappers by Jennie Bean to be honest I did nt have to do much to it at all. I printed the love quote on acetate then adhered it in the apeture. I used the craft robo and pen holder and pink sakura to write the tags and the couples name on top of the cake. I used Heidi Swapp thin pink Decorative dots tape it comes with a thick black and white polka dot which is ace and a medium pink stripey but this ultra thin ribbon was just perfect and I must admit it was great value at £3.50 at www.craftycarrot.com . Love the seloptape style dispenser as well.

Have had my Craft Robo for a year now, and cannot believe how useful it is. Ive cut peel offs to my own design, cut die cuts that I just could nt get anywhere else, used it to do decoupage, used it to write fonts in Sakura pen, cut appertures, cut words, best thing I ever bought. with so many free templates on UK scrappers as well its ace, anyway





This was from a great template from ErikaP again on UKscrappers just the shoes.

I cut them in K and co doublesided can't remember which stack it was from. Designed box to fit and look a bit like a shoe box. I wanted the whole thing to look like an expensive make of shoes, and the card inside to look like a promotional card from the makers, celebrating 30 years. Inside it has Have a great day and space to write a personal message . Think it worked very well

The lady who ordered them was really pleased.

Anyway I have a freebee downloadable paper for you again


If you like it you can download it free Free Paper Download

Don't forget to comment to be in with a chance to win the English Paper Company Christmas Collection 12 by 12 pack of 72 papers.
Catch you later

Monday 15th October Papercraft Junkies Challenge

Hello everyone its Papercraft Junkies Challenge day again
This weeks challenge is Autumn, so use Autumn colours or themes, whatever autumn reminds you of. I love Autumn colours so again have a few examples. I took 6 Autumnal papers to work and just played around with them, This is what I ended up with



For this I used a leaf punch and a circle punch. I punched the leaf 1st then punched a circle around it with the punch held upside down so you can see where you are positioning it. Really easy but effective. Then placed the circles over a strip of textured gold card. Used the leaves that were punched out and a few more. Quick and simple card



This is the same basic technique only this time I punched a small circle. then puched the other circle off centre. This time I matted them twice and created an oriental feel.

Ive had a set of Autmn papers for 2 years, used a few when I 1st got them, for this layout

then saved the rest becuase I wanted to use them on another special project. However I still had quite a few So I decided to use some of them to create a mini book, and used the left over peices to create 2 more cards . I still have one of each of my favorite papers set aside for something really special. .



I cut out 3 of the tree designs on one of the papers, they had wiggly edged boxes around them
I used a Dovecraft chipboard ribbon slider sticker (although if you ve noticed the Papermania ones are exactly the same) Used the backing paper to make a ribbon . Thats it basically




This is the cover of the mini book I have made, although I must admit its not finished yet. I ve covered all the pages, but I want to fill it with pics I take this autumn and quotes. and finally




Used a thin strip of the remaining peice of my favorite paper, there wasn t much left as its mostly in my book., and two other strips, and placed them at bottom of card. Then used a chipboard slide mount around the remaining peice of my favorie paper . added brads and attached to top of card. This is a great way to make the most of your favorite papers. Even though there is not much of that paper left both peices really stand out as the feature of the card

Don't forget that my very tallented design team mates examples for challenge 10 can be seen HERE and if you enter you could win a 15% discount from at www.craftycarrot.com.
As usual I have created a themed paper for you to download



available to download Free paper Download

and don't forget the more times you comment on my blog the higher your chance of winning this months Blog candy giveaway, in time for christmas crafts and cards. A full 72 paper pack of the complete English paper company Christmas collection. Spread the word on your blog, add a comment here with link to your post and you get an extra 2 tickets in the blog candy draw.
Anyway thats me for now
Catch you all later

Sunday 14th October. Craft Shopping and Inspiration outside the box

Hiya

Well I am back from the model engineers exhibition. As per usual about 30 men for every woman there, well not actually for but you know what I mean.
Have loads and loads of great pics everything from model horse and carts,



to skeleton clocks.

I must admit this was my favorite skeleton clock the brass was polished to a mirror smoothness and it sparkled, and the mechanisms tick was so musical and delicate, Wow how much work it must have taken. As a crafter, I really admire all the models as I can appreciate how much effort and dedication must go into each one, and some of the detial is astounding


This motorbike model was almost completly made from wood. It was beautiful but what caught my eye was the attention to detail

The goggles were just the perfect finishing touch

I must admit that I love anything that is smaller than it should be, I just think they are great, its the big kid in me. I think my favorites are the Fairground steam engines,

this from memory was a 12th scale or similar model


and this is a road going version

I think I must love them because they remind me of my childhood. When I was 2 my nextdoor neighbours son David was 19, I told him I would marry him, he built me a dolls house which I adored. True love LOL He was mad about steam engines and used to drive a fairground engine at some of the local fairs, which my nan would take me to see. So the smell of coal and grease and steam reminds me of those days, and was probably a big part of why I fell for my OH, as he loves steam engines too. I was right following my hunch as he is every bit as great as David was.

