About Me

My photo
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.

Thursday 29 August 2013

Seven Down Seventeen to go - Funky Girls

At Through The Purple Haze this week the theme is funky girls and boys here is my design



The image is from Kenny K and I coloured her using spectrum Noirs, I added highlights to her hair shoes jeans and t shirt using glitter gel pens. The backing papers and the flowers are from Hot off the press as is the little tag. I aged the image slightly using brown ink and went round the edges of the flowers using a glitter gel pen. The paper clip is from a box I picked up at my local supermarket. I finished off with cosmic shimmer black pearl pva to make the flower centres and the  pearls.

I am entering this card into the following challenges
http://throughthepurplehazechallenges.blogspot.co.uk/ funky girls and boys

Wednesday 21 August 2013

You can Stick it at Fab n Funky

Good Morning everyone, 

It's time for another challenge  at Fab 'n Funky. Thank you to all that joined us in last week's challenge, what wonderfully summery projects you shared with us and over 100 entries too. To see if you were chosen as the winner pop over to the challenge blog and take a look.

This week it's Ciska's turn to choose the theme and I've chosen:

"You Can Stick It" or Use Stickers or Peel Offs on your project (anything that sticks on its own really)


Our sponsor this week is Bugaboo, who provided us with some great images.





I used their Paisley Elephant design to make my card with an Indian feel to it.


I started by adding black peel off paisley shapes to my white base card and colouring some of designs with a gold marker pen. The backing paper is from My Craft Studio Magical Mystical Metallics CD Rom and I matted this onto gold and red mirror card and trimmed to leave a narrow border. I printed the elephant onto super smooth card stock and filled in some for the pattern using a gold marker pen. matted him onto gold then red mirror card and added the peel off corners and borders. 

I printed the sentiment on the computer and chose a font that had a slight Sanskrit look to the letter shapes. I then added the dancing Krishna peel off to red mirror card and fussy cut around the  edges and added them to the card. finishing of with some black gems.

I am entering this card into the following challenges 




Tuesday 20 August 2013

Full House at Through The Purple Haze

I love when challenge blogs have Bingo Challenges, because I always like to see if I can get a full house. 

At Through the Purple Haze this week we were given the following bingo board. 


Here is the card I came up with for a full house 


It is a double easel card and the larger easel is 6x6 and the smaller is 4x4. 

So to break it down into the elements 

Bling - The butterfly charm, the mirror card used for the die cut poppy, sentiment and trellis

Ribbon - The bow on the larger easel and wrapped round card to form the stopper of the smaller easel.

Twine - Wrapped round the front of the smaller easel to suspend the charm.

Dies - used to cut the trellis panel, white leaves flourish, Lace edges on front and rear easel, the poppy flower, the sentiment and the sentiment panel, and the main image.

Three Papers - The black and white and red and white spotty papers are obvious but I also used a lovely white 'spiders web' paper from the Ooh La La Faithful friends on the rear easel.


Flourish - The white leaves winding up the left hand edge of the trellis panel

Flowers - The die cut Poppy and also the Poppies on the image from Susan McMahon at  http://www.mcmahonfivedesign.com/

Pearls - The edges of the die cut lace edges, and around the main image panel.

Sentiment - The small sentiment panel and the wonderful sentiment on the image panel

There you have it Bingo I am entering this card into the following challenges.

http://craft-deebowz.blogspot.co.uk - Anything goes with a Handmade Bow 
http://www.creativecreationschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/ - Bingo - Sentiment, Image, Pearls

Monday 19 August 2013

Six Down Eighteen to go.

This week at Through The Purple Haze Challenge Blog they are playing Bingo, There is also a face off challenge between the DT members with a vote for the favourite DT card. My vote is cast and my lips are sealed as to who I have chosen.

Here is my Entry for this weeks Bingo Challenge I chose three papers, pearls and ribbon, from the Bingo grid provided.


The papers are all from the Pastel Preludes CD from My craft studio, which I bought a few weeks ago. I cut them into hexagons using a sizzix die and my bigshot and assembled the patchwork onto pale pink card which was then trimmed to leave a border. This was mounted onto a lovely pale coloured kraft card that I bought recently. 

I wrapped the panel in a pretty pale pink organza ribbon and added a Bow in the same ribbon and a double bow in the pink satin ribbons. I visited my dad's a few weeks ago and there is a haberdashers in the town where he lives where they sell off the ends of their ribbon reels for a few pence, I always visit and stock up on ribbon when I am there because it is such good value. I added two pearl pins to the bow and stuck the whole panel to a 6x6 base card.

The image is a beautiful digi stamp from Bugaboo from their Beautiful Blocks range  and I used My Craft Studio to change the print colour from black to a sepia tome and then coloured the flowers using Spectrum Noirs PP2, PP3 and PP4. The stamp panel was then mounted on the pale pink card and more of the pale kraft card. Before I added 4 tiny pearls to the corners.

