Beading Friends Forever ~ April Challenge (Part 1)

Hi Everyone

 

Hope you are all well and had a lovely Easter weekend :-)  I was back to work today but only for one day because i've got a few days off and not back until next Tuesday.  Saying that it's the schools hols so no doubt I will be kept busy!!!

 

I am still loving my new hobby so when I popped across to the Beading Friends Forever blog yesterday I was thrilled to see I was the lucky winner for March and my prize is £15 to spend at Beads Direct :-)

 

Here is my entry for Part 1 of April's challenge which is to make a jewellery set.

 

For the bracelet I used the Hugs & Kisses tutorial from Andycraft Beads and the earrings were a free tutorial from Around the Beading Table called Trinket Earrings

* Items Used *

 

4 mm & 6 mm Fire Polished Czech glass beads ~ Capri Blue

4mm crystal bicones

11/0 Gold seed beeds

Gold plated clasp and earring wires

 

 

The 2nd part of the challenge is a Kumihimo tutorial.  Well I must have had a premonition because I had ordered a Kumihimo set at the weekend prior to the new challenge being announced.  Not sure I will be able to do it but can't wait to have a go!!

 

* Double Spiral Bracelet *

Good Evening

 

Just a quick post before I quickly rustle something up for tea!  I made this last weekend but I haven't felt too well the last few days and was back at work today.

 

This is my entry for the tutorial part of the challenge at Beading Friends Forever.  It's called a Double Spiral Bracelet and has been made following a great tutorial by Kelly from Off the Beaded Path.  I must say it was very time consuming threading on all those 11/0 seed beads and 4mm pearls!  Saying that it was worth it because I love this style of bracelet and will definitely make another one at some stage:-)

Think I have beading fever!!  I just can't stop buying beads and watching online tutorials lol!  I have also made bracelets for my Mum and MIL for Mother's Day gifts.  Whilst browsing the internet last night I found a great tutorial for some pretty earrings so I am going to be busy tonight making them to go with the bracelets.

 

I would just like to say a big thank you for all your lovely comments on my jewellery.  It means a lot that you are still stopping by my blog even though I am not making cards at the moment.

 

xxx 

Hugs and Kisses Bracelet

Hi Everyone

 

Hope you are all well and that half term is going well for those of you with children.  I've got the week off work and think my 12 and 8 year old are going to keep me busy ... just the way I like it :-)

 

Over the last couple of weeks I have been adding to my bead collection and on Saturday afternoon I was 'home alone' so decided to have a go at making a bracelet following the Hugs and Kisses tutorial by Aleshia at Beadifulnights.  This is the second part of the challenge at Beading Friends Forever. 

 

I wasn't sure I would be able to do it but in fact the hardest part was deciding which beads/colours to use.  Such a great tutorial and I will definitely be making more of these gorgeous bracelets.

 

After much deliberation I decided on an turquoise, purple and slate pearls and crystal seed beads for a little bit of sparkle!  I finished it off with a pretty magnetic owl clasp I found on Ebay.  When my daughter saw it she asked me to make her one ... bless her it made my day!

 

* List of Beads *

 

 

10 - 8 mm Turquoise pearls

 

11 - 6 mm Purple pearls

40 - 4 mm Slate pearls

 

20 - 4mm Purple pearls

 

11/0 seed beads - Slate and Crystal

 

 

 

I am loving my new hobby ... it feels great being creative again!

 

 

 

 

 

Beading Friends Forever

Good morning

 

Sorry it's been so long since I last posted on my blog.  The reason for that is I haven't made any cards since before Christmas.  Over the last year my enthusiasm for cardmaking had slowly been getting less and less as the weeks went by and I decided just before Christmas that I was going to have a complete break.  I am hoping in the coming months that I might start to make a few cards again but for now I am enjoying the break. 

 

However, I do miss being creative so when I saw the lovely Marcea had started a beading challenge  I decided to give it a go.  I first tried beading at Craftaganza in 2011 and really enjoyed it but at that time I was still heavily into cardmaking and DT work so didn't have the time for another hobby.  I wasn't sure if I would be able to master the beading techniques so thought a kit would be my best option.  I found some lovely ones at AndyCraft-Beads so ordered a couple to try.  These kits include easy to follow instructions and all the materials needed to complete the project ... just perfect for a beginner like me!

 

This bracelet has been made with the Hugs and Kisses Jet Black kit

  

I'm entering this into:~

 

Beading Friends Forever ~ Anything Goes

 

I really enjoyed making this bracelet and have already bought a supply of beads and started on another project.  Think i'm going to enjoy this new hobby!

