why emboss once when you can do it twice :) ?

I can't remember where I seen this technique (i think it was a hero arts you tube video) - but I loved it as soon as I saw it so wanted to try it my-self, and as I'm still very new to this paper-crafting malarky - I love trying new techniques and seeing what I end up with.  So these are my efforts at 'double embossing'...

I used hero arts stamps to stamp with, versamark to emboss with, and distress inks to colour with.

Hope you like xxx

who doesn't want to smooch?!

So yes, I am slightly obsessed with paper smooches stamps haha!  I just love their designs and I think they are the perfect stamps to practise my colouring skills...or lack of rather haha!!!

So this is just something I had in my head with the 'my peeps' set that I wanted to do, and here it is...

Hope you like it xxx

always 'make the day special' ...

So as I'm sure all U.K crafters are well aware - it can be blumming hard to get your hands on certain stamps over here - so I couldn't believe it when I found make the day special - they have an amazing range of 2 of my favourite companies - paper smooches & lawn fawn plus much much more, - and a lovely facebook group to match!   So to celebrate my new found love for them - I decided to put in an entry for their January challenge. 

 The challenge was to follow this sketch...

and here's my entry...

Hope you like it - wish me luck :) xxx

all that glitters...

It's my aunty's birthday in a couple of weeks so thought I'd make a card that sparkles like she does.  It's not really my usual style, but I was making it with her tastes in mind...and when the weather is so miserable outside - why not go crazy with a bit of sparkle!  It was my first my first ever play with 'mod podge' so I decided to go to town and use the 'sparkle' version out of my new starter kit which I treat my-self to the other day.  And here it is...

The flowers are from a 'Dawn Bibby' flower set, and the butterfly is 'hero arts'.  I embossed them both with black embossing powder, coloured them with mica powders - then covered them in 'sparkle mod podge'.  Like I say, it's the first time I have ever used mod podge, and I have to say - I love it already!!!  I added a bit of bling to butterfly's for a little extra prettiness - and used 'spellbinders labels four' to stamp my sentiment on to.

Hope you like it xxx

Paper Smooches Sparks challenge

                                        

Hi there.  Just wanted to share my attempt at this month's paper smooches Sparks challenge following this sketch...

                            


It's the first time I have ever followed a sketch, and to be honest, I found it quite hard to come up with an idea, but it was still fun to play along with.  So...here's my effort...

The back panel is created by repeatedly stamping a PS sentiment to create a block effect, the front panel is the same sentiment, stamped in white ink on vellum, attatched to the card using eye-lets;  and the side panel is a dotty stamp, highlighted using a bit of red bling!

Hope you like it xxx

gimme more smooches!

Some of my favourite things in life are the most simple!

With that in mind...

A cute & simple stamp from paper smooches 'vegtastic' set, some nice clean paper piecing, a white embossed sentiment from the same stamp set...and there you have it, a cute, clean and simple card.  Hope you agree :)

A little piece of heaven...

Hi everyone,

I thought Id share my favourite place on earth with you all...my craft room!!!

I spend many a happy hour in here - & I am slightly on the 'tidy/clean freak' spectrum of things and have almost as much fun tidying and sorting in here, as I do crafting haha!

I've had to re-arrange things so many time to make more room for my ever growing stash!  ...I just can't say no to something I want...or should I say 'need'!!!

I love looking at other people's craft rooms, so I hope you have liked looking at mine x

paper smooches February designer challenge 3

Everybody need a little bit of glitter in their lives right?  So I decided to do something with a little bit of sparkle today...

The picture doesn't show it very well, but I die cut the star shape and covered it in silver glitter, using extra clear tape behind as adhesive.

The birdies are from the 'birthday buddies' set - and I just love 'em!  I'm not sure what the spotty paper is, but chances are is it's 'my minds eye'!

Hope you like x

Paper smooches February designer challenge 2

Well, you need something to see you through the long, dark, cold Brittish winter nights...and my paper smooches stamps have done just that for me.  I've lost many an hour recently...knee deep in paper smooches :)

This took sooooo long to do, but was loads of fun - it's all paper piecing ...although I didn't realise how tiny some bits were when I started haha!  Hope you like.

materials used = paper smooches stamps 'fruitastic'. various patterned cardstock. black archival ink.

Paper smooches February designer challenge

Well, how very typical...I build up the courage to start a blog and start entering challenges...and my laptop dies on me haha!  Nevermind, I'm back up and running now, and ready to play!!!

So, I guess it's pretty obvious already, but I am in love with all things 'Paper smooches'.  I just love their designs and don't seem to wanna play with anything else at the minute!  Perfect to cheer me up on these cold winter nights!!!

So here goes...my first effort...

It doesn't show up too good, but the circles are die cut with acetate behind them (the idea was to give the impression that the wee little fella was fleeing around in his hamster ball), with the image stamped onto white card, coloured with pro-markers and cut out, a bit of matting and layering to make the colours 'pop'...and that was that.  Hope you like it xxx

materials used = paper smooches 'party posse' stamps. various cardstock. black archival ink. various pro-markers.