A very special person and a very special card...

This morning I am sharing with you the card that I have made for my mums friend who celebrated a very special birthday this week...

I will be honest and say that we have not seen eachother as often as we should in many years, but over the Easter holidays her daughters and I surprised her when we turned up for lunch so that she could meet my boys (should have done it years ago)

Anyway we will not lose touch now and I imagine that there will be many more lunch dates in the years to come - even if only to show some more VERY embarrassing pictures as we were all growing up! hehe

Happy Birthday Margaret!

So on to the card!

I decided that I would used the glass glitter which is something that I purchased ages ago and have not used... I PVA'd the numbers all over and threw the glass glitter over the top and left it to dry... This enabled me to fill in any gaps that were showing... Again leaving the glue to dry... 

a close up of the glittered numbers

Once I had finished this I mounted the numbers on to a craft panel where I attached ribbon. I added a brad to the bottom right hand side. I then mounted this onto card stock and then the card blank on which I inked the edges...

a close up of the ribbon and the layering

I hope you like my card and thank you for looking. Your comments are much appreciated.

Debbi x

I will be entering my card in the following challenges:
stamped blessings - anything goes
dream valley - special lady
kenny k's kraft girls - anything goes
platypus - bling it up
sketchy colours - mint, pink and white

Fat Page DT

I decided that I would do something slightly different today - I created my fat page on a card blank but only decorated the inside so as you opened the card the scene of the bee hive was displayed - I think that the works...

Morning!

Hope you are well this Saturday morning and enjoying your Saturday!

Today is a busy day here with swimming, shopping and housework (well not too much housework!)

I am sharing today the Fat Page that I have made as my DT project... When deciding on which image to use as soon as I saw this collection I knew that I had to use these... My name is Deborah and that means 'bee' in hebrew I am drawn to them...

On the middle of the card blank I added a pice of yellow card and used another background paper to each edge that I have again coloured in yellow and orange ink...

On the inside of the bee hive card added another piece of the background card and coloured this also.

I created a stand for the hive and colloured this. 

On this picture I am pleased that my thumb is not covered in ink I normally am! lol

I hope you like my fat page and thank you for looking I am hoping that you will also join in the challenge with us...  The sponsors for this weeks challenge Meljens and freshly brewed designs

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog today and I appreciate all your comments... Have a great weekend and happy crafting! 

Debbi x 

I am entering this fat page in the following challenges:

clearly istamp - spring

crafts for eternity - spring

ATC and cards with ATTITUDE DT

Hello!

Today I am sharing with you the ATC that I have created for this weeks challenge over on ATCs and cards with Attitude. 

She is a beautiful image and I knew straight away that I needed to create something with her - I love it when your crafting inspires you like that!

She is from this months sponsor Stitchy Bear is she is called berry fairy... This is why I chose to colour her the way that I did and teamed this with cherry cobbler card and black... I decided to keep the ATC very simple and only add a couple of details

I have inked the edges of the image and added a strip of cherry to the bottom of the image and mounted this on black.

This was then added to the blank ATC and I inked the edges of this with cherry ink...

The dangly gems that are on the right hand side of the ATC are from an old bottle of perfume! They took a few attempts to secure but I think they are still as effective... 

REMEMBER WE AS CRAFTERS NEVER MAKE MISTAKES/ ERRORS WITH OUR PROJECTS DOESN'T OCCUR IT IS BESPOKE! 

I then added three little square gems to the bottom left hand side of the ATC.

Here is a close up of the image - beautiful design I am sure you will agree... The sponsor for this week's challenge is Limited Runs

The challenge this week is one layer and as you can see I have not done this so what I am going to do is create a new ATC and post that under here that will be one layer - to create texture I will use a background stamp... Trust me to forget the challenge (shakes head - it was my challenge as well!)

Thank you for looking and I really appreciate all your comments

Debbi x 

I am entering my ATC in the following challenges:

crafty catz - anything goes

emergency crafters - bold and bright

inspire me friday - anything goes

poodles parlour - anything goes

4 crafty chicks - no stamping (image is digi)

Lilac and shading!

I am sharing a card today that I have made using one of the stamped image sheets that I got at craft group and I am rubbish and didn't write the name down...