If you are a beader or fancy trying a new hobby check out the challenge blog and there is also a friendly Facebook group.

 

Thanks for stopping by :-)

 

James Bear ~ In the Snow

Good morning

 

Hope you are all well and ready for Christmas ... I still have a few presents to wrap ready to deliver to my uncle and his family this afternoon but other than that think i'm just about ready!  I'm always a bit last minute when it comes to Christmas so I said to Chris last night that next year i'm going to start early but he reminded me I have said that every year he's known me lol! 

 

Anyway moving onto my card which I made for my friend Lynsey and her family. 

* Card Recipe *

 

Image ~ James Bear - In the Snow

Papers ~ Frosty Christmas

Sentiment ~ Craftwork Cards

Pearl Button ~ Stash

Snowflakes ~ MS & Kars punches

Dies ~ MS Cherish border & Spellbinder Floral Oval

That's all from me ... now off to make some bacon rolls and then finish the wrapping!

Pile of Presents!

Good evening

 

Hope you are all well.  Sorry I have been such a bad blogger (hope Santa doesn't put me on his naughty list lol!) but I have had a lot going on the last few weeks and with Christmas preparations this has left me with no time for crafting. 

 

However, I managed to find time last week to make a card for Lynsey and Marianne because we were meeting up with them, along with husbands and children, for lunch on Sunday.

 

This is the card I made for Marianne and Graham ... unfortunately my camera was out of charge so this photograph is courtesy of Marianne :-)

* Card Recipe *

 

Image ~ LOTV 'James Bear - Pile of Presents'

Papers ~ Dovecraft 'Vintage Christmas'

Flowers ~ Prima poinsettias

Sentiment ~ Stash

Dies ~ Cheery Lynn Holly Corner

 

I am sure there must be lots of Christmas challenges around at the moment but to be honest I am just too tired to check.

 

That's all from me for now ... not sure when I will have another card to share because everything has gone into Christmas mode around here lol!

 

I will catch up with you all soon.

 

Warm Winter Wishes

Good evening

Hope you've all had a lovely weekend.  I guess quite a few of you have been putting your trees up this weekend.  It's a bit too early for me but I am feeling festive today because i've had a lovely day Christmas shopping with Chloe ... most of the presents are now bought so I can make a start on the wrapping this week. 

Before I make a start on the tea, thought I would quickly blog the card I made yesterday afternoon.  In fact I had coloured the image one night last week so it was just a matter of putting the card together which was made a whole lot easier because I followed the FAB sketch over at The Sugar Bowl. 

Sorry about the photo ... will try and take a better one in daylight .

 

* Card Recipe *

 

Image ~ Sugar Nellie 'Warm Winter Wishes'

Papers ~ LOTV 'Frosty Christmas'

Sentiment ~ Little Claire's 'Christmas Sentiments'

Gems ~ Kars Christmas Collection

 

* Challenges *

 

2 Sisters ~ Christmas Sparkle

Totally Gorjuss ~ Anything Goes with Glitter

Jingle Belles ~ Anything (Holiday) Goes

Charisma Cardz ~ Christmas with no green, gold or red

The Sugar Bowl ~ Sketch and 'A Winter's Tale' theme

 

That's all from me ... Hope you have a lovely evening :-)

 

Natalie and Amy's Challenge #4 ... Winter Wishes

Good morning

Just a quick post because it's nearly time for the school run!

 

It's time for our monthly challenge over at Natalie and Amy's and this month we have the theme of Winter Wishes ... so anything with a Wintery/Christmas feel. 

I decided to use this sweet Nellie Snellen stamp and once again I have gone for my favourite traditional Christmas colours :-)

* Card Recipe *

 

Image ~ Nellie Snellen Dawn Giving Away coloured with Copics

Papers ~ Dovecraft Vintage Christmas and First Edition Stocking Fillers

Sentiment ~ Craftwork Cards

Ribbon/Gold pearls ~ Stash

Dies ~ Marianne D Miniature Poinsettias and Cheery Lynn Holly Corner

 

* Challenges *

Creative Inspirations ~ Traditional Christmas Colours
Crafting for all Seasons ~ Use Flowers
The Paper Shelter ~ Christmas is Coming
Copic Marker Europe ~ A Christmas Card
Delightful Challenge ~ Festively Floral


  Hope you all have a great weekend :-)

 

Snowy Cuddles

Hi everyone

Thank you for all your lovely messages on Saturday :-)  In fact I felt a bit better as the day went on and even made another card whilst watching X-Factor ... 2 cards in one day is unheard of for me lol!