I am entering this card into the following challenges 

http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/ - use your new stash , papers card and ribbons
http://throughthepurplehazechallenges.blogspot.co.uk/ - Bingo three papers, pearls and ribbon
http://audsentimentschallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/ - Anything but a birthday card 

Inspired by Song at Ooh La La Creations

Firstly huge thanks to everyone who entered our step back in time challenge last time you can see the winners on the Ooh La La Creations Challenge Blog. Whilst you are there please check out the fabulous designs by the ladies on the design team for the current challenge which I have chosen this time.

In honour of the first Liverpool International Music Festival which runs from the 17th of August I have chosen as our theme inspired by song.

I know  anyone who regularly reads my blog knows that I am a Beatles fan and George is my favourite so I couldn't resist creating this card in honour of George. Especially as he would have been 70 years old this year and the Internation Beatles week ( which is running alongside the International Music Festival) is honouring him with a special concert for his birthday..



As soon as I saw this image on the Dreams of Tranquillity CD it reminded me of a sunrise so what else could I choose but 'Here Comes The Sun' 

I kept to the sunrise theme by using papers from the CD printed in soft lemons and peaches to make an Art Deco style background with the sunburst. Each panel was cut and distressed before being mounted onto black card and cut out to be assembled on an 8x8 card. 



The image was also mounted onto black card and I picked out some of the flowers and shrubs on the image with flower soft to give texture and a 3D effect.

I added some butterflies punched out of black card and a greeting panel which is a quote which George used when he was speaking to fans after he had been attacked in 1999 he actually followed up the  quote with the line 'And you better believe it folks'  I added a little lotus blossom that I had made out of punched flowers to the bottom corner of the sentiment.

I am entering the card in the following challenges 
http://audsentimentschallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/ - Anything but a birthday card 
http://heart2heartchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/ - Inspired by song - Here Comes The Sun



Monday 12 August 2013

Five Down Nineteen to go.

Well it's Monday so the new challenge at Through the Purple Haze has gone live. Their sponsor this week are floppy Latte and the theme is Flowers and Butterflies and other garden lovelies.

I used a lovely floral frame digi from Floppy Latte for my entry into this weeks challenge.



I coloured the frame using Spectrum Noirs Leaves DG1, DG2, DG3, Large Flowers GB2, GB3, GB4
small flowers HB1, HB2, HB3, Berries CR10, DR1, DR3,

I fussy cut the image and stick it to a piece of cream adorable scoreable card and added the die cut happy birthday to the centre.

The backing papers are a lovely textured deep rust coloured paper from Paper Mill and a green Lace paper which was a freebie from a magazine and has been in my stash for so long it has got searated from the cover so I have no idea who makes it. I fussy cut the edges f the lace paper and layered it up onto the rust coloured paper. I added the flower frame to the centre and then die cut three butterflies from copper pearlised paper and added them to the design. I used Cosmic Shimmer dries clear glue to coat the centre of the large flower and then added black glass bugle beads to it. I used the same glue to add dimension and a glossy finish to the berries. For the butterflies bodies I used Black pearl cosmic shimmer PVA to add small pearls to the smaller butterflies and the larger one I piped a body then added orange flat back pearls from inky impressions. I finished by adding a frame of orange pearls around the edge of the green lace paper.

I am entering this card into the following challenges 
http://throughthepurplehazechallenges.blogspot.co.uk/ Flowers and butterflies and other garden lovelies

Wednesday 7 August 2013

It looks like Summer at Fab 'n' Funky

Good morning everyone!
This week it's Jackie's turn to share a challenge with everyone over at Fab 'n' Funky  which is....

Anything that Looks Like Summer!

Plus this week we have two amazing sponsors, you are going to love seeing these companies sponsoring us!

Who are offering one winner their choice of 5 digital images!

Lili of the Valley
LOTV

Who are offering their winner a 10 gift certificate!

Now for me Summer means one thing and that's music lots of it played outdoors usually in fields or parks. I guess it has something to do with me being a child of the 60's and remembering 'The Summer of Love', Woodstock, Monterey, and the Isle of Wight Festivals being on the news and my wishing I was old enough to be there. Once I was old enough I made it a point of doing what festivals I could at least once, Glastonbury, Reading, Live 8, and numerous others. So when I saw the Eleanor Free Spirit digi over at Lacy Sunshine it had Summer written all over it. In fact it has become a firm favourite.


I decided to go with a stepper card to enable me to add lots of embellishments. The backing papers were freebies from a magazine and are called 'Beach Babe' by Fancy Pants


I decided that I would go with a 60's theme of bold colours to compliment the image and used spectrum Noirs to colour her.