I have colour the image using my pro-markers and I am really pleased with the result... This is definately a technique that is the more that you play with it the better the result gets!

I have used SU ribbon at the top of the card and I have added 3 gems to the bottom left of the card. The DSP is one of the newly released shabby chic designs from the creativity club and I love them! The sentiment is one of the verses from curvy verses also SU.

I have distressed the edges of the panels and this is a card that I am really pleased with the end result!

Here is a close up of thee colouring I have done - highlighting the shading to both the hair and the dresses on the image...

I hope you like my card and thanks for looking!

As always your comments are appreciated...

Right off to bed for me - more tomorrow! 

Debbi x 

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

aud sentiments challenge - anything goes

play date  

for your inspiration 

just inspiration

Good News... and a card

Good evening everyone...

Hope you are all well. I have had a busy couple of days and I am sharing lots of exciting news with you this evening... I have been chosen to be a member on two design teams and I feel very honoured if you had said to me at the beginning of the year that I would be on a design team let alone several I would never have believed you...

It has given me more confidence in my work and I feel that my crafting is developing and I am enjoying much more than I have done in a very long time... Something that makes a massive difference when you are making cards... If you are enjoying creating I really believe that it shows in the cards....

So I am first of all very excited to be on LEJ Design Team and cannot wait for the challenges to start 

The challenges will start on the 1st May and I hope that you will join us

LEJ Challenge Blog

The second piece of news that I have is that I will be on Daisy Collins  

DT for May and I am sssoooo looking forward to this I have created a card today using today's sketch

This is my take on the card ...

a close up of the colouring - she is so cute!

I have coloured this sweet LOTV image and then created the card using daisy's brilliant sketch

I hope you like my card and thank you for looking - I am very excited for my crafting journey and the journey that I find myself...

Happy Crafting 

Debbi x

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
crafty creations - for little girls
elphine house - one for the girls pink/purple
wishcraft weds - something forgotten - die cut flower


papershelter 
crafty sentiments - for a child
scrap creations - its a girl thing

A very old stamp...

So today I am sharing a card with you that I made on Sunday evening for the challenge that I organised on the facebook group Cards Galore - I am the boss of the challenges and the lovely Debbi Powell has even made me a badge to prove it! lol

It seems that the cards galore team are all getting new badges for their blogs so look out for these!

here is mine - 

The challenge that I uploaded for Sunday evening was to create a shabby chic or vintage card...

I used this picture for inspiration:

I love the look of this room and I love all the co-ordinating little bits that are included!

The card that I created was using one of my oldest stamps which is a forever friends stamp and I love it.

I decided that I would use very muted colours with my card and I used some DSP that I have had for many years (one of those that you don't like to cut up!) but has very subtle colours - they remind me of spring and new blossom - even if we are having such rainy and cold weather.

I have coloured the forever friends bear with my water colour pencils - something I have so rarely used but love the effect that they give... I have then distressed the edges of the card and mounted the image on to pink, cocoa and white coloured card.

I have added a tab of ribbon to the right of the card and stapled this... I have added 3 card candi to the top right of the card and the sentiment is mounted on pink card and DSP.

Here is a close up of the image:

I hope you like my card and thanks for looking - if you would like to join us in cards galore - check on facebook and Linda Simpson the head bouncer - may let you in!

as always your comments are appreciated.

Debbi x 

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

ribbon carousel - anything goes

art with no boundaries - anything goes

forever friends - think pink!

love to create - anything goes

stamp and create - think spring

lets ink it up - distressing

paper sundaes - lets get cute 

stamptacular sunday - loads of layers

basic grey - spring

Daisy and Dandelion...

So over the last couple of weeks I have been looking at the different stamps that I have in my stash that have never even seen ink... this is far too many and I am sure that if you look through your stash you will have some!

I found my Daisy and Dandelion stamps over the weekend and decided that it was about time that they got inky - or at least one of them...

The card that I am sharing tonight I love - it is not very often that I am very pleased with a card but this I love it, I think it is more to do with the colour combination and the layout of the card that I like... 

I coloured the image with my pro-markers and used my stampin' up! card (what else) and creativity DSP to create the background of the card.

I have distressed all the layers of the cards including that of the image and inked the edges...

