About Me

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Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
I have been crafting since May 2008, when in desperation to find an unusual birthday card for my Mum, I gave up looking in the shops and decided to have a go at making my own. I soon realised that crafting is addictive and I haven't brought a card since. In 2011 I completed my certificate in papercrafting as a result of the work I did as part of the course I started entering challenges on line and in magazines. I applied for design teams and also started making samples for Ooh La La Creations for their shows on Create and Craft. I have now completed my Diploma in professional crafting and most recently been runner up in the Papercrafter of the Year 2013 a competition run by Papercraft essentials magazine, I don't have a particular style I like to use elements from lots of styles and techniques, although I do love all things vintage. In 2014 I started to move more towards scrapbooking to take care of the huge family archive of photographs that were stored in my attic. I have continued cardmaking and Scrapbooking through 2015 and 2016 but have also become interested in off the page projects. I hope to be able focus on these in the future.

Monday 26 November 2012

Spots and Dots Ooh La La DT Inspiration

Good morning all, thanks to everyone who entered the Someone Special Challenge last time we had some beautiful entries the winners and the new Spots and Dots Challenge can be found on the Ooh La La Creations Challenge blog.

After my lavish mini book last time I have decided to keep it simple this time to show how easy it is to create a stunning card using the Ooh La La CD's for my project this time I used the 'Shoes in Bloom 2' CD and selected the design folder dance petticoat and posy. I also used some embellishments from the CD. I dipped into a another CD as well to complete the design but I'll explain as I go along. So here is the card.




As soon as I saw the challenge I knew I wanted to use this image as the main focus of the deign. I love pink and black together and the delicate spotted petticoat with the pretty pink roses is gorgeous. The topper the matching backing panel and the matching buttons were all printed onto white card and cut out. In addition I printed the contrasting backing from the bonus paper folder on the 'Shoes in Bloom 2' CD onto a sheet of white A4 paper. The black and white polka dot paper was from my stash and the pink polka dot ribbon was from the 'Everyday Occasions' CD. I cut the main backing paper into a square to fit an 8" square card blank and wrapped the pink 'ribbon' round the left hand edge securing the ends at the back. I also trimmed the bottom with a strip of the black and white polka dot paper which had been punched along one edge using a Martha Stewart lace edge punch. Once the edgings had been added I stuck the baking paper to the card blank. I then added the black and pink dotty panel and trimmed this with silver peel off edging strips. I then layered a paper doily onto this and layered a circle of the black and white polka dot paper to the centre and edged this with a peel off edging strip. I chose a doily that has a rose bud design in the edging to imitate the elements of the design on the topper. I added the topper which had been trimmed to leave a fine white line around the edge. The three faux buttons were threaded with fine pink ribbon and stuck to the top of the card. The pink polka dot paper bow was added before the sentiment one I happened to have in my stash and the pearls added to complete the design. 


To complete the card I printed off the DL insert from the CD and used this on the inside right of the card with the addition of pink polka dot card candi. 

The left hand side was completed by trimming one of the backing papers from the folder on the CD to a square and then adding a doily, into teh centre of this I stuck a smaller version of the image which had been cut into a circle, the edge of the doily was then trimmed with card candi.


I a submitting this card as one of my assessment pieces for my Diploma in Professional crafting as well as entering it into the following challenges.

http://fabnfunkychallenges.blogspot.co.uk - Birthdays and 3 I used 3 faux buttons on the front of the card
http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.co.uk/ -Anything Goes
http://inkyimpressionschallenges.blogspot.co.uk - Make it Girly
http://thepapershelter.blogspot.co.uk/ - Birthdays
http://movingalongwiththetimes.blogspot.co.uk/ Lets go Dotty
http://littlescrappieces.blogspot.co.uk/ - Fun Black Friday Challenge
http://joannasheenchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/ Anything goes except Christmas
http://cupcakecraftchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/ Black and white plus one

Wednesday 14 November 2012

A Little bit of Ooh La La

 I found out on Monday that I had passed my Diploma in Professional Crafting, as part of the work I have done towards it I used a lot of the DT work I do for the Ooh La La Creations Challenge blog and have had huge support from the owners of Ooh La La whilst I have been completing projects for the Diploma. Now I am not frantically typing up evidence for the Diploma I have a bit more time on my hands and as such when Wendi at Ooh La La sent me a sneak preview of some of the images that she was thinking of including on the new CD she is working  on I couldn't wait to get started making cards with them. So here is a sneak preview of the what you can expect on the new CD as always beautifully drawn images and co-ordinating backing papers. You will be able to purchase it from the Ooh La La Creations website once it is ready.


