My lovely followers x

Tuesday, 23 October 2012

Guest blogger......

Morning everyone, from a very dull, damp Wiltshire -  I'm sure I heard on the radio last week that we were going to have an Indian Summer, this week with temps up to 22 degrees.....well, it's not happening yet, but I live in hope!
Anyway, you might remember me saying a few weeks ago that I won a challenge over at 
http://citycrafter.blogspot.co.uk/ (a USA challenge blog)
The lady who runs the blog, Kirsty, kindly asked if I would be their guest blogger this week. Of course I accepted and my 'prompt' was to take one of my previous cards and revamp/update/change/improve it in some way....I chose a card I'd blogged on Sep. 19th and decided to made it a bit more grungy and 'dark'!

This is what I came up with :)






This was the original card, quite girly and 'pretty'.




Original ribbon and flower detail















I just touched TH black soot  over the roses, to 'un-pretty' them


This is the 'changed' card. Much more black distressing, ribbon and lace, with black 'jewels'....and with a Rock Chic sentiment, it looks a bit more raunchy!









Hope you like what I've done, and if you get the chance, pop over to 
and read my guest spot....pleeeeeeeeeeeeease xx
That's all for now, off to make a few more Christmas cards....catch you all tomorrow,
Posted by at 45 comments:

Saturday, 20 October 2012

Pearly snow........

Hello everyone, an early post from me today, as I have a busy morning ahead sorting out my craft room.....AGAIN! I just don't enjoy crafting when it's in such a mess, but unfortunately this seems to be the majority of the time these days.   Then it's crafting to prepare for thr craft fair next week.

I've made lots of individual Christmas cards this week with this cute snowman stamp, (bought secondhand off a facebook group). The edge of the card was covered with Cosmic Shimmer pearlescent glue blobs of various sizes, tricky to do in places, but I like the effect on black card. What do you think??
Might be back later, depends how much I get done.
Have a great Saturday

Posted by at 18 comments:

Wednesday, 17 October 2012

And Now For Christmas.........

Hi everyone....well it had to come to Christmas card making, didn't it & time is quickly moving on. 
Although I've made quite a few during the year, it's all systems go this week and next, as I have my last craft fair of the year next Saturday, and I always sell loads ;)
I do like simple cards, like the ones I maade a few days ago, but I've bought so many Christmas stamps & dies this year that I thought they should get a little airing.
So, here are two of the new ones, made with a stamp I bought off Facebook. Sorry, don't know the make, but I thought it was quite a cute image.

   


Spellbinder labels die and Martha Stewart punch.





Crunchy snow.





             I like the little sentiment, 
      Merry Chrismoose




Memory Box dies.



That's all for now, catch you tomorrow,
Barbara x



I'm entering this card into the following challenges

http://abcchristmaschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/
http://justkeeponcreating.blogspot.com.au/
Posted by at 32 comments:

Tuesday, 16 October 2012

An Alternative Wedding Card........

Evening all.....another post from me..... 2 days in a row, whoohoo!
 Tonight I want to show you a wedding card I've made for Emma's brother & girlfriend's wedding in a couple of weeks time.   Tom and Laura are both very artistic and I don't think a traditional white card would suit on this occasion.  They love colour, texture and just something 'different' to the norm, as their wedding day will show, no doubt. We aren't going, but I'm so looking forward to seeing all the photos of the day. 
Anyway, here is the card




Guess which colours I chose?
(Haha)






The heart charm is from my jewellery making stash


I've used...... Pan Pastels, Distress Inks, Grunge Dots embossing folder, and a leafy stamp. Spellbinder label die, Marianne heart dies, and Cheery Lynn tiny butterflies. A 'love' charm and loads of Cosmic Shimmer' mica spray.....Oh and some white ribbon, dyed with distress inks






                      What do you think......will they like it??
                                           Do you??


                     Would love you to leave a comment.
                                 Catch you all tomorrow
                                          Barbara xx




I'm entering this card into the following challenges :-

Posted by at 35 comments:

Monday, 15 October 2012

New Twinchies.......

Hello friends, (and the odd family person who checks in) hope you're all fit and ready to face another week.
Apart from this morning, when I have dentist AND doc's to visit, I have a full week of nothing but crafting to do...yeah!
 Just wanted to brag a bit though first....Alan and I go into Bath every Sunday to meet up with Nick, Emma, Adam & Sophie, to do a (very popular) pub quiz. Last night there were about 15 teams.......and we won! £66 lovely smackers :)  I've been told I need to revise a bit of Literature this week.....so if I'm missing from here or facebook, you know what I'm doing....NOT! :)
Anyway, onto this fortnight's twinchies but first CONGRATULATIONS to
Sue P
for winning the last challenge.......you can find it in the winners gallery

This fortnight the theme is 'Spooky Stuff', and have to say I do NOT like Spookyness & Halloween, and I DON'T do these types of card......I just can't understand why anyone would want to make or receive a card with skulls/graveyards/ghosts etc on them. (the twinchies could be used as toppers for kids cards though)
That's just me , of course, I like 'nice' things, not ghoulish!
So anyway,  here are my efforts :-






This is a CAT!   (just in case you didn't know)





Imagine all these Bats, with evil eyes,  flying towards you....yuk!


