HandMade By Lou-Lou

What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday # 141 Plus a Challenge Card

2012-02-15T08:58:00.008Z

Good morning All, and welcome to my desk today, every Wednesday Julia From The Stamping Ground hosts the biggest blog hop ever! (Probably!!) Go check it out over HERE. I am sorry I didn’t even make it around half the desks last week and was still ‘snooping’ on Saturday. I will try harder this week. Thank You all so much for the leaving lovely comments last week.

So onto my desk:

Not much of interest really – All the usual essential tools, tissues and babywipes and Laptop!!!! I have been trying to make a small dent in my scrap card box, so have been making cards with no backing papers, no cute pictures, no embellishments, just scrap card and a little Papermania Stamp, (I know its a tough one!!!).

And I haven’t even got any new storage idea’s to share this week either. So a quick WOYWW and a quick peek of the finished card.

Hope you all have a great week, Take Care

Lou

I would like to enter this card into theses Challenges:

Creative Card Crew Challenge # 4 – Must be Masculine

Die Cutting Diva’s Challenge # 52 – Pick at Least 2 Colours Red, White, Black Or Pink & Must Use Die Cuts (the squares are cut with nesties)

Saasy Cheryls Digi Stamp Challenge # 102 – No designer papers!

Use It Up Tuesday Challenge # 25 Its A Birthday Party Must be A Birthday Theme and Must use old stash! My scrap Card is at least 1 year old perhaps 2 or 3 years old! and My Embossing folder is years old one of the first i ever got, Use It Up Tuesdays Are celebrating their ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY with a fabulous Blog Hop, pop along a hop with them!!!

The Cheerful Stamp Pad Challenge # 36 – Make A Happy Birthday Card

Simon Says Stamp and Show – Anything Goes

Stamps R Us – (Last Challenge ) Anything Goes

Hiding In My Craft Room Challenge # 33 Super Scraps Saturday – Must Use Scraps!

And last but not least I have been sharing Photos of my pets with you each week, So far, we have had Ellie our Pooch, Fluff, Butternut and Pumpkin our cats and This is Toby, this was taken in the summer when he was up and about, he lives in the house with us and during the summer we take him into the garden during the day, he eats Worms and soft fruit and has 'a thing' for men's shoes, (but that's a story for another day!) Have a great week everyone

Win A complete Set of Flexmarkers At 'Going Buggy'

2012-02-13T10:17:00.004Z

Good Morning All, would you like the chance to win A COMPLETE SET OF FLEXMARKERS,

One of the blogs I visit regularly is offering a brilliant chance to win, A Complete set of Flexmarkers, Now as I have already mentioned I won’t follow a blog just for candy, I have to love the creations that are made by the person offering it, well I already follow Enfys’s blog ‘ Going Buggy’, and would recommend her blog to anyone, she makes the most amazing flowers out of craftwork card candy, but I must say her blog is such a pleasure to visit it is beautiful, very clear and easy to read, lots of tutorials and of course her wonderful creations.

So anyway enough ‘waffling’ go check out this brilliant blog and follow the rules to have a chance to win this brilliant prize.

I Hope you don't mind me sharing this with you. Hope you all had a great weekend.
Lou x

Mimosa With Hat Card, And Hello New Friends

2012-02-12T09:49:00.014Z

Good Morning Everyone

A HUGE HELLO, welcome and Thank you, to my new followers I can’t believe (neither can Hubby!) That I have 40 followers.

THANK YOU to you all, for taking the time to leave me such wonderful comments, encouragement and support, As you all know I have ME and various other medical problems, (some days I am unable to use my laptop, sitting in an upright position is sometimes impossible) So I find it really difficult to get round to all of your blogs and leave comments, I try to visit you all and leave you comments, but not nearly as much as I would like to and I am really sorry about this, I would love to be able to visit you all daily and leave comments but this is not possible and I hope that you understand.

I cannot Thank you enough for the kind comments you leave me, I read every single one and it means an awful lot to me..

Enough ‘waffling’ , here’s my card with the lovely new stamp, (another image that I coloured the other day!) Bildmalarna, Mimosa with Hat

(I can't find my list with the details of what copics i used or BP, if I find it I will edit this post! Sorry!) The doily is a ‘proper’ paper doily, you can get 60 in the £1 shop and the smallest size is perfect for a 6x6 card, they are very delicate, so had to brush the ink pad over gently, but it adds some texture and I quite liked the look.The bench is an image i coloured months ago I believe it is a Magnolia Bench!

I would like to enter this card into the following Challenges:

CRAFTS AND ME CHALLENGES # 68 = Use A New Image

CRAFT US CRAZY # 20 = Anything Goes

CRAFTY SENTIMENTS = lets Get Girly

SEW MANY CARDS Challenge # 80 = Birthday (I haven't added a birthday sentiment but it will be a Birthday card, Promise!)

THE CRAFTY PAD Challenge # 157 = The Letter B (bench!)

Before I go I must give a mention to Feline Playful, they list all the crafty challenges and the winners every day, I am sure you all know about it but I doesn’t hurt to mention it and say Thank you to the wonderful Team, for the vast amount of work they must do to keep this blog up and running

Thank you all for visiting me, Hope you are enjoying your weekend

Lou x

Friday Fun - Decopatch and a new stamp

2012-02-10T00:05:00.006Z

In my previous post i told you about the decopatch I had done this week, so decided to show a better picture, it is a lot of fun.
The Decopatch Place has lots of papers and shapes and tutorials and is a nice bright easy to use web site. I now have a small collection of papers and lots of glue so will be doing more of this!

Not had a great week health wise so not much craftiness happening in my space, however did get lots of fabulous new goodies, ready for when i feel better.

This is a new stamp I got this week From Bunny Zoe's Crafts

called Mimosa Hat by Bildmalarna coloured her with copics ready to add to a card.

Both The decopatch Place and Bunny Zoe's Crafts give impressive service and my products arrived with days of being ordered, ( I don't work for either company and only say it how i find it!)

Thanks for looking
Lou x

WOYWW #140 February 8th

2012-02-08T11:09:00.000Z

Whats On Your WorkDesk Wednesday #140 8th Feb 2012

Good morning All, Thank you all for so many wonderfulcomments and all the visits to my blog, over the past week. I made it around all of the desks lastweek and left comments on 99.5% so I was feeling rather pleased with myself,however my poor ME addled brain didn’t like it much at all, so might not manage so many this week!!

I will try and keep my ‘waffling to a minimum today so ontomy desk:

Well quite different this week, yes a ltlle bit messy, I havebeen playing, colouring and getting sticky near the light you will see some ‘pink’ decopatched items, a littlepiggy, a heart with a magnet on the back (so it can stick to the fridge) and abox and a large puzzle piece covered and made into a key ring, and a box whichis what I planned on doing and ended up doing the rest as well! I bought the decopatch at Christmas along with variousshapes and boxes and a collection of decopatch tissue/papers formyself and my daughter to play with over the holidays, she made some lovely giftsfor family and friends, and with half term coming up I would recommend it as arainy day activity for children, its messy sticky fun but very easy to do, a little expensive, however buying it directfrom The decopatch Place works out cheaper than Hobbycraft and you can buy singlesheets of tissue, you will besurprised just how much you can do with one sheet, you could also make your own shapes or use items boxes/tins/frames that you have at home, It is fun and kids love it!

Also on my desk I have all my everyday tools and my wonderful pens, along with a fewink refills for some copics, a card made forthe lovely craft group I belong to on Yuku, following the sketch that is one ofthis months group challenges, my small red plastic basket filled with colouredimages, Oh and a box of Glimmer Mists I bought in the Hobby craft sale, (I boughta few more things but they are out of view) £2.99 for 4 bottles, ( I love abargain!) I have never used Glimmer mists before and have no idea what I willuse them on but I am sure it will be fun playing.

