Pre-Birthday shopping

Hello.
I mentioned a couple of posts back that my FMIL took me to this shop yesterday. I thought I would share some pictures with you of the things that I got. Half of this was paid for by my future in-laws and half I've bought myself. It's not my birthday for another 10 days, but I don't think we really get another chance to go. And yes, I do realise I am incredibly lucky! Thank you Treena!


So, here is everything.

And here are a few close-ups.

- 'Wild Asparagus' 6x6 pad by My Mind's Eye
- 'Renaissance' 6x6 pad by Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen
- 'Spring Burst' 6x6 pad by Papermania
- 'Rose Garden' 6x6 pad by Papermania
- 'Funky Vintage' 6x6 pad by Dovecraft
- 'Rose-Tinted Christmas' 6x6 pad by DCWV
- 'Birthday' 6x6 pad by Dovecraft
- 'Linen Paper Pack' 6x6 pad by Victoria and Albert Museum
- 'Capsule Collection' A5 pad in aqua by Papermania
- 'Bloom &Grow' 8x8 pad by My Mind's Eye
- Fiskars scallop edge scissors.
- 'Carol Singers' by Woodware Craft Collection
- 'Swiss Dots' Cuttlebug folder
- A pack of black envelopes
- Stazon re-inker
- Papermania watervolour blender pens
- Papermania Snow White gel pens
- Aqua-Flo brushes

Samples day six

Hello
Here are today's samples. The first one is a one layer card. I changed the sketch slightly by taking the line out of the middle. I really love that rainbow arrow and I think I will be using that idea again.
- The arrow is from the 'Fun & Funky Arrows' set by Hot off the Press.
- You is stamped using 'Curly Font' by Papermania
- Are awesome is stamped using an alphabet set by Studio G


The second card didn't really go how I wanted it to, but I thought I would share it anyway. I bought this stamp set yesterday, and when I've got a little more time to play with it I will be making a shaker card. I think they just about show up in the picture, but there are spots of glitter dotted about in the snow globe.
- Image and sentiment are from 'Carol Singers' by Woodware Craft Collection
- Patterned paper is from the 'A Wonderful Christmas' 6x6 pad by Papermania

Samples day five

Hello.

Sorry for the lack of samples yesterday, I had a very busy day. Busy in a good way though. I worked in the morning and then my FMIL took me here. Very impressive craft shop! I will definitely be going again when I've saved up some money. Then when James finished work, the two of us and his parents went to Taybarns.

So, here are yesterday's samples, and I will be back later with today's. (I ran out and need to make a few more to post for the next 3 days.) - The paper is from the Verde paper pack which is part of the the Capsule Collection by Papermania.

- The flower image is In Bloom by Technique Tuesday.

- With Love is from the Jungle Buddies set by Kanban.

- The scallop border is from the Flounce set in the Persimmon Collection by Papermania.

The second card only took ten minutes to make. It is 2 1/2" square.

- Party time and the flower are from the Chick set in the Honey and Hugs range by Papermania.
- The flowers on the background are from the Flounce set in the Persimmon Collection by Papermania

Samples day four

Hello.
A couple of 'love' cards for today's samples. This first one is a gate fold card. Both stamps are from the 'Sweet Nothings' set by Papermania. I'm not sure how well it shows in the picture, but the white panels are inked along the edges using a bronze ink pad.
The second sample is this easel card. The white pieces on this card have since had pictures added to them. 'Love you' was stamped using Elzybells 'Bold Alpha'. The paper comes from the Checks 6x6 pad by Paper Cellar.

I decided to make it a little bit different and added a flap so I could put two more pictures on the inside.

Samples day three

Hello.
The first sample today uses the 'Coffee Friends' image by Elzybells. 'Friendship' is from the 'Sweet Nothings' set by Papermania. The patterned paper was from a pack that came with a magazine, but was designed by Kate Knight. I played with the sketch a bit for this one by moving the rectangle piece up to be in the circle.


The second card is made using the 'Birthday Cupcake' set by Inkadinkado. A really quick and simple one layer card.

Samples day two

Hello.
My last post has posted under the time I wrote the draft rather than when I posted it, so it is counting as yesterdays so I have another two samples which can count as today's.

Here is the first one. The CD and the sheet music were found using google images. I distressed the music paper using gold, silver and bronze ink pads. Both stamps are by Inkadinkado. 'You Rock' is from the 'Rock Star' set and the image is from the 'In The Groove' set.

The second card is a pocket card. The heart stamp is by Sarah Beise. The paper is from the Wedding 6x6 pad by Paper Cellar. I played with the sketch a little bit for this one by turning the rectangle piece on it's side.

Here it is out of the pocket.

