My lovely followers x

Monday, 26 January 2015

Another fab offer from Papermilldirect......

Hi everyone.....good to see you here again.
Tonight I have cards to show you which feature the new 'special offer' at
These great offers are coming thick and fast from Papermilldirect at the moment....make sure you're signed up for their newsletter to avoid missing anything!
 Teddy Bear Brown card - 300gsm - small box £6
These are my DT cards, using the special offer.




Teddy bear brown, cream hammered and mocha brown card, stamps from Lavinia Stamps and Stamp-It, Australia.


Teddy bear brown, cream linen and mocha brown card, stamps from Sheena Douglas, coloured with Brusho's, and a leaf punch from Martha Stewart..
 

Teddy bear brown and cream hammered card. The reverse side of the hammered card has been coloured with Brusho's.....the lovely sentiment stamp is from Visible Image.



I'll be back soon with a few new cards, in the meantime, checkout this weeks competition on the Papermilldirect blog

xx

Tuesday, 20 January 2015

New 'Special Offer' from Papermilldirect......

Evening all, and welcome to my new followers...thanks for popping by.
Tonight I just wanted to tell you about this weeks 'SPECIAL OFFER' from
20 Sheets of A4 Harvest Buckram Embossed Card 270gsm. for only £4.00
Gorgeous textured cardstock, that will add a quality finish to any project.....
This isn't a texture we find very often at Papermill, so grab it while you can!
Here is my DT card.....


I cut the birds with an Impression Obsession die, from scraps of inked cardstock.
(look at the close-up texture of the buckram cardstock)

I've then used an X-cut heart die, a Cheery Lynn flourish and a tag sentiment from Lili of the Valley. 
All double-mounted onto Papermilldirect cream 'hammered' and Mocha brown plain.
What do you think??
 
That's all for now, but I'll be back tomorrow with a lampshade that I've 'altered'.....catch you soon,
Barbara xx

Saturday, 17 January 2015

Chippenham Workshop - January 10th

Hi everyone,  before showing the pics of my last workshop, I wanted to upload a couple of Valentine cards today, using black cardstock, which is on offer this week at
20 Sheets of A4 black card, 250gsm for only £4.00
(fabulous quality)




I've used a Silhouette Studio, cutting file on this card, with black and post-box red cardstock.

 The background on this card has been done with Pan Pastels on smooth white cardstock from 
PAPERMILLDIRECT
I've used a Silhouette Studio cutting file for the trees and deer, a sentiment stamp from LOTV and bird stamp from LAVINIA STAMPS

Hope you like them....the black card is wonderful quality, so pop over and check it out at Papermilldirect.





Here are the pics from the Jan.10th workshop....we had a fab day and the creations were amazing.
(Tons of photos to look at )

Sheena Douglas stamps used here.....
 I first saw this idea at one of EILEEN GODWIN'S workshops....Eileen kindly said I could use it in one of MY workshops, so thanks, mate xx


All backgrounds were Pan Pastels. Stamps from,
Lavinia Stamps, IndigoBlu, Little Claire, Impression Obsession, and Inkylicious.



As above



Jean  and  Marion

Vicky's bum.....Steph and Sarah


Emily


Louise, Janet and Hazel.


Hazel, Lesley and Heather.


Ena and Lindi.
Until Lindi joined my first workshop in August, she'd never made a card in her life.....she's now doing orders for the whole family!
 Emily and Carolyn (above)


Vicky and Jean







Fab cards, fab colours.





All beautiful.




More gorgeousness!



 Well, that's it for now, apologies for the photo overload, but didn't want to miss anyone out....

Catch you all soon,

Barbara xx

Tuesday, 13 January 2015

Pan Pastels meet White Linen......

Hi everyone, just a quick post to show one of the samples I made for my workshop last Saturday (pics to follow on Thursday).....I was demonstrating Pan Pastels this month, and I'd actually forgotten how lovely they are to use.
This is just a very simple CAS card, made with PAPERMILLDIRECT white linen cardstock. I've covered a small square of card with various colours of Pan Pastels then used a Papermania stamp over the top. I stamped the butterfly again, cut it out and covered it with Glossy Accents. A small Sheena Douglas sentiment stamp and voila! Easy peasy....
So, I'll be back on Thursday with pics from the workshop and details of a new special offer from Papermilldirect. hope you will pop back then,
Barbara
x
I'm entering this card into the following challenges :-
Through the Craftroom Door
Top Tip Tuesday
My Craft Creations
Pan Pastel UK 

Thursday, 8 January 2015

New Papermill 'special offer'.....

Evening all, second blog in a week, whoohoo....
This is a very quick post, to let you know details of the latest 'special offer' from

A4 Small Box Flecked Lilac 240gsm

This beautiful shade is very similar to the New Lilac, but has a lovely darker fleck in it and what's even better is that it is only £6.00 for a Small A4 Box (approximately 80 sheets).  That's a saving of 35% on the normal price for coloured card!!
The theme at Papermilldirect this week is babies, so I thought I'd do a simple card with a bit of bling....
I've used white linen and raspberry cardstock,  a cutting file from Silhouette and I've blinged it up a bit with some diamante.....
A very easy card to make!
Don't forget to pop over to checkout what the rest of the DT have made.
Lisa   
Sandie  
Sharon
Back soon with pics from my Saturday workshop,
Barbara xx 

Friday, 2 January 2015

New Year, New Lavinia Challenge.......

