Japanese Dreams - Creative Stamping Mag

 

I couldn't resist picking up this copy of Creative Stamping mag on a trip to Hobbycraft - it was the Koi Carp and the Good Luck Japanese Character that appealed to me.

So, of course, the first cards I made with the set featured them. The coin with the hole in the middle I have had in my stash for years!

Next I'm going to try out the Mount Fuji Scene and the paper lanterns

Charity Shop Bargains

 

Somebody must have been having a big clear out of their craft room as there was a large pile of brand new, unused card making stuff at my local charity shop when I popped in last.

There was a lot of Hunkdory items -books of  toppers, card making packs, sheets of sentiments as well as paper pads and die cuts.

I spent £15 and picked up a lot of  bits to keep me busy for quite a while - and left some for other crafters to enjoy too!

Sprig of Holly

 

Desite having piles of Christmas stash, I couldn't resist this little cutting die from The Works - it was only £2, and I have cut out about 20 of these already

They look great added as a corner embellishment

also cut out of patterned paper with coloured berries

added to a recycled Christmas card from last year

...and of course, cut out in gold and paired with my festive tiger! 

Missing In Action

 Sorry I haven't been blogging for soo long, but moving house seems to have taken up far too much time and energy than I expected!

However, we are now nicely settled into our new home and starting to relax and enjoy it.

Of course, the craft room was one of the last rooms to be unpacked and I have twice had to move furniture around to get a set up that I am happy with - you know, the things you use the most close to hand, whilst others can be further back.

Christmas card production is now in full flow, although I started a month later than normal, so may not be able to donate so many cards to charity as usual.

Nothing says Christmas more than a tiger wearing a Santa hat does it! I was surprised to see these toppers in Hobbycraft but couldn't resist them. Hope you are all well on the way with your Xmas cards now.

Sunflowers

 It's lovely seeing Sunflowers at this time of year, a field of them in Rougham, Suffolk is open to the public this weekend. So a Sunflower card seemed appropriate to make this week!

Fairy Wishes

 

Sorry it's been a while since I last posted - decluttering, cleaning, packing, birthdays and a family engagement have all been taking up my time. Although I still have time to make a card now and then! The craft room will not be packed up until we get a date to move, so I still get time to craft occasionally. 

Looks like we are going to be moving home in September now, the weeks are ticking away - but despite being in a short chain of 4 people, there still are issues and concerns to be dealt with - no wonder they say it is a stressful time for all concerned.

Beneath the Sea Part 2

 

A few more cards made with those coloured images from my last post!

Haven't used mulberry paper on a card for ages!

Beneath the waves

 

I enjoyed colouring these octopus and dolphins from the latest stamp set from Creative Stamping

Not sure that I have made many birthday cards featuring an octopus before!

French Dogs

 Despite trying not to buy crafting stuff before we move, I gave in when I spotted a pack of  playing cards featuring different breeds of dogs in a local charity shop - I'm sure I can make a lot of toppers from this £1 bargain buy!

Shame that there is only one picture of each breed in the pack

but it does mean that I can use up some of my large stash of backing papers

Watercolour Wings

 

I bought  the Hunkydory Watercolour Wings topper deck back in August 2019 and I still have quite a few left, so yesterday I dug them out and made these three bird cards - each using a die cut branch and 3 feathers as embellishments.

The date to move house still looks a long way off yet, so I am enjoying time in the craft room whilst trying not to buy new stuff and using up what I have accumulated over the years!

Cards Squared

 

I realised that this set of graduated stitched square dies had been sadly neglected for a while, so decided to make some cards using them. 

it was also a good way of using up some scraps of paper and toppers that had been hanging around waiting for inspiration to strike!

Creative Stamping Mag Issue 96

 

Loving these Crafty Individual stamps that came as a free gift with the current issue of Creative Stamping magazine. I've teamed them up with some backgrounds made from Cosmic Shimmer gilding polish....

 and the image of a couple walking with their dog is so sweet! Enjoyed colouring the lumberjack shirt on this, after watching them make them in the Great British Sewing Bee challenge earlier.

Exciting news here is that we have just sold our house and are moving into a bigger home nearby in Needham Market. One bedroom is already earmarked as the craft room!

And finally I made an ATC with some peach Opal Polish in the background

Happy Cats

 

More cat cards using the nitwit decoupage pack I bought last week

When I looked at the faces, I thought they looked a bit sad or surprised, so I have gone and put a little curved line under their mouths and turned them into happy cats!

Nitwit Paws-itivity Cats

 On a quick trip to The Range, this Nitwit Pawsitivity decoupage pack fell into my basket

There are 48 pages of cute cat die cuts - however they are all the same image!

This means I will have to be inventive and try out different layouts, colour schemes and backgrounds as I use it up!

Daisy, Daisy

 

These lovely bright daisy papers were free with issue 94 of Creative Stamping Magazine - along with a fab set of Garden Gnomes stamps!

They were cheery cards to make on a wet and miserable day!

Hot Diggity Dogs

 

We have just put our house up for sale and so, much of my craft room has had to be packed away. This means I am on a very limited range of materials and have to be a bit more creative. 

It is also a good excuse to use up some of my older stash, and these 'Hot Diggity Dog' images are years and years old!

I hope the house doesn't take too long to sell as I am missing having all my bits and pieces around me.

Guitar Hero

 

I dug out some old freebie stamps from magazines with a music theme and put together these cards - it seemed appropriate to listen to a bit of rock music in the background whilst I made them!

Vinyl records are increasing in popularity now - my son has quite a collection, even though he is in his 20's, so I've used the record shape for the 'happy birthday' sentiment.

So there we have it - birthday cards for lovers of heavy metal, glam rock or acoustic guitars!