MerryMade Crafts etc ...

Yes, I have combined challenges again....so much fun. This week over at the 'Pick Three Challenge at Stamping Vacation' we had to pick three elements from this picture. I think you might have to be quick to enter this week as there are already entries. So I picked Tree, and two colours Black and Orange. I used black leather craft for the base card then added a layer of SU Ruby Red which I machine stitched with zig zag around the edge. A rectangle of SU Old Olive and another of SU Really Rust which I ran through the Cuttlebug with the 'Diamonds in the Rough' embossing folder. Didn't think that was quite right so then ran it through the 'Forest Branches' embossing folder. I really love the extra layers when you do two or more embossings . Next I used an offcut of SU Pumpkin Pie hence the oblong shape but it works so well on the card. Stamped the SU Lovely as a Tree image and then with a smaller zig zag sewed around the edge. This card is now in t...

Woohoo !!! I am back. Once again my computer decided to have a break and wouldn't let me online until 2pm yesterday. By this time of day I am getting ready for the kids to return home and the onslaught of afternoon activities. So no chance to post. Gave me time however, to have a try at this fun card. One of the ladies over at Craftmad post her version here with the link to the tutorial at Out to Impress . Perfect timing as I needed a card for my nieces birthday which I want to enclose money in. I have also used lots of 'Spots and Dots' for this weeks weekly challenge theme at Craftmad . I have used Making Memories paper....)sorry don't remember name) on the outside. Then some lovely textured paper. Finished with flower and dot stickers on the front and 'A Gift For You' sticker inside. Oh and a lovely brad that I received from Deborah March ages ago.

Yes, this months sewing swap over at Craftmad is a potholder. Something I have never made before but will try again. I need practice on attaching the bias binding neatly. My partner said that she preferred blue so that is how the potholder came about. I dug out this fat quarter of blue I had with a lovely floral design. Cut two 9" squares........strange I wasn't working in metric. Then I cut six squares of flannelette material I had to use as the batting. Then sewed the straight lines across all layers about 1" apart. Trimmed and added the grey bias binding as that is what I had on hand. If you make potholders what do you use for your batting/wadding?

My second card for the day. This is another card created using 'Pick Three Challenge' over at Stamping Vacation . Finally, I found a use for my puzzle piece I created back in May this year. This week we get to choose from the following. I have highlighted what I have used. 1. Puzzle piece 2. Magic Mesh 3. Slide mount 4. Colors that are the names of foods 5. Four patterned papers 6. Paper Lace 7. Swirl clip 8. Anything metallic looking 9. An UNcolored stamped image 10. gems

I am putting this card into Denise's 'Pick Three Challenge' over at Stamping Vacation . This week we get to choose from the following. I have highlighted what I have used. Quick you still have a little time for this challenge. 1. Puzzle piece 2. Magic Mesh 3. Slide mount 4. Colors that are the names of foods (one food...creamy caramel) 5. Four patterned papers 6. Paper Lace 7. Swirl clip 8. Anything metallic looking 9. An UNcolored stamped image 10. gems I have used SU Creamy Caramel for the base card which I cut into a 14cm x 14cm card. Then I cut a triangle off each side.....2cm in from the top edge on angle to the bottom corner. Hope that makes a little sense. I then stamped with my little flower all over the front of the card. Dragged out my sewing machine and sewed all the edges except for the top. I took the thread out so I just had the holes. Then I used my brown tombow pen and joined the dots to make faux stitching. The flap I cut from KaiserCraft pap...

Well I ended up having time yesterday to create a couple of cards as the kids were off with their mates. :-) So I checked out some challenges and have tried to combine a couple here. I have used a white gloss card for the base then run white paper through the 'herringbone' embossing folder. I have machine stitched this to the the card. Then machine stitched on the rectangle of mulberry paper. I have added three rectangles of embossed ' swiss dots' paper with white pearl bling . The image is a free digital stamp from Back to Paper . I coloured her with my watercolour pencils and aqua pen. Added glitter to her wings. Then cut around her using my scalloped edge nestabilities which I then embossed the edge of. I added this to a circle cut from my nestabilities from pearlescent paper. I am entering this into the following challenges: Taylored Expressions - Sketch#88 Digital Tuesday Challenge - Things with Wings Colour Create # 30 - All White Card - Colour on image only...

