Lovely cards I have received

As much as I like making cards, I also love receiving hand made cards, and there is something so special about knowing someone has put time and effort into a card for you.

I wanted to share some cards I have received recently, and I hope those who made them don't mind!

The first is a card made by my Sister in law Clare, she made this card for my 30th Birthday, and it is so lovely. She went to so much effort to make it into a bee theme, and even gave it ginger hair like me!

 This next card was another 30th birthday card, and again has a bee theme! This one was made by my lovely friend Kirsty. I love all the individual elements that just all work together so well, and the wire going off the edge of the card is genius!

Finally is a card I received today from one of my lovely followers Fiona who won some blog candy as part of my bloggiversary. There are so many lovely elements, and I love the stamped and punched butter fly at the centre, and I'm partial to a bit of stitching on the edges! 

I hope you like getting such personal cards, and its nice to share their creativity with others!

Thinking of you Trees

Today I'm sharing a card I made for a friend who has recently had some bad news.

I have to say, over the past 6 months I've really enjoyed taking part in various challenges as they give you some inspiration, and often make me work outside of my comfort zone, not to mention I get new visitors to my blog who leave lovely comments. However, I do sometimes like to just sit down and craft completely off the cuff. It seems like ages since I've done that, so I was really pleased with this card which I created. 

I used a lovely tree silhouette stamp stamped in Forest moss distress ink, and then sponged with the same ink. I layered it onto white card, kraft card, and finally a section of a page from an old book.

The ribbon I threaded through to the back of the card (I feel it lies flatter this way) and the join is hidden under the sentiment. I wanted to have the sentiment slightly off centre, so needed something to balance it up, so I took 2 buttons, one large and one small, and threaded them with some twine. I then tied the twine onto the ribbon and pulled it tight which made this lovely bow effect.

Thanks for looking, I know its mainly followers who will see this with it not being in a challenge, but I appreciate all my followers very much!

Thanks for visiting, I love to read your comments.

First card of the new year!

So I'm pleased to be able to blog my first card of 2012, and I had lots of fun playing with my new crafty presents I'd got for my birthday and Christmas. First off I got the new Scalloped Edgeabilities, which are amazing, the 3 separate dies work together which is really useful and you can create a combination of different  styles. Secondly I got chance to break open my new Papertrey ink stamps!!woohoo!! I was so excited to finally place an order.

Here are my Fillable frames, which come with a matching die.

I used some versamark and white embossing powder to stamp the frame and sentiment, and finally added a ribbon, which I stuck with double sided tape and then rouched (is that the word?!!)

Hope you like!

This is being entered into the CAS-ual Fridays Challenge : Use Scallops, and also the Marks Finest Papers Speedy Fox Challenge: Use a border die.

Party Party!

Well yesterday was my 30th Birthday party (my actual birthday was in December, but planning a party before Christmas is a nightmare!). My Honey was also 30 just before me, and my dad was 60 between our birthdays, so we had a joint party.
As no one felt able to make me a birthday cake for my birthday I decided to make myself one, and I have had my eye on some Beehive cakes I saw online, so this is what I was able to create.

Close up of a little bee, sprung on florists wire.

I can tell you that getting the icing onto the beehive shape is harder than it looks!!!My layers of beehive kept sliding out of places, and I had a struggle on my hands stopping the icing from creasing! But eventually I succeeded.

Not one to go with the normal buffet and disco, we hired a band and had a barn dance, which is maximum interaction for everyone!!!

Having chosen a nice top for the occasion I realised I needed some flat shoes to match which I could dance in, and nothing within my budget (cheap!) caught my eye, so I figured I would just customise some! I bought a pair of plain black ballet pumps and a necklace that was reduced in the sale. I chopped the necklace up and sewed them around the edge, and then in a kind of triangle at the front.

 Here's the finished pair. I felt like Dorothy with my magic slippers!

And finally here's an action shot of me and Honey dancing!

Happy New Year!

Well it seems to be quite popular to look back over the year and choose your favourite cards, so I thought after my first full year of blogging I'd do the same, so heres a selection of my favourite cards for the year!

Experimenting with punches care of the lovely Miss Kirsty Wiseman

A labour of love for a walztingmouse challenge. This was hand drawn and painted.

Another waltzingmouse challenge, and an ingenious use of some teeny trees stamps!

More waltzingmouse challenge material, but I love the simple take on masculine here.

Fathers day card which was hand drawn by a friend, then coloured and put together by me.

A card for my brothers anniversary.

I LOVE trees and leaves and anything green!

Some lovely stamps from Kirsty which I enjoyed playing around with.

A starry night card, which I enjoyed making.

I find rainbows so amazingly cheerful!

I love this card so much I can't bring myself to send it!

More cheery rainbows!

My first attempt at hybrids.

More trees and natural colours!

I hope 2012 is as crafty as 2011 was!