Reward Offered For Return Of My Mojo!!!

Well I don't know where it's gone but my mojo has definitely not been here at home with me this weekend. I've not felt too fab since coming home so tired on Wednesday night....must be my age. I don't feel ill.....just a bit out of whack.
Everything I have done in the way of stamping has ended up in the bin or the recycling box. I think maybe I was trying too hard so I stopped and made up a few cards to put in the stand at the local shop using my PC Crafter Creatables instead.
Images are from Whimsical Seasons.
I have just started a vintage card which seems to be going alright so far.....fingers crossed!!!

I'm off for a veg on the sofa for half an hour and then I had best get my stuff ready for work.
Bye for now
Sheila-x-

Whacked On Wednesday!!!

Cor blimey.......don't know what's up with me tonight but I felt absolutely shattered after I got home from work.
Managed to get my prep done for tomorrow's class and was just about to have a fiddle with something else when all the power went off. Had to negotiate two flights of stairs in the pitch black and then try to find some candles and something to light them with. Luckily power was back within half an hour but I've gone off the idea of starting anything now. Hubby is due home soon and we need to sit and have a serious chat about something so I am going to call it a day upstairs.

I have had a couple of queries regarding Bertha Big Bite......lol!!! Bertha is the new Mark 2 Cropadile which has a six inch reach rather than the one inch reach of the Mark 1 and it's proper name is a Big Bite. It punches holes in two sizes and sets eyelets and gromlets. Please don't search for it under the name Bertha. I name all of my big tools........Jimminy (Cricut), Sidney (Sizzix), Sally (Sidekick) etc.......just me being mad as usual.

Time to put the kettle on I think so see you tomorrow.
Bye for now.
Sheila-x-

Hero Arts Collage Christmas!!!

Today's card is one I have been rolling around in my head for a couple of days.

Although I like collage stamps I have to admit to prefering individual stamps to make up my own collages but I did rather like this HA stamp.

I just wanted a fairly simple look without a lot of colour so I have stamped and embossed in silver onto a gunmetal grey pearlised card. Trimmed and mounted the panel onto Bazzill-Rain (my favourite colour) and then removed the scene panel.

Stamped another scene panel onto the non textured side of a scrap of Bazzill-Rain using a black ink pad and then coloured the snow areas with a white gel pen before adding Frosted Lace Stickles using a fine paintbrush. The picture is tiny and applying the Stickles from the bottle just swamped it.

Added punched snowflakes and gems and a touch of glitz to the holly berries with the Stickles.

Paper is K & Co from the Peppermint Twist range and I added the punched border by marking with a pencil and punching with Bertha Big Bite.

It turned out exactly as I wanted it to first time....no embarrassing mistakes in the bin.......lol!!!

Hope you like it.

Thanks for dropping by.

Sheila-x-

Tidy......Moi.......Oh Yes!!!

Sorry no pics to blog tonight.........I have spent all day tidying up my workroom ready for going back to work tomorrow (can't believe 12 days have gone already). I shall need to be a bit organised as we have quite a few classes booked and prep is a nightmare if my work area is too untidy.
Didn't get everything done that I wanted to while I was off. Just felt too lacksadaisical and I think I was a bit over ambitious thinking that I would get all of the decorating done as it is a lot bigger job than I had anticipated. Ah well there are always the weekends and as long as it is done before Christmas I am not too fussed.
Right I am off for a bath and a read and then I have to prep for my class tomorrow afternoon as far as I can. I can only do so much as I have run out of the Basic Grey paper I need so will have to finish off at the shop in the morning while Deb does her class.
Bye for now
Sheila-x-

Festive Bling!!!

Card background, snowflake border and bauble images all stamped using a stamp set by Artemio and black Brilliance ink.
Scallop and plain circle dies-Sizzix.
Thanks for looking.
Sheila-x-

Basic Grey Christmas!!!