This is my favourite
x
















Got to admit I nicked this idea from somewhere, but I've forgotten where. Hope you realise that the layers are meant to be 'mummy bandages', haha








Well, that's all for now, hope you like my little twinchies. 
We'd love you to join in our challenge at
Show Us Your Twinchies
It's just for fun,  but we give the 'Mother-Of-All-Winners-Badge' for you to proudly display on your blog!! What more could a girl want??
Catch ya later,
Barbara xx

Posted by at 24 comments:

Saturday, 13 October 2012

I'm back........

Evening everyone....wow it's good to be back blogging!
 WELL......my first and very best peice of news to share, is that my lovely son Nick, and his amazing wife Emma are expecting their first baby next April......We're so excited for them, and us, as it's our first grandchild, whoohoo! (We've known for weeks, but were sworn to secrecy....believe me, it was hard not to 'spill the beans'! )
Anyway, enough about that for now,  and onto our recent holiday......
....we had a great 2 weeks in Southern Italy, the heat was intense at times, but we survived, haha, and I only gained 3 lbs in weight, which in itself is a bloomin' miracle. Might show you some pics later in the week.....now don't all groan!
Diet started Thursday, so I'll be keeping you up to date with how I get on, in future blogs.
Although we've been home from holiday for a week, I haven't felt like doing much crafting, which is strange because I was really looking forward to getting back into my craft room....however today I got started again and made a batch of very quick Christmas cards.....probably for the neighbours,  but not sure yet.







All the same image, from Inkylicious , one of my 'most-used' stamps this year.





Some I used very chunky white glitter for the snow,.........






......others I used Glamourdust.





I bought this embossing folder off Ebay, but not sure of it's name.





The bottom part is done with a sheet of double-sided adhesive covered with Glamourdust.






Well, that's all for tonight, hope to be back tomorrow, with something a bit more 'arty'  ;)
Barbara 
xx
Posted by at 27 comments:

Wednesday, 3 October 2012

And Now For A New Challenge Blog!....

Morning everyone, and welcome to my new followers......hope you've all managed to get a bit of crafting in this week. I'm still on holiday but I'll be home on Saturday, and raring to go!
Not sure if I mentioned before, but I'm really pleased to say I've been invited onto the design team of a brand new challenge blog 
The very first challenge has started today, and the theme is
Anything Goes
So, lots of opportunity to join in with your creations.
The challenge this month has been kindly sponsored by 
&

Here is my DT card....hope you like it.

I really like the colours of this card but they're much brighter 'in the flesh' so to speak ....I started with a square of white card, and coloured with Pan Pastels before stamping with the Little Claire Design owl family stamp.
I ran the card through my Bigshot with a leafy 'mask' and added the branch and leaves for a bit of interest. The topper was mounted onto a black card base.
I tried removing some of the colour on the owls with bleach, but need to keep practicing that technique I think :( 
Anyway, I like the effect so that's all that matters.
Catch you all in a couple of days
I'm entering this card into the 'Anything Goes' challenge at
Totally Gorjuss
xx
Barbara
Posted by at 16 comments:

Monday, 1 October 2012

Twinchie Challenge No. 7

Morning again....phew, these 1st. of the month's are always very busy, and today is no exception. This is the 3rd, and last post for today....please don't forget to scroll down and see my other two Design Team cards for 
and

But, before that, checkout our latest challenge at
Show Us Your Twinchies
The theme this fortnight is
Anything Goes!
So, nice and simple....no excuse for not entering.
Sorry I can't congratulate the winner of Challenge No 6, but this is a scheduled post and at the moment I'm lying on a sun-soaked beach in Southern Italy on holiday.....thinking of you all of course...haha x
These are my twinchies for the current challenge...hope you like them.




An easy topper for a New Home card.



Finn ATE the first one of these which I made...this was the second!  Only the charm survived, although he'd chewed the gold embossing powder off :(



Tried a bit of clear embossing with this one, wanted it to look like a tile. I'll use it on a Valentine's card.



