Windmills of my mind

Ok so as I am drafting this post my husband is frantically looking through his British hit singles book for songs with either windows, curtains or pleats in the title LOL (see post below for full explanation). I only mention this because I couldn't think of a title for this post and usually I seem to find a title from the theme of the card, but this one had us stumped.................

Fast forward a couple of hours and I can't get the song windmills of my mind out of my head, so I have decided that it will be my title for today. If you have any suggestions please leave me a comment.

Thanks for stopping by & see you tomorrow xx

Stampin Up - Stamps: Fresh cuts, card stock: chocolate chip and whisper white. Rub ons: Hidden garden blossoms, ribbon: whisper white grosgrain. Pumpkin pie designer series paper. Other: white brads from stash.

Life is a roller coaster

I had fun making these, they look great and are so easy to make, see here. I don't know if any of you astute readers out there have noticed but quite a few of my blog titles are song lyrics. It didn't start off this way and wasn't intentional, but before I knew it I was humming songs while looking at the photos, which is what I usually do to come up with some inspiration for the title of the post.

Come to think of it I am always singing or whistling something, I definitely inherited that from my welsh speaking and most amazing Mamgu (pronounced mamgee - means granny in welsh) If you look at the side bar on the left side of my blog archive titles, you'll see. A little bit of trivia for you in any case.

Have fun & see you tomorrow xx

Stampin Up - Stamps: Polka dots & paisley, fresh cuts, garden whimsey & a bit of birthday cheer. Designer series paper: Tea party & haiku. Ribbon: So saffron & pretty in pink striped grosgrain and more mustard grosgrain. Ink: Certain celery, old olive, bashful blue, pretty in pink & so saffron. Misc: coasters & binding clips.

These are a few of my favourite things

When in doubt reach for the cupcakes, the real ones and the crafty ones hee hee. I love these little guys, is it possible that one little stamp can make you sooo happy - I think so. More fodder for the upcoming table top sale. I can't get enough of these little notebooks, if you would like to make one I have my template here, scroll down a bit and you will see it.

Have a great day & see you tomorrow xx

Stampin Up - Card stock: pretty in pink & chocolate chip. Ribbon: chocolate chip grosgrain & pretty in pink striped grosgrain. Sweet always designer series paper. Image coloured with stampin wrist markers. Other companies - stamp: forever friends cupcake.

Just another Mojo Monday

You supply the layout i'll try and supply the rest. Thanks goodness for Mojo Monday, I completely forgot about this but it's so fabby and just what I needed. This card will be for my Mammy (as us Welshies call them) and I have no fear of her seeing it, as I am more likely to see her walking down the road snuggling with Bradd Pitt than her going near a computer lol.

Have a great Monday & see you tomorrow xx

Stampin Up - Stamps: Fresh Cuts & A bit of Birthday cheer. Cardstock: Old olive * So saffron. Designer series paper: Tea Party. Ink: Old olive. Misc: Pearls from the pretties kit, so saffron striped grosgrain

Getting organised

Before my mojo ran away and left me like the coward he is I made this little organiser for the upcoming table top sale at my son's school. I have been meaning to do it for some time. While on one of my online jaunts I saw something similar from overseas and thought hmm, where can I get a little box like that from. After some months I completely forgot about it, until recently at the supermarket I was reaching for some envelopes, I had the last in the box. I had a flashback to the organiser I saw and thought that empty box would be perfect for a fixer upper and covered it in lovely paper and cardstock etc, voila!

Have a great day and I'll see you tomorrow xx
Stampin Up - Stamps: totally tabs, card stock: whisper white, taken with teal, old olive and kraft. Ink: versamark & old olive, ribbon: tempting turquoise grosgrain. Designer series paper: polka dot & paisleys. Misc: white embossing powder and box from supermarket.

Mojo, mojo, where for art thou mojo ?

Ok 21 days of daily postings to my blog and my mojo has deserted me, I have then as they say 'borrowed some' ! Oh I wish I had made this card - it is so perfect I feel a bit wobbly. This is my homage to a very talented lady. Just a quickie today, so have fun and if you find my mojo tell him (it's always male when it's doing something you don't want it to do lol) to get his patootie (I only recently found out that meant bottom) back to my house.

