Ugh - lurgy warning

Sorry for being AWOL for a few days, we seem to be taking it in turns to be ill here. The girls were off school on Friday and Monday and I thought we were past the worst of it so put them back to school on Tuesday. But they weren't well enough to go to school today again. And I woke up with the worst head cold I've had in ages, if I'm not sneezing then my nose is running like a tap, and I think someone removed my brain in the night and replaced it with painful dough.
Anyway, enough moaning - as a mum I just have to get on with it, especially as these things always happen when Graham is offshore.
So I haven't had much of a chance to do any crafty things, but I have been collecting some bits and pieces for another wee blog candy - so look out for that in the next few days.
I also got some gorgeous goodies that I'd ordered from Krista's Etsy Store, so I'm still stroking the 2 prints and mirror that I ordered. I'll share a photo later - I have to go get organised for Willow's washout now no rest for the wicked you know ;)

Sunday's with Santa - major catch-up

I've been lagging wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy behind with the Sunday's with Santa challenge on Facebook. Now if you don't know it's a wee "just for fun" challenge started by Pops, and the theory is if we make a christmas card every week for the challenge then we are going to have a half decent stack by christmas time and we're going to be a bit more organised than we usually are lol
The challenge is currently on week 12 - and the last week I entered was week 4 - so I have some major catching up to do. Now I could've made it a bit easier on myself by making a card fit more than one challenge - but I want to make as many christmas cards ahead of time as I can manage. So over the last couple of days I have done 5 out of the 8 I need to do to catch up, so are you ready??
here goes...
week 5 - Family Christmas
I struggled for ideas for this one until I remembered my mum had given me this PI stamp set...
I'd like to enter it into the Paper Play Challenges - Distressing

I embossed 2 pieces of white card with the cuttlebug snowflakes folder and covered the join with some trim (from Simply Create). Blended the edges with Pumice distress ink.


Week 6 - Easel Card
I'm not actually very happy with this one - it doesn't quite work, but hey, it's another xmas card made

cardstock from The Papeterie, papermania embossing folder, spellbinders fancy tags die and Hero Arts greeting


Week 7 - Anything Goes - I'll be coming back to this one!
Week 8 - Pink & Chocolate 
I'd like to enter her into the Winter Wonderland challenge which is - Oh Baubles 

Baubles from Sugar Nellie, coloured with promarkers, the brown paper is Stampin' Up, the pink paper is Tilda, brown core'dinations card - shaped with EK success border punch (and I used some of the waste on the pink panel) greeting is Craftwork Cards


Week 9 - Oh Christmas Tree
Not entirely happy with this one either - it worked far better in my head

Cuttlebug embossing folder and Whitewash core'dinations card, papermania capsule collection bow, Hero Arts greeting


Week 10 - Gingerbread
Now this one had me scratching my head - a few of the girls on the FB group had used the Gingerbread stamp from Sugar Nellie, and you know how I like to be a little bit different, so I had a lightbulb moment and decided to go with a gingerbread house...
I'd like to enter this one into the I ♥ ProMarkers challenge - Go Dotty

Hero Arts CL464 Sending Holiday Cheer clear set, coloured with promarkers and glamour dust, used memento ink pads in Desert Sand and Angel Pink for the trees and greeting from the same set.
swiss dots cuttlebug folder, cardstock (torn and embossed) from The Papeterie, and polar white Flowersoft. Craftwork Cards card blank


I still have to do week 11 (Snow/snowflakes) and week 12 (no green) as well as the anything goes on week 7 but I'm getting there. If you fancy joining in the fun, you'll find the group on Facebook, here.

Angel Crafts DT - Home Sweet Home

Hi everyone,
can I just say thankyou to everyone who visits me and leaves a comment - I really appreciate everything you say, and those who visit and don't leave a comment .... don't be shy, I don't bite and I'd love to come visit you too.
Have you seen this month's ribbon kit from Angel Crafts? It's called Home Sweet Home and I personally think this is the best kit Angela has put together yet, here are all the goodies you get...

• 1 Bling word "Smile" from ZVA Creative
• 1 pack soft green Rhinestones from Kaisercraft
• 1 pack Lush Brads from My Mind's Eye in red
• 1 pack Prima Fairy Flora Butterflies stamps
• 1 Home Sweet Home Chipboard shapes from Tando Creative
• selection green and white blossoms
• 1m white sheer ribbon with red dots
• 1m green and white checked ribbon
• 1m white Ric-Rac
• 1m red sheer ribbon with white spots
• 1m green Ric-Rac
• 1m red and white checked ribbon
• 1m red Ric-Rac 

All served in a pretty White organza bag

Isn't it just yummy!!
well I have a few things to show you - some are still in-progress, so I'll start by showing you this card...