This image is called 'Saucy with Cat' it comes in full colour as well as this version with only the clothing coloured. As soon as I saw it it immediately made me thing of Paris and the 1930's and as such it was perfect for a birthday card for a friend of mine.


I used backing papers that will be part of the collection on the CD and as all the papers are not yet finished (I told you this was a sneak preview) I also supplemented these with some papers from the All Dressed Up CD. The papers from the All Dressed up CD were cut with a Tim Holtz tattered flowers die and layered up with and given the stickles treatment. I also added a grey organza ribbon bow and an Eiffel Tower charm that I spotted on a necklace in a charity shop yesterday whilst out shopping.

the charm reflects the die cut Eiffel Tower that I added to the card. This was cut using a Marianne designable die. I also added die cut leaves and flourishes. The tower and the leaves were coloured black and then given two coats of black nail polish to give them a sheen. The flourishes were dipped in black glitter. I also added two jewelled pins the beads again being rescued from a charity shop necklace.

The pins are really easy to make, I just put a thin coat of glossy accents on the pin before pushing the beads up and it holds the beads in place.


The sentiment panels were just printed out on the computer and to keep with the French theme I used 'gigi' font. I then just cut these out and mounted them on backing paper trimming to leave a thin border.




The inside of the card was lined with another of the backing papers from the new CD  




 On the left had panel I added a die cut circle of the main image with a little polka dot bow.


On the right hand panel I added another of the die cut flowers and two of the small toppers from the new CD.



 I am entering the card in the following challenges.
http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.co.uk/ Anything goes
http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.co.uk/ Linky Party - Anything Goes 

Monday 12 November 2012

Someone Special OLL DT

Good Morning everyone, firstly as always thank you to everyone who took part in our C is for Christmas Challenge last time. Go and check out the worthy winners at the Ooh La La Creations Challenge blog. We had some fabulous entries again this time.

Our Challenge this time is Someone Special and I have decided to share something special I have made for someone very special. My step-daughter is expecting her fourth baby in March and being extremely organised she not only knows that the new arrival will be a little boy but also what she is going to call him. I decided to make her something different from a card to welcome the little fella into the world and I knew that the gorgeous artwork of Shelly Rasche was perfect for a keepsake mini book ready prepared with captions for my step daughter to add the first pictures of the new arrival when the time comes. It just goes to show that although Ooh La La CDs are associated with card making you can use these gorgeous designs to do so much more. So here is my Mini Book created using papers and images from the Ooh La La Everyday Occasions CD, you can purchase the CD direct from the Ooh La La website here . I have also made a box to house the book and decorated this with a topper from the CD.


I started by making a plain white box and lid from two A4 sheets of card and using the Glitter Girls box maker board. Once the box was constructed and ready to decorate. I added a sheet of pearlised paper to the lid and gathered white gauze to form a loose rosette this was stuck to the centre of the box. I trimmed the sides of the box with broad lace threaded with ribbon and added card candi along the length. I then split a length of the lace without the ribbon in half lengthways and used it to trim the topper from the our baby topper from the CD.which I stuck over the gauze rosette at an angle. I added two die cut corners made using the Anja Corner die from Marianne creatables and added card candi to the top.

I trimmed a piece of backing paper from the CD with lace and used this to line the bottom of the box.


Having completed the box I worked on the inside pages for the mini book. I used a Papermania chipboard mini album as the base.


I kept with the Our baby folder for the first two pages covering them in papers from this folder and printing off the bookmark from the CD that matched the design for details of the new arrival to be added.