See you tomorrow (I hope) xx

Stampin Up - Stamps: pocket silhouette, card stock: kraft, old olive & chocolate chip. Designer series paper: Haiku, Ink:; stampin write markers using old olive, chocolate chip and really rust. Misc: linen thread, old olive & very vanilla button. Other: PTI leaf button

Brace yourself it's my first template

I had a couple of lovely ladies ask me for the template for my note books here and here. I tried to post it directly on my blog but it just looked all weird when I tried to cut and paste it from a word document. So late last night I posted on ILWS (in love with stamping forum) for some help and the wonderful, brilliant and fabulous Joanne came to the tecky rescue (once again). I could have played it all cool and said oh this is just something I knocked when I had a few minutes spare in between my circuit training and yoga class (HAH ! - If any of my friends are reading they would die of laughter as I hate exercise or I should say exercise hates me lol) but I won't I owe it all to the lovely Joanne, who kinda made it all straight and normal looking, please have a go and tell me if it works. Leave a comment if you have any queries and I will post a reply on that comment page.

Another cutesy card for my beautiful Niece - I do love those little chickens.

Thanks for popping by - see you tomorrow xxx
Stamp: Alota from Crafts U love, Stampin Up: real red & bashful blue card stock. Real red grosgrain ribbon & linen thread. Summer picnic designer series paper and coloured with my stampin write markers onto water colour paper. Misc: gingham ribbon & heart charm from stash.p>

And the winner is me !!!!

Last week the lovely Sara most graciously (she is so lovely) gave me, little old me an award for blogs that make you smile. When she told me I'd received it I was so excited, I am famous at last I thought hee hee. Anyway I have to pass it on to five people whose blog makes me smile. Anyhoo a quick bit about my card for today, again using the fabulous fresh cuts set by Stampin up. I love the simplicity on this.

My award !!! :] :) :}



I found it really hard to pick just five people and Sara picked some beauties to, so to add to the list mine are:

Aimes - she's so friendly and full of good advice.
Debbie Taylor - always has something lovely to say.
Debbie - who wouldn't smile at cake & crafting.
Carole C - so supportive and clever.
Diane G - she's a legend and the funniest ever.

See you tomorrow, toodlepip xxx

Products from Stampin Up: Fresh cuts & a bit of birthday cheer stamp sets,whisper white card stock, basic grey ink, basic grey taffeta ribbon.

Juicy bits

Aren't these juicy fruits, I have to say from the humble cherry to the ripest strawberry this has to be one of my fave sets from Stampin Up. I could make cute little projects like these all day and never get bored. The note book is a la moi (as Del boy would say - what I mean is that it's from my own template) and the cute little post it note key ring is from the famous Angie at Chick 'n scratch here.

I am on a mission for world domination in my little part of the country at the moment and have of course made myself a little book with my master plan in it and slowly but surely I am ticking those babies off the list. Set up blog, tick, let people know about my blog, tick, posting daily on my blog (or until I run out of card stock - which wont be long lol) tick and maybe just maybe become a Stampin Up demonstrator !!!!, no tick yet but watch this space hee hee.

These projects are for a table top sale I will be doing at my son's school. This will be the first proper airing that my crafty bits (fnaar fnaar) will get in public so a bit nervous. Have a while to go yet and you will be the first to see the new projects.

See you tomorrow, have a great day xxx
Stampin Up - Stamps: Tart & Tangy, card stock: real red and old olive. Ink: real red & old olive, ribbon: real red & always artichoke grosgrain. Paper: Summer picnic and die cuts.

I see trees of green.....

red roses too (see this post) and I think to myself what a wonderful world, oooohhh yeeeeehhhh(take a bow everyone and check that you haven't been caught singing out loud wherever you are hee hee). I love that song reminds of walking barefoot in a meadow somewhere I forgot, hmm lazy days. Anyway, this stamp set I received recently from an unbelievably good friend Kate (even though we have never met). It's amazing what people you can meet through crafting. Talking of good friends I haven't forgotten the lovely Sara who recently made me a very proud owner of an award, how fantastic is that. I will post it soon but have been pontificating on who to pass it on to - there are so many great people who make me smile out there.