ERPOM! Challenge number 3

Hello.
It's time for the third ERPOM! challenge, and I am very excited to be the host!

The challenge is to use the sketch below to create two different cards. I have kept the sketch simple so that making two cards shouldn't be a problem. As I said yesterday I got carried away making samples, so I will be sharing two different samples until the challenge ends on the 2nd of May. When the challenge ends there will be a poll to decide which member of ERPOM wins, and the winner will receive a £10 gift voucher to the Elzybells store. There will also be a £5 gift voucher for a random comment on any of my posts during the challenge. Winners will be announced May 6th.

Feel free to play around with the sketch a bit, but make sure you can tell that your cards were inspired by it.

Here are my two samples for today.- The sentiment is from the 'Seasons Greetings' set by Papermania
- The paper is from the 'Christmas Wishes' 6x6 pad by DCWV

- The paper is from the 'Persimmon' A5 pack by Papermania
- The flourish stamp is from the 'Swirls and Flourishes 2' set by Personal Impressions
- Unfortunately I'm not sure who makes the chipboard flower, it was a present from my FMIL

I can't wait to see what you all make. I would love for you to join in if you are not a member of ERPOM!

Smile and an RAK

Hello.
I've been busy being my own design team (I got a bit carried away making samples) for when I host the ERPOM challenge next week, so I just have a really basic card to share right now.
- The paper is from the Celebrations 6x6 pad by Paper Cellar
- The chipboard letters are by Footprint Creations, but I got them free with a magazine.
- The ribbon is by Anita's

Also, I wanted to thank Dawn from the ERPOM blog group for this lovely card that came in the mail today. It put a smile on my face before a very busy day at work.

Inspired by Kwerner

Hello.
A quick, almost one layer, card for today. This was inspired by Kristina Werner's latest MACM here.

- All stamps are from the Rock Star set by Inkadinkado.

Showered in love

Hello.
I got my new Elzybells stamps today, including Raining Hearts which I used on this card. I also found out about the Stamps R Us challenge here, which is to create a project based on the theme Showers. Perfect timing then!
The hearts on the background and 'Hugs and Kisses' are from the Scrumptious stamp set by Papermania which is the fifth item on this page.

Mermaid

Hello.
I'm not sure where this image came from and I only got it yesterday! I should start writing sites down. If anyone knows could you leave a link in the comments. I need some colours that merge better, but the sunset looks ok from far away.

Green Peace

Hello.
The text on this is a little blotchy, because I used Marvy Matchables Jungle Green ink pad. For some reason they always seem to do that. I will learn one day to stop using them. The flowers and patterned paper are from the Verde set in the Capsule Collection by Papermania. These were given to me a few days ago by my FMIL. I distressed the paper on the left by scrunching it up, running a nail file over it and then running an ink pad over it.

Lazy day

Hello.
Today I have had a very unproductive day. I spent most of the day catching up on Lost, since I was six episodes behind. I wanted to share something though, so here's a bookmark I made this morning. The butterfly's are cut using my cuttlebug. The background is clear embossed using 'Butterfly flourish' by Inkadinkado

Digital Stamp Tutorial

Hello.

I have made a few cards recently using this tutorial for making your own digital stamps. I realised though that I haven't been doing it exactly as that says because it's not very clear, and not so easy to follow, so I am going to share with you the way I do it. My instructions are based on paint shop pro, but I think they should be similar for other photo editing programmes.

Step 1:

Select your image. Crop and re-size it to how you want it.

Step 2:

Adjust the brightness and contrast, making the contrast quite high.

Step 3:

Adjust the threshold so that you are left with a black and white image. Threshold can be found under 'Adjust' and then under 'Brightness and Contrast'

Step 4:

Create a new image, making sure it is the same size as your image. In PSP when you create a new image it gives you the option of what colour you want to make it. Here is where you create your background. I just play around until I find something that I like.

Step 5:

Copy and paste your image over the top of the background. Then use the 'magic wand' to select the white parts and delete them.

Step 6:

Now you can add whatever extras you want to such as a border or text.

This image is of Billie Joe Armstrong from Green Day, taken by me when I saw them last October.

Blog candy winners!

Hello.

On Thursday I offered these papers to whoever was the 2000th viewer of my blog. I said that if no-one claimed it I would choose a random comment from that post to send the papers too. Well, only two people left comments so I have decided to make another set and send them to both. I have already e-mailed both of them, but I thought I should announce it here too.

So, a set of these papers will be making their way to Jenn and Monica sometime in the next week.

