Vintage charm and Neil's before and afters

First up I have a little easel card I put together quickly yesterday

I used Melissa Frances papers and an image by Marianne Design - all available at Running With Scissors.

The sentiment stamp is by Stampin' Up as is the punch I used to shape it, everything is inked in Malted Mauve chalk ink.

The border punch is by Martha Stewart.

 The gorgeous crinkly ribbon was a gift from my dear friend Margaret.

Speaking of whom, these next pics are for you Margaret lol

Only kidding, I am going to share Neil's before and after pics too, he did the full Insanity programme with me, supporting me and keeping me company. I did get his permission to put these on here.

Neil didn't have as much weight to lose as me but he did lose a few pounds and quite a few inches too, he generally got much leaner and was aiming more for definition and cardio conditioning - both of which he achieved.

I am so proud of him, as my friends and family know, Neil struggles due to his illness and to complete this programme with very little balance and total numbness absolutely amazes me - he truly did inspire me to keep going.

Thanks Neil, love you and so very proud of you, I am so happy we shared this experience xxx

Lastly thankyou so much for everyones really lovely comments yesterday, I was worried about sharing the photos but you all made me feel much happier about it, thanks for the support xxx

Crafters look away now

OK this is not for the weak of stomach, look away now if you have come here for cards, layouts or crafts of any sort.

As you are all now aware now,

Neil and I have been doing the Insanity home workout programme, here are my before and after shots

Please bear in mind, this is over just 60 days, we did NOT diet, we ate and drank what we liked as Christmas, New Year, birthdays and various other celebrations peppered our path

The befores are on the left

We never ever missed a workout, even donned our trainers on Christmas day

Not quite a six pack but definitely a lot slimmer and more toned than before

And for the changes on the tape measure

I lost

1cm off each arm

8cm off my bust

10cm off stomach

4cm off my hips

2cm off each thigh 

1cm off each calf

I lost 6lbs in weight, not bad considering how much I ate and drank over the period, had I stuck to the Insanity diet I have no doubt I could easily have doubled my fat loss, but you know what, I am happy with my loss, it means I lost no muscle but lost lots of inches.

Another thing I noticed was a massive increase in strength and endurance.

I know some people will probably not see much of a difference, some people might even laugh at me for posting this, and to be honest I worried about it. 

I pondered long and hard. It is a big thing sharing these photos. 

I have had a little encouragement, mainly from Neil, the kids ( who think I am awesome for even trying it) and one of my facebook friends who is doing the same programme and one of my class members who has also seen the programme and her husband and son tried it.

But generally most people have been fairly non-plussed and that is fine.

I didn't do it for anyone else.

I did it for me.

Neil summed it up when I asked whether I should blog it, when he said 'You did good! You should be proud, I am so proud of you ! - You should blog it, it is an achievement and those that don't like it don't matter'

Keep Calm and craft on!

Another little batch of ATC's for the international swap. We are almost there now so I will only have one more set to share and then back to cards and other stuff.

This time I went with a real 'British' look and couldn't resist using this stamp. 

The main stamp is a Hobbycraft one and the little 'tap tap tap' stamp is by Stampin' Up.

Papers are by Papermania, the vintage union flag ribbon is from my shop and the twine from a little craft shop I found whilst in the lakes.

Happy weekend to you all xxx

Flutterby butterfly

And another batch of ATC's for the International swap I mentioned earlier in the week.

This time the background was created with inks, the butterflies were stamped twice, the second one cut out, coloured and covered with Rock Candy

That makes three sets down and two to go - nearly there !

The stamp is Inkadinkadoo, the papers, Melissa Frances and Payper Box, little tag punch is by Stampin' Up, fabric flowers are Tim Holtz.

Daughter dear

It has been AGES, EONS, YONKS, seriously, it seems a gazillion of days has passed since I scrapbooked just for me, just for fun, just because I had a photo I wanted to put in an album - just because .....

Anyhow, I was sat here last night, at my scrap table, which also houses my Mac, which draws me into facebook and emails and itunes and apps and all manner of diversions !