I have another Christmas card ticked off my list ... this one is for my auntie and her partner.
 

 

* Card Recipe *

 

Image ~ Stampavie 'Snowy Cuddles'

Papers ~ Papermania Mistletoe Kisses

Sentiment ~ Crafty Sentiments

Ribbon & Pearls ~ Stash

Dies ~ Marianne D Miniature Poinsettias & Cheery Lynn Holly Corner

 

* Challenges *

 

Sweet Stampin' ~ Snow People

Crafty Calendar ~ Wrap up Warm for Winter

Crafty Catz ~ Lets have Sparkle

Crimbo Crackers ~ Snowmen

MMCS ~ Winter Wonderland

Bearly Mine ~ Pink Christmas

Right best rustle something up for tea ... hope you have a lovely evening :-)

 

 

Plum Pudding ~ LOTV die cut

Good afternoon

 

I am having one of those days today ... you know the ones where you have loads to do but not achieving much!  I am feeling a bit sad because it would have been my dad's 65th birthday today and to top if off I am coming down with a cold so all in all feeling a bit down in the dumps.  To try and cheer myself up I decided to make a card this morning but even that didn't work out as I had planned it in my head.  Oh well I guess they can't all be masterpieces lol!

 

Anyway enough of my woes and onto my card! 

 

* Card Recipe *

 

Image ~ LOTV die cut

Papers ~ Memory Box 'Spiceberry'

Sentiment ~ Craftwork Cards die cut

Gems ~ Kars Christmas Collection

Dies ~ Memory Box Corner Bow, Cheery Lynn Holly Corner & Marianne D Miniature Poinsettias (all available from Natalie and Amy's

 

 

* Challenges *

Lili's Little Fairies ~ Food Glorious Food

Jingle Belles ~ Christmas Feast

 

 

So that's all from me ... now off to make myself a Lemsip!

 

Hope you all have a great weekend :-)

Christmas Wishes ~ Mulberry Wood

Good afternoon

Hope you are all well and looking forward to the weekend.  It's been a long week ... in fact all day Tuesday I thought it was Thursday so the weekend couldn't come soon enough for me! 

 

Anyway before I heat up some soup for lunch and then crack on with the housework thought I would quickly blog one of the cards I made this week.  It's another Christmas card in my favourite traditional colours ... I do like non-traditional colours but rich red, green and gold is my fav!

* Card Recipe *

Image ~ Mulberry Wood 'Christmas Wishes'

Papers ~ Dovecraft 'Vintage Christmas'

Dies ~ Cheery Lynn 'Holly Corner' and Marianne D 'Miniature Poinsettias'

Sentiment, Ribbon & Gold pearls ~ Stash

Most of the products used on my card are available at Natalie and Amy's online store

 

 

* Challenges *

Penny Black and More ~ Any Die Will Do

Kraftyhands ~ Christmas

Sparkles ~ Christmas is Coming

Crafter's Companion ~ Favourite Colour Combo (traditional Christmas colours)

 

 

Hope you have a great weekend :-)

A Christmas Visitor

Good afternoon

 

Hope you are all well and looking forward to the weekend ... it's been a busy week for me with one thing and another so think i'm just going to take it easy and maybe squeeze some crafting in here and there :-)

 

As soon as I saw this gorgeous Sheena Douglass robin stamp set a few weeks ago I knew I had to buy it for my Nan's Christmas card ... she loves traditional cards especially with robins.

* Card Recipe *

 

Image ~ Sheena Douglass 'Christmas Visitors'

Papers ~ Webster's Pages

Poinsettia ~ Kars Christmas Collection

Cheery Lynn Holly Corner die ~ Natalie and Amy's 

 

 

* Challenges *

 

Stamping Sensations ~ Traditional Christmas

Southern Girls ~ Christmas

Whimsy Stamps ~ Traditional Christmas colours

Addicted to Stamps ~ Things with Wings

Cupcake Craft ~ Get Krafty

 

That's all from me ... now going to have a quick whizz round with the hoover and then it will be time for the school run.

 

Hope you have a great weekend :-)

Sugar Nellie Macbeth

Good morning

 

Hope you are all well today.  It's a beautiful sunny day here albeit a bit chilly but I guess that's to be expected seeing as we are now into November!

 

I had a lovely crafty evening with Chloe on Tuesday ...  she has popped her card on her blog here if you have time to pop over and leave her a comment :-)

 

When I saw the FAB sketch over at The Sugar Bowl this week I decided it was time I made the adorable Macbeth into a card.  I coloured the image a couple of weeks ago so it was just a matter of putting the card together.

