Just a quick...

... post before I pop out with the boys to meet some friends for a woodland walk with a play area - think it might be more play area than walking!!!


Just wanted to blog a quick anniversary card (Paul if you are reading this look away now!!)



Made with all freebies - lol - papers from a magazine, image from here (I think). Coloured with promarkers, and cut with my b.s. (it is actually layered rather than cut from the patterned paper - iykwim) and another ticket stamp freebie from Caz.

I would like to enter this into:

Totally Gorjuss - punch or diecut.
Diecut dreams - animal antics.
Creative Craft world - anything but birthdays.
Forever Friends challenge blog - pastel colours.
Passion for promarkers - animal crackers

Also, I have started more stitching:



This is a lovely freebie patttern - cant find the link to the blog at the moment but on the pattern I've printed off it is Bee Welcome - copyright Abi Gurden if that helps. I have followed the pattern but seem to have gotten an extra stitch on my bee hive (ooh theres nothing worse - lol) and I cant see how I've done it??? I just needed to add an extra square to the door and think I've got away with it.

However, I feel I am really pushing my luck with doing it on this scrap of linen - not sure if it will all fit on and be able to make it into something - not sure I'll have a lot left to play with so may need to adjust accordingly - we'll see though.

Right best link up these posts and rally up the troops.

Catch you later.

Thanks for looking.

Ali
xx

I should really...

... be doing housework - but its coffee time so I thought I'd quickly nip on here and post a couple of pics of cards I've recently (and not so recently made!!). Its' been a bit mental here with end of term activities and Jack saying goodbye to Primary school forever - sob!!

So I wont be waffling too much as I REALLY need to mop the kitchen floor!! (yup I know such a glamourous life!!!)

This is the other thank you card I made for Jacks teacher, I showed Jack some cute images (like the one I did for Toms teacher) but it was nah!! So I let him look through my images and this is what he chose:

I have coloured the image which was a freebie from here and coloured it with promarkers and then added 3d glossy accents to the whole of the motorbike. Then die cut some stars - leaving it quite clean and simple - the sentiment was just typed and printed out.

I would like to enter this into:

C.R.A.F.T - thank you teacher.

This is a card I've had made for a while that was given to one of Toms friends:


The paper is possibly smirk?? The image is a cutie ready coloured square from LOTV matted onto black card. The sentiment was a freebie from Caz's blog and the little ref's whistle was from a pack of puffy stickers from accessorize.

I would like to enter this into:

LOTV: Fun & Games


Phew, lastly a card recently made for my friends son:




The image and papers are basic grey (I've had the papers for ages but not wanted to use them - too cute!!) I have inked the edge of the image as well and then justed matted onto black card and added black card candy.

I would like to enter this into:

Totally papercrafts - for a boy.
My mums craft shop - card for a teen

Okey doke the mop is shouting tea break over - boo!!

Thanks for looking

Ali
xx

Chick, chick...

....chicken!!! yay - I've finished my chicken with a few ickle mistakes - err I mean a bit of artistic licence - lol:






I must admit, though it was nice and easy and not too much stitching - and I do feel I've finally got the hang of stitching on linen/eavenweave - now is the pesky task of making it into a cushion- uh oh I have the feeling that it might go on my to do pile which is getting bigger - I really need to stop starting new projects and properly finish what I have.

I have had the foam for the seating on my pew for over a fortnight and I've had the material to have a go at covering it for weeks as well but the two have never been introduced - is anyone else like that??? I really need a kick up the bum to finish stuff.

Ooh, I know I had a question as well - would you put any interfacing on the back of the sewing??? and will I be alright just making the cushion as is or would you do anything to prevent further fraying of the edges??? (the cutting to size will get rid of the current raggedyness - is that even a word??)

Lastly, I've only got a thin piece of linen left that I bought from a quilting/xstitch show at Harrogate can anyone recommend any good/cheap online suppliers I've used sew & so before but not for fabric.

