I've given myself a kick up the bum!

This past year has been particularly busy with starting up Tando Creative and trying to get that going as well as running our existing business.  I had some time to reflect last weekend at the Bubblies retreat and realised I was simply doing too much.  I had been so wrapped up with work that I rarely had the time or energy to do what I love most and that is to create and when I did find time to do something I felt it was rushed and not enjoyed.

I'm now structuring my day to allow some time for me and time to create, I need to get going again on this blog too so here I am.....albeit at 5 in the morning haha!!

This piece I did for the Fiskarettes design team...full instructions can be found HERE.  There is lots of chipboard (obviously) but also lots of texture paste and paint....my love for paint is really coming back now after such a long break from it.

I have other things to show you so I'll try my hardest to make time to upload them.

Thanks to anyone that stops by :o)

Basket Case

My first design team project for the Fiskarettes.  You can find all the details HERE.

I've used a Tando Creative basket but I guess that's no surprise.

No doubt this will crop up on the Tando blog at some point too LOL!!

Ok this isn't going to last.......

.....yes, yes, I know, I've blogged for a 2nd time in almost the same number of days!!  I really am going to try and blog everything I make and seeing as I have said I will keep certain commitments, with the calendar challenge and now with the Christmas card club, I'm hoping I will at least blog a couple of times a month LOL!

I'm not holding my breath though!

Over on Bubbly Funk we are doing a Christmas card club, similar to the one we did last year (I did a grand total of 2 cards), but this year each month will have a different theme.  I'm kind of thinking that the theme idea will keep me going on it but we'll see.

Anyway, Joanne set the first month with turquoise, a swirl and some sparkle.  I've done the turquoise, done the sparkle but the swirl didn't really show it's face anywhere, but said in my best Meatloaf voice, 2 out of 3 ain't bad!!

My card uses some Tando chippie (no surprise there then as I have an abundance of it)!  I painted the stocking with turquoise paint, then coated with crackle glaze, then painted with white acrylic.  The top of the stocking is sprayed silver and whilst it was dry I added a bit of glitter.  I used Basic Grey papers and stitched round the edges.

I added the button detail on the stocking because my crackling hadn't gone too well in that spot and I needed to cover it up ha ha and then I finally added the ribbon and the stamped word Believe.

Here's hoping this is another challenge I can keep up with!

Shock of shocks I've blogged

Well I can't quite believe it, I've actually blogged.......I've actually done some crafting, that's even more shocking!  Life has been a little hectic over the last 6 months, I have been busy with a new venture, Tando Creative Limited.  It has been non stop 12 hour days right up until Christmas, so much so, I nearly blew myself out if I'm honest.

I had a bit of time off over Christmas and decided that I had to make time to do what I love most and that is crafting.

I love to blog and love reading blogs and both had been seriously neglected so part of my new regime for 2010 is to, at least, do a little bit more of both of those.  I doubt I will ever be an avid blogger, time constraints are always going to get in the way but I will try to when I can.

Anyhoo, Sharon on Bubbly Funk (and super duper DT member for Tando) told us about a fab challenge on the Kathryn Wheel blog....a Calendar Challenge HERE.  I decided, possibly unwisely knowing how I stick to these things, to have a go as I found the whole thing very inspiring.

I am actually keeping up to date with the daily entries at the moment which is a shock in itself but it is only the 6th January.

My January pages are quite simples really.  I used watercolour paper and applied a blue wash, I then stamped with a swirly stamp over the top in white.  My next job was to use 3D paste, that I'd bought for an online class that I never did *roll eyes*, and after dabbing it on with my finger I stamped the word January into it.  Given our current covering of snow and ice I wanted to give it a imprinted look in snow, like a footprint :)

I cut random sized squares from more watercoloured paper, inked the edges and stamped the numbers of the days on in white.   My intention is to doodle over some of the numbers but not all so I can still follow the days. 

Anyway, pictures are normally much more interesting so here they are:

 

Well hopefully it won't be another 6 months before I blog again..........but you never know!!

Cupcakes....

Over on Bubbly Scrumptious Caroline has put up for grabs some amazing challenge candy HERE You really must have a go at this months challenge and you get a double chance of winning if you enter next months too.

I have made a stand up recipe holder for my niece. She wants to write her recipes on record cards so I've made up a holder for them so she can just flip to the recipe she wants. The whole thing stands up so she can follow her instructions with ease.







Hopefully more creative stuff soon.....I have some thank you cards to make!!!

Welcome to Bacary

It was very exciting in my household yesterday as we had another new arrival. Let me present to you.....Bacary. A massive thank you to Kaz I have always wanted one of her monkees and this little fella is just the best.

Well he leapt up out of the box when I opened it and just look at his gorgeous face.



He was hungry when he arrived and he spotted my pineapple straight away.



Still peckish.....the melon wasn't safe either!



But I had to draw the line at Sanya training treats.



Then the big introduction to the other little fella in our lives. At first Sanya wasn't too interested.



Then he did actually sit up and take notice.



The first touch......awwwwww.



Soon they were best buddies and Bacary got to sit on Sanya's back.



Sanya even let him play with his toys.



And swing in his crate.



Before Bacary went out to play in the tree house.

Birthday card for a dear friend

Not blogged in an age....I have been so busy since FIL passed away and the arrival of our puppy Sanya that I've hardly done any crafting.

All to change soonish hopefully *wink*

Anyway, I did make a card for Gez, a dear friend on the Bubbly Funk forum.

Here it is:



Hopefully more soonish.

Bits and Bobs

As usual, lots of stuff going on and no time to blog. My posts seem to get shorter and shorter and fewer between LOL but hey ho. I haven't even had time to blog hop myself this week and I love seeing what everyone else has been up to.....tut tut.

Anyways, here's a selection of stuff I've been up to over the last few weeks:

A birthday card for my mum:









My Bubbly's retreat book.....not long now lovelies.





A present for my mum - a hanging notepad holder.









That's it for now....I think....more when I get the energy to do it ha ha!!

Birthday Card

Been busy doing.....well.....not sure really but too busy to blog obviously!! It was Tony's birthday recently and, as always, male cards are a bit of a challenge.

I could have easily have added a great big flower on the top corner of this card but I somehow don't think it would have made it very masculine ha ha!

Use of corregated card and blues and browns compensated for the rather slushy heart that I just had to add!!



More soon hopefully x

HOME wall hanging

Another instalment for the gorgeous Bubbly Funk April kit (available 1st April)....don't miss it, it's going to fly off the shelves.

I decided to make this wall hanging and I'm actually really pleased with it. It's hanging on my living room wall at the mo.

I've actually done a layout!!

Totally inspired by Irene Tan and the super gorgeous Bubbly Funk April kit (due out on sale on 1st April so don't miss it) I just had to do a layout. This will also double up as my Bubbly Funk retreat class thingy if we get time to do it. Personally I think I will be too busy chattering to do any crafting.











More soon peeps xx

Mothers Day card no. 2

Mothers day card no. 2 peeps. I used a vellum base for this one and of course, stitching and lace. The butterflies I got down in Looe in Cornwall (2nd one I've used...getting through them ha ha)!

Mothers Day card no. 1

The first of my 2 Mothers Day cards that I'm making, the second is still in bits LOL!

Not sure which card I'm going to give to which mum yet!