Lastly, a wonderful new Stickles storage that hubby made me,it was so simple, a visit to B&Q, and a rummage through their wood box,that holds all the odd ends of wood that they sell of cheaply and he found theperfect piece of wood, It cost £1 and at home after finding the correct sized drill bit, hedrilled 45 holes into it, it fits into my craft cupboard (old kitchen wallunit) perfectly and it now is my perfect stickle, liquid pearls, and anythingelse that comes in a similar sized bottle storage, and I have lots of room for more. However it looks very plain and boring, sowhat can I do to it??? I have never altered anything before so any ideas (andinstruction) very very gratefully received

Hope you all enjoy your weekly snoop around all the craftydesks/floors/tables or laps and remember to pop Over to The Queen of the desksat The Stamping Ground and leave Julia some love for coming up with the wonderful idea that is ‘What’son your work desk Wednesdays’

Have a great week and thanks for your visits.

Lou x

P.s Nearly forgot ‘a piccy’of one of my fur babies, unhappy (well sulking really) because of the snow!

Just For Fun - Practise will make perfect! One Day!

2012-02-05T01:21:00.002Z

I have been practising colouring images, I still need to practise a lot more! But here are a few of my recent attempts:


This is my first ever attempt with Prisma Pencils

They have all been coloured with copics except this last one, which I didn't think was too bad for a first attempt, obviously still need to practise lots more with all colouring mediums, but i enjoy it and that's why I do it! I have also found that in real life they look 'OK' and look as if they have a 'OK' amount of depth and shadow, but in photos they need much darker shadows, I also have found that i need to learn how to take 'nicer photos' I think I will get there, in the end and in the mean time its fun trying!

Thanks for Looking, Hope the weather isn't causing you too many problems, Be like me, stay wrapped up in the warm 'colouring'!

Thank You My Friend Magnolia Card

2012-02-02T15:39:00.008Z

This is one of my favourite Tilda’s from Magnolia, when I first saw these stamps I must admit I wasn’t keen on them, but they grow on you and now I have a small collection. I think this is called Sweet Tilda but I am sorry i have no idea what collection it comes from.

I actually made this card a little while ago but haven’t blogged it

(I'm sorry i haven't got any details )

I would like to enter this card into:

STAMPtacular Sunday Challenge #149

Diamonds or Pearls

also

Do You Stack Up challenge # 57 Anything Goes

Diva's by Design Challenge #20 Anything Goes

As you can see i have used pearls, I use a lot of 'pearls' on my cards and usually just buy white ones and colour them with pro-markers or copics.

A HUGE WELCOME to my new followers, i am amazed that i have 30 followers and every single comment means so much to me, the fact that you have taken the time to visit my blog and leave me a comment, touches my heart, and it makes me want to make 'better' cards and to improve my colouring and to expand my techniques so THANK YOU.

Hope you are having a great day

Lou x

Blog Candy at Laineys Den

2012-02-02T00:33:00.003Z

Please go check out Laineys Den, not only does she have some amazing candy on offer but her cards are gorgeous.
Whenever I see blog candy that says become a follower I have to go looking through the persons blog because if I don't like the cards/creations the person makes i won't join (no matter what the candy is) so i started looking through Laineys Blog and thought Wow these are fabulous, Laineys blog is fairly new and had it not been for the blog candy i might not have found it, so i am advertising the blog candy so you too can go check out her blog and if by some miracle i do win it well i won't say no hehe.

Lou x

Hugs and Kisses - Friends Forever

2012-02-01T01:48:00.006Z

A tiny 4x4 card, Penny Black stamped image from a Transparent set called
HUGS 30-020
coloured with Copics
E31, E33, E35, R20, E00
YR23, Y38
C0, C1 ,C3, C5, C7 & Blender Pen
I stamped the image twice and cut out the flower so i could layer it up like decoupage, used blue chalk for a very light sky and went round edge of image with blue ink.
Sentiment is a 'peel off' and tiny sticky backed flower gems are from stash and no idea where they came from!
Simples!!!!!

I would like to enter this card into these Challenges:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge #186 = Floral Frenzy - flower of some description, must include a Penny Black stamp/sentiment/sticker
Stamps & Fun Challenge # 84 = Animals & Blue
Card Crafter's Circle Challenge # 7 = Friendship create something cheery for a friend
The Crafty Pad Challenge # 155 = Show some (anniversary/valentine) Love

Thank you for looking :-)

Whats On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #139

2012-02-01T01:00:00.006Z

Wednesday has come round fast again, but no complaining from me because it means I get to Look (snoop, be nosey) around all the wonderful crafty desk’s and why do I do this I hear you cry, well if you are from Mars and have no idea what I am on about you might cry it but otherwise you will know, because everyone knows it’s WOYWW, you see on a Wednesday Julia from The Stamping Ground, hosts a weekly party that is WOYWW and us nosey crafters can put pictures of our desks/tables/laps/floors, on our blogs and then we all have a good look around other peoples crafty spaces, leave a few comments and enjoy it a lot!!!. Last week I managed 168 desks and left comments on almost all of them, Thank you for all your lovely comments it was lovely to hear from you.

So onto my desk firstly is my laptop, at the back is my little blue bucket with my every day tools in, also at the back is a little glass, my daughter decorated for me many moons ago, and that holds my Sukura pens, my 2 fine tip glue’s, are always on my desk, (I use these all the time) some double sided tape oh a few stamped images and the copics that I haven’t put away from colouring the image on the tiny card in the front, in the wooden box is CD cases filled with the small free sets of stamps you get from magazines, on top of the box my newly acquired blending tool and some distress inks, (got to learn how to use this) and to the left is my ruler and scissors and the remnants of the card I used for the tiny card in the front, so no new crafty stash, no lovely layouts or artistic journals or a wonderful sewing project, no knitting, not much at all really

So I decided after showing my Marker hints and tips book, last week, I would show you another book that is always on my desk.

Card designs are always something I have always struggled with, either lack of mojo, or I just can’t ‘think’ (a problem that many CFS sufferers struggle with) so a couple of years ago whenever I saw a card sketch I liked I would save it to my computer, well that wasn’t much help because I could never find them again, or by the time I had looked at them all, I was either fed up or too tired and couldn’t craft, so I started printing them out and sticking them in a book, In hindsight, I should have printed the sketches much smaller and kept a better record of where they came from and who designed them, and the date I found/printed it, but whenever my mojo is hiding, I look through my book of ‘inspirational sketches’ and I can always find one that suits the situation. Image or design papers, and now I am never stuck for ideas, it sort of gives my brain a little kick and I might turn the sketch around, I might add or take away something, I usually simplify it because I like simple cards, but I am not wonderfully gifted like many of the card makers out there, I cannot look at an image or some papers, and a great card design instantly pops into my head in fact this hardly ever happens, so these great sketches, that wonderful people with lots of skill and talent create, I keep in a handy book, so I am never without a layout idea. It is a huge help and stays on my desk along with my marker hints and tips book.

I also thought I would show you how I store my Spellbinder Dies, as I explained before, my craft room is really my Sons bedroom so when he comes home from university during the holidays I want all my crafting ‘stuff’ to be put away in the cupboards so he can have his bedroom back.

I use Old DVD Cases (again recycling otherwise would be rubbish)

As you can see I have two strips of Magnetic tape stuck on the inside of the case and the sets of dies ‘stick’ to this so aren’t loose, so don’t get lost, and then on the outside of the case I have used copy paper, printed the name of the die set, and a layered the shape (square in this case) and also included the sizes of the dies, to show me what’s in each DVD case –Having the layered shape also helps me know/notice if there is one missing!! I had heard of people using CD cases but I had lots of old DVD cases and thought I would use those and again it works really well for me, the larger rectangle and label dies fit in them and they stack nicely in the cupboard with easy to read labels on the spines.

I hope that by sharing these ideas with you, they might be of help to someone.

I did warn you I can ‘waffle’ on my blog header lol if your still with me, Thank you, :-) pop along to Julia’s and leave her some love, and see how many others have joined in this week.

Thanks again for visiting and for your comments, it really does mean a lot to me that you take the time to leave me a message. Hope you all have a great crafty week.

You have a piece of my heart!