Morning everyone, and a BIG Happy New Year to you all......hope you've had a great Christmas break. We have done absolutely nothing at all over the hols, apart from seeing family and slobbing out....it's been fab.
I'm ready to get back to some crafting now, but today and tomorrow I'm going to be sorting out my craft room, the mess is clouding my inspiration. Wish me luck!.........
Well, today sees the first LAVINIA STAMPS challenge of 2015
The prize, as usual, is a fantastic £40 of Lavinia products.
The theme is 'ANYTHING GOES'.....so plenty of scope. Here are my DT cards.



This is a simple New Home card. 
Tim Holtz distress inks on PAPERMILLDIRECT white, hammered cardstock.....(one of my favourites).




I have used Pan Pastels on white smooth cardstock (from Papermilldirect, of course) for the coloured background on this little plaque...then overstamped with the wildflower stamp (HERE). I've stamped a couple of the flowers in Versamark and gold embossing powder, just to brighten the effect.

I cut a frame from black cardstock, and laid it over the coloured image.

Hope you like these first two creations of 2015. One of my new year's resolutions is to blog a bit more regular.....so watch this space!
Catch you all soon
Barbara xx
I'm entering these cards into the following challenges :-
Pan Pastel-Premium Craft Brand
De-Stempelwinkelstampers
Craftliners
 Ladybug Crafts

Tuesday, 2 December 2014

Lavinia Stamps Challenge for December....

Morning all, and welcome to the very last LAVINIA STAMPS challenge of the year....can't believe we'll soon be into 2015!
The challenge for December is ADD A FLOWER .....and all we want you to do is make something with either Lavinia Stamps or Lavinia Dies, and include a flower/flowers on it....easy peasy!
The prize for the winner ( chosen by random.org ) is a fabulous £40 voucher to spend on the Lavinia website.
Here is my DT card for this challenge...
 The background on this card is coloured with Pan Pastels....I love the vibrancy of it.
I've used FAIRY HOUSE and BELIEVE stamps,  Tattered Flower die from Sizzix and Leaf Flourish from Marianne.
A bit of Glamourdust and some sequins and 'Voila'!
Hope you like it.....
Back soon with a review of the year from Oak House Studio, and pics of my Saturday workshop.
Barbara xx
Don't forget to checkout the inspiration from the rest of the DT, it's amazing! xx

Tuesday, 18 November 2014

A very simple 'tag' tutorial for Oak House Studio

Hi everyone, back again, with a very easy tag tutorial for OAK HOUSE STUDIO
While doing some 'winter' themed projects for the November challenge, I unearthed some stamps I hadn't used for a while....CHRISTMAS WREATH SET 

I have lots of Oak House Studio white tags, but typically couldn't find them for this project, so had to cut some....
I've used white linen from
PAPERMILLDIRECT 
1)  I stamped the branches using Green Oak inkpad, and the sentiment using black inkpad.



 2) Using Spring Green inkpad I stamped the cluster of holly leaves from the Christmas Wreath set, randomly over the branches.



 3) I then mixed some Green Oak inkpad with Peridot acrylic ink together to make a darker shade, and over-stamped with a single holly leaf.


4) I painted in a few holly berries with Valentine Red inkpad and an aquabrush.
When they were dry, I dotted 'Glossy Accents' over the berries, to give them a bit of shine.




5) A bit of red metallic cord, and done!








 I liked the effect so much, I made a couple of cards to match....
Well, that's all for now, catch you soon,
Barbara.....
Don't forget to get your entry into the Winter Challenge....
There's a fab prize of £40 for the winner, and also a personalised stamp for the back of your cards!

Monday, 10 November 2014

'Winter' challenge at Oak House Studio......

Evening all....just popped by to tell you of the new November challenge at 
The theme this month is WINTER.
Just make a card or two, with stamps from Oak House Studio, and enter the challenge....the prize for the winner is £40 worth of products.
Here are a couple of DT cards for inspiration....

This is a shaker card .
All cardstock from 
White embossing powder, cobalt blue inkpad, snowflake set, sentiment and beech tree stamps from Oak House Studio





Stamps and cardstock as above.

Why not pop over to the Oak House blog, and find out what the rest of the DT have been making, there's lots of inspiration.
Catch you soon,
Barbara

Thursday, 6 November 2014

New Special Offer from Papermilldirect....