This was made by using Cosmic Shimmer, bronze ultra thick embossing powder and giving it about 5 coats.  It just looked like melted chocolate....Mmmmmmmmmm x

Hope you like them and also hope they've given you some inspiration to join our challenge x

Back soon,
Barbara x
Posted by at 16 comments:

The Cupboard Trilogy - Design Card

Morning again, thanks for popping back....don't forget to scroll down to see my Design Team card at 

This card has been made for the new challege at 
Our new challenge there is
Things with Wings

As you all probably know, ( I've mentioned it quite a few times ) 'white on white' is one of my favourite themes, so I really enjoyed making this card....and it was so very simple. 
I'm collecting a nice little pile of butterfly dies....think I have about 20 now! Well, a girl can never have too many, haha.
I do hope you can pop over to The Cupboard Trilogy and join in this months challenge....it's such a lovely theme.
Be back later with my last post of the day.
xx
Posted by at 16 comments:

Cards-Galore October Challenge

Morning everyone, hope you're all well this Monday morning.....
Today I'd like to show you my DT card for the October challenge at

This cute little digi-stamp was provided by
http://meljensdesigns.com/ 
Why don't you pop over and see what they have to offer?









I decoupaged the front acorns and the little hat.




The image was coloured with Promarkers and the leaves were done with Pan Pastels and Distress Inks.

Hope you like it xx
Back later with another DT project.
Posted by at 7 comments:

Wednesday, 19 September 2012

D'Ya Wanna Be A Rock Angel ???

Evening everyone....bit of a late post for me tonight, but just been so very busy today. Hope you're having a great week so far, Thursday tomorrow, the weekend is already in sight...yay1
We're off on holiday on Saturday for 2 weeks, so need to get everything sorted before I go, ie blogs, DT cards, orders etc....
So, no procrastinating this week, you'll be pleased to hear.
Anyway, between all the DT work I've done, thought I'd make something pretty too. I do love this guitar stamp, but had to throw in a few flowers to make it 'girly'.





I didn't want pretty, neat flowers, so just tore them from the same card as the base.



The tag was made with a Spellbinder die, and 'Chiller' font



I added ONE layer of decoupage,  just to give the image some interest.


Tattered rose distress ink was used throughout.
The leaves were die-cut with a selection of dies.









Please let me know what you think....I love reading your comments.
Back tomorrow,
Barbara x
Posted by at 32 comments:

Saturday, 15 September 2012

It's Twinchie Time........... (again)

Morning everyone, hope you're having a great weekend.
Alan and I are in Darlington for a few days, celebrating my lovely brother Colin and sister-in-law Ros's Golden Wedding Anniversary with them. I can't believe it's 50 years since they were married...I remember it like yesterday! I'll be blogging the card, and photos from the celebration next week sometime, but today it's TWINCHIES!! whoohoo
Firstly I'd like to say congratulations to 
CORRIE
our challenge No 5 winner.
This fortnight the challenge at
http://twinchie-twinchiehotmaillive.blogspot.co.uk/
is
Add a Stamped Image

Here are my DT twinchies, hope you like them



This twinchie was inked, stamped, and glazed to make it look like a tile.




I clear embossed the bird on this one.




The butterfly is an 'Inklicious' stamp which was stamped, masked then overstamped with the script.
This little stamp is an 'inchie', of all things.....and NO!, we're not starting an 'inchie' challenge :)

What do you think?...
Barbara
xx
Posted by at 21 comments:

Saturday, 8 September 2012

Last minute rush.....

Afternoon everyone, a slightly earlier post from me, as I am rushing to catch a challenge deadline....
After yesterday's white card, thought I'd heat things up a bit with more hot colours.  Wish I could get away from these particular ones, but it's always the red and yellow PanPastels or Distress Inks I reach for when doing a background.  (obviously the 'Leo' starsign is having an effect on me!).....must move on though, or all my cards will look the same....red, yellow and a silhouette stamp!
This background is made with Pan Pastels, and the stamp was a freebie from a mag, yonks ago. I've since added a few 'jewels' but can't be bothered to take another piccie :(
Off back into my craft room now as the DT work is stacking up and with holidays looming, need to get organised (and you all know being organised is not my speciality, unfortunately!)
Catch you all later xx

I'm entering this card into the following challenges :-
http://inkyimpressionschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/



Posted by at 35 comments:

Friday, 7 September 2012

A little bit calmer........

Evening everyone....it's Friday again! don't these weekends seem to come around quickly?
I'm home alone this weekend as Alan is away, so I'll be in my craft room as long as possible tomorrow, as  I have orders, family cards and DT creations to make this weekend, so whatever the weather, I won't see it!
Just a quick post with tonight's card, and you'll see it's a lot calmer than the last three warm-coloured Autumn cards.
I do love making white on white cards, and this one was very simple to do. Once the flowers are assembled it's a doddle!