2012-01-29T23:51:00.011Z

Penny Black Image - You have a piece of my heart
Coloured with copics - E00 E02 R20, C0, C1, , C3, C5, C7 R81, R83 & R85
Papermania DP - Scrumptious
Flowers & Pearls (also coloured with R85 copic), Ribbon, charm, & brads from stash.
6x6 Cream card from The Papermill
Distressed edges with Old Paper

A few firsts for me with this card the first time i have distressed the edges of my image with a distress tool and ink, been seeing this done on Create & Craft so thought i would have to get one and try it, got lots more practising to do, but the image was passable! Also distressed the edges of the Design Papers, Also the first time I have ever used 'Proper' Ribbon and a charm, I have used sticky backed ribbon before but this is stuck down using double sided tape and the 'knot' is tied around it and used a little charm which says
'Together Always'

I would like to enter this card into these 10 Challenges:

Moving Along With The Times #133 Blooming Marvellous (add flowers to your project)
Charisma Cardz Challenges!! #3 Pretty In Pink (must be pink) (No More then 10 Challenges)
PaperCrafting Journeys #1 Florals - (add flowers to your project)
My Mums Crafts Shop Challenges #41 Flowers (add flowers to project)
Do You Stack Up #56 Use Ribbons
Oldie But A Goodie = Have A Heart - Project must have a heart on it and you must use something over 6 mothe old and list it = My stamp is over 6 months and so is the papers and the ribbon is about 8years old!!!
Sweet Stampin Challenges Lets See Those Animals
Simply Create Too #5 Love is In the air
Creative Inspirations Paint Challenge For Someone Special (it's for my hubby)
Crazy 4 Challenges C4C121 Layer It On lots of layers and embellies

Thanks for looking

Friday Fun - Its 'Raining 'Cats and Dogs'

2012-01-27T11:51:00.004Z

Dinner Time

Pumpkin

Fluff

Ellie

William and Ellie


Butternut In Ellie's Bed!

These are my Fur Babies' They totally rule our lives and its a competition who is going to be boss each day between the short haired ginger cat 'Butternut' and Ellie, Butternut usually wins, The Basset is 'William' he is Ellie's best friend and is our neighbour.

Actually it's dry and fairly bright in my part of the UK (South East Kent) Not been able to do much crafting this week, bad week with CFS, lots of pain :-(


These are my first ever attempt at friendship Bracelet's

Watched a few videos on utube and had a go at making these with some 'cross stitch' threads from the £1 shop, I don't think I would like to actually stitch with the thread, (i think all CS's have their favourite threads) but these turned out fine and my daughter has been wearing them, (and asked for more!) I would like to learn some different styles and also think it would be nice if I could add some type of bead to the ends.

Thank you for visiting and A HUGE WELCOME to my new followers, (you wouldn't believe how excited I was to see how many people had found me!) I read every single comment left and try my best to visit you all every day even if i don't leave comments on your blogs.

I would like to enter the Friendship Bracelets into:

Crafty Creations Challenges -#154 Which asks for Anything but a card With the theme of 'Valentines for Kids'.

I have never entered anything other than a card into a challenge and am not sure if it has to be 'Papercraft' so if i have got it wrong and this is not allowed please except my apologise

Thanks for visiting Hope you all have a Fun Friday

Lou x

What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday

2012-01-25T10:31:00.006Z

WOYWW #138

Good Morning everyone, thank you for your kind welcome into the super duper ever growing family that is Whats On Your WorkDesk Wednesday, Mrs Dunnit is a very charming host, and I kindly except her invite to return, but boy, I did not realise how long it would take me to get round everyone’s desks and actually leave comments, I didn’t manage all of them but it was well over 150 so I was quite pleased. (I couldn’t leave comments on some due to blogger. Honest it was he’s fault!) and I need to work out a proper system this week, I couldn't remember where I had visited and where I hadn’t!

I was wondering do you leave comments at every single desk, or do you visit the same ones every week, so only comment on those ones?

So onto my desk this week,

You will see nothing very much of interest I took this Tuesday evening before I tidying away the bits and bobs I used for making the Pink Gem Card (although it was posted after, I actually made the Magnolia card at the weekend so the pink gem one, is the last one I did, does that make sense?) the pile of stamped images, does anyone else do this??, I usually stamp and then emboss the image with clear embossing powder so I have a stamping session and stamp a load of the same images for colouring at a later date, I have a box of images, stamped and embossed all ready to colour, and when I am poorly and can’t manage to sit up at the desk, my kitchen trug’ type thing filled with markers and my box of stamped images come to the bedroom and I can colour when I am well enough, so I end up with lots of coloured images waiting to go onto cards, Usually none in the colours that i want !!!

I couldn't’ decide what image to use on the pink and green card so coloured a couple.

So while I was taking my pictures I thought I would show you my little colouring book that I have been keeping since I started using markers (copics & pro-markers)

I have CFS and my memory is very severally affected and one day I can colour an image which I like and then the next I can’t remember what colours I used, so I colour a couple of images and then record all the details in my book, I also write down other peoples tips and what colour combos they recommend, for example I think a good pro-marker combo for the forever friend bears is Vanilla, Ivory and Saffron, I have listed hair colour combo’s and skin tone combo’s, all sorts of tips and helpful hints I have found since using markers, basically it just saves me wasting card and ink and time and effort, This works well for me and is so helpful, it has all sorts written in it and stuck in it but it works and I would recommend anyone just starting out using markers to do something like this.

This is what happens when i leave my photographic lighting box (thingy) set up, so i don't use it very often which is why most of my photos are dark and dismal

Thanks for visiting and if you read the waffling and didn't just look at the piccys well done you hehehe Hope you all have a great week.

Lou x

Oh I forgot to say if there is anyone who does not know why i am showing you this and waffling on and if you have no idea what WOYWW means - Where have you been???- head on over to The Stamping Ground where lots and lots of people allow you into thier homes to snoop round their crafting area, its great!

The Crafty Pad Challenge Blog

2012-01-25T00:17:00.009Z

I won At The Crafty Pad.

(My Craft Spot - Nadia's Challenge Blog - The Crafty Pad & Joanna Sheens Monthly Challenge Blog)

I was soooooo please to win last weeks challenge over at The Crafty Pad with the sparkly card I had made for my neice Chloe (here) Thank you so much ladies.
I had sooo much fun choosing my prize over at DIGITAL DOWNLOADS - which is a fabulous site, please give it a visit.

So when I saw the challenge for this week

The Crafty Pad Challenge 154 Lets See Something for the Boy's

I thought that i could enter and use a Crafty Pad Stamp 'Diggin Albert' which you can find here (not sure if he is still available as a stamp but you can get him as a digi image) but then i saw the DT cards, (which are all amazing) and they all seemed for youngster's so wasn't sure if it would be allowed so i did 2 just to be sure
This is Digging AlbertAnd this is another using the Skateboard Dude stamp by Gillian Roberts -
I told you i do lots of Boy/Male themed cards - I give lots of my cards to my Gran for some of her 60 odd grand & great grandchildren, and as there is only about 15 girls she needs lots of boy themed ones - I don't have grandchildren myself yet!!!

(I will come back and add details of design papers and copic numbers if i can find my lists!!)

I would also like to enter either of these cards into these challenges too:

Nadia's Challenge Blog Challenge #23 Theme - A Boys card, and you have to use a stamp.
My Craft Spot Monday Challenge #42 Theme - Lets Hear it for the boys
Joanna Sheen Monthly Challenge Theme - Celebration (any celebration birthday, wedding anniversary, good luck)

Thank You for Looking.

Lou x

Tilda Card

2012-01-24T00:13:00.006Z

Whilst visiting lots of blogs this week I have noticed lots of us crafters are using up stash and our old stamps and I have lots of papers and i still love all my old stamps, so this is no hardship for me. I seem to be using all my old favorites just lately.

I would like to enter this card into TotallyPaperCrafts Make Your Own Flowers The flowers are made using x-cut punches.

Also Into Lets Ink It Up Challenge #19 Anything Goes (As long as it has stamped image) Tilda is stamped.

Thanks for Looking
Lou x

Fairy Milly

2012-01-23T18:49:00.007Z

This Stamp is another that I love, I bought it ages ago from Pink Gem Designs along wth many more, and they all still please me and are just brilliant for kids cards.
I have coloured her using copics E00, E11, R20, R81, R83,R85, E33,E25, & E51 and used gold star and clear star Sakura Jelly Roll Pens on her wand and wings and added some glitter to the little stars on her dress, and bow.
I like simple cards, I love the ones that are all decorated with lots of flowers too but if i had to choose i would probably go without so I have kept this very similar to the sketch over at A Gem Of A Challenge

so would like to enter this card into this challenge.

