Bling it On!

I was pleased to see that  By The Cute and Girly  have got a Bling It On Challenge, a good excuse to show off the earrings that I made myself for Christmas!  I wanted some earrings that were very dressy and different, and also a bit exotic looking. I buy all my jewellery findings from Palmer Metals and noticed whilst browsing, some beautiful filigree silver beads which I just had to have and so built the design around them.

I began with a Sterling Silver Eye Pin 38mm long and added beads as follows:

4mm Swarovski  Round Crystal Bead

12mm Sterling Silver Round Bead with Filagree Pattern 

8mm Swarovski Crystal White Pearl

5mm Flower Bali Spacer Bead from stash     

4mm Sterling Silver Mirror Bead (glitters like a mini disco mirror ball)

Then using round nosed pliers form a loop at the top. Open the loop slightly to attach ear wire:

Sterling Silver plain Safety Wire Ear Fittings

All the stuff was bought from Palmer Metals apart from the spacer bead which was bought a few years ago from a website called Julesgems that unfortunately ceased trading. I was so sad when they closed down as I bought all my tools and stuff from them when I first started out doing jewellery. 


Challenges entered:
By The Cute and Girly - Bling It On - January Challenge

Anyway, I hope you like my earrings. Not sure when I would ever wear them! Maybe one day I shall go to the Ball !!! LOL .....

Happy New Year 2011!

Hi, I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! I have only been away from my blog and the cardmaking for just over a week and already I have got itchy fingers and want to get back to it!  So I was glad when my daughter asked me to make a quick Art Deco Card, classy but with sparkle and bling!

I hope this fits the bill then! She chose the image "Le Messager" from the Art Deco Set on Printable Heaven. I mounted the image on gold card. Outlined certain lines with glitter pen and added small gems along bridge and dress. A line of larger amber gems down side of card, and finally the peel off "Happy Birthday" mounted on black and gold card. It really was a quick card as it needs to go in the post tomorrow!


Im entering it for the following Challenge:
By The Cute and Girly - Bling It On Challenge - January 2011


Santa brought me a Sizzix Big Shot for Christmas - as it is my first ever die cutting machine - I am so excited!!  I haven't tried it out yet, but have sent for some dies. As they are expensive I am trying to start off with basic "nestabilities" shapes which I think I will use a lot. I have to try to curb my spending a little this year !!!  


I can't believe I only started my blog in September - it feels like I have been doing it a lot longer. One thing that I can say for certain is that both the blog and the cardmaking are addictive!

Happy Christmas!

Christmas is almost here now!  Just time to post a last minute card.  I wanted to use the sheet music for "In The Bleak Midwinter" as the card is for someone who loves this particular Carol.  However, I did find it difficult to design around it and I'm still not sure if it really works?  

I tried adding a sentiment but it seemed to ruin the whole balance and so I've kept it simple with just the main pyramage image "Girl with Muff" and the flowers. Oh and some diamond stickle to add a bit of pizzazz.

Pyramage image "Girl with Muff" and music sheet background both from Printable Heaven. Flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts.

I'm entering this for the following Challenges:

Creative Stamp Friends - Challenge 14 - Traditional Christmas Colors

Stampin' For the Weekend - Challenge 53 - Christmas

A Spoon Full of Sugar - Challenge 133 - Christmas Card

Oh well, off to get plenty of sleep and my antibiotics.  Hope to bring in the new year healthy!!!

Happy Christmas to you all!!!  

Wishing you and your families good health and a very happy and peaceful holiday!

All the best

Hugs

Sue xxxx

Travel the World - India

Hi,

I have been making so many Christmas Cards, it was nice to take a break for the Sir Stampalot - December Challenge - Travel The World.  One of the many places I have always wanted to visit is India, especially the Palaces of Rajasthan. At the moment it seems a very distant dream .... but I thought I would make an exotic looking card, something which I have wanted to do for a while, since I got my Moroccan XCut Punch! The stamp is Clear Magic: "Indian Dreams" which you can buy at Handy Hippo Website. You also get the Wishes stamp along with other images and borders etc.

The gems were 2mm and 3mm (quite tiny). They are Anita's Gemstone Wheels from Crafty Devils Papercraft. I used Gem Tac glue from Crystal-Beads and also from Crystal-Beads, a Rhinestone Picker or Jewel Setter, which is a pack with two sticky ended sticks for placing gems. You can use the plain end of the other one to nudge gem or bead into place. I have to say this has been a really useful tool and I use it a lot for adding beads and stones. The Gem Tac glue is also really good for adding glitter as it is quite runny but very tacky. It was quite tricky getting the punching centred. All I can say is practice on rough paper and do corners first, then centre.

