Green Peril

I have been wanting to use some stitching on my cards for ages, and this is my first attempt.

Now I dont get on with machine stitching, so this is hand sewn. My mum, (who was a tailoress) taught me to embroider at a very young age as I was fascinated watching her create beautiful tablecloths and family gifts. I would spend hours with my own little embroider-hoop stitching along with mum, but I was never allowed near the sewing machine!

This was a wise decision as it turns out they hate me! When I first used one at school I thought it was quite the scariest thing I had ever laid my hands on! It kept breaking and running stitches all over the place. After repeated attempts to conquer them I have decided I'll give them a miss. I definately prefer being in control of the needle with my fingers. :D

Anyway, this is another digital stamp called Two Jill, from Mo's digital pencil. Isnt she adoreable! I coloured her with pro-markers and also made my own 'bling swirl' by drawing on acetate and then hole punching the design so I could put gemstones through. I intend to decorate the inside of the card later.

Web Knitter

This was another gorgeous digi-stamp I downloaded from SugarNellie/Funkykits.

I apologise again for it being so 'pink', I dont know what came over me, but all my nieces seem to love the colour, so I guess I made it with one of them in mind.

Kraftin Kimmie - Genevieve

I made this card a few weeks back, and I just love colouring this image with pro-markers. Its not actually that vivid, I was trying to go distressed! LoL

Its called Genevieve, by Kraftin Kimmie, and she has such a fun expression it never fails to make me smile :)

On a roll.........

Just getting the hang of this, and finding my way about, so I thought I would chuck another picture on today :) I tried to lighten this picture, as the photo turned out quite dark. IRL it does have a lot of deep colours, even though the photograph makes them look faded.

This is using a stamp called Dreamy, from Sugar Nellie. I coloured with pro markers and I made the dangly bit from some headpins, jump rings and beads.

Red Mist

Today is Friday, and we are expecting the dustcloud from the Icelandic volcano eruption to descend on us here in Scotland today.......

Not sure about that - its beautiful, sunny and clear!

Anyway, I thought I would share another card from my back catalogue! LOL.

This is using a digi-stamp from Sugar Nellie called DreamCatcher. I downloaded it, printed to the size I wanted, and left it a few hours to make sure the ink was dry. I really like Digi-stamps, they are so easy. I coloured using Pro-markers, and used up some old HOTP papers and die cut leaves.

Mission Statement

Hi and welcome to my blog.

Wow, my first post..........

.....I am not too sure where I am going with this, but my main interest is card-making and I have been a crafter of some description all my life. I love reading and being inspired by other peoples creative blogs, and am amazed by the world of stunning and beautiful creativity out there to share. Its such a nice way to be distracted from my studies, and I dont usually need much of an excuse! LOL

Last year when I lost my mum, I inherited an incredible amount of card-making stash, including getting back half of all the stuff we had split and shared over the last few years. It was very emotional coming across such a lot of pretty things unopened and still in packets, and I can only imagine the lovely things my mum would have made with it all. So many kits, decoupage, cards, papers, stamps, peel-offs and ribbons!

My mum used to say to me, 'if its being used, its not being wasted,' and so I have decided, in fact it is my mission to try and use as much of mums stuff lovingly, mixed in with my own, rather than leave it all in boxes untouched and really 'wasted'. Only crafters know the value and cost of that. I also dread the thought of someone being stuck with all my gubbins when I am no longer here! LOL.

I love stamping, and really enjoy making cards that are one of a kind, but so much of the stash I now have to play with also comes from mass produced and generic kits ( QVC / Create & Craft ). So I am trying to find different ways of using these kits, and trying to think outside the box (literally!). I intend to share cards that I am proud of or surprised by, as well as more original or arty stuff that I prefer playing with.

My first picture is of a card I made using a Sugar Nellie stamp that I recently won in a blog hop. One of my favourite inspirational blogs is http://mar1ene.wordpress.com/ (Marlene Ashby), and I was blown away when I won this stamp!

Its called Reflective, by Elisabeth Bell, and I think its a lovely image to colour in. I used pro-markers, HOTP papers, brads, petaloo flowers, and a few die cut leaves.