Winner of Limited Edition ProMarkers

No card today, I seem to have been busy doing not a lot. My friend Anne bought me a fabulous birthday present - we went to see the Royal Ballet production of The Nutcracker. It was totally magical, the sets were wonderful, and of course the dancing was perfect..... 

I must admit to sitting there watching and marvelling at the way the sugar plum fairies sank gracefully to the floor, then after watching a solo, they spring equally gracefully and elegantly to their feet to start dancing again - could I ever do that, even when I was young? Have I ever been able to unfurl my limbs and rise to my feet without an inelegant stumble?- How do those male dancers do all those twirly things, jumping about three feet in the air, turning a complete circle, landing then doing it again - about ten times in a row. How come they don't fall over all giddy and disorientated like normal people? That jump thing they do looks a bit impressive as well - you know, the one where they leap in the air, then sort of twiddle their toes together very quickly before hitting the ground again. Sigh, I blame my parents for never sending me to ballet lessons, they were fixated on the piano, if they had, I could have worn a little frilly tutu and twiddled my toes, and maybe, just maybe, even now, I would be able to get up from the floor without some assistance.......

Enough. On to the winner of the Letraset Autumn/Winter ProMarkers. The name that Mr Random chose this time is

CAROL (NNALORAC)

nnalorac said...

Great tip when you have a card to make in a hurry Enfys. Love the soft effect, never seem to achieve it using too many colours. Love the sprinkling of Frantage, finishes it off beautifully. Gorgeous card and thank you for a chance of the new colours. Carolxx

Congrats Carol, email me with your address and I will get them in the post to beat the Christmas rush!

Finally, http://papercraftinspirations.themakingspot.com/ are having a big blog party this weekend. Keep popping over, there will be lots of givaways all weekend, lots of projects to look at, free downloads, and altogether a jolly time to be had. You need to keep checking, there will be posts made throughout the three days, including one by me on Sunday that I am rather proud of - I will give you another reminder then! It really is worth going over, there are great giveaways, a Wild Rose studio prize has only three entries at the moment. Open to UK and US residents. Good luck!

Christmas is coming - rather quickly.....

I had a mini panic today when I looked through my box of completed Christmas cards - I need more, many more....

First things first, I have cards for the grandchildren but needed a couple more and I thought this little snowman by Sparkle and Sprinkle would fit the bill....

Then I thought I would have to resort to a bit of mass production (something I never do), and found these brand new Hero Arts stamps from last year lurking. I don't know why I bought them really, they are solid rubber stamps with the design etched out, and I never have much success with that type of stamp. I pulled out Chipped sapphire distress ink and set to work. Honestly, I had to stamp it about ten times before I got a decent image, I don't quite know how those swirly bits got in the sky, but I quite like that, it gives a sense of movement. I dabbed the moon with Mustard Seed distress ink, and added some Frantage snow and a bit of glitter. There is no way I am faffing around mass producing this one, although I like the end result....

This one got the same treatment, again I found it hard to get an even impression, I do love the stamped image though. 

So it's back to the drawing board tomorrow to find a design that I can mass produce quickly and easily. I need to get the cards to all my friends in the USA in the mail by next week, and that's what Christmas is all about in my book, keeping in touch with old friends and wishing them well for the festive season and next year

See you tomorrow x

Paper Floristry...

My turn over on the Craftwork Cards blog again today, here's one of the cards I made for their recent launch of the Paper Floristry kit on Create and Craft TV. I love making flowerpot cards, and all the little blooms just cried out for one......

I just love this colourway, don't you?

I told you I had a few nice surprises, how clever of the postman to bring me these two cards all the way from Florida on the day of my birthday! From two of my craft group over there, Cheryl and Bev, I really appreciated them making me cards and sending them all the way across the Atlantic. Miss you both lots!

We live in a small gated development, so any deliveries have to be announced by the driver via our entry phone. The phone kept ringing! First of all was this gorgeous bouquet from my crafty partner in crime Kath, totally unexpected and quite delightful. Thank you Kath (the flowers have opened over the weekend, and are the perfect colour for my kitchen) 

and from friends Dick and Gilly.......

and from son Edward and Lidia. By this time the house resembled a florists shop and I was running out of vases.......

The bell rang again. More flowers? No, it was a man delivering a Stannah Stairlift. Now for those of you not from the UK, this is a company that makes motorized chairs that transport you upstairs. They advertise constantly on daytime TV, showing happy smiling (old) people sitting on their chair moving slowly and safely up the stairs. For a mad, panic-stricken moment I thought my children had bought me one for my birthday (they would think that was very funny), but no, the delivery man had the wrong address. Breathe.

See you tomorrow x

White Christmas

 More white on white today - I seem to be stuck in a white rut at the moment...

I used the Memory Box winter village die, and the deer die for this one, then when it was all assembled, went over the whole thing with my Simon Says Stamp snow stencil and Wendy Vecchi white embossing paste - I sprinkled a bit of glitter onto the embossed snow before it dried...