Colouring for Stamp: 

Promarkers 

Elephant: Cool Grey 3 and Cool Grey 4

Elephant's Coat & Decorations: Magenta, Yellow, Grass

Ingredients:
Black 5" card blank from Handy Hippo
Hot Pink paper from Milton Christmas Paper Stack from Handy Hippo
Moroccan XCut Punch from Crafty Devil's Papercraft
"Indian Dreams" Clear Magic stamp from Handy Hippo
Jewels: Anita's Gemstone Wheel 2mm and 3mm gems - yellow from Crafty Devil's Papercraft
Gem Positioner from Crystal-Beads
Beacon Gem Tac Glue from Crystal-Beads

Challenges entered: Sir Stampalot December Challenge - Travel the World

Afterthought

Finally, I can't resist incorporating a little of my love of genealogy into my website:

Below is a wonderful photograph of my gt gt grandparents! The reverse side has a Christmas message, and is dated Christmas 1907 - so it was obviously a photograph used for Christmas, a bit like the Royals do nowadays LOL. The photo may be a little creased and stained but I really treasure it as an insight into my ancestors. Isn't it lovely to be able to see what they looked like and how they dressed?!!!

Happy Birthday!

Hi, I've not posted for a while as I have had a flair up of stomach problem but I am feeling a lot better now.  I have made a card for my mum who is 80 at the end of the month. I can't believe she is 80, she certainly doesn't look her age and she is very young at heart!  So Happy Birthday, mum! (will show her this on her birthday after I have given her the card).  The stamp is a lovely one called "Winter Millie" by Wild Rose Studio's Milton & Co. range available from Handy Hippo website.

My mum doesn't like overly fussy cards, so I decided to keep it quite simple. I think (hope) she will love Millie and I know she loves purple.  The background paper is from Wild Rose Studio Floral. I  Used Martha Stewart doily lace edge punch and made Happy Birthday and 80 banners on computer. The leaves were xcut punches, maple and beech, using silver paper and some green from 'floral' stack.

Winter Millie (close up)

Colouring for Millie:

Dress, Hat, Mittens, Bow and Flowers:  Copics V12, V15 

Skin/Fur:  Copics E31, E33 and E35.

Plantpot: Promarkers Cool Grey 2 and 4

Fur Trims: Diamond Stickle

Challenges entered:

Lili of The Valley - Challenge  No. 73 (blog hop) - Anything Goes

Cute Card Thursday - Challenge No 138 - Anything Goes

Dutch Dare Card Challenge No.  90 - Clean & Simple

I had a look at a lot of different cards on the challenges over the weekend with my family and was surprised how we all liked different ones.  What one person loved, another wasn't keen on, vice versa etc. Also last month I made a card and didn't like it and was about to throw it in the bin. My daughter was flabbergasted and said she absolutely loved it! It made me think - beauty really is in the eye of the beholder LOL. 

Final word goes to my mum: - below is a lovely photo of her aged about six, with her mother at the seaside. It would have been about 1936. I love that she looks so happy!!!

Happy 80th Birthday Mum!!!

'Twas The Night Before Christmas

Is it just me or does time seem to be flying by in the run up to Christmas!  I seem to have had a busy week - appointments, writing letters and filling in forms.  I've just about had time to do this card for the Lili of The Valley Challenge 71 - Sketch by Bev.

I wanted to do a traditional Christmas Card and use this particular stamp which is "Night Before Christmas" by LOTV.  I found the image was a bit squashed using the sketch the normal way, so rotated it which I think looks better. 

  

Colours used for LOTV "Night Before Christmas Stamp"

(Promarkers by colour, Copics by no.)

Bunny: Vanilla, R20

Nightsuit: Pastel Blue, spots - Aquamarker Frost Blue, 

 Nightsuit buttons & tie G85

Candle dish: G85

Candle holder: Pastel blue

Candle: R46

Flame: Canary and Bright Orange

Stocking: R46, G85 and Pastel Blue

Candle stars: Gelly Roll Clear pen over Gold Metallic Gelly Roll Pen

Ingredients:

"The Night Before Christmas" Stamp from LOTV  

Red square blank

Papers from "A Christmas Carol" by Papermania

Pastel flowers and mesh net flowers from Handy Hippo  

Gems and pearls from stock

Lace border:  Martha Stewart Lace Doily Punch

Leaves: Maple Leaf  Xcut Embossing Punch

"Joy" greeting made on computer

Challenges entered: Lili of The Valley No. 71 - Sketch by Bev