 

 

* Card Recipe *

 

Image ~ Sugar Nellie Macbeth

Papers ~ Basic Grey 'Pyrus'

Sentiment ~ Autumn Leaves sentiment circles

Flowers ~ Wild Orchid Crafts

Butterfly ~ Cheery Lynn die

Gems ~ Kars Christmas Collection

* Challenges *

 

Heck of a Challenge ~ 50 Shades of Autumn
Basic Grey ~ Anything Goes

Stampavie and More ~ Autumn

Charisma Cardz ~ Recipe

Southern Girls ~ Animal Crackers

The Sugar Bowl ~ Sketch

 

I have had a lovely few days with Chloe and Jamie and to finish off the week we are going out for lunch with my mum and nan today and also a little wander around the shops :-)

 

 

Hope you a have a great weekend!

 

  

Natalie and Amy's Challenge ... #3

Good morning

Just a quick post before I head off to work ... I'm only working 2 days this week because it's half term so after today I will have 5 days off with my 2 scallywags :-) 

 

It's challenge time once again over at Natalie and Amy's and this month it's Colour Me Happy ... so we want to see your favourite colour combo of the moment.  I have gone with my favourite Christmas colour combo which is traditional red, green and gold. 

 

Once again Natalie and Amy have provided a FAB prize ...  a £15 gift voucher :-)





* Card Recipe *

 

Image ~ Nellie Snellen 'Dawn Hokey-Pokey'

Papers ~ First Edition 'Stocking Fillers' and Dovecraft 'Vintage Christmas'

Sentiment ~ Little Claire's 'Christmas Sentiments'

Dies ~ Cheery Lynn 'Holly Corner' and 'Holly Flourish'

Ribbon ~ Dovecraft 'Modern Christmas' pack

Flowers/Gold pearls ~ Stash

 

 Most of the products used on my card are available at Natalie and Amy's online store

 

 

* Challenges *

A Gem of a Challenge ~ Polka dots/Spots
Crafty Ribbons ~ Christmas
ABC Christmas ~ U for Up to You
Crafty Ann's ~ Christmas
The Crafty Pad ~ Christmas is Coming
The Squirrel and the Fox ~ Use a Ribbon
Whoopsi Daisy ~ Punch it Out


Jamie is off to a Halloween party with his friend tonight so i'm having a crafty evening with Chloe.

Bye for now :-)

 

Bootiful Christmas

Good morning

Brrrr winter has definitely arrived here in Norfolk this weekend!  Yesterday was a mixture of wind, rain, hail and sunshine but apart from the weather I had a lovely day meeting up with my friends Marianne and Lynsey ... we had a yummy pub lunch and as always lots of chatting took place :-)

 

I haven't had any time for crafting the last couple of weeks because we've been busy getting ready for a new carpet to be fitted in our lounge/diner.  It was a lot of hard work moving all the furniture but it's all done now and it looks lovely ... it's surprising what a difference a new carpet makes to a room.

On Friday night I was looking through my box of coloured images and came across this 'Bootiful' image so decided to make it into a card.  I teamed it up with some old Papermania papers which have been in my stash for a few years.

* Card Recipe *

 

Image ~ A-May-Zing 'Bootiful Christmas' 

Papers ~ Papermania 'A Silent Night'

Sentiment ~ Little Claire's 'Christmas Sentiments'
Poinsettia ~ Prima
Pearls/Ribbon ~ Stash
Medium Pearl Brad ~ Wild Orchid Crafts
Cheery Lynn 'Holly Corner' die ~ Natalie and Amy's

 

* Challenges *

 

 Sparkles Christmas ~ Traditional
52 Christmas Throwdown ~ Die cuts & Punches

SFTW ~ Anything Goes
Sketch N Stash ~ Sketch




That's all from me ... hope you have a lovely relaxing Sunday :-)  Other than popping out to Tescos to get Jamie a Halloween costume I am going to stay warm and cosy indoors today.

Don't forget to enter my birthday blog candy for the chance to win a £10 gift voucher to spend at Wild Orchid Crafts.

 

Mr Snowman

Good morning

Oh the weather is gorgeous here this morning ... hope it continues because we are heading off to the coast later.  Chloe is away this weekend and Jamie is going to MIL's so we have the day to ourselves.  So a nice relaxing walk along the beach followed by a pub lunch is what we have planned for today :-)
 

While i'm waiting for the kettle to boil I am taking the opportunity to quickly share a card I made in the week but haven't had a chance to upload.