Can't wait to scrapbook all my photos, I love the colours the red or green or black against the polished brass work.
Anyway whilst I was there I of course had my scrappers head on and am always looking for nifty bits to add to my craft stash. I was actually looking for something that i knew I could find there. A while ago I saw some letter and number punches on Paperwishes HOTPs webisodes. I knew that model engineers use something very similar , anyway I managed to find a set for 11.45 which was a lot cheaper especially without postage from USA so I was happy. I also bought a drill gauge. Its metal and has holes graded from 1mm to 13mm in half mm's Im going to use it as a template to get perfectly matching drawn circles every time . If I get chance I will do an example using it this week, however it was very expensive at £1.35. If you are interested I have found the same gauge on their site, but its not at show price its £1.95 Proops brothers They also have the letter and number stamps in 3 sizes here
If you want to see how to use them go HERE

I also fell in love with a font


So I will be trawling the net to find someone who has designed a font similar to this one.

Its very true , that crafters can find inspiration anywhere

Anyway I also have a free paper download for you today Its based on the night sky
Hope you can find a use for it


if you like it its available Free Paper Download

Well thats it from me for this morning, dont forget papercraft junkies challenge is uploaded tonight ready for tommorrow.
Also don#t forget to comment to have a chance of winning my blog candy Giveaway

Saturday and Sunday 13th and 14th October

Well hello everyone

I am off to the model engineering exhibition today, I am of course taking my camera. Hopeing to get some brilliant pictures of minature steam engines, Old fairground organs and skeleton clocks, and of course looking for those unusual finds for my crafting So wish me luck.

I have had quite a stressful week as the local Charity that I teach scrapbooking and cardmaking for has had all funding stopped due to a change in how the local councils are organised. I used to get paid to teach but 6 months ago that funding was withdrawn and I voulunteered because the people I taught really appreciated everything they learnt and it has opened up so many areas of their lives. Anyway the funding for the materials has now been stopped, and until yesterday it looked as if that may be it.

However due to another local charity organisation saying that they could contribute some money for some extra tools and The English Paper Company and Pijpoj both offering to donate some craft materials, when I very cheekily asked if they could donate something, and a reduction in the cost of hiring the halls it now looks as if we can continue to offer craft classes to pensioners and disabled people who attend local luncheon clubs, and continue for a little longer to keep the scrapping club open. We are hoping that when the local council shuffle is finally finished that we may be able to get funding again, but if we had lost all that now, it would have been impossible to get the funding to start it again. Wishing Well has achieved so much in the 5 years it has been running, and Hilary and all her team have been running around trying to keep as many of the areas of activity going as possible. But without funding for craft materials we were truly scuppered before we started.

So I must say a Very BIG Thank you The English Paper Company and to Pijpoj too . You will probably never know just how much it means to the people who attend these groups , but I can assure you that there were very many happy people yesterday when they were informed that we have a reprieve thanks to yourselves and to the charitable organisation so thank you again . Uhm I hope they don't mind me telling everyone. Well its tough now anyway.

Anyway just to remind you all. The English paper Company Blog candy giveaway is doing really well , I havent added up all the individual comments so far but its way over 1 hundred and some of you have actually racked up 8 tickets. So keep commenting and spreading the news.

Anyway now for my freebee download. A while ago I did a landscape paper , this is another version of the same paper which I think would work very well with the other one as a double lo.


If you have a use for it you can download it Free Paper Download

So I will be off for now, I may manage to put a freebee on tommorow Sunday, Don't forget to come back and comment anyway. Don't forget Papercraft Junkies Challenge Monday

Friday 11th October 2007

Hello everyone

Well I will be teaching today, so doubt I will get any actual crafting done again. However I really enjoy teaching craft so I should have a great day. I have noted the comments regarding tutorials, I will have to see if I can find time to do 1 tutorial a month on top of everything else I do.

Anyway I have another freebee for you. This time I have been experimenting with embellishments and with christmas coming up I have had that in my mind

I have put them in a row, on a clear background so you can either put a few rows together to make a border
Like this

or you can select individual ones as individual embelishments or group then together
like this


anyway if you like them you can download them free Free Paper Download

Don#t forget to leave your comments to be in with a chance of winning the English paper company Christmas collection of 72 Christmas papers

Thursday 11th 2007

Hello all

Spent the day with my Mum, except for my appointment at the torture chamber (thats the dentists for those lucky souls who do not recognise the description). So as I have been busy have not had any time to craft.