I made this card back in September using a sketch challenge and first time using my Nestabilities and daubing colour on as a background. I was just never quite happy with it and found the card quite dark. So had set it aside until Thursday when I had a play. I decided to add some mulberry paper flowers I had punched out and took the little bow off as it just was not the right size. I added a paperclip thingy in it's place to cover the tear mark from the bow. :-0 Also added three more pearls to the top corner to try and balance it out. Then when I took the photo I noticed............ grrrrrrrrrr ........ that I had made the colour run on the background of the image. I always wash my hands before touching my cards and card making . Obviously, didn't dry them enough. Showed my wonderful teenage daughter (13) the above card and she said just get rid of the image. Smarty. So this morning I have been colouring my Tilda image to cover the other image up. Finally, a car...

Morning again everyone.....somehow I just deleted the start of this post and now have to start all over again. Seems to be the way my week has gone so far. I wake up with a plan and then in an hour a phone call or child and I am way off course. :-) Caught up on everyones blog this morning, so great to see all the terrific creations. I spied this fold for a card on one of the blogs I follow and had to have a try. I spied it over at Inspirational Tips, Techinques , and Tutorials . Valita from Valia's Designs & Fresh Folds created the tutorial for it. I have now been to check out her blog and there are some wonderful ideas on there which I will be returning for. I have used SU Riding Hood Red for the base card which I have folded the front. I am not lucky enough to own a scor -pal so my lines were not so precise. I then stamped up a tree from the SU Lovely as a Tree set. Cut it out and embossed it with my circle nestabilities then cut out a scalloped edged nesta...

Today's card is for my October Craftmad Swap partner. Hoping she doesn't visit. ;-) This month we are swapping two cards with some form of stitching on the card. I am also entering this into the Stamp Something Challenge which asks for bling . So I have used a lined (textured) card from Blue Edge Crafts . Background paper is from a magazine. Sorry don't know which one as my Mum has passed it on. I machine stitched around the edge of the paper. The topper image I received in a image swap over at Craftmad ....so nice to finally put it to used. I coloured it with my aqua pen and watercolour pencils, and gold pen. The baubles I have decorated with bling and left over pieces from my gold stickers. The greeting is a Letraset rub on. I attached the image to SU Riding Hood Red and then attempted to machine stitch around the edge. I didn't realise until I had finished that the bobbin thread had run out about half way. Duh! So I unpicked what thread there was and used my go...

Yep, here they are again blowing out the candle. It is such a cute image that I had to do it again. This time I have used the October Sketch Challenge from over at Craftmad . I then discovered that House Mouse have a challenge (#54) so decided to enter into that. The theme for this week is 'Movie'. So I went in search of movie titles and discovered that in 2005 there was a movie called 'Cake'. How lucky was that. :-) I have used a linen textured card that I got from Blue Edge Crafts . A layer of paper from the SU Design Paper - Walk in the Park. I ran SU Kiwi Kiss through my new Cuttlebug Herringbone folder. Then topped that with a lovely pink bow and a Letraset rub on greeting. The House Mouse image I attached to SU Pink Pirouette and coloured with my aqua pen, SU inkspots and watercolour pencils. Oh, and added a touch of glitter.

Yep, again I have used Denise's wonderful challenge to create a card. This card I gave to a friend I have known since school. I have used SU textured grey card for the base card. Then Stampin Up Design Papers called 'Walk in the Park'. The image was sent to me by Cathy from Cathy's Creative Corner isn't it cute. I have coloured it with my aqua pen, SU inkspots and watercolour pencils. Added a little glitter to the icing and punched out three circles in the corner. I needed the circles for the challenge. Added some ribbon that I received from Blue Edge Crafts. A paper clip with her age......I couldn't find an appropriate greeting. ;-) Only need one more entry and then you are in the chance for a prize. Here is the list I had to choose from for the 'Pick Three Challenge' . I have highlighted the items I have used. 1. 5 rectangles of any size 2. Red, caramel and dark brown colors 3. lace 4. anything metal 5. Leaf embellishment 6. Decorative edged sc...