Enough said today, I think, and will see you tomorrow xxx

Emma
Stamp set: Unity Stamp Company US - Tiny Trinity. From Stampin Up: card stock: old olive, kraft, whisper white & chocolate chip. Old olive designer series paper, old olive grosgrain ribbon and linen thread. Misc: button and chipboard from stash.

My fairy blogmother

What do you think - swish hey, hee hee.

And all the thanks should go to Aimes, who very kindly left a comment and suggested I used a site where I could very sneakily pretty up my pics so to speak. Is it too much, what do you think ? (blinkin eck Emma your never happy lol). Sorry I'm afraid my fuss gene is on overdrive at the moment. I like it, I think, anyway I saw the sketch for this card somewhere or I dreamt it, but can not find it to show you sorry. More lollipop flowers and I do love the kraft and black card stock together.

Hope to see you tomorrow xxx( but back to work today - boooo).

Stampin Up - Stamps: Fresh cuts, Card: Kraft, whisper white and basically black, Misc: linen thread, basically black button, versamark and clear embossing powder. Other : ribbon from stash (would have used kraft taffeta from Stampin Up but haven't got it yet).

Everyone loves a challenge ?

Whether it's card making or scaling Mount Kilimanjaro (although I will try the latter after dinner lol). At the moment the very lovely Kate is setting the challenges over on ILWS forum and for once I have actually had the time to join in. It is a bit out of my comfort zone, although I like the pretty, I prefer less of the flowery as well.

To continue with the story of trying to perfect my photography skills (this one is slightly squiffy sorry), below is my assistant photographical technician Samuel -sorry Ben 10, who was directing me to take the shot of his masterpiece ( see my hubbies home made light box).

Have a great day and see you tomorrow xxx

All from Stampin Up unless stated - Stamps: Garden whimsey & Botanical blooms. Ink: Regal rose & old olive, Card stock: Regal rose, old olive & whisper white. Misc: Regal rose grosgrain ribbon.

Sunshine on a rainy day

I would like to say a big thank you to the lovely people who left advice on my blog yesterday about my pictures. It has spurred me on to keep trying, I know I'm never going to be Man Ray but I'll keep on trucking (as my 5 year old would say). The above pic was taken on a beautiful day but alas yesterday the weather was pants and I was unable to get any decent shots, ok half decent shots by my standards lol.

The technique I used on this card is called 'poppin pastels' and no it's not a euphemism for something sordid for you non card-making readers lol. It's when you stamp the image in versamark then dab over the it with chalks. This is the first time I have ever tried this technique and I have to say I love it.

Thanks for stopping by and see you tomorrow maybe (don't know yet - I have no pictures aaahhhh, lets wish for some sun) xx

All products by Stampin Up. Stamps: Fresh cuts, card stock , ink & chalks: Old olive, elegant eggplant and lovely lilac. Misc: Linen thread, old olive button and round tab punch.

These are the votes from the photo jury.....

.... nil pwan (that's what I would give for my photography anyway lol).

Since starting my blog, I have been trying to hone my lackluster photography skills and would like your opinion on the two shots I have taken above. I am undecided on which shot best shows off the card, it's colours and clarity hmm ?. I would really appreciate your comments and any tips you can give. I already have my hubbie doing a 'blue peter' for me. He has completed his mission to make a white box to put my cards into to photograph outside. This card idea was taken from a fabulous lady and her layout here.

Thanks for stopping by and see you tomorrow.

Emma xx

Products all from Stampin Up: Stamps: Garden whimsey & A bit of birthday cheer. Card stock: going grey and pretty in pink. Ribbon: pretty in pink taffeta. Ink: pretty in pink & going grey. Paper: Tea party. Misc: dazzling diamonds glitter and pearls from the pretties kit.

Pink patootie

....i'll explain ?

Well when I was a little girl a friend of mine used to call butterflies - patooties ?, don't ask me why - I have no idea and when you are 7 it doesn't seem important enough to ask why. I made a very similar card to this but with darker tones a while back and thought as spring had sprung I would try it in fresher colours.