The DSP is from the creativity club shabby chic and I have to say I love them - they are well suited to the muted tones of this card... I have added a happy birthday sentiment to the right hand side of the card and I have added 3 buttons to the right hand side of the card.

Here is a close up of the image I have stamped - 

I hope you like my card and thanks for looking!

Your comments are very much appreciated!

Debbi x 

I am entering this card in the following challenges...

CES challenge - buttons

love to create - anything goes

make it monday - anything goes

Live on the Edge... the crafty pad

Today I am sharing with you a card that I made for my DT submission at the Crafty Pad - live on the edge... I am beginning to love edges to cards where previously I have stuck to a style of clean and simple - I am trying to step out of my comfort zone! So why not join us this week I cannot wait to see your creations!

The card that I have used is using one of my favourite designs Sewing Machine and elements - I think that silhouettes are great to work with and I am loving the fact that so many of them are included - I am not a sewer but am looking to invest in one in the next few months even if it only to use on cards!

I used a white card blank and used a piece of DSP from craftwork cards which I am sure you will agree suits the card very well... I have used a border punch down the edge of the card and also down the DSP. I tied ribbon detail to the left hand side of the DSP and then added 3 card candi to the right of this. I cut out the sentiment and mounted this on basic black card and then stuck this to the bottom of the silhouette. I have kept the card relatively simple and the colours very muted - but I think that they work great together.

A close up of the edging!

A close up of the ribbon!

The sponsor for the challenge this week is creative craft world. I hope you like my card and thanks for looking - I also hope that you will join us in the challenge this week and live on the edge with us!

Thanks also for all your comments they are much appreciated

Debbi

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

card craft circle - stitching

inspire me friday- anything goes

phindy's place - stitching

scrapbookaholic and abbey - use black

the stamp man - shabby chic 

wags 'n' whiskers - anything goes (second entry)

weddings...

As we come into the summer months and we begin to get the warmer weather - where I hear you ask...

Well we SHOULD be getting warmer weather...

This is the time that people's mind turn to weddings

So today's post is showing a couple of samples that I have been asked to make...
Are you getting married??
Do you know someone that is getting married??
If you do please send them my way and I will make their wedding invitations for them - they will be taylor-made for them and will co-ordinate with the colour scheme for the wedding...
If you would like further details please email me -
debbitaylor76@googlemail.com

This card uses a simple bride and groom stamp and is edged with silver. I have also included a velum front to the card...

a close up of the bride and groom - this can be stamped in any colour and taylored to suit your needs.

An embossed card also available in any color scheme... silver added to the embossed front

jewel detail added to the left of the card and silver ink ran over the embossed velum.

If you would like further details please email

debbitaylor76@googlemail.com

thank you for looking and as always your comments are appreciated!

Debbi x 

House Mouse a little cutey...

This morning I am sharing a card with you that I have made using a House Mouse design and I love it... These images are so cute and lend themselves to be crafted into beautiful cards...
I have coloured the image with my pro-markers (again!) and I have inked the edges of the image with a dauber. I then added glitter to the image to create that extra little dimension to the card and it that extra bling.

I then decided that I would use one of my craftwork cards blanks that I purchased at Harrogate - if you know me well you will understand that for me this is completely stepping out of the box I do not do 'shape' cards... For the DSP background, I drew on the reverse of the paper to get the same edging as was used on the card.
I like this effect I have to say...

I then added a craft border to the left edge of the card and tied some cherry cobbler seam binding in a bow to this - I have to say I love seam binding ties to well and even I can tie a decent bow (another surprise! hehe)

I added the image onto a piece of craft card and inked the edges and then added a diww cut with hearts around. In the top left I added 3 card candi and the sentiment happy birthday to the top right.

I hope you like my card and thanks for looking!

Debbi x

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
crafters' companion - four legged friends
crafty sentiment - spring
sir stampalot - anything goes
card makin mama's - make it girly

so much like my boy!

Hello!

This post is very late for me today as I have been running around today - a lot more than usual, taken doggy to the vets and have been given drugs for him, he fits in well with me at the moment! I made this card a few days ago and I love it... The stamp from Crafters Companion is coloured with my pro-markers and i love the detail that is picked up from the stamp when coloured. I have outlined the image in grey 1 to make it pop... Do you think it does??