Here we are the list of blogs you passed on to me as your favourite blogs. Thanks so much for sharing. I have had a wonderful time visiting them all. My Many Many Passions from Linby over at Craft Linby Lil Daffodil from Angie over at Handmade by Lilacanglia Keegie , Lou, and Asher too from Sharon over at Wildflowerhouse by Sharon Chapman 62 Cards and Payne Holler Cards from Stacie (who couldn't decide :-)) over at All Things Crafty Pretty Pressings I am already a follower of this amazing blog. Claudia does the most amazing colouring in of her images and I am constantly in awe as to how much she can put on a card and it still looks terrific. Suggested by Ruth from over at A Passion for Cards . Jackie suggested My Cardmaking Haven but noticed that I am already a follower of this wonderful blog. And even better the owner Cheryl is a lovely follower here. :-) Linda's Crafty Creations is Jackie's second suggestion. Jackie's blog is Jackie Thomas Stamping Mo...

Thanks again everyone for taking the time to visit my blog and leave such wonderful comments. I do really appreciate them all and am enjoying getting to know you all. Thanks also for all the wonderful blog suggestions. I will make a list of them and post them tomorrow so that you can all join in the fun. So without further ado......the draw.....the names are in. The hands of my helpful son ....... The name is drawn............ Who can it be.......sorry didn't realise he was showing me the wrong side. This was a real technical name draw. :-) The winner is Michelle......from My Paper Bliss . Michelle has been very busy organising a card-a-thon weekend which they made cards for the American troops. 1754 cards were made....how impressive is that. Michelle can you email me please with your snail mail details. Thanks. If I don't hear from Michelle by Saturday 24th October I will redraw.

I have used Denise's 'Pick Three Challenge' over at Stamping Vacation to help me create this card. I started with cream card for the base card. Then I used Stampin Up (green) and Kaisercraft (Be Mine - Besotted) design papers for the background which I stitched around with zigzag stitching. The Tilda image I was given by the wonderful Cathy over at Cathy's Creative Corner. Tilda was fun to colour with my trusty aqua pen, SU inkspots and watercolur pencils. I then cut her out with my circle nestabilities and cut a scalloped edged nestabilities to put behind. Next I cut another circle, inked around the edge and stamped the 'for you' greeting and a leaf. To finish off I punched out three small circles and covered them in Dimensional Magic. I gave this card to my Sister-in- Law for her birthday yesterday. Here is the list I had to choose from for the 'Pick Three Challenge' . I have highlighted the items I have used. So this makes number th...

I noticed the other day that my Followers were up to 48........amazing! So I thought when I hit 50 I would offer something back as a thank you as I appreciate everyones visit. What I came up with was "A piece of me". :-) I cleared up my craft desk and the bits and pieces I found went aside to send off as a Thank you. Included:- I have two of my mini pincushions, some copies of my one Tilda stamp, four sheets of stickers, ran all my embossing folders through so you have a copy, did some of my Nestabilites, approx 10 of crocheted flowers, some of my inchies, and offcut of papers I had been using. I found When I started blogging I thought maybe ten followers at the most. Close friends and polite family. lol I really enjoy sharing my work and discovering all the creative people around the world. So my first 50 followers all have one entry into this draw. If you would like to be added to the list or are a follower and would like another entry please add a comment below answering t...

Morning everyone, no cards from me today as I was too busy food shopping for the family yesterday and do other little jobs. I keep asking them to stop eating but they just won't be in it. So today I am sharing a lovely award I received from Stacie over at All Things Crafty . I think I was Stacie's second follower after her husband. :-) I have really enjoyed watching Stacie's blog grow as well as her craft supply collection. Also have been watching their house slowly grow in a beautiful area. Thanks so much Stacie and thanks for your lovely comments over here.