And I suddenly felt the urge to scrap

So scrap I did !

I ignored the diversions, grabbed the nearest couple of sheets of paper and then my latest favourite photo and just played !

The photo is of my daughter Amy, who is incredibly photogenic but who seldom allows me to capture that beauty on film

The papers are Melissa Frances, the cardstock is Color Core, flowers and ribbon from stash, quote is computer generated

Border punch is Martha Stewart, large purple flower is handmade by moi, pearls are Mark Richards

I used a Versamagic ink pad to ink all the edges of the papers.

I spend so much time creating for the shop, for classes and for samples, I had totally forgotten how much fun it is to create something just because !

I used to scrapbook every single day, before the shop, before commitments, and, to be honest I miss it. But, don't get me wrong, I also love my class preparations, it is a case of finding a happy balance, between work and play. I guess that for the last four years I have ALWAYS put the shop first, it is my baby, but I also understand that to stay doing what I do and more importantly - enjoy doing what I do, I also need to, just occasionally, set aside an hour or so, to just PLAY !

Play with what I love the most

Scrapbooking !!!

Scrapbooking led me into crafting

Scrapbooking is my relaxation, my peace

At the risk of sounding all airy fairy, it is what makes my heart sing.

I love making cards, but they are given away, they are made from images, stamps, papers all designed by others and that is fine,

But my scrapbook pages are kept, for me, and my family to look at and love

To remember and cherish

Moments caught on film which will disappear all too quickly, captured and presented in a layout, a memory - preserved to enjoy for many years to come.

Tuesday project

 Once again I have one of our tuesday afternoon projects to share

( oooooo get me !!!! actually finished, photographed and blogged all on the same day - I will have to steady on or I will need a lay down !)

This time the project we chose from the Creative Expressions booklet was by Dee Paramour, all credit must go to her for her initial design - thankyou Dee.

So here is mine, once again with many slight variations

Dee's original design was a Christmas card and I have no doubt at all that at some point I will be making a christmas version, but for now I decided to have a break from Christmas and complete the design with a love theme instead.

The sparkle inside the heart is a stamp embossed with Kaleidoscope embossing powder - very pretty and delicate

As always it was a sharing afternoon and we all brought in supplies for each of us to play with, thankyou to Anita for the border die and Linda for the sentiment stamp which is by Stampin' Up.

Forever in my heart

Tonight I have the second batch of ATC's for the international swap I have been invited to join.

As I mentioned last night, there is no theme just the condition that all the ATC's have a stamped image on them.

I stamped this beautiful Crafty Individuals image out twice, onto different coloured papers and then cut out the butterfly from the second stamp 

I need to make twenty in total so I am doing them in batches to make it a little easier, as I would like to keep one of each of the designs for me, I will be making five sets of five all together.

Girls Night Out

I have been busy making ATCs today, here are the first batch ready for our international swap.

The theme was open, the only criteria being that there had to be stamping on them.

I used a crafty individuals stamp.

I coloured the ladies frocks with copic markers, I popped up a few of the letters too and embellished each ATC with a little bit of Tim Holtz film strip and a ticket stub from Making Memories.

The two little rows of dots at top and bottom are liquid pearls.

Stampin' Up

These are the two cards we made in class with Linda on thursday

First up a heart shaped easel card

And a landscape tent card

I am totally in love with this colour combination, thankyou for a fabulous afternoon and two beautiful cards Linda xxx

Christmas card number four

And for once, actually ahead of myself I have christmas card number 4 of this year, with a week to go in our first month.

I used papers by Bo Bunny, the image is a Marianne designs one, the ribbon is from my shop ( I LOVE this tartan design), the sentiment stamp is one by Stampin' Up

I am really happy to know that a few of my friends and customers are also joining me in trying to complete at least one Christmas card a week during 2013, this week both Dawn and Keitha mentioned they are making their Christmas cards already, keep it up girls xxx

Feeling Blue

Our tuesday afternoon get together this week resulted in another card.