I have then mounted the image on green and blue card and then again on to a top note of newspaper print on which I inked the edges... I then found the next stage very hard - I ripped the panels of card and used the background - I also did the same for the sentiment.

This is a very different card for me - but I am liking the effect!

thank you for taking the time to look 

Debbi x 

(not sure why the pic is the wrong way round - it shouldn't be!)

I will be entering this card in the following challenges - 

high hopes challenge - anything goes

use it tuesday - anything goes - the background card pieces are about 3yrs old!

cheerful stamp pad - antique - image of school boy 

there she goes - dads!

DT FAT PAGE - fancy a challenge??

Apologies to the rest of the DT team for how late this post is...
Today I am sharing with you the DT fat page that I have created for fat pages with attitude the challenge this week is also faces/ anything goes and I will be honest I wasn't thinking about the theme when I picked an image to work with...

I have coloured the image which is called 'Toadstool Buggies' with my polychromos and sansador. I love the effect that you get from this and love how you can add to the colour and create so much depth. I decided that I would make the toadstool the focal point of the fat page and have used silicone to decoupage the image so it stands out...

I have then mounted the image on to the back ground of the page which I have created using a piece of garden green card and inking the edges a piece of DSP from the 'enchanted set' and a border strip from the christmas scrap booking kit - but I think it works really well here! I added three card candi to the right of the page and some glitter to the image to add a little sparkle!
I hope you like the page and thanks for looking...
Debbi

I am entering this fat page in the following challenges:

art with no boundaries - anything goes 

karen's doodles - spring

make it monday - anything goes 

simon says stamp - anything goes 

whoopsiedaisy challenge - anything goes 

ATCs and Cards with Attitude - fancy a challenge??

So it is that time again when a new challenge has been set over on ATC's With Attitude new to making ATC's - so am I have always loved the idea and I am now getting addicted to making them - lol (another thing to add to my list!) 

Why not grab a few minutes to join us in the challenge and have a go - they are so good... When creating one as a card maker I do find it challenging however I am slowly getting passed that - what I tend to do is look at the image and think card but smaller (this works for me!)

So with this little cheeky chappy I decided that I would colour him with my pro-markers, but rather than use subtle colours I went - bright...

Once I had coloured the jeans I used a blender pan to fade them and I am really pleased with effect that this gives... Where pro-markers are concerned I am still learning and I am pleased with the progress that I am making.

I decided that I would decoupage his head as originally the challenge for this week was supposed to be 'faces' but it has been changed to anything goes... I secured the decoupaged heads with silicone and am pleased with the effect.

The background for this ATC was kept relatively simple - the lime green was the ATC blank coloured with my promarker to match and then I stippled he blank with basic grey and a brush - just to add a little depth.

I then mounted the ATC on to navy blue card to match the jeans in the image with a panel of lime green card as well. In the bottom right of the image I added three card candi to the panel and inked the edges of the panel also.

So why not come on over to ATC's with Attitude and have a go at the challenge - this week we have a great prize on offer from Limited Runs (some amazing images)

I hope you like my ATC and thanks for looking...

As always your comments are appreciated - Debbi x

I will be entering my card in the following challenges -
Crafty Catz - include an animal
Crafty Ann - its a man thing
Wags and Whiskers - anything goes
Samuel Taylor - green

My craft space...

Today I am sharing with you where my crating takes place...

It has long been a standing joke for the people that know me well that all my crafty stash is stored under my bed in storage boxes and this is why I struggle to keep things tidy and organised!

There of course is the stuff that I use all the time that I keep on my desk and there is also the stuff that I have recently purchased that is still not away... Harrogate was how long ago?? lol

So the first picture I am showing you is what my desk looks like once I have cleared it and set out what I am working on or am looking to finish - my trimmer is always handy as is my SU stamping sheet - I couldn't craft without one of these now - as I always make a mess! and they get changed every few days - I always turn them over too!

The desk tidy to the left is one that my good friend Deborah gave me about two years ago and again I couldn't do without it as everything goes in to and I have things that I am looking to use in the next projects that I do - popping out of the top...

Here is what I have to take off the desk - before I even get started!

I have it down to a fine art now and it only takes me a couple of minutes and I am reducing the amount of stuff that there is as I use something the remainder will be tidied away...