I am also entering this card into:
Crazy For Challenges C4C120 which is asking for a Childs Birthday Card
Stamping For The Weekend Challenge 24 Out With The Old - My stamp is old and the papers were a freebie with Cardmaking & Papercraft Magazine they are Quite Contrary Summer Papers by My Minds Eye.
Colour Create Challenge #88 Pink and Green

Lisa Jane from My Makes "n" Me also pointed out that this would qualify for the challenge over at Moving Along With The Times challenge 132 which is Things with Wings so Entering this card for that one too Thank You Lisa Jane x

Thank you for looking.
Lou x

Do You Stack Up Challenge Blog

2012-01-19T12:41:00.005Z

This is one of my all time favorite stamps it's by Sarah Kay called Spring is Back , another 6x6 card (i like the square cards) and i used pro-markers to colour this one, the design paper is Dovecraft Back to Basic 1 I would like to enter this into The Do You Stack Up Challenge #55 which this week is asking for Patterened Paper

Thanks for looking
Lou x

First ATC's (in more than a year) Feel very much like a newbie crafter again

2012-01-19T00:40:00.007Z

These are for a Music Themed swap, the pyramid floral is a Thank you. I think I might need to add a little 'Thank You' tag.

ATC Backing was made using The Whitewash Collection Colorcore Card stock embossed with a cuttlebug embossing folder called Allegro and then sanded and the die cut Drama masks are by Quickutz and guitar is a sizzix die and a small music note punch, the floral pyramid one is from a Nice & Easel sheet.

My first WOYWW - # 137

2012-01-18T10:20:00.011Z

Please feel free to skip the rambling and just look at piccy's (Long long post, lots of rambling and lots of photos)

I have been reading this blog STAMPING GROUND since well before it’s First Birthday but have never taken part, I used to craft at the dinning room table so as soon as I finished at the end of each day everything had to go away so we could use it to eat dinner, so I never had anything to show, I used to go around other blogs and marvel at the spaces, (I never managed all the blogs tho even in the early days, I love Julia’s way of writing and I decided that as soon as I started blogging again that I would take part, I am not sure if I will manage every week, it depends on how unwell I am, but today I thought I would show you my crafting space – no longer am I at the table but I have my very own space, I know many people have spare bedrooms or even proper offices but here in England you have to practically be a millionaire to own a big house with spare rooms (ok I might be exaggerating a bit) but generally our homes are quite small and I am far from a millionaire so when my son went to university we discussed with him about me sharing his room, as he is hardly here (holidays only Now :-( ) I also had a long list of what storage I would like and spent many hours drooling over spaces and homemade storage but knew that I would never be able to afford any posh craft stuff so when my sister in-law had a new extension (new kitchen, dinning room and treatment room, she is a reflexologist !) she offered us her old kitchen I can tell you I almost bit her hand off and so waited patiently (well not so patiently) till they got round to removing the cupboards and hubby collected them and with a bit of hammering, sawing, and adjusting and lots of swearing lol he put them into bedroom, I was a bit unsure how it would look but knew that I wanted all the craft stuff to be able to be put away when son comes home so he has his bedroom back ‘almost’ and i can honestly say it works really well, so here are a few piccys of my space.

So I have 2 1/2 wall cupboards with doors so things can be hidden away and then a small open wall unit which is perfect for 6x6 papers, there is also a corner display unit on the end which I have some of sons medals and awards standing, oh and a small cross stitched picture I did! Under the wall cupboards is a long strip of lighting and I have to use the small daylight lamp because as you can tell there is not a window, it's at the other end of the room.

I have 4 base cupboards I don’t know if you can tell but basically they go along one wall and a little bit around the corner onto another wall, well before son went to uni he worked at a DIY store and managed to purchase the kitchen work top for £10 (can you imagine how delighted I was, I bet you can)

My Bigshot is standing on an Old Card Table that folds flat when not in use and is the perfect height and fits into the large cupboard when not in use.

I am sure you are all very fed up by now but I wanted to show the just another few pictures of my Pen storage – this is a CD holder bought from a large supermarket (S) when it was on sale for £7 and hubby bought some black mounting board and made separate compartments big enough so that all my pens can fit in even when I expand I use copics mostly but have a collection of Pro-markers a few whisper pens and various other gel pens etc..And they all fit wonderfully with space for more!!! When I am unwell and need to craft in bed (another story for another day) I use a kitchen tool holder to hold my pens and not sure of the exact cost but it was only a few pounds I wouldn’t have paid more! But again it works really well for me and I think the total cost of my craft space and storage as well as it being recycled cost us less then £50 – I have lots of little storage boxes in the cupboard and some more crafty recycled storage but I will leave that for another day.

One day I will get around to painting the doors and maybe even getting some proper craft storage, but hubby is happy I am not using the table, (and making mess, I know he just didn't understand lol) and I am soooo happy that I can leave out the things I am working on and that it works well when my son is home, even the cat is happy

If your still here Thank you for looking and I will do my very best to get around as many of your blogs as possible. And remember to leave your love for Julia over at The Stamping Ground.

Lou xx

Cards For Men Challenge Card

2012-01-17T21:54:00.004Z

I make A LOT of Men/Boys Cards - and this stamp is perfect, easy to colour and no need for much embellishments, which is great for boys cards.

I would like to enter this card into CARDS FOR MEN Challenge 2 Which asks us to make a card for Boys and Their Toys

Card is just a tiny bit under 6x6 in Design papers are K&Company pad called Hopscotch a Computer generated greeting, coloured with copics but i can't find the list anywhere! and the stamp is A Stampavie one by Gillian Roberts called Skateboard Dude

Thanks for looking

Happy Birthday Chloe

2012-01-16T03:08:00.006Z

I adore this little fairy stamp - it is from Pink Gem Designs and is actually called Fairy Chloe

I made this card for someone else to give to our neice Chloe

I would like to enter this card into The ABC Challenge and this weeks letter is H for Happy Birthday - I think this might just meet the requirements hehe

I would also like to enter this into My Mum's Craft Shop Challenges and this weeks Challenge is Here Comes The Girls Challenge #39

Last but not least i would like to submit this card to The Crafty Pad 1st Challenge of 2012 which is Challenge # 153 SPARKLE - I hope that it is clear enough on the photo but the diecut letters were cut out of Pink Glitter card and her wings are glittered, along with her wand - I apologise for not using a Crafty Pad image you will see way back in my blog i was once a guest design team member for The Crafty Pad and purchased a few stamps and was lucky enough to get to use Butterflies with Verse & border which i loved so much i went on and purchased the stamp set as I had not and still have not got digi stamps mastered yet!!! It was only whilst i was browsing my blog list (instead of sleeping) that i noticed it would fit with this challenge as the card really was very very sparkly and thats what our Chloe loved about it.

After having some sleep I have found (I think) the details i wrote about the design papers and copic numbers so thought i would just add that to the description as I really like the blogs that include details!

A4 Pink card fold in half - (from Papermill) Then very simple a A5 Papermania Capsule Collection (Red Hot Paper Pack) Sparkly glitter card and Fairy Chloe from Pink Gem - the little butterflies are from Hobbycraft 99p for a big sheet of puffy butterflies (great value I think) and Flowers and brad from stash and onto the copics, i used

E11, E00, R20, Rvoo, Rv02, Rv04, Y17, Y21 & Y00 and also Poppy Pro-marker and gold pro-marker -

Boy those Design Teams are talented, i love looking and drooling over all the lovely images and projects

Thanks for looking

Introducing Ellie

2012-01-15T01:07:00.005Z

This is Ellie, she was born 27th May 2010 and came to live with us on August 4th that year, she has turned our world upside down and we all can’t really believe how much we all adore her – My son started Uni in September 2010 and before that spent 6 months in Australia so I was suffering Empty Nest Syndrome v.badly. My daughter has always wanted a dog but we had a very old cat who would not of tolerated a dog and as she was poorly until she went to cat heaven there was no way we could put her though the trauma so when she passed in 2009 within a few months my daughter started asking (begging) for a dog, however we couldn’t decide on a breed, I wanted a yorkie, hubby wanted a Jack Russell and daughter wanted anything with four legs that barked. So the searching started and daughters birthday came and we said she could choose, within 3 days Ellie was living with us.

