Happy Smooshing!

Hi everyone. Another busy week but finally the last school run before the holidays. I was supposed to have a whole day off today but instead I'm teaching in Gloucestershire so will be out all day.

Yesterday I had a happy delivery- my parcel containing the latest Julie Loves Kit from Craftwork Cards. I loved it as soon as Julie showed the DT a sneak peek and ordered the main kit and stamps. I couldn't wait to get started so made this card straight away!

I started off by 'smooshing' some Distress Inks onto watercolour card. The colours I used are my absolute favourites: Picked Raspberry, Peacock Feathers and Seedless Preserves. I then stamped these fabulous words using Staz-on black ink. To finish I randomly added a sequin in each colour (I literally threw them on!) and added my panel to a tent fold card blank.

This is a very different card for me but I'm really happy with it. The process was so much fun too!

Hope you have a lovely weekend, whatever you have planned. Cathy x

Super Cool Robot

Hi everyone, hope your week is going well. Today I'm sharing a card I made for Quick Cards Made Easy magazine as part of their Reader Design Team. 

I was really pleased to see that the papers we were using were these cute robot designs- perfect for the kind of cards I make all the time. I just decided to layer the papers up before adding a robot image and sentiment. My only embellishments were some cogs cut from kraft card.

As you may know, each issue's DT has 10 members with 3 cards being chosen for the magazine. I was thrilled when I got my copy and found that my card had been published. You can also see everyone's cards on Quick Cards Facebook page- there are some brilliant designs.

Have a lovely day. Cathy x

Happy Mother's Day

Hi everyone. Yes I know I'm a day late but I didn't want to share the card I made for my Mum until she'd seen it!

The papers, topper and flowers are from Craftwork Cards Shabby Chic collection, with a Dovecraft doily. I fussy cut the roses from a second sheet of matching paper to add some depth. I added lace to the topper and cut the letters on my Scan n Cut. I added Liquid Pearls to finish.

I think this is a real 'me' card and especially love this pink and green colour combo. My Mum loved it to. 

I also thought I'd share something new I did this weekend- I created a layout for my planner for the first time.

My husband bought this planner for me in the US last year and I've been meaning to work on it for a while.  This weekend I felt I needed some relaxation and me time so this is what I chose to do. Unfortunately, I fear this might become a bit addictive as I enjoyed it so much.

Hope you have a lovely week- only 5 more school runs until the Easter hols and I can't wait! X

Kiss, kiss

Hi everyone. Today I'm sharing two of my cards from my Trimcraft demos last week. I took the photos whilst I was there, hence the unusual background.

Today's cards were made using the fabulous Kiss & Make Up range. At the first store, there were no paper pads in stock so I made this card to show how to work without designer papers:

I cut a rectangle of card to sit behind the frame and covered it with strips of washi tape before adding it to the back of the frame. I added more washi tape to the side and bottom of a card blank. The stickers, gems and fabulous lip brad are all part of the collection.

My second card is from my second demo and uses the 8x8 paper pad layered on a pink card blank.

The chipboard stickers from this collection are great fun- I love the make up and brush stickers on this card.

This collection was definitely a big hit with many girls I saw at the weekend, it's something fun and very different I think.

Thank you for visiting today, I always appreciate your comments. Cathy x

My first mini album

Hi everyone. Today I have a post on the Craftwork Cards blog and I'm sharing my very first mini album, using the very pretty Meadow collection.

I have writted a tutorial on the CWC blog but here are some pictures of my final album:

Thanks for visiting today and for your lovely comments. Cathy x

Meadow and hedgerow

Hi everyone. A short post from me today as I'm exhausted from a busy weekend. I had great fun doing my first demos for Trimcraft but it was more tiring than I expected!

Today there is a fabulous new Craftwork Cards launch on Create and Craft, with the Meadow and Hedgerow collections. I loved working with the Meadow papers with their beautiful spring colours- in fact Julie Hickey remarked that she could tell how much I loved them from my samples. Julie is such an awesome, encouraging person- just as lovely as you would imagine from TV.

I made one more special project, which I'm saving for a tutorial on Wednesday.

Thank you for visiting today and for your lovely comments. Cathy x

To grow a friend

Good morning everyone. Friday has come and I have a very exciting weekend ahead, as I will be doing my first two craft demonstrations for Trimcraft. I will be in The Range in Bridgwater on Saturday and in Gloucester on Sunday. If you are nearby please do pop in and say goodbye.

Yesterday Hunkydory released its very first USB and I was lucky enough to get to play with it and make some samples. Today I'm sharing one of my favourites:

This has been made using the 'To grow a friend' topper set. I made the base card from background card stock then added a pocket from a matching piece of card, cut diagonally. 

Inside the pocket I have placed a seed packet, which I made from the second sheet of matching cardstock (as with HD kits, most topper sets on the USB come with two background cards). 

I decorated the seed packet with a topper and sentiment, with another sentiment on the card.

Although I'm not really a digital crafter, I really enjoyed using this USB. So many collections at your fingertips!

