BLOG CANDY FOR SPRING!!!!!

Spring is here but there is a long haul ahead to Easter and the sort of weather that might let you do a bit of crafting outside.....so to cheer us all up and to celebrate Paddy's Day etc etc I have organised some really delicious spring-themed blog candy which is up for grabs until 31st March.

Consisting of:
X-cut "Rome" Alphabet die set
Peeled Paint Distress Ink
A Selection of Wild Orchid Crafts Flowers
4 Rolls of ribbon
Massive selection of my own crochet flowers
Selection of my "Little Snippets" including Smiley Faces, Smiling Suns, an Easter basket and some of my "Scrappy Flowers" made from offcuts, left overs etc each flower is unique creation and very shabby-chic in style.

           Close up of Scrappy flowers (they are brighter than this in IRL)

To enter this Blog Candy Draw, which will be held on March 31st, the usual conditions apply:

1.  Be a follower of this blog
2.  Leave a comment here
It would be nice to spread the love and mention my blog candy on your blog.....but I dont insist.....

Enjoy yourselves
Geraldine x

"Springtime" Challenge

Hi Everybody,

Its the 1st of March, the sun is shining and its time for a new challenge at the By the Cute and Girly challenge blog.  This month the theme is chosen by Carol and its "Springtime"!  As usual there are four great prizes on offer

1. $20 gift voucher from SimonSaysStamp

2. £10 gift voucher from Joanna Sheen

3. $15 gift voucher from Little Snippets

4. Digital image and a digi paper pack (winner's choice)

    from JLJ designs

As always, you can enter this challenge with any craft of your choice as long as you follow the theme.  You can enter more than once as long as you show a different craft each time.  Please check out the full details here

My first Springtime make is a card using two of the sponsor's digi images (boy duck and girl duck) to make a card suitable for an engagement or a lovey-dovey occasion:

I used DCWV Mariposa paper for the background and frame, Papermania Glittered paper for the pond, roses from local Trimmings shop and my own Scrapbook corners.  Plus distress Stickles for the wings and a few touches of Glossy Accents for ducks' headgear.  I have two more Spring-themed makes to share and they will be popping up during the month.  As usual one of them will be the "Mad Crochet Item".....which has been known to turn heads/stomachs.
So get your Spring crafting stash out and make something for this months BTC&G challenge.  March is a very long month so you have plenty of time to enter.  Good Luck!
Geraldine x

PAY IT FORWARD 2011!!!!!

I have seen this posted on several blogs on the internet:

"I promise to send an original creation to the 1st 5 people who leave a comment here.  They must, in turn, post this, and send something they make to the 1st 5 people who comment on their status."

The rules are:

1.  It must be handmade by you

2.  It must be sent to your 5 people sometime in 2011

Please do not sign up unless you are fully committed to making your 5 items!

Now, I think that this is a brilliant idea and I have already signed up.  If you would like to receive one of my creations (and it will be an original, not anything that is for sale in my Etsy shop), please feel welcome to join in.  Somehow, I feel that the spirit of this operation demands something a bit more involved than just sending a hand made card or an ATC!  Sorry to sound narky but it is Monday morning after all!   Also, I intend to have my creations made and shipped by the end of March 2011 God willing...

So please join in and share your lovely crafty makes with the world!

Geraldine x

Aideen's Giveaways/Blog Candy

Hi Crafty Folks,

Just to let you know that Aideen, the master of minis/mini albums has some giveaways/blog candy on her blog including some of her Mum's crochet flowers so pop over here http://www.piecesbyaideen.com/  enter, and check out her incredible mini albums.
I'm not posting much myself because of ongoing dental problems-my gob is going to have to be totally rebuilt and if it wasnt for crafty stuff to distract me from the pain...I would be a public nuisance!
All the best
Geraldine x

RED + February Challenge at By the Cute and Girly Challenge Blog

Morning folks!  Its the 1st day of February and here on the northside of Dublin the sun is shining and there is a hint of Spring in the air.  Its also time for a new challenge at By the Cute and Girly.  This month the challenge is hosted by the gorgeous Ayelet and she has chosen "Red and one other Colour" as the month's theme.  Now I know you're thinking Valetine's Day but it doesn't have to be a lovey dovey make - just dig out some red crafty bits and combine them with one other colour.  All types of crafts (Baking/Cardmaking/Scrapbooking/Jewellery/Tags/Knitting/Crochet etc, etc) are invited - you can get the full details here - and see all the DT's red + makes, especially Lisa's Gingerbread Couple  and how they spent Valentine's Day.

Great prizes on offer from
                                      Simon Says Stamp
                                      Joanna Sheen
                                      Little Snippets
                                      Stamp Fairy.com

I choose red + chocolate brown for my makes.  The card uses a digi image from the StampFairy:  "Love"  paper is by Bo Bunny.

An altered biscuit tin left over after Christmas.  I used Websters Pages Garden Gala,the most beautiful papers I've ever come across, available  from here, and my own Little Snippets butterflies.  I made up some red net roses, added some pearly swirls from Prima  and finally some trimmings I inherited from my mother (a great woman for altering things or "getting at something" as she called it).  I punched two holes in the top of the tin and strung beads on wire through them for a handle.

 Have a great day and cheer yourselves up with a touch of red!
Geraldine x

A touch of the Orient

This month has been very busy.  Real life has taken over and I am going to have to think about WHAT exactly to concentrate on in the future.  I have been asked to do a lot of different things recently: Give papercraft classes/do wedding invitations/undertake personalised embroidery for a clothing company...(big NO to the last two!).  I have given craft classes/workshops for several years now but I do not charge (or like charging) for them because crafts have given me so much pleasure and direction in my life and I feel it is wrong to charge for spreading the good news!  I have fallen out with people over this attitude in the past but when when profit comes in Joy and spontaneity fly out the window.

Anyway, enough of my ramblings...here are a few of my Geisha cards made recently just for fun!

Papers used are all Papermania Oriental with MS punches and my own crochet/embroidered embellishments

Geraldine x 

Bling it on! New challenge for January from By the Cute and Girly

This month the challenge at the By the Cute and Girly Challenge Blog set by Tammy is  -   Bling it on!    Lots of great prizes to be won if you enter this month from
                         Simon Says Stamp

                         Joanna Sheen

                         My Grafico

                         Little Snippets

Adding lots of bling to crafty projects is no hardship so get blinging up your makes and enter here before the end of January!

Here are my Blingy makes:
First a Happy New Year card made using the My Grapico Stick Fairies digi images:

Calendar and Notepad sets made using the butterflies from the same set of digi images as the card.  The background paper is from Craftwork cards and the glittery card is from the Papermania A4 Glittered paper pack.

A pair of Swarovski crystal earrings ideal for blinging in the New Year!

That's all for today. Have been so busy working on this blog post that I've forgotten to feed the dog and he is now prowling around me looking starved.  

 Dont forget to enter and show off your bling!

Geraldine x