She totally rules our lives and we adore it, she is very spoilt but very well behaved and we have comments from other dog owners on how well behaved she is, our lives now revolve around 2 teenagers and Ellie, oh and the cats when they can get a word in hehe

A couple of cards to practise blogging!!!

2012-01-14T11:47:00.010Z

I am trying hard to remember how to work this blogging thingy lol.so gonna do some posts just for practise and to keep a kind of diary of my crafting.

So yesterday I made 2 cards, I know 2, but I cheated they were both die cut decoupage ones but so I thought I would try and post details about them (really just to get the hang of this blogging)

So firstly I have this beautiful Bassett Hound decoupage – This of course was for a Bassett owner who owns 2 beautiful bassets who we all adore (I will ask them to pose for some piccys and introduce them to you at a later date)

This is a 3D die cut decoupage sheet from craftuk called Furry Friends Pets and includes 3 doggies this gorgeous Bassett a cute little Westie and a very handsome German Shepard it is a lovely quality A4 sheet, 220gsm and so easy to use just pop them out and layer them up with either silicone or 3d pads I used pads for this,

This card is a 15cm x 15cm cream base (from The Papermill) I have used Basic grey 6x6 Max and Whiskers paper and a couple of Dovecraft funky brads 'Pets' and a pre-printed Happy Birthday banner. Super easy to put together all I did was go around the edges of the diecut shapes with a Pro-marker just to hide the white edges – it didn’t really need this but I get a bit obsessed with white bits!

I would like to enter this into TotallyPaperCrafts Challenge #99 which is Spots and Stripes

So Secondly this is for our niece who is 3 on Saturday and she started taking dancing lessons a little while ago, so a perfect girly image, this is also a 3d die cut decoupage, I bought it in the sales after Christmas it was a half price kit called Daisy and Dandelion The secret Woodlands Die cut decoupage and pyramage pack and it Contains 4 x die cut sheets, 2 x background papers, 2 x patterned paper plus a free project sheet, so lots for your money however I wasn’t that impressed with the diecut there was huge white bits around the edges and you had to be very careful when popping them out because it would have torn really easily.

Another super easy card 15cmx15cm which is one of my favourite sizes for cards. A pink card base again from The Papermill then 6x6 Papermania Scrumptious Paper pad, a scalloped oval cut with nestabilities with stickles around the edge and a small piece of paper from the die cut kit – the teddy is layered using 3d silicone, best to use the silicone when doing little fiddly bits and I still use the cocktail stick method and then some peeloff's to spell out her name and a Happy Birthday Easy peasy.

Now let me see if i can get this to post with the photos in the right places!

I would like to enter his pink card into The Do You Stack Up Challenge #54 which is Be Pinky

And I would also like to enter this into Crafty Cardmakers # 59 and the rules say 'No Floral Embellishments'.

I think i have stuck to the rules and have linked up properly please forgive me if i have got it wrong.

Is there anybody out there?????

2012-01-12T23:00:00.001Z

My goodness I have no idea how to workthis now I cannot remember how to post messages and it looks like its allchanged - its been such a looonnnggg time, A few changes have happened in mylife and had a long break from crafting but i am back and hoping to getinvolved with my old groups and get to grips with these blogs - I love readingother peoples blogs and have a huge list saved as bookmarkswhich I visit dailyif not weekly.

Anyway I am going to attempt to load apiccy now - oh not sure where this is going to show up but this is one ofthe main reasons crafting stopped . A new addition to the family this is mybaby she is a cross between shitzu and jack russell and is called Ellie, shehas the sweetest temperament and makes me laugh and smile all day long.

Ermmmm well I think i have somereading to do so i know a little of what i am doing and i will be back to showpiccys of my new craft area!!!! yipee yes my very own little space I LOVE IT andonce I have got to grips with blogging again i will start showing you what Ihave been up to recently and I am planning on having a sort out of some stash so some blogcandy could be on the cards if there is still anybody out there!!!!!!

The Crafty Pad Challenge #63

2010-03-19T22:55:00.010Z

Good Afternoon A few weeks ago my first easel card won the challenge over at The Crafty Pad Challenge Blog and because of that I get to be this weeks Guest Design Team Member!!! WOW, yes I too was gobsmacked, not only the first time one of my cards had one but my first time to get to be on a design team as a guest - I am still grinning - well this weeks challenge is a sketch, which Debbie kindly sent me in advance

Unfortunately when I printed out the sketch out (which is what i do when working to a sketch to keep it on my desk so i have it ready to follow) the circle actually showed up as a oval opps..and because i didn't check the email again I used an oval instead of a circle....Sorry Crafty Pad Team! anyway here are some cards that I made using some of The Crafty Pads brilliant stamps - The brilliant Butterfly's are a digi image and this is the first time I have ever used a digi image but it was really easy and they are gorgeous to work with, I printed them on various card, paper and even vellum.

As you can see I have turned the sketch around on the first butterfly card so I was able to layer up the butterflies, I added lots of glitter to the edge of their wings and I loved using this image so much I now have about 4 sets of butterflies all layered up and glittered ready for future cards, The Easel card I have made using the butterflys I printed out onto vellum and used prismas to colour them in on the backs so the colours show though again I glittered the edges and layered them all up, using little sticky pearls for the body. Diggin Albert and Just Ted have been coloured with copics and chalk while Snoozin' Albert is coloured with prismas and chalk. I wanted to show how the sketch can be used for any card, Male or Female and with it being a great sketch (even better with a circle!) you don't need to add any more embellishments following the sketch can produce great cards as you will see if you pop over and see what the rest of the DT have come up with as always their work is outstanding - did you see the tee shirt design last week wow! Please go check them out, and I look forward to visiting all of your blogs if you decide to take part in the challenge, Oh and the prize this week will be A Crafty Pad Stamp!!!!

Thank you for allowing me to be part of your team Crafty Pad I have really enjoyed working with your sketch and the fab images

Hope you are all having a great weekend Thank you for visiting and for all the wonderful comments

Lou xxx

The SugarBowl Challenge #31

2010-03-12T23:54:00.005Z

This is the sketch designed by Judy for the SugarBowl (The Sugar Nellie Challenge Blog).

and here is my attempt, its a shame the colours have not shown true as they are purple and black and look lovely combined, The challenge was for the sketch to include stars so I used some tiny silver peeloffs for her buttons and some silver padded stars in the corner, I have also decorated the inside but forgot to take piccys doh! The image is of course a Sugar Nellie Manga Girl and I have used copics to colour her in, after trying lots of different colouring mediums, Prismas, Pro-markers, whisper & Marvey Pens, Distress Inks, I keep coming back to copics, so now I almost have all the copic Ciao's I now am starting on the sketch Markers ...ouch.... Oh well if I can afford to buy a 5 a month I'll have a full set in about 6 years!!!! Maybe I better start doing the lottery!!!

Thanks for looking

Have a great weekend whatever you are up to and Happy Mothers Day to all those Mums out there xxxxx

Sketch Saturday #93

2010-03-11T15:03:00.005Z

This weeks sketch for Sketch Saturday Challenge Blog was designed by Maya and when I saw the prize that she was offering I just had to give it a go - I adore these stamps and wish that we could get hold of them here in the UK I think I and every other blogger have entered this weeks challenge just to try and get our hands on this beautiful stamp

So here is my attempt I didn't use a stamped image because the card is for my sister in-law who has a 'thing' for piggys and I had this decoupage sheet in my stash so used that

Quite a bad week health wise so no other crafting to show, I have been doing lots of practising trying various different colouring mediums, but theres nothing good enough to share with anyone other then the recycling bin!!!!
Thanks for looking xxx

More Cards

2010-02-25T23:15:00.002Z

Some cards I have made recently :-)

Friday Sketches # 90 & The Crafty Pad

2010-02-25T22:29:00.008Z

This weeks Friday sketch was designed by Beatrix

Although not in time to enter this into the Friday Sketches challenge I still went ahead and used the sketch for my first easel card

I followed the tutorial posted on The Crafty Pad Challenge Blog by Maxine and so I decided to use one of the Crafty Pad Stamps I was talking about last week This is called Diggin' Albert

While looking for the links to the easel card tutorial I found The Crafty Pad Challenge blog and this weeks challenge (#59) is a Colour Combo - use Brown, Blue and white or cream, and as I have used those colours I thought i would enter this card there as I think I am in time for that one lol

Please go and check out the DT cards over at Friday Sketches and The Crafty Pad they are all Fab - I love this altered Cd by Debbie (The Crafty Pad) and I do believe the stamps are still on sale The Albert Images are great for those hard male cards!!

