Do you want to win stuff???

Ooooooh! Bumper freebie post today! LOL

First up, it is your very last day to enter the Guest DT Challenge - all entries must be e-mailed by Midnight (BST) We have decided to hold a public vote to find our winner. Voting starts tomorrow, so if you have entered, make sure to let everyone know to come on over & place their votes!!
Find all the deets here - but remember, you only have until midnight tonight!

Next, you might already know that I, the Guv'nor, am to turn 40 later this year ... in 40 days to be precise! So I decided to share out the birthday treats & along with a whole bunch of my blogging buddies we have a blog-fest to beat all other birthday bashes. Check out my blog for all the deets

The Beach of Life!

Or I suppose you say Life's a Beach!! LOL!
Well I am now getting near the end of my latest DT kit, so I am mixing and matching papers from the HOTP PS Kit April 07 and the Mod Design Whirligig collection. I think it has worked quite well too! This LO was inspired by a passage (hence the large amount of journalling) on the wall of a local hospital, so I took time out the other day when I was up there to sit and copy it down. I printed a picture off of the beach at Cromer (I think), that I took while I was on holiday. I cut it into 2cm strips and mounted them onto a piece of white paper.
TOP TIP Number the pieces if you are doing this or else you will end with a lovely jigsaw when it comes to putting the page together!!!
I mounted the picture onto the Whirligig - Whirliblue, and then put the whole thing onto a piece of blue cardstock from the PS Kit. I added the journalling on the bottom with a gel pen and printed the title out from the computer. Finally I added brads in the corners of the patterned paper and title.

Second LO of the day is one of a lovely little bumble bee I found in my garden and quite happily spent 10 minutes crawling about trying to get a decent shot! And if you look closely he really is FUZZY!!! On this LO I used Fancy Pants - Holly Jolly Christmas papers, but as you can see they are really versatile and easy to use on other projects! I used Planner as my base, and added some off-cuts of the Flurry paper, using both sides as a photo mat. I doodled around the paper (I confess to using a template!) and then I cut loads of the little circles out of the Hustle and Bustle paper for flowers. I popped a brad in the centre of each flower and added a flower from the die-cut Titles & Tags sheet.

Feeling Blue?

Just a li'l layout that I put together using the K&Co Blue Awning papers. We had been expecting to get the whole range with all the stickers & accessories ... but that's not gonna happen now - not to worry, we put a whole bunch of new, fab stuff online yesterday & will have more of those up-to-75%-off offers coming up over the weekend!
Anyway, back to the layout ... I wanted to show how you could create a pretty layout, without it being girly (which is definitely NOT allowed in my household! LOL)
So I combined flowers cut from the Zinnia Swirl paper with fabric ones from the yummy cupcake & dahlia blend boxes, some American crafts ribbons (from the lucky dip bundles), Tim Holtz game spinner (secured thru a ribbon knot to make the centre of the cream flower) and one of our new lightweight chipboard shapes. I have painted & inked it but you could just as easily cover it in paper.
And that's about it!

What's special about June 30th? you'll have to wait & see! LOL

Birthday Boys!!

The men in my family all seem to be having their Birthdays at once again...they do this to me every year ;) and as the last altered wine box went down so well...I thought I'd do another one!


This one is covered in papers from the same HOTP PS Kit that I used last time (you get tons in each kits...with matching ribbons and embellishments...and they are still on at half-price!!!) All I have added here is a charm (these are currently 70% off) and 3 little brads, and a stamped message. You could easily print happy birthday on the paper before you adhere it if you don't have a suitable stamp :)

As its my other half's Birthday today I had to make him a card...and I've used the cardstock from the PS Kit as the base, added a felt bird (from the die-cut sheets here, also 20% off), two buttons and doodled a message and a border. The felt bird was originally red, but I have coloured it with fabric inks and added a dot of acrylic paint and a tiny orange bead to make it look like the blackbirds we are currently taming in the back yard :)

Thats it from me today...I hope to get out in the sunshine...for a little al fresco crafting today...whatever you are up to...enjoy!