 

 

* Card Recipe *

 

Image ~ LOTV Mr Snowman

Sentiment ~ Not sure

Papers ~ Dovecraft Back to Basics Modern Christmas

Cheery Lynn Holly Corner die

Marianne D Miniature Poinsettias dies

Twine and Pearls ~ Stash

 

Most of the items used on this card are available from Natalie and Amy's online store

 

* Challenges *

 

Oldie But A Goodie ~ Inspired by a Song 'Frosty the Snowman'
(Stamp is over 6 months old)

Delightful Challenge ~ Winter Holiday

Papertake Weekly ~ Anything Goes

Stamp and Create ~ Winter Wonderland

The Crazy Challenge ~ Handmade Flowers


Right time for tea and toast :-)

Hope you have a great weekend!

 

Natalie and Amy's Challenge ... #2

Good morning

 

It's challenge time once again over at Natalie and Amy's and this month it's 'Blinging Birthdays' ... it can be anything that includes Birthdays and bling! 


The prize for one lucky winner is a £15 gift voucher to spend at Natalie and Amy's :-)





**************************
 

Card Recipe

 

Image ~ Wee Stamps die cut topper

Papers ~ First Edition 'Summer Breeze'

Sentiment ~ Pink Gem Designs

Flowers ~ Wild Orchid Crafts

I also used a 6 x 6 scalloped card blank, Marianne D Anja's leaves, Star Dust Stickles, Cheery Lyn butterfly die and gems from my stash


Challenges

Heck of a Challenge ~ Anything Goes
Creative Craft Challenge ~ Anything Goes
Totally Gorjuss ~ Punches and Dies


We had a busy day yesterday so I don't have anything planned for today except food shopping!

Enjoy the rest of the weekend :-)




A Card At Last!

Good morning

 

Hope you are all well and those of you who went to Ally Pally yesterday had a great day.  I was intending to go with my friends Marianne and Lynsey but because I haven't really felt in the mood for crafting the last few weeks decided to give it a miss this time.

Anyway at last I have a card to share ... I started making it on Friday night and finished it off yesterday.

 

 

  When I started I had intended on making a card using a Sugar Nellie image so followed the great sketch over at The Sugar Bowl. However, in the end I didn't think the image I had coloured suited the card so grabbed a LOTV die cut because I really couldn't be bothered to colour another image. I have added some Stardust stickles to the image for a little bit of sparkle!

The papers, ribbon, button and twine are all from the Molly Blooms Christmas Carnival magazine/ kit which is where I got the idea for the twine threaded through the button. The sentiment is a Little Claire's stamp. Flowers, leaves and pearls from my stash.   

 

Challenges

 

Winter Wonderland ~ To The One I Love

CCAYR ~ Presents

Sparkles Christmas Challenge ~ Sparkle & Bling

Christmas Crafting ~ Traditional Colours

 

Yesterday we ordered a new carpet for the lounge/dining room so we are going to be busy the next couple of weeks getting things moved ready for it to be fitted.  It seemed like a good idea yesterday until we got home and looked at everything that has got to be moved ... oh well it will keep us out of mischief lol!

 

Enjoy what's left of the weekend :-)

 

Candy Winner!

Good morning

 

Just a quick post before I get ready for work to announce the winner of my 4th blogoversary candy.

 

So the winner (chosen by Random.Org) of the £20 voucher to spend at Natalie and Amy's is ....

 

#14 Debs

 

Congratulations Debs :-) ... If you can leave me a comment on this post with your email address and I will arrange for the lovely Natalie and Amy to send you a code.

 

I am still on a blogging break because i'm just not feeling the crafty love at the moment :-(  I feel very sad about this but i'm hoping that after a short break I will get back into it again.

 

Happy Crafting!

It's Candy Time!!

* Please scroll down for new posts *

On the 17th September I will be celebrating my 4th year of blogging! The time has flown by and when I started blogging I never imagined I would still get so much enjoyment from it 4 years later :-) 

 

To celebrate 4 wonderful years and to thank all of you for your visits and encouraging comments I have a £20 voucher for one lucky winner to spend at Natalie and Amy's online craft store ...

 

 

So for the chance to win all you need to do is: 

 

1)  Post a picture of my candy on your blog with a link back to me

2)  Add your name to the linky below

3)  NO CANDY ONLY BLOGS!

 

The Candy will close on 17th Sept and a winner will be drawn and announced the following day.

 

Good luck!!