Thanks for looking Lou xxx

The Crafty Pad Stamp Designs

2010-02-18T12:09:00.002Z

Hello All

I just wanted to spread the word about a wonderful blog Called The Crafty Pad Stamp Designs
I came across this blog while hopping about and wow they sell Clear stamps and not only that but they are on sale right now and i do believe there is candy up for grabs have a look HERE(they also sell digital stamps) so straight away I placed an order and the customer service I have received is outstanding, my stamps arrived today and they are gorgeous and I can't wait to get them inked up Thank you soooo much Debbie.

While I am singing praises about some of my shopping experiences I have recently been shopping at BUNNY ZOE'S CRAFTS if you have not seen this shop please check it out the range of Stamps available is amazing and again the customer service is outstanding with my products arriving the following day.
Now this is just my opinion I do not work or have any ties with The Crafty Pad or Bunny Zoes Crafts I am just a very very happy customer .

Pink Gem Birthday Hoot

2010-02-10T07:55:00.003Z

More Birthday celebrations over at PINK GEM I can't begin to tell you how addicted I am to these stamps and if I ever get around to showing more cards you will see how often I use a Pink Gem Stamp. Anyway It is Janets birthday this month - Happy Birthday Janet and to celebrate this and that Pink Gem now has a Challenge Blog, A GEM OF A CHALLENGE she has 6 of her wonderful stamps on offer, so pop on over and take a peek, and while your there check out the first challenge sketch, The DT cards are gorgeous!

Linda's Crafty Creations

2010-02-10T07:43:00.004Z

Linda's Crafty Creations

Please Take a peek at this blog, Linda's creations are wonderful, her work is a great inspiration to me and This month it is Linda's Birthday - Happy Birthday Linda she says she was very spoilt but I think she deserves it :-) And on top of sharing all her lovely creations with us Linda has some amazing candy to give to one of her followers, how generous is that! Wow its a lovely blog and well worth a visit, without the candy offer!

A Few Cards I've Made lately

2010-02-09T20:29:00.002Z

Just a few of the cards I have made in the past couple of weeks - just to show you I have not been Idle lol

The Bookatrix was an made for an order, it is HUGE - the card it is mounted on is A4, and i altered a paper mill box to go with it (hubby didn't take piccy of that!) The Handbag shaped one is a card I made for the CraftyUs Card Group swap - It has a white satin ribbon handle with a tiny pink tag saying Happy Birthday Friend (as we had to include hearts & A Friend sentiment on the card )- this is on its way to Australia I am almost sure recipient doesn't read this so its safe to show you, I love making shaped cards this is made using the WS template and is sooo easy to do, the Lilac Mum birthday card is Flower Soft with one of my crocheted flowers - Thank Goodness for UTube - however did we learn anything before??? hehe I could only do crocheted squares but was determined to learn how to do flowers and after hour after hour of watching tutorials this is one of my attempts - The other two cards are made using sketches found on other peeps blogs, there is soo many wonderful sketches on wonderful blogs I find them, save them to my computer for inspiration then forget where they come from so if they are one of yours Thank you - I have no idea where the bug' image came from but the lovely Anya girl was sent to me by my mate Em.

Phew took me ages to remember how to do a post! lol Hope I've done it right!

Well wasn't that a rubbish attempt at a BLOG

2010-01-21T00:23:00.002Z

Hello If there is anyone still there - I Know lots of you have been busy keeping your lovely blogs updated and coming up with wonderful crafty creations, as I have been a silent stalker and still visiting the blogs i adore - I haven't been idle I did have a break from crafting as i had just been to unwell and couldn't keep up with anything, but I have made the odd card for relatives and friends, and managed to do all my Christmas cards and even sell a few so blogging didn't happen - so why am I here well 2 reasons really The first is to say I think I might give bloging another go, now i have a bit more time and less commitments so continue to watch this space....
And Over at Tales From PollyCraft there is two new fab digi designs due for release and they are in need of naming so hop on over and take a peek and while your there check out the friday freebies that Paula so kindly gives away each week, They are soooo lush... lol Don't you just adore Gavin and Stacey, what a shame it was the last ever episode, lets keep our fingers crossed that they change their mind! Oh nearly forgot Paula is offering a prize to the person who's names she likes best so check it out!

Friday Sketches Challenge 53

2009-05-22T18:27:00.005+01:00

I love this sketch (by Heidi) as it could be as minimal or as elaborate as you like. The DT have made some lovely cards as always. I decided ‘minimal’ used the following card Papers and tools, stamped a very cute image and this is what I came up with

Light Blue folded Card 5”x5”
Royal Blue Card piece 4 ½” x 4 ½”
Blue Flowered Paper from Papermania Venetian Skies 4”x4”
Nestabilities
Spellbinders Labels Three Largest die (royal Blue card)
Spellbinders small Ovals Largest die (cream card)
Spellbinders circles smallest die (Light Blue card)
Sizzix Circles #2 smallest cut (royal blue card)
Tiny With Love Peeloff (coloured blue with permanent ink marker)
2 Blue plastic Star buttons from early learning centre

Stamped image (using Adirondack Black ink) is Henry Celebrating Mouse (Party Animals) from Whiff Of Joy purchased from The Craft Barn coloured using copics ( C3, Y08, RV10, RV21 B32) and crystal stickles for icing on Cake, layered oval onto card using 3d foam pads.

I had fun with this card and have decorated inside as well using the PM venetian skies papers
We’ve had glorious weather here starting off the Bank Holiday weekend whatever your plans hope you have a good one!

Thank you for looking

Sorry Its been so long....

2009-05-21T21:17:00.004+01:00

...Since I have added anything to my blog, life seemed to have run away with me and crafting got put on hold, and then I had lots of swaps i needed to get finished so I am afraid the blog got left however I have been checking on all the blogs I follow and looking at all your wonderful creations, and hopefully now I am on top of all my swaps, things will get back to some kind of normal!!

Here is a card I did make for last weeks Friday Sketchers (sketch 51 by Carole) I didn't get chance to enter it into the challenge but thought I would share it with all of you anyway

The papers are Basic grey and the stamped image is one of my favorites from Sugar Nellie 'Daisy' and I have coloured her with copics.

Thanks for stopping by hopefully I will back with something else to share with you in a few days.

Take care all hugs Lou xx

Some more blog candy over at Crafty Garden

2009-04-27T14:43:00.002+01:00

I have no idea how i missed this blog but now that i have found it (through candy giveaway) I will be a regular visitor I just love Jackie's style and her doggies are sooooo cute go check out Crafty Garden

Linda's Crafty Creations - Blog Candy

2009-04-27T13:56:00.004+01:00

Linda was one of the first people to leave comments on my cards so of course I had to have a peek at her blog well then I became addicted, and am now a regular stalker. Linda uses Prisma w/c pencils and her cards are just perfect....you should check out this blog not only is there some fab candy to win by the time you have finished looking through the wonderful cards you will be drooling and bursting with inspiration! (just check out those cute crochet flowers, Linda makes those herself!!!)
Hope you all had a good Weekend xLoux

A 'Mans' card for the Sugar Bowl

2009-04-25T18:18:00.004+01:00

Well when I saw this stamp over at Sugar Nellie ( Funky Kits) I knew I had to have it, with a hubby, son and father mad about fishing, this is just perfect for them and then this week the challenge at The Sugar Bowl is to make a card for 'The most difficult of the species' 'MEN' any age and any occasion so here's what I did (sorry the picture is rubbish if anyone has any ideas on what i can do to improve them please please let me know) used a mixture of Basic Grey Papers (boxer) water coloured the stamped image and used a 'die cut' Dad - Hope you are all having a fab weekend Thanks for stopping by xxx
(arghhh messed up on leaving correct link over on Sugar Bowl sorry!!)