Image: Milton with Lily from Wild Rose Studios, coloured with promarkers (and glamour dust for the stamens)
Ribbons are all from the Home Sweet Home ribbon kit (including the red with white polka dot ribbon behind the zig zag punched border)
"Smile" is from the ribbon kit too.


I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:
One Stop Craft Challenges - Diamonds are a girl's best friend
Stamp Something - Something Sweet
Paper Play Challenge - Embossing

Lazy Sunday

well I am sat here in my dressing gown, having a lazy Sunday - yesterday's demo and class were a great success - and I'd like to thank all the ladies who came out to see me after the cancellation last week.


So today I'll just be sharing the rest of the samples I made - I've left these with Charlotte at The Papeterie. Talking of The Papeterie, Charlotte is running a fabulous competition - here's what you need to know...
Spring into Summer Card Designer Challenge
The challenge will run until the 30th April(noon) with winners being announced at 4pm.
1st Prize: £100 of crafty goodies
2nd Prize: £30 of crafty goodies
3rd Prize: £10 of crafty goodies
All you need to do is design a card made with products currently sold at The Papeterie with a Spring/Summer theme. Take them in to be displayed in store and we will also feature them on our website. Good Luck and have fun.


I've used the same SWALK stamp for all 3 of these cards - After the Rain, available from The Papeterie

 papers are all Basic Grey

 papers are all Bo Bunny, Winter Joy

woven ribbon background - ribbons all from Angel Crafts ribbon kit Black & White.

Simple Hair Tutorial - Blondes

I'm updating all my promarker tutorials and today it's the turn of blonde hair. Now I have done 3 different versions that are all slighly different depending on what kind of blonde you prefer. All 3 versions use only 3 colours though so are nice and easy.


I have used: Strawberry Patch rubber stamp from Sugar Nellie, Memento ink pad and Stampin' Up whisper white card stock throughout.


Blonde 1

 I have started out lightly colouring the areas I imagine would be darkest with Cinnamon

 I then colour over the Cinnamon, and further into the white areas with Saffron - colouring over the darker shade helps to blend the 2 shades together

 Lastly I colour over the 2 previous shades and further out into the white areas with Vanilla - I have left some of the white areas uncoloured where the light would be reflected. These colours give a soft honey blonde effect.


Blonde 2

We're starting a bit darker this time, and colouring the darkest areas with Cocoa - I'm going to be using the same technique for each of the 3 different blondes, just changing the colours I've used.

Colour over the Cocoa and outwards onto the white areas with Pastel Yellow, you don't need to be heavy handed, just repeat until you're happy with the effect.

And lastly I have coloured over the last 2 shades and outwards into the white areas with Buttercup - again I have left a little of the white areas uncoloured - but if you want a smoother look you could colour over all of the hair with a pale shade like Ivory. These colours give a much brighter, bolder blonde than the first one.


Blonde 3

For my 3rd version we'll start off colouring the darkest areas with Caramel - there's no need to lay down a lot of colour (the more colour you lay down, the more ink you will use to try and blend the colours).

The mid tone I've used this time is Sandstone, and I have lightly covered over the Caramel areas and outwards in the uncoloured areas of the hair a little.

And lastly I have coloured over the 2 darker tones and outwards into the white with Buttercup - again leaving some white areas uncoloured.
This is a cooler blonde compared to the other two.


But you don't have to stick to these colours at all - the trick is to experiment with colours, if it doesn't work out then it's only a piece of paper that has to go in the bin. If you come up with a colour combination that you like, please come and let me know - it's always interesting to see what other people use.

Simple Hair Tutorial - Brunette

Hi there, I'm back again - continuing my updating of the promarker tutorials.
This is the first of the hair colours and it's probably the one I use the most - brunette.