Just a quick blog tonight peeps.
Two cards made with Basic Grey papers and stamps.
Top card also uses Nestablity dies and the Cuttlebug Tadpole Alphabet.
Bottom card-scallop rectangle is the Sizzix Scallop Frame and the alphabet is Cuttlebug Fairy.
Both cards are stamped with Versamagic Jumbo Java and both have Paper Glaze accents.
Thanks for looking.
Sheila-x-

Christmas Treat Basket-Tutorial

Today I am posting my very first tutorial with pictures. I hope you enjoy it.

I saw this basic treat basket at a demonstration where it was made with a 12 X 12 sheet of card and came out quite big which was fab for Easter eggs or other larger gifts. However I wanted to make it smaller and today's instructions are for making the tiny spotty basket which is made from a 3" square piece of card.

You would think it would be quite fiddly to make but it isn't at all.

So...........take a 3" square piece of card and score at 1" and 2" each way as shown by the broken lines.

I used my Scor-Pal for this but you could use a ruler and ball tool just as effectively if you don't have a scoring board.

Next cut along opposite score lines as shown in red

Your piece should now look like this.

Push the two centre squares to the inside of the basket and pull the two side pieces together to a point.

Add a spot of glue to secure and then glue the inside flap to the side pieces.

This is your basic basket which can be made in any measurement divisible by three....so 6"x6" scored at 2" and 4", 9"x9" scored at 3" and 6" etc.

To decorate this tiny one I just took a scrap of paper and glued it onto the basket then trimmed around the shape with scissors.

For the larger ones I draw around one side of the basket shape onto card and reduce the size by one eigth of an inch on all sides. I then use this as a template for cutting paper. The two ends are square so just cut your paper a quarter of an inch smaller than the square.

For the handles I cut a strip of card. The width depends on the size of the basket so the tiny one is a quarter of an inch wide and the larger (made from a 6"x6" square) is half an inch.

The tiny basket will hold three Elizabeth Shaw Mint Crisps which have been covered with card circles and decorative paper.

If you have any questions don't be afraid to ask.

I am not claiming to be the original designer of the basic basket. If anyone knows who the original designer is.........please let me know and I will gladly add their name to this post.

This tutorial should not be shared on groups. If you wish your friends to see this project please give them a link to this site.........Thank You.

Papers and stamps used for this project are Basic Grey and the most perfect ink match I found for the brown in these papers was the Versmagic-Jumbo Java.

Thanks for dropping by.

Sheila-x-

Decorating.......Over Rated......Lol!!!

Oh gawd........what a day.
I feel like I have slapped on at least 5 gallons of paint and the smell is just driving me mad. I know you can get low odour paint but I have tried it before and it doesn't quite come up to scratch for me so I stick with my liquid gloss........and the smell.
So top floor stairs woodwork is done plus all the skirting and three doors on the landing so tomorrow shouldn't be too bad with just two lots of architrave on the landing to finish, the bottom stairs woodwork and one more door. After that I have to paper the ceiling all the way down and then the walls. I do let myself in for jobs.

Anyway I don't have a pic to post tonight although I have made a new little project. I will wait and take a picture in the daylight as everything looks pink when I take pics at night.

Just a quick thanks to Jo who kindly left a message regarding my CD drive. I will be looking into that at the weekend.

Somehow the little project I did has left a BIG mess so I had best go tidy up.
Bye for now.
Sheila-x-

Crunch......There Goes My CD Drive!!!

Well I was having a lovely day until about 10 minutes ago. I went to save some stuff off the computer onto a CD and it made the most awful crunching noise......and died.
I shall have to phone the computer shop in a nearby village tomorrow and see how much it's going to cost me........I could so do without the expense right now.

Managed to do nineteen wedding cards before I had had enough so I was well pleased with that.
Had another ferret in my bits pile and did a similar card to the Blue Christmas card further down. This time I had a go with gold card and a green ink pad with white embossing powder and it looks just as nice as the blue one.
I left the embossed circle off this one as it didn't look right so I just wrapped it with white crystal organza ribbon to match the tree which has also been embellished with some fabric snowflakes.