WOW Check out this Blogoversary Candy!!!

2009-04-19T23:17:00.007+01:00

Two wonderful blog candys to tell you about the top one is Bev's from http://bevscrafts.blogspot.com/ and the one below is from Debbie from http://passionforcrafts.blogspot.com/

Another wonderful blog i have found through the candy Jar! Bev is celebrating her blogoversary with over 200,000 hits and over 600 followers the stats say it all it is a fab blog with tons of inspiration - lets just say I am drooling AGAIN!!! Look at all this wonderful candy wouldn't that just make your day, week and month to win that lot (must be the chocies that has done it for me lol)

Another fabulous blogoversary candy giveaway over at Passion For Crafts Debbie is offering this wonderful candy to celebrate her 1 year of blogging- this is a blog I usually look in on every so often as Debbie makes wonderful cards congratulations to her for having so many hits in one year and best wishes for the future - I cannot believe all the wonderful goodies here so here's me with my fingers toes and eyes crossed lol

No cards or anything crafty this week I did do a few decoupage cards using the 'Flippin Men' sheets but forgot to take pictures!!! duh what can I say the holidays have numbed my poor little brain cell!!! Oh well kids back to school tomorrow so hopefully will get chance to participate in a few challenges, a few more sugar nellie stamps have arrived so looking forward to having a play with them!

Hope you have all had a great week and weekend, and just because i am not posting anything on here I am still lurking and reading all of your blogs and looking at all your fab creations and of course .... drooling

Friday Sketches Challenge 47

2009-04-11T18:38:00.004+01:00

Evening everyone, How’s your Saturday been?

I managed to find some time to get a card made (yippee) so I used the sketch Jacqueline had drawn for Friday Sketches Challenge Blog and my new stamp from Sugar Nellie ( Daisy) which I think is gorgeous it reminds me of when my daughter was little she used to sit just like that The sentiment (which i stamped and embossed) is from Pollycraft (Love Notes)

Here is the sketch

And heres my attempt

Hope you have a wonderful Easter weekend (if you celebrate Easter or not)
Thanks for looking Lou xxx

Wonderful Candy Alerts

2009-04-07T23:35:00.003+01:00

Evening All
Jodi from Inked Inspirations has some wonderful amazing candy, she is celebrating 20,000 hits on her blog pop over and have look what you need to do to be in for a chance of winning such marvelous candy and while you are there just take a peek through Jodi's blog there is tons of inspiration
Also
Claire from CraftyC's Crafting library has some wonderful candy to celebrate her recent DT posts, her hits and of course her birthday, please check out her blog and her creations they really are lovely

Another fab candy offer is over at Phoenix Crafts which i must admit is a new blog to me (found this via my friend Em's blog) however having just taken a look i don't know how I missed it, there is so much inspiration This is a piccy of what Jennifer is offering to the lucky winner of her blog candy

After visiting these marvelous blogs i am just the tinest bit green with envy hopefully one day i will be in their league :-) I do enjoy finding blogs that people are promoting because of Candy giveaways NOT for the prizes (it would be great to win one day :-)) but because people start advertising these blogs that i have missed and I get the wonderful opportunity to visit their blogs and drool over their creations.

Please note - I am not responsible for the hours lost while looking through these fab blogs hehe set a timer if you have anything important that needs doing because believe me you will be there for a while! :-)

Friday Sketches Challenge 46

2009-04-03T20:37:00.005+01:00

Hello All, Over on Friday Sketches, Heidi has very kindly done an easy sketch for us to use this week (I like easy :-) hehe)

Heres what i did with it

Very pink and girly the papers are Papermania (colossal paper pack pastel) and Fairest of them all Royal Procession by Imaginisce a few flowers and PM brads used the CB Swirls folder to emboss the scalloped square and the Stamped Tilda with Puppy water coloured her and cut her out and sat her on smaller square used a couple of small tags to add a Happy Birthday sentiment and this is off to the little girl next door as its her birthday Sunday

Hope you all have a fab weekend Lou xxx

Think Spring Penny Black Saturday Challenge 42

2009-04-01T22:34:00.003+01:00

This is a card for my card groups (Craftyus) March challenge (set by Max) and when i peeked at the Penny Black Saturday Challenge blog found it fitted this weeks challenge theme there! The stamps are from the new Penny black transparent set Garden Friends, flowers ribbon and brads from stash and the backing papers were freebies in a magazine, I used a mixture of water colour pencils and gel pens to colour the picture. Its a lovely bright and vibrant card to make you feel spring like :-)

PollyCraft Monday Challenge

2009-03-29T21:35:00.003+01:00

I just adore the Pollycraft stamps (I haven't tried any downloads yet but I am sure they are just as wonderful) This is a stamp from the Woodland Elves collection and she is called Serenity I have coloured her with copics ( E00, R20, R05, E35, B12, E29, G05, Y08) and Sakura pens and water colour pencils, papers are Fairest Of Them All Royal Procession by Imaginisce a few prima flowers and some brads and of course my happy birthday peeloff

I have tried to follow Lindseys Sketch over on the Pollycraft Monday Challenge Blog - its not quite right but I hope it meets the guidelines :-)

Hope you've had a great weekend

Lou xx

Spring Time ATC for Tilda & Friends ATC Challange

2009-03-27T22:19:00.002Z

Have struggled again with my health this week but managed to complete this ATC for the Tilda and Friends challenge blog where the theme this week is Spring Time you can use any image as long as its cute and you make the atc standard size (3 1/2" x 2 1/2") - well i think this is a very cute image its Sarah Kays Country Girl and i have coloured her with a mixture of water colour pencils and whisper pens and the sentiment is a coloured peeloff telling us 'Its Spring' - this is my 3rd attempt as i tried all sorts of backgrounds and edges but decided i liked this one best! I hope you think she is cute too Hope you have a great weekend x Thanks for stopping by x

Candy Alert

2009-03-19T23:16:00.006Z

Found another fabulous blog via hopping Pollys Card Heaven and Paula is giving away some wonderful candy ending on March 27th - don't just go for the candy though have a peek at her creations they are lovely very inspiring

Also over at Moments In Time there is also some wonderful Blog Candy which ends March 30th - go visit and check out Candys blog

A quick catch up

2009-03-17T22:30:00.005Z

The weather here in my part of the UK has been very sunny and warm, spring is definitely on its way the daffodils are out and so i made my 1st Easter card for the year a very simple design using a decoupaged image I am sorry I am useless at taking photos of my cards so thought i would scan this one and its turned out just as bad!

I can't believe how quickly the past week has gone, I have been a bit poorly so not managed to take part in any challenges (other then for my craft forum (Craftyus)) and thought i better post a message here so you know i haven't disappeared

This was for a combined colour and sketch challenge with the colours being Pink and Brown this card is A4 folded in half covered with cappachino brazzill card and pink marshmellow card which i CB embossed and then used a image of Tilda and bench coloured with water colour pencils added some PM brads and prima flowers a couple of small tags with a happy birthday peeloff sentiment

Then also made this atc using the same sketch and colours and left over scraps :-) (this Tilda is coloured with copics so she's a bit brighter

Thanks for stopping by :-)

My 1st Blog Award

2009-03-05T21:31:00.003Z

My 1st blog award Thankyou so much Linda from Lindas Crafty Creations now i believe the rules are that I pass this on to 10 blogs that i read so here goes my top 10 in no particular order (lol)

1. Emma's Creations

2. Messy Me - Von
3. Rachel's Crafts
4. Lauren B
5. Cindy's Creations
6. Becky's Blog
7. Kym's Crafty Cards
8. Journey With ME
9. Stitcher Scribbler
10. Jilly's Creations

These are 10 great blogs I visit, with so many wonderful blogs these days I have to be careful that I don't spend all my time reading about crafts rather then actually creating things Thank you again Linda , please take the time to visit her blog and look at her wonderful cards (just look at those crocheted flowers aren't they lovely)