Thank you for visiting today and for your comments. Cathy x

Happy days

Hi everyone. Welcome to my 200th blog post. Just wanted to take the opportunity to thank you all for reading and commenting on my posts, I really appreciate it.

Today is also the 7th birthday of the first 'second child' of the group of friends I made when my eldest son was a baby. I can remember finding out she had been born and can't believe how quickly time has passed.

Of course, I made her a card and it was back to the pretty Belle and Boo collection for this:

As well as the fabulous cute image, I also love the sorbet colours of these papers. I teamed it with some peachy Adorable Scorable and ribbon I found in one of my ribbon boxes. I finished off with some yellow pearls.

When I made this card it really did feel like Spring was here- hopefully it won't be long until we can eat ice creams at the seaside.

Cathy x

Sheep!

Hi everyone, hope you have had a great weekend. We had a fabulous time at Legoland on Friday. It was just me and the boys and we had lots of fun, particularly as it was so quiet we got to go on all the rides we wanted to.

Today's card is a very simple one and a design I use a lot at the moment. It was made for a friend to give to her Dad- he is a sheep farmer and she was so pleased I could make something special for him.

Everything on this card is from Hunkydory. The image comes from the Little Book of Springtime and I've used their Ombre cardstock. I cut a strip from one end and embossed it using an argyle embossing folder. The sentiment comes from the ever useful Book of Sentiments.

This week is going to be another busy one with lots of crafting to do. Hopefully I'll share some of those projects with you later in the week. Cathy xxx

12 Months of Scrapbooking- Goofy

Hi everyone. Hope you are all ok. Today my boys have a random INSET day so we are going on a trip to Legoland. We're hoping it might be fairly quiet so fingers crossed.

Today's project is the layout I made following Crafter's Companion's 12 Months of Scrapbooking tutorial. Every month you can order a bargain bundle of goodies and then watch Jen Fisher's You Tube video for layout ideas. I am trying to make layouts more often so this is definitely helping me to get ideas.

The bundle for February was love themed so I used one of my favourite Disneyland photos of my eldest son with Goofy:

When Goofy found out he was my son's favourite character he gave him a massive hug, which luckily I managed to capture.

I didn't change much from Jen's layout, only the positioning of the words. Unfortunately I had die cutting problems, so had to use my Scan n Cut rather than the bundle dies for embellishments.

I also added the red hearts to hide some dodgy cutting but I do also like the added bright colour.

I do love this finished layout, although the perfectionist in me is annoyed by the crease in the paper! My son, of course, has decided this will go on his wall rather than my special Disneyland scrapbook so I will have the chance to make it all again.

Have a great day x

Calendar Girl

Hi everyone from a very damp Somerset. Today I'm sharing a project I made ages ago! The Craftwork Cards DT were all asked to produce a project for their 2017 Calendar. My project was to be for October and I was sent the Vogue paper pad to work with.

Now, big projects aren't really my thing so I was a bit daunted by the whole thing. However, I decided to get myself some hexagonal boxes and set about decorating them:

It took me an awfully long time to die cut all those flowers and leaves and just as long to stick them all on!

I really love the top of the smallest box with this gorgeous peacock:

In the end, I was happy with the end result, very proud that it features in the calendar and that it also made an appearance on Create and Craft just before Christmas. I have the calendar in my craft room and it is lovely to see my fellow DT members every day- at the moment it's Julie Hickey and her fabulous March project. I'm not sure how I'll feel about seeing my photo every day in October though!

Hope you have a lovely day wherever you are. Thank you for visiting today x

Ballerina Boo

Hi everyone. Last week I mentioned the abundance of children's parties at the moment ( my eldest had another invitation this morning, eek!). This card was a last minute make for one this weekend, this time made for a 5yr old girl.

I wasn't sure what to use for this card but dug around in my stash and found this Trimcraft Belle and Boo collection from last year. Boo makes such a cute ballerina and I love these soft pink colours. I simply layered up some papers and added pearls and ribbon to finish.

I promised last week a photo of the boys on World Book Day, so here they are:

They enjoyed a day of reading and listening to stories on Friday and loved dressing up.

I have a busy week ahead and it's back in the craft room to finish up some DT projects today. Hope you all have a good week x

World Book Day

Hi everyone. If your Facebook timeline looks anything like mine, you'll know that it is World Book Day today. My boys don't get to dress up for school until tomorrow, but I am sharing a fairy tale themed card today.

This lovely Princess and the Pea image is from Hunkydory's Little Book of Little Dudes and Perfect Princesses. I've layered it onto some Adorable Scorable and Rainbow Mirri.

The papers I've used are from Sara Davies' Signature Little Angel 12x12 pad. I've layered them on an 8x8 card blank with some AS card. My ribbon is from Craftwork Cards.

I've finished the card with a Rainbow Mirri crown cut on my Scan n Cut and lots of gems. This card is one of several I need for this weekend- the boys have so many parties at the moment!

Thank you for visiting today. I'm waiting for delivery of two very exciting DT parcels, so am going to have a very busy few days creating with those. Have a lovely day, whatever you have planned. X