I have been tagged three times in 4 days. I would nt mind but its the same one I did a couple of months ago. Its the 7 wierd facts about yourself. I really am in two minds about this as last time when I tagged my 7 5 of them had all done it before. I will have to think about this as 1 its all old news and 2 maybe that tag has been going around just a bit too long now. However if you havent been tagged and would like to be just leave me a comment and if i get 7 interested souls i will dredge up 7 more mildly weird facts about me and tag all those who put themselves forward.

I have noticed that there have been requests for tutorials for some of my projects.
I have been considering putting 1 tutorial a month on and I know that its also something that the Papercraft Junkies Design team have been discussing recently and I would be interested to see just how much interest there would be for this.

So take advantage tell me what you think, and get more entries into the Blog candy draw for the English paper Company Christmas collection pack. (details Link)
If there is anything else you would like to see then I would love to hear your comments.

Anyway I have had a chance to play on the computer today and have been playing around wih Public domain images to create 12 by 12 papers anyway this is my freebee
paper download


If you like it you can download it free Free Paper Download

Wednesday 10th October. 8.00

Uhm now ladies, I know I am getting older, Im 42, but I think possibly I am not as attractive as I used to be
I was telling my partner how I used to walk the dog at 2 in the morning when I couldn't sleep . but then said I obviously wouldn't consider doing that anymore (even if we had a dog lol)
and my partner said
"Not a good idea these days you'd get Mugged"

MUGGED!!!!

LOL

Wednesday 10th October

Well made my examples for next weeks Papercraft junkies Challenge, but didn't get any crafting done for my blog "Shame " I hear you cry. Well maybe not I thought that you may be interested to see a couple of Christmas present suggestions and have a couple of money saving tips.


So my 1st is altered clocks. See examples



These were both £1.49 clocks from tesco. Because they are manufactured for easy assembly, you can with a bit of care dismantle the clock fairly easily. Just remember to keep our embelishment pretty flat. otherwise cover will not go back on and hands will not revolve,


Microscope slide pendants


Now to save mony. look on ebay for Microscope slides (the medical ones). you need plain with clear edges and you can often get 50 microsope slides for less than a £5.00 Thats 25 Pendants.
Look for Venture tape instead of the memory tape. Its made for stained glass windows and is infinatly cheaper. The one you want is silvered on both sides
The bails I use are aanraku Pendant bails they have a leaf design mostly used for Dichroic glass pendants.

So those are my christmas present money saving crafting tips

Anyway there is a free paper today and here it is

available to download Free paper Download
BUT BEFORE YOU GO
Don#t forget leave a comment on my blog and your in with a chance to win 72 wonderful Christmas papers from the English paper company. See last weeks posts for more details

Bye for now

Tuesday 9th October

Hello all
Just received the photos of the English Paper Company Christmas Collection pack, that you have the chance to win, by either commenting on my blog, or if you spread the news on your own blog with a link to mine you get an extra 2 tickets in the draw (don#t forget to tell me in a post though , else I won't know LOL)
So heres what you could be recieving through the post, no matter where you live, I will post to Timbuctoo if thats how you spell it and thats where you live and your name is pulled from the hat (bowl or box or whatever). LOL




All your Christmas cards, layouts and special present presentation needs in one stunning pack of papers.
So don't forget to comment. My examples can be seen in last Tuesdays posts

Anyway this weekend I have participated in the UKScrappers Birthday Cybercrop, unfortunatly I did nt have time to do all the challenges and classes but here are my efforts


This is my attempt at Christy's Layer Cake Challenge



My version of Emily's Making a point challenge



This is from Angie Woolfall's Dotty about you class



The wot no paper challenge. Id never done a cd card or layout so ha a play with that

and finally here is my take on the Wishes (ribbon) class by Sugar Almond

anyway as yesterdays paper was so popular I have decided that todays paper will be a colour variation on that. This one is slightly more edgy but I love it

and its available to download here
Anyway that's enough from me right now. Time to hear from you.
Come on comment and be in with a chance at those lovely papers. The more comments you make the more tickets you get in the draw.

BYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Monday 8th October 9th Papercraft Junkies Challenge

Well this weeks Papercraft Junkies Challeneg, is to use flowers in your project,
To see all the great examples by the Papercraft Junkies team click HERE
So here are my examples

and the inside


A 70th birthday card for an embroiderer


unfortunbatly the writing went awry but I still quite like it
and as I promised last week I am going to do a mini book every challenge until my book set is done, can#t wait to see it all finished with a decorated box
so heres this weeks book







Enter the challenge and you could win a 15% discount at www.craftycarrot.com

as usual I have designed a free paper download around this weeks theme . hope that you like it

if you do you can download it Free Paper Download

Don't forget my blog candy giveaway this Month is a full pack of the English Paper company Christmas papers which can be seen here
and many of my examples can be seen in last weeks posts.
Every comment you make on my blog between posts dated 22nd Sept to 25th October will get you 1 ticket in the blog candy draw. If you spread the news on your blog and leave a comment with link yto that post you will get 2 extra tickets in the draw.
Catch you all later.