Tomorrow I start the dreaded painting. 5 doors (trying to persuade hubby to get new ones that don't need painting......no joy so far), 2 bannisters and miles and miles of skirting board........I don't think I want to play any more.........lol!!! Just keep telling myself that it will look fab when it's done.

Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Wedding Fever!!!

Just a quickie post this morning as I am up to my ears in wedding cards. The local shop needed some urgently as there is a big wedding in the village this weekend. I've sent nine down this morning which I managed to get done last night and I shall carry on with them today........although not for too long if I can help it......lol!!!

I have to lurk downstairs for a while as DD is expecting a parcel so I am off to make a cuppa and then do some blog hopping until I get relieved.
Bye for now.
Sheila-x-

Blue Christmas!!!

Here is a card I put together from bits and bobs that were on my desk.
Background paper is a sheet left over from one of last years Dovecraft collections. I used Bazzill-Rain for the circle and embossed it with one of my new CB folders.
The tree is cut from silver mirror card and embossed with Swiss Dots CB folder but when I put it on the card I thought the silver was a little harsh so attacked it with an Aquaramine chalk ink pad and then a white ink pad with a sprinkle of white embossing powder. It now looks gorgeously frosty. I will be trying that again......lol!!!
Joy sticker is DCWV and ribbon is American Crafts (I think).

Card orders are all delivered now so after tea I will be able to play....yay!!! I still have lots of bits left on my desk so I will probably try and use them up instead of shoving them into a box for use later...........and never using them.

Bye for now.
Sheila-x-

Ah....That's Better!!!

Just a very simple card ordered for a 60th birthday. Patterned cardstock is DCWV and I used the Sizzix Fruit Smoothie alphabet for the name. I love that alpha so much but I haven't used it very much. Think I'll keep it out on the desk and try to use it a bit.
..........and here is the revised version of the wedding card. I still don't like the colours or anything else about it really but I am happier with this layout than the previous one.

I hope the change in template for the blog looks OK to everyone. I like it as it is wider.
I have also changed the links lists in my sidebar and added a few new ones....letting you all in on the secret of some of my favourite places. I have loads still to add. I also want a better header so I will be attempting to do something with that.
Right now I am going to pour myself a cuppa and have a bit of a blog hopping session as I don't have to rush to label and pack the card orders..........I don't have to get up in the morning for work so I can stay up as late as I like.............yay!!!
Catch you later.
Sheila-x-

Seeing Stars!!!

Morning.........or should I say......afternoon. Obviously blinked and missed the the morning.......lol!!!
Well as you know things didn't quite go to plan on Friday and I didn't get to make any cards at all. I got sidetracked by some cobwebs and doing more than my duty in the housewifey department. Then yesterday I went up to the workroom to make a start and was gathering all my stuff together and I walked into the wall where the ceiling starts to slope down and nearly knocked myself out. I ended up with the wowser of all wowsing headaches and I must have jarred my neck too. Anyway it was too painful to sit over my desk so I just ended up lolling about all day. This is about the third time I have walked into that bit of wall......wouldn't you think I would learn to duck?
By the early hours of the morning some of the pain had gone so I went up and did the wedding card above. I really, really, really do not like it so today it will be coming to pieces and will be redone.
I am working to a very strict brief on this one which I don't normally and the requested colour scheme is just plain horrible. Think I am going to be out of pocket on this one......lol!!!

Despite being in my fabby new room with oodles of space I was having trouble storing my papers so that they were easy to get at. So yesterday hubby trundled off to Argos for me and got me two gorgeous faux leather magazine racks and put all my 12 x 12 papers and card into them for me........absolutely fantastic. They are groaning at the seams a bit but everything went in.

Well I am off upstairs. I have just put the meat in for our late lunch and that should take long enough for me to go put this horrible card right.
See you later with a better version hopefully.
Bye for now.
Sheila-x-

Hurray, Hurray...I'm On Holi, Holiday!!!