Crazy 4 U

Many thanks to Guv, for the inspiration for this LO, I saw her crocs LO and knew that my crocs would go perfectly the Flair - Crazy 4 U collection. Like the Guv's LO mine are not real crocs either but I think they are better than the genuine ones, more comfy, if that's possible! And you gotta love the Care Bear Jibbitz!!
On this page I used a piece of plain white cardstock from a HALF PRICE HOTP PS kit, and 2 of the Flair - Crazy 4 U papers, they were Lovebirds and Queen of Hearts. They also have project sheets on the back, lovely LO's and instructions - and we can't be the only one's that didn't know about it!
I added a piece of Animal Crackers - Die Cut Scalloped Pink, this stuff is glorious, lovely texture and quality and used my fastenator stapler to hold it down, I added a blossom from the Dahlia Box Blend - Pink/Black, and I added a crystal from the April 07 PS kit. I added my title with some chipboard alphas which I coloured pink (although they look purple in the picture)! And job done. I am really happy with this LO!

Windmills Of My Mind

Can you believe it's the longest day of the year, it's a depressing thought that the nights are going to start drawing in now, so why not cheer yourself up and get your stash out and have a go at our monthly challenge! Don't forget to check out the gallery above as there are some lovely entries in already!

Anyway, onto my project for today. Firstly, I have to apologise for the flash flare on my first project, I left it far to late to photograph in natural light! DOH!
This LO just sort of came together with no idea of where I was going! I wanted to play with the lovely Fancy Pants - Holly Jolly papers and I ended up making pinwheels from the Flurry, Hustle & Bustle & Snowflakes papers.
They are so simple to make, just take a square of double-sided paper and cut halfway from each corner to the centre point. Fold alternating points in and fasten with a brad or in this case crystal from a half price HOTP PS kit. Simple!
Having made three different pinwheels I wanted a picture that was as bright in colour as the papers, hence the carousel horse! I added some American Crafts ribbons (this ribbon was from the OLIVE collection) for the stems of the pinwheels and twisted small pieces of ribbon to add a bit of interest.
Then the title hit me, the first line of one of my favourite songs "Windmills of my Mind", "Like a carousel that's turning.... In the windmills of your mind." The title circle lifts up to reveal a little accordian book with the full song lyrics inside.

new DT members...new challenges...are you keeping up?

Hi everyone!

Alix here, and wow its busy around here lately! Have you checked out our new DT members? Welcome to both of you :) and have you entered our monthly challenge yet? *if not...what are you waiting for...their is stash at stake here!!! lol*

Here is my latest project...altered mini-cubes. These wooden cubes are only 99p for three, which I think is a bargain...and they are little so they sit perfectly on your desk, or window sill, even on the mantel piece without taking up too much space.

I've decorated mine with pp from the HOTP PS Kits, using a glue stick. Easy. I've stamped some sides with our initials using a selection of alphabet stamps {but you could use letter stickers or a die-cutter}, and added photos of us both {me on the A cube and him on the D cube}. The other cube is stamped on each side with an ampersand or a star from the HOTP Thingamajigs stamp set. Even the other half likes these, so they must be quite cute!! lol

Project #2 today is the evening LO from my friend's recent birthday. Its called *Lets drink...PINK* and I've made it using the gorgeous Mira collection papers. Do check these papers out, they are such a fun, artistic, colourful and happy collection...perfect for all sorts of occassions.

I've also used American Crafts ribbons, red blooms, pink flower gems and some felt accents. The circle is from the die-cut felt sheets and the pink butterfly is punched from Friendly Felt...you remember how much I love this stuff, right? ;)

So there it is...my contribution for today. I hope it inspires you in some little way to get on and make a little something *NOW*

Enjoy.

:)

FUN! FUN! FUN!

Firstly, a BIG CONGRATULATIONS to Jayne & Laura, welcome to the DT ladies, you will absolutely love it!!!
There's going to be loads of great stuff happening round here so watch this space!

