Why is crime going down?

I know this is a blog about cards but I just had to add a bit about why, against the odds, crime rates are going down.

It seems a combination of the following mean that all crime, but especially low level crime is going down, despite the recession

• ASBO's and crackdowns on anti-social behaviour but the police and authorities really work
• Things are harder to vandalize
• smartphones have reduce boredom for kids
• Young people can sound off on facebook or twitter about things that wind them up
• young people are drinking less
• removing lead from petrol makes people less aggressive

What ever the reason, I'm glad to hear it - a bit of good news amongst all the doom and gloom, I'm sure its not much consolation to those who are still the victims of crime, but at least less people are being affected!

Perhaps the increase in crafting and hand-made items helps, after all we all know it is a great stress buster - I recommend giving all young offenders knitting lessons!

Owls & Bears

The snowy weather was a great excuse for staying indoors and taking over the dining table for a crafting session.

 I made these cards using the freebie papers from Papercraft Essentials magazine ( see post below), this time teaming them up with some cute Teddy bears as well as the owl stamps.

Hoping today will give time for more card making!

I really shouldn't have but ....

I gave into temptation and bought the Papercraft Essentials magazine because of the cute woodware freebie Owl stamps! I thought I had stuck to my new years resolution to stop buying crafting stuff and use up more of my growing pile of stash but couldn't resist these stamps.


I had even managed to visit The Range last weekend and come out empty handed ( a first!) but knew these owls and papers would make some great looking cards.

Wellington Boot Birthday Cards

I have just got a bargain package from eBay today, a pack of funky Wellington Boot shaped cards in lots of different colours plus hundreds of different sentiments from Craftwork Cards!

Of course, I couldn't wait to use them, so have just produced my first pair of Wellies.

Creative Stamping Magazine

I bought Creative Stamping Magazine last week because I loved one of the free Spring Fling stamps - this one with the girl with hearts in her hair.

 The cat with the bow is quite cute too!

Anyway, flicking through the magazine I saw a card made with one of my oldest and favourite stamp of cat (Tabithas Portrait), looking a bit closer it seemed very familiar - yes, it was a card I had made!

I must have sent it off so long ago, I had forgotten all about it. Now I'm looking forward to see what the 'small prize' is  - every card featured gets one!

Upcycling my ATC's !

Church by Furryboots

Red leaf by Lyndee

little girl by Bottledolphin

I have been making and swapping ATC's (Artist Trading Cards) for over 5 years now and have amassed quite a collection. They feature all sorts of themes, colours, materials and techniques!

Most ATCs sit in folders or on my desk at work and I have a great display of Christmas ones in my lounge at the moment.

Some of my regular swapees have given me permission to reuse or upcycle them into new cards - and here are a few I have recently converted.

Cricket by SandyPonty

What A Lady - Craft Stamper Stamp!

I treat myself to a subscription to Craft Stamper magazine, because it is different from the other card making magazines and it always has a great free stamp!

Although I am not good ( and don't have time) to try out all the interesting techniques they use with gesso, alcohol inks, distressing etc - I admire those who can produce some fabulous work.

This month stamp is a head and shoulders portrait of a  1920's lady from the Milliner Misses range by Rogue Redhead Designs. 

Over on Docrafts there is a monthly ATC swap  hosted by Kathleen, using the free stamp, and it always encourages me to have a play and experiment with the stamp for this. These are this months offerings from me!

Christmas Card Marathon is nearly over!

Although I only started in September, I estimate that I have made over 200 cards so far, half of which have gone to the Cancer Information charity in Ipswich. Yesterday I sat down to write out my cards ready to send to family and friends, and couldn't find designs suitable to send to a couple of them, so despite having stacks of cards left over,I will be making more today (note to self: cut down on the cute cards, they are not everyone's cup of tea)

Mind you, I have got a large plastic crate crammed full of Christmas papers, stamps and embellishments. There must be something in there to inspire me!!

Fab Card Making Session!

Just got home from from visiting my friend Francesca, where we had a long overdue card making and chatting session.

We both recycled old Christmas cards to make new ones for this year - using some of Francesca's large pile of punched out snowflakes to add a bit of sparkle to them!

I made 7 cards but Francesca made a bit less, because she had to take time out to make a delicious lunch!

I also had a play with some of her new Christmas stamps and love this Christmas tree one - I thought it was very stylish, so stamped off a few more to use later.

Gold & Vellum Christmas Cards

Just a selection of gold and vellum cards - although I have made many general Christmas cards, I am stumped for some special, personalised cards for my close family. I hope inspiration strikes soon as its only a month to go!

Purple & Lime at Christmas???

I wasn't sure about this purple and lime colour scheme by Craftwork cards - they didn't seem very traditional or Christmassy!. 

However they have started to grow on me and do look clean and modern - perhaps they will do for the cool and hip twenty somethings in the family!

Polar Bears

Sorry I haven't posted for a while - been laid low with the dreaded Winter Vomiting bug.

Just feeling better now - knew I was ill because I didn't want to do any crafting. These cards both feature 2 polar bears staring at the stars in the sky and I love both of the images - they are so evocative!

Forever Friends at Christmas ...

A selection of a few 'Forever Friends' Christmas cards I made this week - I must be going through a bit of a cute phase!

Christmas Cards for Pagans

I have a couple of friends who are Pagans and who don't really want to celebrate Christmas, but I don't want them to miss out on cards, so I have made these "Winter Wishes" cards which I hope they would like instead.

I now have a blog where I sell cards suitable for Pagans to send or receive over Christmas time at pagancards.blogspot.co.uk

Modern & Bright ..

Not my usual style, but I wanted to use up some freebie papers from a magazine and get out of my comfort zone! 

I think these Christmas cards will probably end up going to some of the teenagers in the family.

Scraps Away!

A few more Christmas cards made up with left over scraps from other cards! Feeling chuffed about making a small dent in my paper pile!

Bearly Mine has a fabulous pile of candy which even includes a new Epson printer!!!

Scrappy card

At long last, a  Christmas card made using up some paper scraps rather than creating them!

Lucky Me!

I was lucky enough today to win a free NitWit Potting Shed  download from Papercraft Essentials today - I love Nitwits and have several of their digital collections already.

Then I was told that a card of mine has been picked as the Star Card in the latest edition of Making Cards Magazine! As good things come in threes, I ought to rush out and buy a lottery ticket !!

A Herd of Reindeer

I've now had a bit of a Rudolf phase in my Christmas card making as you can see!

Sorry - yet more red Christmas Cards!