Hope you like, see you tomorrow xxx

edited 4.20pm: hubbie just googled patootie, apparently it's an American phrase for sweetheart or bottom (typical of me to put something rude on here without realising it hee hee).

Stamps: garden whimsey & best yet. Ribbon: pretty in pink stripe grosgrain, jewel brads from the pretties kit. Tea party designer series paper. Cardstock: pretty in pink, old olive and regal rose. Ink: pretty in pink and old olive - all from Stampin Up

Not Stampin Up I hear you cry !!???

See I do make cards that are not solely from Stampin Up (I still love you Stampin Up - don't be jealous). I have a little itch for the cutesy cards as well. This one is for my beautiful Niece Evee from her 'big boy cousin' Samuel (my little terror) who was 5 yesterday !!!. I don't think he wanted me to put something on here about his birthday (go figure ?). I think he thought I would put his recent chickenpox epidemic pictures on here lol.

Anyhoo - thanks for stopping by and see you tomorrow xxx

Stamps: Magnolia, sentiment from pc, card stock: kraft, bashful blue and rose red from Stampin Up. Misc: bashful blue brads and brocade blue grosgrain ribbon from Stampin Up, small pearl from paper mill, oval petite nesties and ribbon trio die from spellbinders. Coloured with polychromos.

Oldie but goodie.....

... a bit like myself really lol. What I mean to say is that this cute little gift bag was made as one of the very first projects I ever uploaded to my favourite forum ILWS (in love with stamping). It's a bit scary at first or so I thought, to put your work up for scrutiny. But I needn't have worried as they are amongst the nicest people you could wish to spend time with and I have made some wonderful friends over the past year. Whoo hoo - hello ladies (waving madly at you all).

Have a great day & see you tomorrow xx

Products: Cardstock, petals & paisleys stamp set from Stampin Up, paper and gems from Doodlebug, bag from Crafts U Love and gingham ribbon.

More yumberries !

Blinkin flip - I'm stuffed, even 24 hours later. Although it does help if you put down the chocolate and don't keep asking for more roast potatoes with Sunday Lunch lol. Hope you are all having a great weekend. I had a lovely day with 'the family' yesterday, who were all pleased with their little Easter treat baskets. This is the last of the one's I'm going to post, which was made for the 'chef'.

Take care and see you tomorrow xx

All products used are - surprise, surprise - Stampin Up

Yumberries !

You may think that I made that word up - yumberries - but I did not. I believe it's a fruit and it perfectly sums up this little Easter basket I made which is chocked full of Green & Black's organic eggs - yumberry (see it does work lol). The Easter basket was made as grateful offerings to the roast dinner maker (thank you) of whose bounty I am feasting on today. The template is from here (she's so clever).

Happy Easter everyone, see you tomorrow xxx.

All produtcs - Stampin Up .

Sweet tweet

Good morning all,

As promised - a little Easter basket (template from here) stuffed to the gills with yummy chocolate which I will be giving as a little gift, along with some others to the adorable Evee, my beautiful niece and the rest of my family. I am attending for the ritual Fuges "I'm getting a big chicken in do you want to come" Easter Sunday roast tomorrow and thought it would be a nice idea if I brought the choccies.

Hope you can call back soon xxx

Products used from Stampin Up, petite scallop nestabilities and sorry don't know where the birdies from.

Push the button

Good morning everyone, I am so looking forward to some time off over the next few days. Spending it with my boys - can't wait. This little cutie was whipped up lickety split (which is unusual for me because even the simplest of cards I tend to over analyze). I am making some cute Easter baskets at the moment and will post them over the next few days. Hope you can check back with me.

Have a relaxing weekend and see you tomorrow xx

Stamps by Technique Tuesday, button PTI and the rest - you guessed it Stampin Up.

Swish - delish !

Well that's what I think of this new stamp in any case. It makes me look so much more classy than I actually am - hee hee. I have seen this sort of window technique done before and thought I would give it a go. Anyhoo a follow up from my escapades yesterday, (see post below)I think I may be ok with our neighbours as they didn't run screaming to other side of the road when they saw me on my way home from work yesterday, although an awful lot of net curtains were twitching lol.

Thanks for stopping by & see you tomorrow xx

All products Stampin Up.