Anyway onto my project for today!
This photo is one from a recent break with my DH, sorry ladies but DH doesn't like his piccy posted so I willingly obliterated him!! LOL!
I used just one sheet of Fancy Pants - Holly Jolly paper - Striped Sweater plus a couple of die-cuts from the co-ordinating Titles and Tags sheet. There are also ribbons and rub-ons avaiable in the range over the webshop.
I cut the Striped Sweater into two pieces and turned one piece over and reattached it on the back with a bit of sellotape. On the front I hid the join with a die-cut strip. I stuck my photo on with double-sided tape and then I cut a slide mount in half diagonally to make the photo corners. I hand-cut the title from a scrap of the same paper (I gutted the paper behind the picture) and added the word "Magic" from the die-cut sheet.
I decided I wanted the die-cut flower, but when I popped it from the sheet it left a rather nice border behind, so I cut that out as well and added it to the flower, I fastened the flower down with a Hot Pink Bazzill Paper Brad. I edged everything with a black pen and put a small amount of glitter in the holes on the die-cut border.

New DT Debut!

I promised earlier to show some of the yummy creations that our new DT girls submitted as part of their entries - a bit late as it is technically tomorrow! LOL.
First Jayne: The first layout is a Cogsmo number - & anyone who uses this very 'boy' range on a girly pic & can make it work has to be worth taking a look at! LOL
Jayne's mini album in a baby shoe is simple but very effective - what a lovely keepsake either of your owns kiddie (as Jayne's is) or as a gift for a new parent - great idea ... & that's what we like!
I have included a third piece from Jayne, solely as it was DS1's choice. Those of you who know him will already be aware that he's not easy to impress but he really liked this one & thought I should pick Jayne on the strength of that alone. Obviously there was a bit more than that to it! LOL. It was the busy black & white with just a little colour that drew his eye (even if it is pink!!!) & I have to agree that it's very effective - and very different to Jayne's other entries.


I loved Laura's Bo Bunny Album - & it was also nice with both these submissions to see a product or two there that we stock/have stocked in the past - Makes it soooo much easier to see what they might do with our DT kit! With Laura's entry, I was really drawn to her mini books - luuuurve mini books! The 'Believe' one is just plain pretty! With the Bind It All book, it's the clever use of tags & pockets that I liked. I love to cram li'l hidden bits in my albums, so seeing something with all those hidden spaces was a big bonus.



So that's what I thought - but I'm sure you'll all have your own opinions & please do feel free to post your comments. Which is your fave???

All that's left is to say a huge thank you to everybody who sent in submissions - it was a tough decision to make and did give me a sleepless night or two along the way! LOL.

Don't forget the GDT Challenge - the deets are here!

Welcome Our New DT Girls

At last we get to announce our new arrivals! After much deliberation, soul searching & chocolate, we (that's me, Phoenix & Alix) are pleased to announce that Jayne (jay670120) & Laura (Elliemook) have joined our DT. This evening I shall be sharing a couple of the wonderful creations that they submitted as part of their applications, so be sure to pop back later.
Congratulations girls - we are very excited to have you on board & look forward to seeing more of your work very soon
Guv x

In the meantime ... pop on over to their blogs to see what they have been doing.
Jayne's Blog
Laura's Blog

And if you didn't make it on to the DT this time, why not have a go at our guest DT challenge? See all the deets here

Create With Cogsmo!

I don't often post on the blog ... but all that is about to change! With the new DT girls joining us later this month, we are planning to have a much more organised & regular schedule, with looooads of yummy stuff to keep you inspired, informed & entertained! Be sure to bookmark us ... it's gonna get much more exciting! LOL.
By now, you will probably have noticed the new slideshow at the top of the blog - we add the new challenge entries as soon as possible after you e-mail us ... check out this post for details of the current comp & how you could win a FREE kit & GDT spot on this very blog!!
Anyway, back to Cogsmo! I love, love, love this range by Cosmo Cricket & it is just perfect for all things boy ... whatever their ages. And it is available in the webshop right now!! As you can see, I have used it for Father's Day & Birthday cards, A birthday layout (that's DS1 - the morning after the night before IYGWIM! LOL) & to scrap my National Scrapbooking Day layout (so not just for boys then!). The range includes all the usual suspects: journaling cards (which also make great quick cards - like my Father's Day one); Die Cuts; Strip Tease sheets - great for easy titles; cardstock stickers (which alter really well with pens or ink); Double Sided cardstocks; Rub ons aaaand ... Blackboard shapes.
The blackboard shapes are black chipboard & are easily altered with colouring pencils (inktense work really well & we will be making a clearance offer available in the webshop later this month), paints (acrylic, crackle paints etc), covered with patterned papers but they also work really well left black - much more appealing than the naked grey stuff - they kinda jump of the page! Can you tell how much I like them???
You'll find more blackboard shapes (including alphabets) - and a selection of Cosmo rub ons here.
So that's about it for today ... Cogsmo Rocks, why not use it for your June challenge entry?? LOL!