Copics Colour Challenge

2009-03-02T19:39:00.007Z

Was looking around to find some copics instructions and found The Copics Colour Challenge Blog

Its a fairly simple challenge you can make whatever using whatever as long as you use copics as your medium You can find the details here - you can follow the challenge even if you don't have all three colours, this weeks colours are

R05 - Salmon Red

B02 - Robin's Egg Blue

YG23 - New Leaf

Well as I was still in an ATC mood, I checked and luckily had all 3 colours so I decided to use my new magnolia stamp 'Stylish Tilda' (which came from The Glitter Pot ) and created this atc which i thought i would enter, used my oval nestabilities and a few sparkly stickers and of course copics (E00, R20, E35, R05, B02, YG23 + 0)

Hope you have had a good Monday

Thanks for looking :-)

ATC's

2009-03-01T15:29:00.006Z

Becky is this months host on our craft forum and the atc theme was Tags

These are made using the free papers included with Januarys Making Cards Magazine - the flowers on the tags are twisted pyramids - photography not that great but they are a lovely lilac and yellow with a purple base

Finally got round to playing with my new copic ciao - i can see why everyone raves about them they are so vibrant and easy to use - i think i would upgrade to the copics sketch (when i win the lottery hehe) Used the lovely Magnolia Tilda with sunflowers stamp (she had to lose her legs and shoes though) copics used were E00, E11, R20, E35, B32,Y17,YG06 also used a couple of whisper pens and a gel pen for her hair bow!Thanks for looking

Hope you have all had a good weekend :-)

More Candy alerts over at The Voices in my Head Lims Blog

2009-02-27T00:33:00.002Z

Wow check out this blog I adore what she does with the magnolia stamps a very talented lady it is Lim's one year Blog Anniversary and she is giving aware some wonderful candy to 3 lucky people ends 7th March - if your ever lacking inspiration just take a peek at her cards :-) they make your fingers start twitching!!

Another card using the Friday Sketch #40 Challenge

2009-02-24T16:53:00.003Z

I wasn't so pleased with my first try so had another go (i told you i liked the sketch :-) )

I recieved this image from a friend in a swap so not 100% sure but believe it is Hamish from Funstamps again used SEI Co-ordinating papers with Brazzill basic card and brads and ribbon from papermania

I wondered if anyone ever looked at this blog and wondered if it was worth carrying on with it and then i saw that i had some comments which made my day/week/year :-) Thank you so much for taking the time to look and comment it really does mean the world to me - i am just a learner really so tips and advice is always welcomed and hopefully with your help I will improve :-) Thanks for looking :-)

Candy Alert Over at A lil' bit of me

2009-02-24T16:45:00.002Z

Once again Marlene has some fab candy on offer - i have said before her creations are wonderful check out her blog and you will be as hooked as me,
http://mar1ene.wordpress.com/

I live in hope that some of her talent rubs off on me and have even purchased a few copic ciao to try out stamping and colouring is a fairly new technique for me and i do find it a bit difficult because my hands tremble and shake, but i will keep trying and maybe one day i will master shading. (fingers crossed x)

Friday Sketches Challenge 40

2009-02-20T20:06:00.005Z

Managed To do a card today for another sketch - whoppee - I bought this stamp from Pollycraft its part of the woodland elves set called Serenity, well I hadn't got around to using it so decided to combine it with these lovely papers from SEI (Dill Blossom) some Brazzill basic paper (Blue Calypso) a few brads from papermania and a Happy Birthday peeloff and a silk flower my lovely friend Lindsey sent me which i believe are Prima - and here is the results

The Sketch is this weeks challenge from Friday Sketchers set by Jacqueline -I think this will end up being a favourite design of mine :-)

Thanks for looking xx

Hope you have a great weekend :-)

Hugs and Cuddles Charisma Cardz Challenge

2009-02-19T22:18:00.003Z

Hi I thought this was the perfect card to enter into the Hugs and Cuddles Challenge set over at Charisma Cards

The papers are My Minds Eye Co-ordinating and the bears which are 3d are freebie downloads from CuddlyBuddly - The gold sentiment peeloff which is hard to see says Happy Anniversary & With Love

Some of my favourite colours and very cute bears Hope you like it :-)

Roses On Paper Challenge

2009-02-18T20:06:00.003Z

I saw this challenge while blog hopping and thought I would enter this card Hopefully The link above will give you all the details but if not the challenge was set by Roses On Paper DT member Lim it is a free style one with a theme of Love and/or friendship and you had to use a certain stamp (either Magnolia, Whiff of Joy, Alota, Greeting Farm, Sarah Kay or Rachelle Anne Miller) my stamp is from The Glitter Pot it is a Rachelle Anne Miller Lily and Milo stamp called Enjoy The Moment

Card details

A5 Size Card based with Brazzill Basics Paper Passionate

Papers from Imaginisce - Fairest Of Them All

Heart Brad from Papermania

Handmade flowers using xcut and dovecraft punches

Stamped image coloured with water colour pencils and a bit of glitter

Other items used Circle nestabilities/ curved rectangle nestabilities lots of love stamp free from magazine

Best Friends 3d sticker I think was K&C

Hope i haven't bored you with all the details!! I tried various ways of photographing the card and finally decided scanning it - its still not great but i hope you can see all the lovely sparkly bits in the papers - Hope you like it Thanks for Looking

Lou xx

Handmade By LouLou

2009-02-14T22:11:00.001Z

Colour Create Challenge 2

2009-02-11T16:10:00.000Z

The colours for this weeks challenge is Peach and Aqua - when i saw that i immediately panicked you can find the details http://colourcreatechallenge.blogspot.com/

and this is my attempt - I have used a sketch that my friend Chrissie from Craftyus set us

(papers are K &C Dollhouse Peach Paisley and Brazzill basic paper (can't remember actual colour)

punched flowers and image is a Sugar Nellie stamp Cheddar) - its a lot brighter IRL

Blog Candy Alert Ov at Pink Piggy

2009-02-03T19:20:00.000Z

http://pinkpiggywiggy.blogspot.com/

Over on Dawns blog it is her 1 year blogoversary and she is giving away some Fab goodies - go check out her creations her cards are just lovely, Candy giveaway is until 14th Feb

Pink Green and Brown Challenge Card

2009-02-02T22:16:00.000Z

After blog hopping yesterday I found a new blog calledhttp://colourcreatechallenge.blogspot.com/ Colour Create which has just started their new colour challenge, well the first challenge is to use colours Pink Green and Brown and as this is a colour combination i would never usually use i thought i would give it a try - so here is my attempt it is my first ever try at a challenge card so i hope it is OK - I decided with such strong colours (I used cerise pink and lime green and brown) i would keep it simple the stamped image is a stamped from The Glitter Pot called Lily and Milo From The heart and i used a selection of Whispers Strokes, gel pens and water colour pencils to colour it in The sentiment is from Penny Black - comments welcomed :-)

Great Blog Candy

2009-01-28T16:42:00.000Z

This is one of my favourite blogs that i follow Marleens cards are wonderful and after just one year she has had 235.000 visitors (which is no surprise as her creations are fab)

Anyway check out her blog http://mar1ene.wordpress.com/2009/01/25/blogoversary-candy/#comment-10667

There is some wonderful blog candy to win ( hehe catch me learning all the blog language hehe)

First Post

2009-01-27T19:50:00.001Z

Hi - Well this feels a bit strange not sure what to say so i guess i will just welcome you all and tell you a little about why HandMade By Lou-Lou well Lou Lou is the name that all the youngsters in the family call me and Handmade well because i am hoping to show you all the things handmade by me - lol simple really

The main reason i created a blog was to keep track of the blogs i read really and i am hoping that you lot will give me the help and encouragement and points in the right direction with my crafting so all comments welcomed.

To start the blog i thought i would show you some past projects i have made so you get the idea of what sort of things i like I am not perfect (far from it) but I enjoy what i do and as i said keeps me sane (ish) hehe

So as you can see a little bit of everything from Cross stitched cards to iris folding stamped and decoupage I am just branching out into stamping and think I am getting a little addicted I find it quite difficult and i haven't even started using stamps for backgrounds anywayhere is my first post hopefully you will come back and visit