Thanks for any advice & thanks for looking :-)

Ali
xx

An early morning post...

... blah!! up this early on a Sunday - hubby has gone to work and he is soooo noisy so we are all up, ah well can get the grocery shop out of the way as soon as Mr A opens and then seen what the boys want to do today (although I've noticed its starting to rain again!!)

I just wanted to quickly blog my brothers birthday card:



The image and sentiment are Bugaboo and is very apt for my brother (he is totally bonkers!!). I have coloured it with promarkers and added glossy accents to his glasses. The dp is cut from 12 x 12 American Crafts sheet then I have added ribbon and plain red and blue card from my stash.

I would like to enter this into:

Crafty Creations - boyz to men
Totally Gorjuss - All about boys
Sweet Stampin' challenge - one for the boys
Allsorts - Free & Easy

Thanks for looking

Ali
x


(p.s. thanks for your kind comments re my colouring - while the boys are having their xbox time today I'm going to be checking out some tutorials and having a little practice :-) ) xx

A bit more pink...

...yup, it's pink overload lol, here is a card for Ians neice (July is a busy birthday month!) - I've used my new Nikki stamp that I got in the sale at Angel crafts:




The image is again coloured with promarkers, matted onto pink card cut with my nesties. The papers are SU (again!) as is the ribbon. The sentiment and little gems are from my stash.

I would like to enter this into:

Ladybug Challenge - Summer Birthdays.

Thanks for looking

Ali
x

A bit of pink...

... or a lot of pink really!! The last couple of cards I've made I seem to be o.d.ing in pink - lol. So I will blog one now and one later:




This is a card for Ian's cousin who is turning thirty in a couple of weeks. The image is a LOTV freebie that came with a magazine. I have coloured it with promarkers and added some sakura glitter pen to her wings and some of the flowers. The papers are SU and the pearls are from my stash.

I would like to enter this into:

Simon says stamp challenge - anything goes.
MSE challenge - Things with wings.
Paperplay- Things with wings
Totally papercraft - Girly Girly.
Pixie Dust - Girly Girly.

Now I need to some advice or pointing in the right direction. Now I know my colouring isnt brilliant compared to some of the beauties I see on blogs - but I am going to show you a picture - quite scary picture actually of horrendous colouring - I have had a Kraftin Kimmie stamp for ages not inked up anyhoo, decided to use it this week and tried to colour it OMG what a nightmare - I dont know if it was because I was trying to do it with dark colours but:


So I did it with shale, 2 shades of grey and aubergine but I just couldn't get it to look blended properly I even used the blender pen to see if that would help but it just seemed to make it bleed can anyone give me any tips.

Thanks in advance for any pointers.

Ali
x

By Jove...

...I think she's got it!!! Now I know by typing this I am tempting fate and will probably make a right pigs ear of it but this stitching on linen malarky IS getting easier (although I have cocked up on the pattern a few times - although I think I've gotten away with it!!) I'm not sure if it shows on the photo but the the last few rows I have stitched are a lot neater than my earlier rows - yay!!




My chicken now has a tail and a leg!!! By gum I'll be having a go at those biscornu's before you know it - especially as I have printed off loads of cute freebies.

However, I must confess to have my next project lined up after seeing this on CraftyMoo's blog
it really appealed to my sense of humour:




yup my first Lizzie*Kate - I lurve these designs and finally got round to getting one it kept my order of gold plated needles company - lol!! I've also downloaded a Barbara Ana one (after I emailed the wrong person off the wrong blog to see where I could get the pattern - doh!!!) Now though, evenweave or aida??? decisions, decisions!!!

Poor hubby if I'm not sat sticking I'm sat stitching - well at least I'm quiet!!

Thanks for looking and listening!!

Ali
xx

Riding along...

... hmm the name of the blog post might give this away, but just wanted to blog my nephews birthday card, he is a keen cyclist and currently in France doing one of the stages of the Tour de France that they leave open for the amateurs once the professionals have been. Hope he is having a great time and is careful on his bike (I think he paid more for his bike than I did my car!!!).