What's special about June 30th 2008??? Watch this space!!

Ribbon Madness

I've been sat here looking through my DT kit, wondering what on earth I am going to do with the HUGE pile of lovely American Crafts Ribbons! So I have made a small start using them on this LO (but it hasn't made much difference to the pile I have here)!!!

This is the first LO using my holiday pictures, we visited Norfolk and found a Reptilarium, I got loads of lovely photos but these two are my favourites!
TOP TIP Everytime I visit somewhere I try and get a leaflet for a LO, it's a simple, quick and easy way to put a title and information on a LO!

For this LO I used Fancy Pants - Holly Jolly - Merrie Merrie paper! Remember Christmas patterned papers are for life not just for Christmas!! And this paper was perfect for the pictures and the ribbons I wanted to use. The ribbons are available in grab bags in the poundstop over in the webshop, this particular ribbon bundle was Olive. But you can choose plain gosgrains, dots, stripes, florals or a variety of themed collections - including 'Tie Rack' selections!

Happy days...

Hi everyone,

Here I am again with 2 projects both in honour of special, happy days. Firstly, a LO of the trip out Katy and I had on the morning of her birthday. And secondly, a cute idea for wrapping up a Fathers' day gift!

Lets start with the LO. Here I've used 3 of the Mira collection papers which are scrummy! They are totally on trend with all the flowers and colours and birds...there will be more projects coming up using these papers...because I just can't get enough of them!!! :) I've co-ordinated the papers here with some of the American Crafts ribbons (still on special offer), a couple of blooms, with foam spots as their centres {covered with orange glitter}. I've used a cute ribbon slider for the date and 1 of the yummy journalling cards...for...my journalling! To make the arrowhead, I simply cut the corner off a slide mount. Finally, I added a little acetate tag from one of the HOTP PS Kits.

My second project today is a decorated bottle box, for Fathers' Day. This box originally was given to my other half for Christmas with a bottle of his favourite tipple in...but now it houses a single Malt Whiskey! ;)

I covered the whole tube in one sheet of 12x12 from the HOTP PS Kits and adhered co-ordinating ribbon around both the top and the bottom (to cover the gap!) I used another of those fantastically beautiful journalling cards to make a giant gift tap and stamped *happy fathers' day* on it in Stazon.

As you can see I made an error in my stamping...stamping Bay instead of Day...*rolls eyes*...but rather than cover it up, I decided to make a feature out of my mistake and attached a smaller tag which reads *from your Dyslexic daughter-in-law*!!! I'm sure it will make him smile...jokes at my expense seem amuse most people!! lol The tag was made using one of the giant paper punches now only £5!!

That's all for now folks...have a great weekend...I'm off to SAG for some intensive scrapping and catching up with my girlfriends. So I should have lots of new ideas when I come back! :)

MONTHLY CHALLENGE

It's time again for the monthly challenge and you don't want to miss this one because this month if you submit your interpretation of the challenge to our gallery, you will be in with a chance to win a kit from the Crop 'Til You Drop Shop AND be a DT guest designer on this very blog using your goodies! Sound good? Then read on!

The challenge I am setting you this month, bearing in mind it is Father's Day next week, is to create something "masculine" be it a LO about a special man in your life, a Father's Day card or just using masculine colours and styles on a set of ATC's or altered item, the choice is yours!