This card I made for Denise's 'Pick 3 Challenge' over at Stamping Vacation . Remember if Denise gets five entries she is offering a prize. (Oh yes,......you can do more than one entry) This is the list we had to choose from and I have highlighted my three for this card. 1. 5 rectangles of any size 2. Red, caramel and dark brown colors 3. lace 4. anything metal 5. Leaf embellishment 6. Decorative edged scissors 7. Bottle cap 8. 3 circles of any size 9. An image of anything that could be planted 10. a border punch I have used white card for the base card. Then 1 rectangle of black leather craft which I pinpricked around the edge of. No. 2 rectangle of a slightly cream card which I ran through my Cuttlebug using the 'Victoria' embossing folder. No's. 3 & 4 rectangles are for the greeting which is from a Stampin Up set I borrowed so don't know the name....Sorry. No. 5 rectangle is the image that could be and is planted. This image I received in o...

Finally had time yesterday to do the other set of eight cards I wanted to give to the school as part of a prize pack for their trivia night. I will have to improve with my lighting when taking photos. I was trying to get the irredescant shine on the snowflake that I added with embossing powder. I used black leather craft card for the base card. Ran the bottom bit of the white paper through my cuttlebug using the "Swiss Dots" folder. Stamps are from Stamping Up.......sorry I don't know the name of the set. As I only have waterbased ink pads I firstly used Versa Mark on the stamp and then applied the SU Brocade Blue over the top of that so that I could heat emboss the snowflakes. Finished with a wonderful snowflake button I picked up from Blue Edge Crafts . I made this for my friends little boy who turned 8. She had told me about this technique for the background. Grab a gloss card and some wax paper (that you use for lunches). Tear off a sheet as big as the card ...

Denise over at Stamping Vacation has listed her 'Pick Three Challenge'. Denise has changed it to a weekly challenge posting the new list each Monday. The list has also been increased to ten choices. Here are the first five be sure to visit her blog for the remaining five choices and post a link to your entry. Remember when there are five entries there is a prize. 1. 5 rectangles of any size 2. Red, caramel and dark brown colors 3. lace 4. anything metal 5. Leaf embellishment ******I will be back tomorrow with a card. I have one half finished but as you can see I am busy blog hopping and it is no closer to being finished. lol So stay tuned. :-)

Rebecca over at Purple Sparkle Crafts is offering these yummy chocolate wax melts as a giveaway to celebrate her shops first birthday. Be sure to check out her candles and soaps as they sure look yummy. You could even put your name in the draw for these wax melts which ends the19th October.

Hi everyone, a start to another week. I only managed one of Denise's 'Pick 3' challenges this week over at Stamping Vacation . It was a fun one all the same. I have highlighted the three items I chose to use. 1. Pop up parts of your image 2. use a miniature hinge 3. use a circle tag 4. Use a frame 5. create a border with a stamp 6. Position a tied bow anywhere that is not a middle area of your card I used a white card I bought from Blue Edge Crafts that has a lined embossed appearance. I then ran a strip of SU Riding Hood Red through my Cuttlebug with the 'Victoria' embossing folder. Used my Octagon Nestabilities to cut the frame around Tilda and also a larger background from some SU Certainly Celery Designer Paper. I coloured Tilda with my aqua pen and watercolour pencils. Chalked the background in a light blue and added the snowflake stickers and glitter to her wings and edge of her dress. Dug out my Shrinky Dink plastic that I bought about three yea...

I made eight of these lolly pouches yesterday to be given to the school as part of a prize for their trivia night. Someone had given me a template for these earlier this year. Thought it was a good time to try them out. To make them you need a piece of card 15cm x 21cm or half an A4 sheet. Fold in half like you are making a card and crease along the fold. Open back out and now on the two short sides make a small pencil mark at the half way point. Now on all four corners make a triangle flap by using the centre crease line and the pencil mark as your guide. Tadah !!! you have just created the little pouch. Fold it into shape and while in position punch the holes in either side. Thread through 50cm of ribbon and fill with lollies.