This of course always has to go on the desk at night otherwise me and hubby would be having to sleep on the settee - no unplanned early nights as you can imagine as I like to craft every day!

I hope this has given you a little peek into where I make my cards/ projects - why not also post where you are your more craftyiest!!

Thank you for taking the time to visit and your comments as always are much appreciated!

Debbi x 

Ultimate Blog Challenge...

I didn't post yesterday as the day just seemed to get away from me - so I thought I would share with you my scabby dog!

He is a beautiful boy (to me) and was a birthday present from my daddy just over a year ago... 

So how did we come to get him??

My dad lives on the Wirral and he had been to the dogs home several times with my sister as she was looking for a dog... My dad know that my best friend had two shar-pei's and had paid a small fortune for them. When speaking to the dogs home he learned that my guy had been there for several weeks and no-one looked even vaguely interested in taking him home. 

I went on the website to have a look at him and fell in love...

My hubby didn't really want a dog and we were worried about how much looking after he would need as he has a bad skin condition and a lot of his fur was missing on his back and down his legs and under his belly...

I phoned the shar-pei rescue centre and got some advice with the care that he would need...

I then phoned the dogs home - who advised that they had phoned animal welfare who would only give him 7 days to be re-homed if nobody took him - he would be put down...

Ready for Santa Claus with his stocking!

Being a cheeky boy - curled up on my bed!

So my best friend and I jumped in the car to go and visit him - he looked so sad we both ended up in tears and I agreed to take him - with my dad picking him up after the weekend giving me chance to get the things that we needed to care from him...

So meet Rufus! He is definately a mummies boy as he follows me everywhere - even if I am doing the housework he sits with me as he needs to have me near! Yes that even includes when I am in the shower or on the loo! ;-)

My lovely boys big wrinkly head!

So here is my beautiful boy and yes he is still a little scabby but he is very loyal my family and he is a lovely addition to the family... This is a very different post for me and I hope you like my lovely boy!

I will post a card later today and thank you for looking!

Rufus is currently asleep on the floor in front of the window - he is the laziest dog ever - will not walk far!

Debbi x 

Stamping on Wood! a tutorial...

So here is my first tutorial... so please bear with me!

One of the things that I love about paper crafting is the way that you can can take just about anything and transform it to look totally different from when you first started out...

I love to do this with photo frames and I love to try and make a co-ordinating card that will match... These are perfect to give as gifts.

Here is the picture frame before I started:

I then chose the stamp set and colours that I would use to decorate the frame... Some frames that you purchase do not need to be treated before you begin stamping (like this one) other frames do need treating... but a simple wash of PVA glue mixed eqully with water will allow the wood to seal and stop any ink bleeding once stamped (and this is even true of the very cheap frames from Ikea!)

Once you have decided upon the stampset that you will use and also the colour of ink, I like to decide which stamps I am using with which colour and set them out accordingly - so that I don't have to remember them whilst decorating the frame!

Once you have everything prepared begin stamping the frame - with a set as versatile as circle circus you can just randomly stamp without really worrying what it looks like once completed... This is one of those sets that you cannot really make a mistake with (probably why this is one of my favourites!!)

Once you have completed the stamping it is important that you always clean your stamps well... When I first found stamping up this was one of my first purchases and one that I continue to use on a daily basis when I am crafting - the stamping scrub and mist... I never use baby wipes anymore to clean my stamps... This is perfect because of the bristle effect you are able to clean even the most intricate of stamps with the scrub and the stamping mist - (if you would like more details on these please email me I will be more than happy to help!)

I then created a card to match the photo frame using the same coloured inks and card, the edge of the stamped panel has inked edges and I have used a tiny happy birthday sentiment also stamped in the same colour ink and have also inked the edges of this too...

TA DA!

Here is the finished project... I hope that you like my tutorial - this is my first one and I loved showing the process that we go through to create something we can be proud of once completed...

Thank you for taking the time to stop by and your comments as always are greatly appreciated!

Debbi xxx

I am going to enter my frame in the following challenge:

Always Crafting  - anything but a card 

Make it Monday  - anything goes

Smudgy Antics  - anything goes 

Getting Cricky - favourite project 

Gingerloft Challenge - anything but a card 

here come the boys  - anything but a card