Once again inspired by a design in the Creative Expressions booklet and once again by Sue Wilson. 

We changed this one up quite a bit this time, 

Different size, we went for square

Different colour, totally centred around the gorgeous blue ribbon Anita brought for us all to share.

Different die cuts, again provided by Anita

Different stamp, provided by Linda, as was the embossing folder.

So another one of those projects that was the same but different.

Warm Winter Wishes

 Tonight I have a project I started before Christmas but have only just managed to finish.

It was one of our 'tuesday afternoon' sessions and the idea of the banner was inspired by a lady called Sally-Jo, Linda found it on her blog and we all thought it was such a pretty project.

I used all chocolate and cream shades for mine as I intend to hang it next year in my lounge ( now that it is finished !)

We used a label die, snowflake stamps, inks and alpha stamps all by Stampin' Up.

My hearts were chipboard which I embossed with a shabby embossing powder.

Lace and flowers complete each piece.

You can see Linda's version HERE, Margaret and Anita have also both finished theirs but I don't think they are on their blogs yet.

And you can find the original version by Sally Jo HERE - thankyou very much for sharing the idea xxx

Songbirds

I have been busy art journalling but most of it has been in the circle journals we are currently involved in at the shop, therefore, I have not been able to share it on here, or it will spoil the surprise for the recipient.

But occasionally when the inks and paints are out anyway I cannot resist playing in my own little art journal.

This is what evolved this week as various mediums lay around my work table.

The backgrounds were created with a mix of acrylic paints and gesso, stencilling with inks and some torn book paper in the corners. I added some stippled gesso through sequin waste for texture.

The quote was handwritten with a black archival journalling pen

The birds have been coloured in with my copic markers.

The tumbling letters are stamped in archival ink and the hearts are punched scraps of paper which have been outlined with a watercolour pencil for a little definition.

I have been busy with the usual sunday roast and cleaning routine today, rewarding myself with a little crafting in between laundry loads, and have managed to complete one of the many unfinished projects that have accumulated in my 'to do' box. I will be back tomorrow to share it with you.

Merry Christmas Deer

Christmas card number 3 of the year.

I have beaten last years measly total of two made before December.

The reindeer stamp is by Stampin' Up, as are the dies I used to cut the frames, I used an EK success border punch and I believe the sentiment stamp is Inkadinkadoo.

I have no idea whether I will keep this up, I very rarely manage to keep anything going for a full year. But my intentions are good and I am enjoying the feeling of being a little better prepared than last year.

One thing I have managed to keep up so far is my Insanity training, Neil and I have finished 6 full weeks so far, not missing a single workout, we have 13 sessions left to do and I have to admit, I am feeling much stronger. Although I have been going to the gym consistently for a whole year, press ups have always been my nemesis, I have just never been able to do them. Not one ! But I am regularly managing to do several at a time during the workouts now. So happy with myself that I am managing to keep it up ( although I will be jumping for joy when they are finally finished, it has been one huge commitment  !)

It's all white

The girls and I who regularly meet up on tuesdays for a little crafting therapy, often end up doing more chatting, laughing and eating than actual crafting. But we decided, at the beginning of the year, that it would be a good idea to prepare ourselves a little better in the hope that we do complete some projects.

Anita had bought us all an inspirational project book from Creative Expressions and we all agreed it would be fun to work through it.

 This week we chose a card designed by Sue Wilson as our starting point

Here is my version of Sue's card

I didn't have all the exact supplies that Sue had used so there are variations from the original.

The textured background was created with tissue paper, the little dots are liquid pearls.

I used a sentiment stamp and dies from Stampin' Up.

None of us finished the card in the session itself ( as always, chatting and eating took priority), but I am pretty sure they are all finished now.

It was a pink glittered Christmas

Here are the ATC's I made for the Running With Scissors December ATC swap

The Theme was  'A pink Glittered Christmas' as chosen by Debbie

Although I love pink I am not a fan of glitter and to be honest the theme troubled me at first. I just couldn't get my head around using pink for Christmas, the traditional side of me kept denying me the ability to think out of the box.