Thank you all so much for all the birthday messages, so many emails, it was lovely. I had a great day. My kids had arranged a tea party in a place called The Medicine Garden in Surrey. It had an old walled garden.....

and in one corner of this walled garden was an igloo type structure, where we had our totally private tea party. It was great because the children could all run around safely outside while the adults relaxed over their tea and cake.....

Here's Kiki.....

and Milo....

and Monty.... Max was so busy running around we didn't catch him!

and a happy day for all the little cousins having fun together.....

I had some lovely surprises on my birthday too, camera at the ready to share tomorrow....See you then x

Joie de Vivre! and a winner.....

 Quite a simple little card today, made with a Little Claire image that I picked up at a bargain price at the NEC, I liked the sentiment. I used a purple glitter card for the borders and punched flowers....

Here's a few photos of a cardmaking session I did for my sister's flower club, it's only a small club, and none of them are cardmakers. I designed four simple little cards for them, and set up everything on four tables, so they moved around for each card.... 

Everyone is wearing their coats, because the caretaker of the hall had fogotten it was Flower Club night, and didn't turn on the heating. It was freezing!........

I think embossing powder and a heat gun was a bad idea for beginners, there was more embossing powder on the floor than on the cards! They all thoroughly enjoyed themselves, and went home proudly clutching their four handmade Christmas cards....

and in all the dashing around between four workstations, I totally forgot to take photos of my cards!

It's my birthday tomorrow, and my kids have arranged a family afternoon tea party down in Surrey, so be prepared for a photo fest - I rarely get all my chicks in one basket....

The winner of the paper mania bits and pieces from the NEC is 

ARDILLA

Congrats, email me with your address and your goodies will be on their way

Win a Limited Edition Set of ProMarkers

My turn over on the Letraset blog again today, see how I coloured this little image using just two ProMarkers (well, three if I am being totally accurate....)

Thank you Letraset, once again they are giving one of you a chance to win a set of twelve limited edition Autumn/Winter Promarkers (even if you own these, throw your name into the hat, they will be your backup when they are no longer on sale!)

Information and Reviews

Set includes:
Winter Spruce, Solstice Blue, Fire Wood, Sugar Plum, Red Sweater, Frosted Jade, Pressed Leaf, Hearth-stone, Trick or Treat, Sleigh Bell, Frozen Lake, Iced Pearl, Blender pen

All you have to do is pop over to the Letraset blog to leave a quick comment, and pop your name under this post. Only names that have commented on both blogs will be entered into the random draw. 

If you get a Going Buggy email and want to enter, click on the grey GOING BUGGY header at the top of your email and it will bring you here to leave your name, then click the link to take you to Letraset

I will draw a winner next Thursday, 28th November and tell you who won the following day. Good Luck

By the way, it's worth mentioning that it's worth keeping an eye on the Letraset site, they often have products on special offer, when you can get really good deals, and free worldwide shipping as well (if you spend over a certain, quite low amount). It might be worth looking on there if you want Santa to drop some new pens into your stocking this year

See you tomorrow x

More White on White....

 I told you that I had made a couple of white on white cards for the Ribbon Girl design team guest designer spot this month - here is the other one....

The crushed ribbon bow looks incredibly extravagant, and it's such a light fabric that it 'squashes' right down for mailing, and pops back up once it's out of the envelope. The tiny red berries are also from The Ribbon Girl

So we took Max and Milo on an adventure this weekend, a local garden center has a Santa in residence - when we got there, they had to follow the santa stickers on the floor.....

We eventually found Santa in his little room sitting in front of a log fire, funnily enough, he had a very broad Birmingham accent (well, funny to me anyway). There were only two other children in there, sweet, silent little girls, I think by the end of our visit, Santa wished there had been four sweet silent little girls.....

The boys sat on the floor and told him what they wanted for Christmas (a bank account, they want a card to put into a slot and get money out whenever they want it!!!!!!), 
'well, I shall come to your house on Christmas Eve' he twinkled
'But you don't know where my house is' said 4 year old Milo
'I know everything' said Santa, winking and rubbing the side of his nose in a nudge nudge, wink wink sort of way 'and my reindeer know the way to every house'. 'Look' he cried 'there they are at the window' - the little hut had a window on which they had painted a reindeer peeping in.....
'I have to tell you that they are not real Santa' said Milo kindly, giving the old guy a consoling pat on the arm, 'they are just drawings'.........

Then they discovered that if they bounced around a bit on the Thomas ride in the cafe, the thing started up again, We were having a rejuvenating cup of tea, and only noticed the multiple rides when we turned in our seats to see a whole queue of patient children waiting silently for their turn...

So I hauled them off to see the fish, birds and lizards. Milo wanted this little chap. A mum and dad decision thank goodness, not mine!

So now they have gone home, the house is blissfully quiet - and I really, really miss them

See you tomorrow x

White on White for the Ribbon Girl

I was delighted when the lovely Mary and Andrea of The Ribbon Girl asked me to be a guest designer this month. The photo above is the inspiration for this month's colour challenge - well, it couldn't be better for me, I love white on white cards as you know

So here is what I made, pop over to see what the design team came up with. 