Flash, bang, wallop

what a picture, what a photograph. I laughed out loud this morning thinking about when this photo was taken. The story starts at 7.00 am yesterday morning and me pretending to be organised - getting up early, doing my chores, seeing to my little rascal etc. I take my freshly prepared masterpiece (haw haw) and end up taking it for a little tour of my house, the back garden and the street.

It seemed that every picture I took was either too shiny or too dull. Time was pressing on and I was losing my patience a bit. So out I went in my fluffy slippers, jim jams, bed hair and no make up (scary - eek) to the front path of my front garden where the sun was at a perfect angle for snapping. Away I go taking the pics and low and behold it seemed my entire cul-de-sac came out of their front doors at the same time. So you think right, I am going to say good morning and calmly stroll back into the house, because I am a modern woman and don't need to feel I have to power dress with full make up on to put one toe out of the house. But what do I do ? the 10 yard dash back into the house guffawing as I went and trying to keep some dignity and failing miserably.

After all that I didn't get the shot I wanted and my neighbours now think I'm a weirdo who photographs cards !! ??. How I suffered for my art this day LOL

All products Stampin Up

Pretty in pinstripe

Good morning everyone, I feel like I'm getting into the groove as Madge would say of this blogging lark. I have a little routine already, craft, draft a post, fuss, then more fussing, then rejig, sleep and post first thing in the morning before work ( I'm a fusser as if you couldn't tell).

I love the layout of this card, it can be used for so many different styles. Inspired by this lady and the wonderful Stampin Up stamps I won !

See you tomorrow xx

All products used are from Stampin Up and PTI buttons (still lovin those Kate xx)

What a find

The template for this note book holder was such a find. The story is that I work in an office and one of the reps that come round with the freebies of pens, post it notes etc gave a note book and pen holder me about a 100 years ago. Yesterday (wasn't it lovely yesterday) I was having a clear out and found the old note book, half mangled and bereft of any paper and thought that would make a great fixer-upper. So I literally traced round the old one in kraft card stock and made the folds and cuts and prettied it up a bit and voila.

I hope you are enjoying yourself so far, because I am having so much fun. I would like to say big thank you and to all who have left such encouraging comments.

See you tomorrow xx

All products Stampin Up

You make me feel so young

..... you make me feel that spring has sprung. Good morning everyone, there's a definite something in the air this morning, it invigorated me to make a spring like card. So dah daaahh, I love making these lollipop flowers, have made a few projects with them over the past year. I found this great video tutorial here and haven't stopped making them since.

Have a great day xxx

All products Stampin Up apart from sentiment and PTI button.

Flower power

As the title suggests, with every project I post (this happens to have flowers on it) it makes me feel so happy and brings with it strength and so confirms the fact that I was born to stamp. Anyhoo loony lady (me) alert over LOL, this card was inspired by this clever lady. The card along with a few others were sent to another very talented lady Kate who is so generously organising cards for the Marie Curie Appeal.

All products are Stampin Up except for PTI buttons.

If only the milkman brought these ?

Just think of it - having these dropped on your doorstep every morning by your friendly neighbourhood milkman - hee hee. I made this recently for my mum on mother's day and filled it with Lindt chocs - mmmm. It's a milk carton holder with 4 little boxes held in it's own carrier, each individual box comes out and has a opening at the bottom to get at the goodies. It could be easily adapted for Easter though and little eggs put inside - similar to the box above made for my mother-in-law in spring colours. The template of the box was from here. Hope you like xx

All products are Stampin Up apart from cupcake stamp from forever friends.

The start of the dream

Hello everybody and big welcome to devotion to the dream. This is the start of an awfully big adventure for me and as the title implies I have wanted this for some time and can not believe I am actually doing it.
A little over a year ago I stumbled across an article in one of the many craft magazines I used to subscribe to and did a double take on a particular page of cards and altered items. I was soon to find out and become part of the wonderful world that is stamping and in particular Stampin Up.
I always knew deep down that I couldn't have fallen so deeply and have been so devoted to stamping for no reason. It may sound corny but I love it with such a passion and am thrilled to begin this journey with you. I do hope you come along for the ride