Much as I love my job I am sooooo glad to be having a break for a few days....12 to be exact....lol!!!
Got lots of jobs planned and probably won't even get half of them done...you know what it's like.
I spent the last couple of nights putting away all the stuff I cart backwards and forwards to the shop for classes so that is all nice and tidy again and once I have done my housewifey jobs for today I am off upstairs to make some cards as I have several orders in which need delivering on Monday. I've also got to make some cards for the stand at the village shop as I am getting low on some lines.
I'll be back later with some cards to post if all goes to plan .
Bye for now.
Sheila-x-

Christmas Gift Bag!!!

I have to be honest and say that at the moment I am feeling all 'carded out' and am rather enjoying doing a bit of blog hopping and trying out some of the fantastic projects out there. These are just for my own satisfaction and are not intended for workshops or for selling. I may make one or two for family gifts though.
This little gift bag is my latest try out and I loved making this. I have seen these on several blogs but I got my instructions HERE.
It was much easier than I thought it would be. Excuse the use of the red spotty ribbon AGAIN but I have enough of this to weave a jumper for an elephant and I'm trying to use it up......lol!!!
The paper is Making Memories and is one of my favourites at the moment. We have run out at the shop (it wasn't me......lol!!!) but Deb ordered some more today so hopefully it will be back in by next week as long as the supplier has stock of course.
When the rep was in I was upstairs doing a workshop so didn't see what was ordered. I hope I am not going to spend too much when the delivery comes......lol!!!

Off to do a bit more blog hopping:))

Bye for now

Sheila-x-

Christmas Card Totes!!!

Been having a play today......making some little mini totes to hold a selection of small Christmas cards.
I have made these to fit the envelopes I had but if you fancy having a go at making some totes Splitcoast Stampers have lots of ideas in their resources section for all sorts of bags and boxes.
The cards are very simply decorated using up a sheet of dome type stickers I had .


I have been given a fabulous blog award today and I will sort it out tomorrow when I have given some thought to who I am going to pass it on to.


As for tonight......I am off for a bath and then I have to pack my stuff up ready to do the prep at work tomorrow for the two classes I have on Tuesday.
I have four classes to do this week and then I am off for twelve whole days.......yay!!!


Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Cards From The Scrap Box!!!

Just a couple of quickie cards tonight. Both are made using up some scraps of papers and card.

The Three Kings card is made from the bits left over from the vintage car card and some scraps of silver and navy card. The stamping on the silver card has been embossed using Cobalt Blue EP. The star is a Thin Cuts die cut and the sentiment is from a HOTP clear stamp set.

The cupcake card is made using scraps of Crafts House papers and a Hero Arts cupcake stamped onto Pizazzle card.


We didn't get to Ikea today as DD had to go and get some new tyres for her car and there wasn't enough time to go before she went to get them fitted then by the time she got back I had gone off the idea of going out. We are saving it for a day in the holidays now.


I've been shifting my room around again and reorganising the computer area to include my packaging area as it was taking up too much room as it was. I am hoping it will feel better now. It's really taking some getting used to being up there.......it must be the huge amount of space.....lol!!! I must have got so used to being cramped up in the old room.


Well I have a few things still needing putting away and then I am going to make a few cards for the local shop.
Hope you all have a good weekend.
Bye for now.
Sheila-x-

Done To A Turn!!!

Been a bit hot and frazzled today so am posting a Christmas card to make me think of cold weather and hopefully cool me down a touch.........lol!!!
This one is a Joy fold card.......still one of my favourite card styles.....and the papers are St Nick again cos I love them.
The poinsettia is from a set by Stampendous and the sentiment is HOTP.
The centre panel has been chalked and after stamping the sentiment I dragged a Versamark ink pad around the edges and sprinkled with gold EP.


Looking forward to tomorrow as I am taking time out for a trip to Ikea with DD. I'm still needing a few storage items for my room and also hope to pick up some fabric to make some curtains for up there.


Just off for a bath now as I am at a really gripping part of the book I have nearly finished.
Bye for now.
Sheila-x-

Phew......Time For A Breather!!!