Another Madison window card, plus Memory Box window box, birch tree. White seam binding and gorgeous flowers are from the Ribbon Girl. Sentiment by Hero Arts 

I made another white card as well, which I will share with you later in the week. Thanks for inviting me Mary and Andrea - I loved the challenge! 

See you tomorrow x

NEC Giveaway - and a winner

I couldn't go to the NEC and tempt you all with those photos without offering one of my followers the chance to win something. I have put together a pack of Papermania goodies, all from the same range so everything coordinates....

You will get 15 sheets of the cupcake paper, some matching doilies and tiny banners, and a stamp set - perfect for those birthday cards for friends who love cooking. Just leave your name under this post, and I will pick a winner on Tuesday. As always, I will mail worldwide

Next, on to the winner of the Letraset Metallic Markers. I used random.org and the name of the winner (who commented on here and on the Letraset blog as requested) is....................drum roll.................

CAROL DIMSE

Congrats Carol. Email me with your address, and I will get your prize in the mail, all ready to make your Christmas cards!

On to today's card, no apologies, but out comes the snowy night sky again...well, I did warn you this would happen

Memory Box candle die, flower mound die (little red flowers) large Madison window die,  opal white liquid pearls, extra foliage Martha Stewart branch punch, sentiment Hero Arts
I cut the candle out twice, once in white, and once in red, and fitted the 'waste' from the middle of the red cut into the white candles. Does that make sense? 
I've started making my photos bigger on the blog, do you like it this way?

Right, the fridge needs filling ready for the arrival of two small weekend guests, a grandma needs some bribes ready and waiting for a peaceful weekend!
See you tomorrow.......x

Snowflakes and Angels....

 You may have noticed a recurring theme on here - I am obsessed with snowy skies. It's amazing how many manufacturers of stamps etc get it wrong, snow doesn't fall in even patterns, some flakes are bigger than others, the effect is quite random.......but I found the perfect solution

I found a snowflake stencil made by Simon Says Stamp in the USA, and together with some Wendy Vecchi white embossing paste, it gives a lovely snowy effect, and was worth the international shipping! I stencilled two large sheets of dark blue, and two of kraft, so expect to see snowy backgrounds on a lot of my cards in the run up to Christmas. This time I used my new Inky Doodles angel stamp, did a bit of paper piecing, and cut a few Memory Box stars. Sentiment is Craftwork Cards

and here she is on a kraft background - her dress is really sparkly, I used an extra fine glitter for that, and a chunky glitter with a few silver mica flakes for her wings. I stamped her twice, once with memento black ink, and once in embossing ink then embossed it in red. The bottom hem and the sash was cut out of this image, so in real life they are raised and shiny.  Sentiment is by Hero Arts

I think next time I will try a bit of conventional colouring, but when ideas sit in my head, well, they have to be acted on

Almost all the friends that I met up with at the NEC have gone down with a flu type illness, some are feeling really quite poorly. I am keeping my fingers and toes crossed that a sniffly little cold is the only legacy I get

Overheard in the shops today. 'If you don't stop whining AT ONCE, Santa won't come to our house. I told you, he is watching you......'
Poor little fearful four year old looked anxiously around, looking for the fat man in the red suit. He has five weeks of this maternal blackmail before  he can relax. No, I am not being judgmental, I'm a mum, we've all been there, it's just surprising how seeing the world through a grandma's eyes puts a different slant on things! Mind you, someone told me today, quite gently, that Santa wasn't real. Can you believe that? The things people say at Christmas!

See you tomorrow x

More NEC Samples

As promised, more photos of samples from the NEC Craft fair...... 

Every once in a while, you get a lovely surprise at these fairs, when you discover a range or product that you have never seen before. I had one of these moments when I found the Inky Doodles stand, I just loved all their samples and the very clean uncluttered lines on the stamps. They had a primitive/country feel to them, which is a style I love. Go HERE to see their full range - I asked the question for those of you overseas, and they post internationally 

This was the stamp set I just HAD to buy, pop back tomorrow to see some cards I've made with them 

Next, I wandered past the La Pashe stand, I know a lot of my USA friends love those wrinklies, so I snapped a few for you...

Then on to the Clarity stamps owned by designer Barbara Gray who does the most amazing things with an ink pad and a make up sponge. She has a brand new blog that I think a lot of you will enjoy, pop HERE to have a browse if you love stamping, tell her I sent you over!

So what did I buy with all this temptation everywhere? To be honest, I went with the intention of not buying much at all, I have unused stamps, a whole cupboard full of MDF stuff waiting to be altered (it's been waiting for about a year now..). But of course, when I got there I saw Memory Box dies, quite a few stamps (as well as my sweet angel one). Another bunch of MDF stuff which isn't in the photo. My resolve crumbled as soon as I walked in!

 The box with 'Paint your own Santa' on it is all ready for this coming weekend when we have young Max and Milo coming to stay for the weekend. I thought it may keep them happy for an hour (who am I kidding? It will probably take them ten minutes)

See you tomorrow x