Hi everyone, it's time for another 'Special Offer' from
This lovely Biscuit card, at 240gsm is available in a small sized box (approximately 80 A4 sheets) for the mouth watering price of only £5.50.  
I've used my Silhouette Portrait for this DT work, thanks to some new friends from a lovely little craft shop in Trowbridge, Wiltshire called EMBOSS & BEAD ......the ladies have kindly helped and persuaded me to use the machine which has sat new, in it's box for 8 months!
This is the very first project done on the SP, a very simple idea, but I'm thrilled to bits with it, LOL
I've used PAPERMILL cardstock in white linen, BISCUIT, brown and red.....and lovely little snowflake stamps from OAK HOUSE STUDIO to decorate the box. 
What do you think???
I'll be back over the weekend with details of a great new challenge from Oak House Studio, but until then, happy crafting.

Sunday, 2 November 2014

New Lavinia Stamps challenge - Snow and Sparkle

Evening all, hope you've had a great weekend, so far. 
I've been busy with TWO workshops, so I've had a fab weekend, spent with lots of crafty friends, new and old.
 I'll show photos from the workshops in a day or so, but first onto the new challenge at 
This month the theme is
SNOW and SPARKLE....
There is a £40 prize for the winner of the Lavinia challenge, the only stipulation is that you use Lavinia Stamps....simples!
Here are my DT cards.


ALL cardstock from



Imagine a super, frosty day, bright sunshine, and crisp snow.....


Now, imagine a cold, crisp evening, with a full moon.....



Twit twoo!
The pine trees stamp is one of my most favourites...of all time!
Why not pop over to the Lavinia challenge blog,
You can enter the challenge by email, if you haven't got a blog.
Catch you all in a day or so.
Barbara x

Friday, 31 October 2014

Happy Halloween........

Happy Halloween....
I HATE 'All Hallow's Eve'......simply can't understand why peeps would want to promote death, ghosts, ghouls, and torture etc.
This is the only card I have made.....from necessity.
Super-smooth and black cardstock from PAPERMILL
Red acrylic ink from OAK HOUSE STUDIO
Computer generated sentiment.
Enjoy the evening, if it's your type of thing.
Back soon with something nicer,
Barbara xx

Tuesday, 28 October 2014

Guest Spot for Try it on Tuesday

Morning all, just a quick little post from me today......
A few weeks ago I entered a tag into a challenge at TRY IT ON TUESDAY .....and won ;-) I was asked to do a 'guest spot' for today's blog (thank you ladies).....the theme is Autumn.
Why not pop over to TIOT, and join in the fun.....?
Here is the tag I made....


I've used a few different coloured inkpads from 
The leaf stamps are from
Sentiment from
and
Cream 'hammered' cardstock from
I quite like this tag, the colours appeal to me.
Hope you like it too....
Catch you soon,
Barbara x

Saturday, 11 October 2014

OAK HOUSE STUDIO - Mini 'ONE STAMP' event.

Morning everyone, happy Saturday....
There is a 'mini ONE STAMP' event on today, over at 
The idea of the 'one stamp' event is to use ONE stamp in as many different ways as possible....this time it's the turn of the lovely CHRISTMAS CORNER.....available HERE
These are my DT cards using the Christmas corner stamp.....hope you like them.



ALL cardstock is from
Heat-embossed and coloured with Colour Chemistry inks from
Oak House Studio




Same method, then coloured with Cosmic Shimmer....(the pic doesn't show up the lovely sheen on the flowers)
The sentiment stamps are also from Oak House Studio, of course.




As above but a bit more 'clean and simple'





My least favourite, but I'll send it to someone whom I don't like, hahaha
I've used pearl silver embossing powder on this one and acrylic inks from Oak House Studio.
Don't forget to pop over to the blog and see the fab inspiration from the rest of the team. You can also join the facebook page - Inkspired by Oak House Studio - to keep up to date with offers etc. 
Catch you all soon,
Barbara x

Friday, 10 October 2014

New Challenge at Lavinia Stamps....

Hi-di-hi everyone......it's ages since I blogged, so hope you're all still with me ;-)
We had a fab holiday in Morocco, and came home refreshed and ready to crack-on with stuff that we've been putting off for months....ie decorating, clearing the garden, going for long walks with Finn.....all those things that are better done in Summer of course, but we just didn't have time then...hey-ho!
 I'm also gonna have more time to craft now, as we've employed a full-time manager in the pet shop, and I don't need to go in 3 days a week...yeah!
Anyway, onto this month's challenge at LAVINIA STAMPS...
the theme is AUTUMN COLOURS.
As usual, the prize is a whopping £40 to spend on Lavinia products, and you don't need a blog to enter, we also take email entries. 
You need to use Lavinia products to enter, so grab your stamps, and get busy....
I've made a couple of tags this month...hope you like them.
                              
                           
On this tag I've used the stamp
  Nigela Damascena
      HERE 
 one of the tiny star stamps, a sentiment,
and loads of copper embossing powder and spray inks 
from
 
This tag uses the same spray inks
with the Zen, large mushroom house,
and a couple of the foliage stamps.

I absolutely LOVE the Autumnal colours, but I don't like Autumn very much....it's because no matter how pretty the colours are, the trees are closing down for Winter and everything is dying.
Anyway, not much we can do about it, so may as well just enjoy the colours, and look forward to CHRISTMAS!!! 
Catch you all soon,
Barbara x