I have a couple of examples to show, firstly is the Father's Day card for my Dad next week. I can't take credit for the idea of this one, I saw it on a blog somewhere and I can't remember for the life of me where but if it is your idea, I thank you, it's fantastic and I hope you like my interpretation of it!
It is a card based on a man's wallet, which opens up to reveal little quotes on credit cards, a small photo area which I created using some recycled packaging (wasn't I cute??? Aaah!)and some slots for a giftcard and the quote credit cards, also the main section opens up (where the money SHOULD be), but that could be used to put a little note in to your Dad. For it I used just two sheets of cardstock from a HOTP Personal Shopper Kit, and one sheet of complimenting patterned paper to line inside it. Plus a large quatity of embroidery silk, but you could doodle the stitching on and use a good adhesive instead! I printed the quotes onto a piece of cream cardstock and cut them out to look like credit cards.

My second example is a little set of ATC's, there are ATC blanks in the shop which are really handy, I used paper scraps from the same HOTP PS kit, seriously these kits are fantastic, there is so much in them and it all goes well together, they are really handy for creating larger projects with no worries about running out of paper or embellishments! And whats better they are on SALE in the shop for only £9.50! Now that's a bargain worth having!
I folded the shirts using origami, they really are easy to do but I don't know that I could explain and make it sound easy! If anyone wants the instructions for these, leave me a comment and I will do my best to get something written down!

Don't forget to email your challenge in , so we can put in our gallery and all see your wonderful creations! And don't forget to leave a comment on this post so everyone knows to go see your entry!

what do you make with cardstock?

...well...cards obviously!!! ;)

Here's one I've made for my bro-in-law. I've used a HOTP PS Kit, which makes life really easy, as everything is co-ordinated for you :) I like that...lol They are an absolute bargain at £9.50 each...you'll be amazed how much stuff you get...even an ideas booklet...just in case your mojo has taken a wander without you! I've added a slide mount {which I covered in the co-ordinating paper} and a bottle top, which was flattened in a Big Shot {I normally use a hammer, but I was at a friends' and couldn't resist trying it...so easy!!}


This card is one of those *exploding* ones, and I made it for Katy for her Birthday. My apologies for the dodgy photos...I only just got it finished before she arrived...so I had to photograph it super quickly!!! lol

The cardstock for this one is all from the Promenade Collection, which has a wonderful distressed look to it, in soft oranges, yellows and blues. It would be perfect for beachy themed LO's too. The chipboard embellies are from the same collection and I've used that yummy cake stamp again from the Lucky Dip Stamp Selection. I can't resist 3 wood mounted stamps for £1!!! Can you?
When you open the card up this is what you see, and its all tied together with a piece of ribbon.

Teen Chic!

Have you checked out the BoBunny Teen Chic range yet?
It's a really fun, bright collection, and definately worth a closer look! It's not something I would normally go for, I do love it but bright colours and bold patterns do scare me a bit a times, but this a collection worth stepping outside your comfort zone for!

This is my recycled sweetie tin, I saved it from the bin at work and really had fun decorating it. I used the Teen Chic - Stripe paper round the base of the tin, and on the lid I used the Teen Chic - Kiwi and Teen Chic - Diva.

The ribbons are from an American Crafts bundle, they are only a £1 and you get loads for your money! Choose from plain gosgrains, dots, stripes, florals or a variety of themed collections - including the 'Tie Rack' selections!
The blossom came from a Dahlia Box Blend in Pink & Black. The blossoms come in a lovely little flower-shaped box and it is definately one to keep for altering! I used a Bazzill Paper Brad for the centre of the flower.

I also made up a few cards with my left overs and the Teen Chic Stickers - Diva (also available in 4 Ever Friends).

The first card is made using Teen Chic - Dot and Stripe, some ric-rac and a stamped image using a stamp from the 3 for £1 offer!

For the second card I used just the Teen Chic - Diva paper along with a couple of the stickers, and I covered a slide mount in the Kiwi paper.

And my last card was made with the Teen Chic - Stripe and Diva papers and a sticker! That's all!!

The only adhesive I used on the tin and cards was a double-sided sticky tape that is over in the webshop for a measly 50p a roll, don't be fooled by the price, seriously it is good stuff, easy to work with and good quality, and I will definately be using more of it!