I have used Pillow Talk rubber stamp from Sugar Nellie, Memento ink in Tuxedo Black, Stampin' Up whisper white cardstock and the following promarkers: Black, Walnut, Cocoa, Cinnamon, Tan, Almond - although you can cut out some of those shades (e.g. you could cut out black and/or walnut for less depth)

 In this first image I have coloured a little black (use very sparingly) where I imagine the very darkest areas of her hair would be e.g. at the roots and behind her head

 Black isn't the easiest shade to blend, so I take a wee bit of time to colour over the black and outwards into the white area with Walnut - I've done this a few times to take away the harshness of the black but still leaving a nice depth of colour. I have then coloured some more areas of the hair where the light would NOT be hitting

 The next shade down I have used is Cocoa and I have coloured over everything I have coloured so far and slightly further out into the uncoloured areas of her hair - by colouring over the darker shade you will blend the varying shades together and get rid of any hard lines

 Repeat this technique with the next shade down, Cinnamon.

 And again with Tan

Finally, I have used Almond to colour over the whole area of hair - this helps to blend all the shades together, ensuring a smooth finish.
I'll be back with more hair colours soon.

Candy Winner - and more Candy

Before I announce my mini candy winner I just wanted to let you know about some fab blog candy my friend Victoria is giving away to celebrate her 3rd Blogaversary

Click here to go to her blog.


So, let's see who has won my candy...


I'm so pleased to say that Mr Random chose number 2 which is Fiona - well done Fi, am so chuffed you've won, I really appreciate all the support and encouragement you give me


If you could email me with your address I'll pop your goodies in the post.

Fabulous Darling

Firstly I'd like to apologise to all those who went along to The Papeterie last Saturday to see my demo - I finally succumbed to the horrible bugs that have been doing the rounds and spent the majority of the day on the toilet with my head in the sink. But the good news is it's rescheduled for this Saturday instead - so if you're at a loose end on Saturday morning come and see me.


Secondly I want to apologise to all my bloggy buddies, I haven't been very well since Saturday and so haven't been doing any blog visiting. But fingers crossed, we are past the worst of it and I'll get back to normal soon.


So here's a wee card that I've done for a few challenges that I wanted to enter..

 Image: Fabulous Darling from Sugar Nellie, coloured with promarkers
Patterned paper is Basic Grey, Lime Rickey, I embossed some green core'dinations card with a Country Companions folder, added some velvet ribbon from Craftwork Cards, paper flowers are Prima e line and papermania, pearl brads are American Crafts

 I took this angled pic to show you the areas where I used a clear star sakura pen.
And the one below is a close up of her hair..

For some reason there's a kind of Irish/St Patrick's Day thing going on here - it was purely accidental.
Anyway, I'd like to enter my card in...


Sugar Bowl - sketch & Spring
Sugar Nellie FB Group, week 7 - embossing
Papertake Weekly - Triple Tastic - 3 flowers, 3 brads
Allsorts Challenge - Luck o the Irish

Blog Candy Time

This is a sticky post - please scroll down for more recent blog posts :) Candy is now closed


Sorry for my absence this week, things have been pretty hectic and the days seem to have passed me by, anyway by way of an apology I thought I'd stick up some blog candy for all of you who regularly visit, comment and inspire me.
It's just a wee candy so I'll just let it run for 10 days, no need for any rules, just leave a comment.

There is:
A pack of LOTV Cute Squares in "Garden Fairies"
One Simply Sassy stamp from the latest release from Sugar Nellie
4 Life Stories journalling cards
A Metal Foil Decorating kit and a sample pack of Core'dinations card


and a selection of ribbon and other bits and bobs
candy ends 12 noon (GMT) on Wednesday 16th March

Simple Skin Tutorial - Dark Skin

Back again with another simple Promarker tutorial, this time I'm going to show you a quick and easy way to get dark skin...

The first thing I've done is dotted some Rose Pink promarker where I think her cheeks are. There's no need to lay down a lot of colour, literally just a few dots is enough.

I have used the Cocoa promarker on the areas I imagine would be in shadow (I have visualised the light coming from the top right). I have used small light strokes to lay down the colour - there's no need to lay down a lot of ink or to be heavy-handed.

The next shade I have used is Cinnamon, and I have used light strokes to colour over the already coloured areas and then further onto the white areas of the skin. This technique blends the 2 shades, you may need to go over the area twice or more until you are happy that there are no hard lines between the 2 shades.

The last colour I have used is Tan and I have coloured over the whole of the skin areas, again repeating until I am happy with the blending. 
If you want to tone the colour down a little, you can colour over the whole skin area with a lighter shade - I suggest Almond, this gives a lighter skin tone similar to a medium/dark suntan.


Supplies:
Pillow Talk by Sugar Nellie
Memento Ink
Stampin' Up whisper white cardstock