Russian Dolls

Hello.
I bought a couple of craft magazines yesterday and free with this months Papercraft Essentials is a pack of Russian Doll themed papers. My auntie collects Russian Dolls so straight away I though they would be perfect for a card for her. Inside is going to be decorated later saying Happy Birthday, but it's not her birthday until June so I'm a little early getting this ready. In the pack there was a page with an image printed four times, perfect for layering, so that's what I did.
Here is a side shot to show the layering.


- The background paper is from the Persimmon paper pack by Papermania.

ERPOM! Challenge number 2

Hello.
It's time for Eyelets, Ribbon, Paper - Oh My's second challenge. This time it is hosted by Lynn and she has asked us to use one of our patterned ribbons for inspiration.


I set about looking through my ribbons for something that stood out a bit and I came across this duck ribbon. I have no idea where it came from, but I thought it would be perfect for this challenge. The sentiment was designed using Paint Shop Pro.

My first blog award!

Hello.
As the title says I have received my first blog award. Thanks so much to Jenn for giving me the award. So now I have to tell you ten things about myself and select ten other bloggers to pass the award onto.

Here goes:

1. I love dying funky colours into my hair, it's a shame I can't do it now though because of work.

2. I have a slight obsession with Green Day...maybe a bit more than a slight one.
3. I love Ireland! My Grandad was from there and we used to visit the country every year when I was growing up.

4. My fiance thinks I have OCD. Just because I like to keep my CD's and DVD's in alphabetical order. I am definitely not a neat freak though.

5. I never go anywhere without my camera.

6. I have had my nose pierced on three separate occasions, but it always fell out and the hole healed up.

7. I hate when people type things in text talk.

8. I have been told by someone I am the most optimistic person they have ever met.

9. When the sun is out I love to be in the car with my fiance with Less Than Jake playing.

10. I am scared of way too many things including lightning, roller coasters and spiders.

Hopefully they weren't too long! I didn't know what to write at first and then I couldn't seem to stop typing.

And my 10 selected blogs are:

1. Christy
2. Monica
3. Lynn
4. D'Anne

5. Cindy

6. Molly

7. Rebekka
8. Mary

9. Dawn

10. Debbie

I know Jenn already nominated some of you, but at the moment I don't really know any other bloggers.

Viewer 2000 Blog Candy

Hello.
I've noticed my view count is slowly creeping up to 2000. In honour of this, and to thank all of you I am offering some blog candy to whoever is the 2000Th viewer. All you have to do is e-mail me a screen shot of the view counter showing 2000, along with your address so I can send you the papers. My e-mail is emkaydesigns@hotmail.co.uk.

Here is what the blog candy will be. Five A5 (roughly 8 and 3/10" x 5 and 6/10") sheets of my own designed paper, as used on this card.

If I haven't received an e-mail by the time the view count reaches 2100 I will select a random comment made on this post to win instead.

*To take a screen shot, if you press the 'Prt Scrn' key on your keyboard and then go to whatever picture editing programme you have, open a new image and press copy a screen shot should appear*

Christmas in April part 1

Hello.
This month my 'at least ten' Christmas cards are all going to be individual. Here are the first four.

The first one uses Snow Landscape by Elzybells. The DP is from the Vintage Christmas 8x8 paper stack by Papermania Here's a side image to show the layering. You can see that I was going to give him a blue scarf, but then changed my mind and made it purple.

The second one uses two papers from the Christmas Wishes 6x6 paper stack by DCWV. The sentiment is from Seasons Greetings by Papermania.

The third, really simple card uses two different Papermania sets. The snow is from Merry Christmas and the sentiment is from Seasons Greetings.

The fourth card is based on this CPS sketch. The image is Decorating Teddy by Elzybells. I'm not sure about that DP as it was a gift that wasn't in packaging.

Sorry if that was a little bit of a long post.

Panda love

Hello.
Just a quick post before I'm off to see my friends.- I love you is from 'worth repeating' by Stampology.
- The Panda is by Imaginisce, and is one of their snag'em stamps.

You rock!

Hello.
On Wednesday I am going to be having a girlie evening with my three best friends. Two of them will be receiving the card posted here (I made another one with a green base), and I couldn't really leave the third without a card so I have made this one for her. I really love that that DP, which I made using the circle stamp from the Scrumptious set by Papermania. I think I might have to make some more. 'You Rock' is also done using Papermania stamps, the 'Leftovers' alphabet set. Both stamp sets can be found here (second and fifth on the list).

Face it

Hello.
I have a fairly simple card to share. The hearts were cut using my cuttlebug. I'm not sure how well it shows but that gem on the heart is heart-shaped too. The sentiment is by Inkadinkado, from the 'Tell it Like it is' set.

And here is the inside:

Hi cupcake!

Hello.
This is my first attempt at a stair step fold card. All these stamps are from the 'Birthday Cupcake' set by Inkadinkado.