Hoooey........I have had a busy few days........hence lack of blog posts. Just been too tired to drag myself down the stairs to the computer once I'd finished at night. Very sorry about that.
Tonight though I have managed to get the stuff done that I need for the workshop tomorrow and have a bit of free time too.......can't be bad eh?


Anyhoo......here is a card I designed for two lovely ladies who who came for a workshop today. They both wanted to make a card for a man and I haven't done a car card for a bit so I decided to do one without resorting to map paper or the colour brown......lol!!! Although there is a tiny bit of map on one of the papers.
So this is a Personal Impressions stamp which has been stamped twice and coloured with Adirondack Stonewashed ink. The tyres were coloured with a Marvy Le Plume pen and then detail was coloured using a silver gel pen.
Once all the colouring was done and dried I antiqued the two images with chalks and on the bottom image I made a watery wash of ink and filled a fluffy paintbrush which I then dragged across a ruler to get the speckles.
After matting and layering the images I added some Glossy Accents to parts of the car for a bit of dimension.
The paper used is the Blue Awning collection from K & Co.


Well I should have been breaking up for a weeks holiday tomorrow and boy am I ready for that week off. I changed it to the week after though as it means I get time off with both hubby and DD..........a bit crafty really as it means I will have helping hands when I start the decorating I have to do.........a hall, two flights of stairs and a landing. I am really wishing that I had asked hubby to get somebody in..........lol!!! Probably be glad to get back to work for a rest.


I am off to play for another hour before bed.
Night night...........and thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

No Christmas Today!!!

Well that's today's horrible job done. I got an order for a wedding card so thought I would get it over and done with this morning and leave myself the rest of the day to do what I want. I do so hate making wedding cards......as you all know by now...lol!!!
This one is for a musical couple so hopefully it will be OK.

Thanks to Jan for the info on what went wrong with my blog yesterday. I didn't know where to look for an answer after I had been all through the Blogger help site. Everything seems to be fine now.

I've made a bit of a mess in my new room as yesterday I was sorting out my cardstock again and cutting blank cards to save me doing them as I need them. So I have to tidy before I can do anything else. Don't you just sometimes wish you were Mary Poppins and could just click your fingers for it all just to jump back into place? I know I do.

Hubby is playing Super Chef today and cooking roast beef for our dinner......bless him......so I'll get off and do some work until it's ready.

Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Problems!!!

Testing, testing, 1 2 3

I am having a problem with my blog this morning. I keep getting an 'aborted' message when I try to access it and have had to visit another blog to get access to the Dashboard.
It must be just mine as I can access other peoples.

Anybody know what the problem could be? Please e mail me if this message manages to get posted.

Thanks in advance if you can help.

Sheila-x-

Pretty Poinsettia!!!

Here is a card I have made with a set of Stampendous stamps I recently bought.
This was another card for the Bondaweb workshop this time using Twinkling H2O's.
At the moment we have some lovely double sided card on our Paper Cellar stand. Red on one side and green on the other so it is perfect for Christmas cards and lovely for stamping on.
I have used the green side to make a backing paper by stamping the fir image in Versamark and then overstamping with the fircone using gold Brilliance.
For the centre panel I used a piece of cream card which was given a wash of gold H2O then stamped with the greeting.
The Bondaweb was melted on next and for this effect you need to allow the webbing to bubble up and burst to create holes then once you are happy with the effect take a darker colour of H2O and paint it over the top of the melted Bondaweb for a distressed look.
The poinsettia was stamped one on each side of the double sided card and embossed with gold EP. The green layer was cut out as the full image and then the red had a few areas trimmed out to allow the green bracts to show once layered.
The ribbon was secured around the panel and then mounted onto some gold card.


Well I have yet another set of new stamps to play with. Deb was on Ebay the other day and saw a fabulous 1940's themed A4 unmounted plate which she knew I would love and bid on them for me. They came yesterday so I may have a little play with them later.

Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-