The background was made with a Sizzix texture plate, flowers are Sizzix too, and the sentiment is part of a Crafts Too embossing folder.
Suppose I could've added a tiny bit of colour, but chose to leave it completely white.
Hope you like it......
Have a good weekend,
Posted by at 32 comments:

Wednesday, 5 September 2012

Autumns Treasures No.3....and last one!

Evening all, hope you've had a fab day. 
It's been glorious down here in Wiltshire today, even made me scour the house for washing to do..........I know, I'm mad, but I have a brand spanky new washer ! 
Anyway, I won't waffle on tonight, just wanted to show you the last card in my Autumn Trilogy :)........this one is much simpler than the previous two, but I still enjoyed making it.
What do you think?

I've used Distress Inks, embossing folder and lots of Cosmic Shimmer spray mist, and a dandelion stamp from Inkylicious.
Ok, catch you all tomorrow,
Posted by at 53 comments:

Tuesday, 4 September 2012

Autumn Treasures no.2.......

Evening everyone, and a big welcome to my new followers. 
Thank you so much for popping by to look at tonight's card, and a big thanks for all those who commented on yesterdays creation, so pleased you liked it....40 comments, wow, never had that many before *big smiles*
Tonight's card is another Autumnal in my fave colours again and I did enjoy making it, even though I had to cut out all those bloomin' leaves.....I hate cutting out!
The funny thing is, the leaf stamps were in my pile to get rid of, until I thought 'Autumn'
Anyway, hope you like it as much as yesterdays.
Let me know what you think of the little verse....I love it, it's so quirky



Back tomorrow with the last card in this series (haha)
Have a good Wednesday....
Barbara
Posted by at 45 comments:

Monday, 3 September 2012

Autumnal Treasures

Hi everyone, hope you've all had a great Monday.....it's been so warm here, almost felt like Summer!
Regardless of the weather though, I spent the day in my craft room as I was inspired by a blog I read this morning 
Please pop over and checkout the gorgeous card made by Shirley,  it so inspired me to use my DT twinchies, but, true to form I made THREE cards.....without using one of them....hey-ho!
Anyway here is one of the cards I've made....true, it has an Autumnal feel, but not a twinchie in sight!


Hope you like it....please leave a comment if you've enjoyed looking, I love reading them and do appreciate the time you take to read my blog.x
Back tomorrow with the second of today's creations.
Have a good evening


Posted by at 51 comments:

Saturday, 1 September 2012

And last, but not least.....more twinchies....yeah!

My 3rd and final post today......."thank goodness", I hear you all say!!
Well, onto my twinchie babies.....I just love them. 
The theme this fortnight at
 is 
AUTUMN
so this gives you loads of opportunity to create some little beauties!
These are my DT twinchies, hope you like them :)





Blackberries remind me of Autumn. When we were kids, the October half-term was known as tattie-picking or blackberry picking week!
The background of this twinchie was made with Pan Pastels



The leaves on this twinchie were also done with Pan Pastels, then cut with a Spellbinder die.





This twinchie was made by stamping onto self-adhesive acetate, and covering it with gold leaf.....I mixed 3 colours to get the Autumnal feel.





Well, what do you think??
My fave is the blackberry one, let me know which your favourite is, by leaving a comment please.....I love reading them.
Catch you all tomorrow xx
Posted by at 28 comments:

Three cards, one challenge.......

Morning again, back with my second post of the day and this time it's my DT creations for 
Jane, the owner of the blog made up a Tic, Tac, Toe grid, with prompts in each square, we then had to choose any 3 prompts to work with....I chose die-cuts, ribbon and lace.
These are the cards I came up with




                        I love this image !






The gold embellishments were die-cut from the insides of a tomato puree tube :) 






I've been wanting to use this pretty ribbon for ages, and this seemed the perfect time.







Hope you like them, would love to hear your comments.
Looking forward to seeing all your creations over on the challenge blog,
Back soon with another post
xx
Posted by at 17 comments:

A.little bit of vintage.....

Happy Saturday everyone, and welcome to a new month, and a very early blog from me......
I have 2 other blogs to make today so please keep checking back ......
This card is my DT creation for the new September challenge at
 Cards-Galore
The design team were given these lovely digi-images to work with, they're from
 Scrappers Delights
The prize for the winner this month is a voucher to spend at Scrappers Delight Store, so whaddya waiting of :)

I only picked out a couple of small parts of the image to add colour to, as I didn't think it needed too much.




I do hope you can enter our challenge - the theme is 
Vintage - Ribbons, Lace and Buttons
So, plenty of scope for some great creations....yes?
Right, back later
Barbara x
Posted by at 5 comments:
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