I spied this wonderful card and tutorial over at Crafting Confessions . Created by a lovely lady Amy ( Aimes ). I just had to have a go and decided it would be the perfect card for my little brothers birthday today. I haven't got a couch stamp in my small collection of stamps so I found a clip-art and printed that out. I cut around it with my Octagon Nestabilities and colour it in with my aqua pen and Stampin up inkspots . Added some studs to the back of the couch with a bronze gel pen. See what you can find under the pillows on the couch.

Morning everyone, after doing the set of cards for my cousins birthday present I thought why can't I do a set as a donation to the school trivia. They are asking for lots of eight items which they put all together to give as the prizes to the tables during the night. So I decided I would do 8 packs of 2 Christmas cards. Here is the first card. I have used black leather craft for the base card. Ran white paper through my cuttlebug using the Holly embossing folder. Added a red organza ribbon to the bottom of the card and stuck red diamantes on with my Dimensional Magic. Finished with a 'Cheers' stamp from a snowflake Stampin Up set......sorry I don't know the name. This set is on loan from my Mum and she hasn't put the little sticker on the box. tsk tsk . :-)

Forgot to add to my post before I have won a lovely prize from Denise for the cards I did here for her challenges over at Stamping Vacation . Yep, you can catch waiting by the mailbox now. lol Thanks Denise.

I am back....our computer/modem decided that we didn't need to be online for 16hours and then when it did come back online it kept keeping us off after a short time. I thought this was funny but my 15yo son was not amused when he got home from school and sat down at the computer which was actually online and .......the power went out. lol Yes, we lost power for 1 hour. Touch wood all is going well today and I can share this quick present that I created for my cousin's birthday last Tuesday. My cousin is not a crafty person so I thought I why not give her some cards she can use whenever she needed them. So I made five cards using black leather craft card for the base card, white paper which I ran through different cuttlebug folders. I then added a different background paper to each of the embossed papers. Finished with appropriate greetings. The orange and yellow flowers I received a couple of years ago in a Secret Santa present. They are so pretty and I wanted to ...

A couple more of my Breast Cancer Fundraiser cards using Hanna Stamps. I have tried something new again...paper piecing as I have seen some lovely work around. Cheryl over at My Cardmaking Haven has done some in the past....so neat. So I used white base cards. Ran my pink card through the cuttlebug with embossing folders. The top card I have used my "Victoria" folder.....yep really like this one. The bottom card I thought I would try my "Diamonds in the Rough" for the first time. Didn't like the effect, so then I ran it through the "Swiss Dots". lol Still not quite right so ran it through the "Stylized Flowers". Finally like it and I love all the different layers of texture, will be doing that again soon. Then I paper pieced the bras with different floral papers I have, rounded the corners of both toppers and attached. Attached the words with SU Soft Subtles split pins. By the way we have decided on a date a time for our G...

Finally found some time to have another go at Denise's 'Pick Three' challenges . Every day Denise at Stamping Vacation list six elements of a card and your challenge is to pick three and create a card. Denise also post a photo of her version of the challenge. So here are five I finished yesterday and these will be all heading off to Blue Edge crafts who will be listing them soon and a Fundraising Section. So all monies from these cards will be donated to the Cancer Council. I will let you know when they are listed. I chose the highlighted elements. 1. OCCASION - Christmas 2. CARD SIZE - 8"x 4" 3. EMBOSSING - Dry with Cuttlebug folder 4. EMBELLISHMENT - Flower Soft mixed with glitter 5. IMAGE - Animal 6. COLOR MOST USED - White I embossed with the snowflake folder from Cuttlebug which I have borrowed from Mum for the past month and hadn't put to use....so perfect opportunity. The stickers I had just bought ready for Christmas cards and the ribbon I was lucky e...

I know....more crocheted flowers but I am having so much fun with them. :-) I have used pink card for the base card. Ran white paper through my cuttlebug using my new "Victoria" embossing folder. I added three of my pink crocheted flowers to some mint green paper flowers and added split pins for the centre. Finished the card with a Letraset rub-on. I am just a tad excited this morning (a lot really) I just had my first sale in my etsy store. Smiling. Five pincushions. Well have a wonderful weekend everyone.