Anyhoo, enough waffling :



The image is a colouring book page that I googled and downloaded and coloured with promarkers - I have matted it onto yellow & red card and used possibly papermania dp. Finally added sentiment and coloured card candy from my stash to match.

I would like to enter this into:

A gem of a challenge - lets hear it for the boys
Here come the boys - sporty
I love promarkers - CAS
Crafters Companion - one for the boys
One stitch at a time- anything goes
Papercrafting journey - for him

Thanks for looking
Ali
xx

One down, one to go...

... yup its that time of year for teachers thank you cards (and lots of grumbling from hubby!!), so with July being a busy month I've got Toms teachers card done and I have started work on Jacks.

So here is Mrs Todds card:


I've had the image a while it was a freebie but I cant remember where possibly whimsie doodles??? If anyone knows please let me know and I'll amend my blog. I have coloured the image with pro-markers and glossy accented the apple and given the worm googly eyes, much to Toms pleasure - lol. I have added stickles around the edge. The papers are SU the sentiment ticket was a freebie as well and just added some garden twine, to finish it off.

I would like to enter this into:

Creative Craft World - card for teacher.
My time to craft - A la carte.
Thanks for looking.

Ali
xx

Another card for Jacks friend.

Ooh well it is a beautiful day here, sun shining, paddling pool inflated just ready to be filled, so while that is making a start I will just quickly blog this make:


Its for one of Jacks friend who will be turning eleven, much to his mums horror after receiving guitar lessons has decided he is growing his hair and joining a rock band - lol!!!

The image is a freebie from Bugaboo, coloured with promarkers matted onto red card and I've added red stars edged with stickles, sorry not sure which paper it is??

I would like to enter this into:

Catch the bug - anything goes
Cards for men - stars

Thanks for looking

Ali
xx

Pull up a pew ;-) its a long one!!

Ooh I seem to have lost a couple of weeks - erm not sure how - lol. Right what to catch up on??? Well Jack made it safely home from France - eventually - after numerous road closures and detours they made it home for 9pm on the Friday. I think he had a good time - apart from the food!!! Plus I cant believe the tat he bought, the market stall holders must have been rubbing their hands right heres another coach full of kids with money burning a hole in their pockets :-). So all the washing up todate it was straight into new secondary school visits and meetings, rehersals for the leavers production and getting ready for sports days.

While he is dashing around we have done a bit of sanding and painting - we bought an old church pew from ebay and have been sorting that out, not sure if I have mentioned it here but we live in a modern house but I lurve shabby chic so stealth like little bits of CK & Laura Ashley pop in - except couldnt really sneek this in but hubby was quite keen on the idea.(When we win the lottery and buy an old farmhouse it will fit right in - lol) So thats sorted - nearly - I think I have bitten off more than I can chew in that I am going to have a go at making a long cushion for it - so I will be blowing the dust off my sewing machine - plus the kitchen now needs redecorating so it will match the colours of fabric I have chosen - oops - never thought about that!!

I've also started a chicken for a cushion to go on the pew:

I have used more of my linen oh but flippin' heck I have nearly thrown it out of the window numerous times - I seem to do a couple of good rows and think I've got it and then cock it up on the next couple of rows - grr - however, I will not be beaten and the last couple of nights stitching have improved. Following a recommendation I got some gold plated needles (size 24) but I'm not sure if I need something sharper/thinner???


I've also had a few card making makes as well - a couple of party invites for Jack (quite short notice too), and a couple of makes for friends I wont blog them all now but here are a couple:




This is for Jacks friend Sam.

I would like to enter this into:

Card making mamas - red white and blue
Fairy Knoll - red white and blue
Craft u Crazy - red white and blue
Pixie Dust Studios - red white and blue



This is for a friend of the family who is turning 80:


I would like to enter this into:

Lili of the Vally - celebrate

Thanks for looking

Ali xx