I also added an image of the lamb from the centre of the topper design to the left hand page and I made a frame from a die cut and embossed rectangle and acetate which was added on the right hand page for the first photograph. a length of ribbon and a bow were added to the bottom corner of the right hand page to match with the bookmark and added some card candi for good measure.



The next two pages are dedicated to the new arrival meeting his siblings - I wanted to include the three grandchildren I already have in the book, as I want them to feel that they they are included in the excitement of the new arrival. I used papers from the Baby Bears folder on these two pages and added another frame for a picture of the new boy with his two brothers and sister on the left hand page.


The right hand page has a journalling card made from one of the mini cards on the CD by editing he design in MCS to remove the main image and leave the frame and the journalling was added using safmat and printed on the computer - I really don't like my handwriting so use a calligraphy font for journalling.I also added a lace trim and the bunting was from the embellishments folder on the CD.

For the next pages I decided on the lovely image and papers from the bear on a lamb rocker folder. The backing papers have a lovely sunny feel to them, hence the caption 'Our little ray of sunshine' I made a small pocket for the left hand page with a tag that slips out for details of when and where the photograph that is displayed on the page opposite is taken.


The right hand page continues the sunny theme and has had a frame added ready for a photograph to be inserted.

I am a firm believer that any baby book should contain at least one photograph that the proud parents can use in years to come to embarrass their off spring so the next two pages are designed for this purpose and revolve around bath time. The left hand page is the only interior page of the book which does not feature backing paper from the Everyday Occasions - this bubble paper is from the Kidiwinks CD. I added a die cut and a caption and then used 3 duck buttons from my stash as embellishments. After all bath time wouldn't be complete without plastic ducks in the bath now would it?


For the right hand page I used a lightly marbled paper from the Everyday Occasions CD and  again added a frame for a photograph to be added.


The final inside pages revolve around bed time and the left hand page has a simple plaid paper and frame for a photograph.
 The right hand page has a lovely swirly paper and the image I have used to create a pocket is cut from a backing paper from the Kidiwinks CD - and it just put me in mind of a nursery. I added a tag with a pretty blue gingham ribbon to reflect the plaid design on the opposite page. I have added Journalling which is pictured below. I also trimmed the edge of the page with left over lace from the box construction this time threaded with pale blue ribbon and with card candi added to reflect teh design on the side of the box lid.




Having completed the inside pages I chose to use white work for the front and back covers of the book. Teh front is a pearlised paper stuck to the front cover and an embossed and die cut panel made using a Marianne  designables folder has been trimmed with white lace and stuck over the top. I have added a die cut pram which was made using a Marianne die and white card and this has then had glitter highlights added using stickles iridescent glitter. Pearls have been added to the centre of the wheels the end of the pram handle and what would be the hinge of the hood. Finally a line of pearls have been stuck to the opening edge of the panel and a punched butterfly (my step-daughter has a thing about butterflies) and a pure white satin ribbon add the finishing touches.



I tied lots of ribbon bows around the rings which hold the pages together and added three charms a pram, a baby's bottle and a nappy pin. finally a tag has been added welcoming the new arrival. This has been threaded on ribbon and a bow tied in one end and stuck to the top left hand corner so that it can lie on top of the book when it is in it's box.


The back cover was made by trimming a piece of white card with lace and sticking this to the back panel and then adding a die cut with the message from my husband and I (you will notice it says Big Al, this is for the benefit of our three other grandchildren who call me this in preference to grandma as they already have two grandmas and to have 3 would be confusing)




 I added an embossed panel of pearlised paper and the stork was actually one I bought from a local craft shop ages ago and had in my stash.

I hope my step-daughter likes it and I can't wait until the new bundle of joy arrives and I can have my first cuddle.

I will also be submitting this to the Craft Qualification Centre as one of the projects for assessment for the Diploma in Professional crafting I am in the process of completing.

As well as entering it into the following challenges.
http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/ - Young at Heart
http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.co.uk/ Anything Goes
http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.co.uk/ - Anything Goes