Bargain alert ...

Just the other week I used some really fab puffy glittery stickers on some holiday pages here.  I bought them at one of the pound shops, but I know a few people went in to get some and they just weren't available.  Anyway today I popped in to 'The Works' and found they were selling the same stickers even cheaper - yeah - so I went a little mad and bought a couple of alphabet sets, a zoo set and a funky flower set.  The sea creatures was on sale too, but naturally I already have them.
Happy bargain hunting.
Ann xxx

Molly Bloom Day...

Only just finished the project we did in the morning on the Molly Bloom workshop I went to at the Craft Box at Elsecar last Saturday.  I don't think I'm cut out for these workshops as I found it so difficult stamping and colouring on the card provided.  In the end I bought some good quality card in the shop and stamped the images to colour at home, which I've just finished doing.

Wow, matching the colouring to the patterned paper was tricky and I'm still not totally satisfied with the results, but they are passable.  I love the work that Clare, the designer of the Molly Bloom range does and was thrilled to be able to go on the course.  However, going on this day out has made me realise that I really don't like following someone's design even if they are brilliant.  It takes the excitement out of a project.

I did enjoy the day though and learnt a quite a useful few things...

• how to do this funky button and ribbon embellishment - very useful as you only need tiny bits of ribbon

• how to create a cool basic basket and cover it with designer paper
• that Art Glitter glue is magic for attaching braid to tops of baskets
• that punched strips are just amazing for creating handles 

This is the other side of the basket showing the boy and the hen. All great stamps for creating fabulous scenes.  Our afternoon project used even more of the stamp range and was truly stunning.  I may be showing mine later in the week if and when I finally finish it.

I'm not entering this project into any challenges as it's not my design.  I'm thinking these stamps would match up brilliantly with that bird house I bought at Poundland the other week so maybe I'll get round to doing that time permitting and if I have any spare images left.

Have a great week.

Ann xxx

Bah! Humbug! Day... Metallics...

Had a fantastic week away at a friend's house so not much time for crafting, but found time of course for our latest challenge at Bah! Humbug!  This week our theme is 'Metallics'.

I decided to head for something I haven't used for a long time - Art Metal!  I first used this stuff when I bought my Wizard machine many years ago and loved the way it embosses using brass stencils. Having said that although it embosses beautifully it can also be quite tricky to use because it also marks easily too, but I think it is worth the extra effort.

Additional materials used...

• gold metal brads 
• papers by HOTP
• xyron design runner for the sentiment strip (again wow that's 3 times now - could this be worth the investment?)
• snowflake die cut using Marianne die
• cream organza ribbon and lace
• green embossed card and cream pearlescent paper

Additional challenges...

• Charisma Card Challenges - Use diecuts (my snowflake)
• Crafty Purple Frog - Green projects
• Delightful Challenges - Show us some green
• The Pixie Dust Studio - Go Green
• Crafty Hazel's Challenge - Go for Gold

Have a fabulous weekend everyone.  I'm going to a craft day with Claire of Molly Bloom stamps so I am sooooooooooooooooooo excited.  Hopefully I'll be able to show my makes on Sunday, but don't hold your breath as I've heard we're using Aqua markers and that will be completely new to me and probably a disaster, but we'll see.

Love and hugs

Ann xxx