But once I got started and embraced the challenge, I thoroughly enjoyed using a non-traditional colour to inspire the cards, and, I was really pleased with the results.

So thankyou Debbie xxx

That's the fun of having different personalities choose the themes-  you never know what you might get and you never know what you might come up with yourself !

If any of you are interested in joining our monthly swap at the shop please check out the ATC swap info page at Running With Scissors

Clouds come floating

Margaret's new tag challenge is up and running.

You can find out what it is all about it over at Running With Scissors (shop)

Here is the tag I have made for January

The idea is to have a quote on your tag and this months theme was SKY

I cut my tag to shape ( 6x4 inches)

The background was created with Distress Inks - I used Peeled Paint, Broken China, Dusty Concord, Rusty Hinge, Scattered Straw and Barn Door

The sun was created first by inking through a punched hole, I then placed the punched circle back over the yellow sun as a mask and used a brush to apply the rest of the colours

I then stamped various grasses using a couple of Stampin' Up stamps and black Archival Ink

The quote was computer generated, using the American Typewriter font and added in strips.

I used scraps to create the embellishments.

The challenge is open to everyone and is just for fun and inspiration, if you would like to play along pop along to Running With Scissors for all the details and a list of all the upcoming themes.

Tags, Tags and more tags

I was just a tad dismayed by the fact My Holtz had decided to take a break from his twelve tags of christmas, I felt as though the usual build up to christmas had been tarnished just a little. Almost as though Tescos had banned the selling and eating of the Mince Pie !!!!

Don't get me wrong, I didn't always take part, and to be honest I think I only ever completed the twelve tags twice in it's entirety. But !!!! It's an institution among the crafting community, even if I haven't taken part, I have checked in, ogled and imagined the possibilities.

So, with a little bit of a pouty lip, I glanced at the new tags Tim is sharing on his blog each month throughout 2013.

I looked

I liked

I was inspired ( as always)

I skipped to the next blog on my google reader

I sulked

I considered

I went back

I ogled once again

I gave in !!!

Here is my first Tim Holtz inspired tag of 2013

So ..... Thankyou once again Sir Tim.

For sharing your talents

For sharing your techniques

For encouraging us to just get out our stuff and CRAFT !!!

If you take a peek at Tim's blog you can see my tag is quite different from the original, but that is what it is all about, using what you have, so grab what you have, play and create !

You can play along with Tim's tags HERE

Have FUN crafting xxx

Baby it's cold outside

I had a lovely today with my two good friends Margaret and Anita, thankyou both.

We enjoyed lunch out and a browse around all the local gift shops. As promised, the snow began to fall in earnest, doubling the time it normally takes to get home, but it was a really lovely day.

So, it seems fitting, with the snow falling outside the window, to be sharing another Christmas card towards next years collection.

Papers are Bo Bunny, Sentiment stamp is by Stampin' Up, Santa's sleigh is by Inkadinkadoo.

Let's hope we are not snowed in tomorrow morning - brrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Sympathetic wishes

Thankfully I don't often have to make sympathy cards.

But, recently one of my friends sadly lost her dad. I am sure there are no words that can truly express our sympathy but I do hope that at least by making a card, Jan knows I am here for her should she need anything, be it a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen or arms to hug.

Thinking of you Jan, hope all goes well on thursday

Much love xxx

Merry Christmas

As part of my New Years 'goals', I intend to make at least one Christmas card per week

This is the card I made in the first week of January, just hitting my self inflicted deadline !

Papers are by Bo Bunny, sentiment stamp is Stampin' Up, Snowman is Inkadinkadoo, the little candy cane charm was from a local discount warehouse and the buttons are Paper Mania, Ivy leaf border punch is Cart Us. I coloured in the snowman's accessories with a copic pen and the white stitching was created using a gelly roll pen by Sakura.

Even if I make just two more Christmas cards I will beat last years total of two achieved in January !