Hair LY2, TN2, GB3, GB4
Skin FS1, FS2, FS3, TN1,
Eyes BT1, TB1,
Glasses FL2, OR1
Clothes PL3, PL4, PL5  TB1, TB2, TB3
Grass LG1, LG2, DG1
Flowers FL2, OR1, GG2,PL3

I also coloured some scraps of white card in PL3 and FL2 and used these to die cut the guitar and the treble clefs, which were then coated in a gloss varnish. I added the little wooden flowers as they were so stylised they fitted well with the 60's theme as did the plastic peace symbol which was rescued from a charity shop jewellery tray. The greeting above Eleanors head is computer generated, and the Flower Power sentiment is from the Lacy Sunshine hippie bits set.



Finally no summer music festival is complete with out your wellies well not in the UK at any rate. I cut these from a scrap of garden themed backing paper and coated them with varnish.

I am entering this card into the following challenges
http://lacysunshinechallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/ - Favourite Things - The image 
http://milkcoffeechallenge.blogspot.co.uk/ - Show us your colouring 


Tuesday 6 August 2013

Four down Twenty to go

Thsi week at Through the Purple haze Challenge blog the theme is to use tags and or tickets and the sponsor is Crafty Sentiments. Not having any Crafty sentiments products in my stash nor any tags or tickets for that matter. I Made my own tag and came up with this creation


I have to admit to a certain amount of self indulgence in this card. I love black and white cards and have always fancied making a black and white wedding card. I am also  passionate about die cutting and dry embossing and having just bought the Tattered lace swan die I had to use it, and it cried out be used on a wedding card as swans mate for life.

The starting point for the card was the tag though and I made that by die cutting hearts from black and white Centura pearl card stock. I then covered the white heart with Angel hair paper in white to add texture and then glued the two die cuts together. I added the die cut sentiment words which had been cut from silver mirror card using tattered Lace sentiment dies and then punched a hole in the top of the tag and threaded it with cotton lace, white seam binding and white organza polka dot ribbon. I added a silk tassel to the bottom of the tag and ran the threads from the tassel up the back of the tag and through the hole with the ribbons and lace.

I then made a 8 inch square gate-fold card from white Centura pearl card and embossed two panels of the same card stock for the front of the card which I matted onto black Centura pearl and trimmed to leave a narrow border and stuck these to the front of the card.

I cut the two swans from silver card stock and then mounted these onto a black card stock that had been die cut and then embossed using a lovely rose design embossing folder. This was in turn matted onto white card stock and trimmed to leave a narrow border.


in the bottom right hand corner I added a floral arrangement using die cut flowers that had been cut from white, silver grey and black pearlised paper and added white die cut leaves a small piece of net and some pearl sprays. I finished off the flower centres using black gems and pearls.


Inside teh card I used a lovely black lace paper from the Femme Fatale CD by Ooh La La Creations which was printed onto peearlised card stock for the sides and then the centre panel was printed onot plain paper with a faded edge effect and an oval digital punch shape was 'cut' using My Craft Studio soft ware. This was printed at fifty percent opacity to give the faded look. The finishing touch was teh wedding rings cut from silver mirror card using a Marianne die.

I am entering this card into the following challenges

http://www.throughthepurplehazechallenges.blogspot.co.uk/ - Tags and or tickets
http://incywincydesigns.blogspot.co.uk/ - Gate fold
http://www.creativecreationschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/ - Monochromatic
http://craftybootschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/ - Die cuts
http://artisticinspirationschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/ - Bingo I chose lace, flowers and layers
http://fashionistachallenge.blogspot.co.uk/ - Wings the swans have wings
http://trimmiescraftchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/ - Monochromatic
http://pinkgemchallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/ - anything Pearlescent

Monday 5 August 2013

Step back in time with Ooh La La Creations

Hello everyone and thank you to every one who entered our for the one I love challenge last time you can find the winners on The Ooh La La creations challenge blog. Whilst you are there check out the DT creations for the current Challenge chosen by Ciska who wanted us to step back in time.


The image and backing paper are actually from the Waterfall card section of the Passion for Fashion CD. I expanded the image and cropped a small square from the backing paper and tiled it using MCS to give a large enough piece for an 8x8 card. I matted the paper onto pale green card and then added strips of paper in colours from the image which had been edged using a Martha Stewart punch, and trimmed using self adhesive pearls. I also added a doily cut from thin pink card using a Marianne die. The image was mounted onto green pink and cream mats before being added to the card.

 I printed off the fan and the shoes from the embellishments folder on the  passion for fashion CD and then cut them out, I added tiny turquoise gems to the shoes and added a metal corner to the card both these items are available from the Ooh La La Creations shop.


The parasol was cut out of cream card using a Marianne die. The sentiment was from the same CD as the images and I matted this onto pink,cream and green card and added an organza flower. I finished off with a bow of turquoise seam binding a little clock charm and some decoupaged flowers.


 The inside of the card picked up on the turquoise in the topper and used a lovely folded satin design from the Passion for Fashion CD but this time I upped the green and blue in MCS to get a colour match.




I am entering this card into the following challenges
http://pinkgemchallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/ - anything Pearlescent
http://2sisterschallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/ - Anything Goes
http://challenges4everybody.blogspot.co.uk/ - Anything Goes