Mid month reminder at By the Cute and Girly challenge

Halfway through March already folks and a reminder that you have just over two weeks left to enter this months "In the Kitchen" challenge at BTC&G.  All crafts welcome: rules etc HERE

For my mid month make I've used our sponsor Spesch Stamps Princess with Cake" image.   I think this would make a good card for a little girl who wants to be a Princess on her birthday....the background card was coloured with an ink pad and stamped with an Inkadinkadoo flourish stamp.  I made the giant cupcake backing using card cut with a large scallop die and embossed with Sizzix embossing folder.  The cup part of the cupcake was embossed with a cuttlebug folder - think its the one that gives a woodgrain effect?? Love making my own embellies etc!!

Not forgetting all the great prizes available to winners of this months challenge at BTC&G ..

Prize 1: $20 gift certificate from Simon Says Stamp

Prize 2:  £10 gift voucher from Joanna Sheen

Prize 3: 3 digital images from Spesch Stamps

So dont forget to enter!

Ger x

Embroidered Cards

Entering this card in the ScrapbookSisters Challenge
Here are two Sympathy cards I made recently.  Everyone says Sympathy cards are among the most difficult to make.  What do you think?

Here is a lovely Sympathy card I received from Sabrina following Herbie's Death.  She has used the new collections from Docrafts.  Isn't it beautiful?  Thank you Sabrina.   

Sabrina is a DoCrafts demonstrator and you can catch her demonstrating at the Art & Hobby, Dundrum, Co Dublin on Saturday 24 March 10 am to 4 pm.

All the Best

Ger x

"In the Kitchen" - March Challenge at By the Cute and Girly

Hello from the warm, sunny northside of Dublin this morning.  You can feel the heat from the sun's rays this morning and there is a feeling of Spring everwhere.  Enough of the yap!  This month it is my turn to host the challenge at By the Cute and Girly and I have chosen "In the Kitchen" as the theme.

Whether it is big or small the kitchen is the heart of the home and the place where family and friends gather to eat, drink and relax.  So this month's crafty projects can be inspired by/feature baking, cooking, eating, drinking, anything at all to do with food and kitchen activities such as entertaining and celebrating.  

As always we have some great sponsors with fab prizes.

Prize 1: $20 gift certificate from Simon Says Stamp

Prize 2:  £10 gift voucher from Joanna Sheen

Prize 3: 3 digital images from Spesch Stamps

So hop on over to the challenge blog to see the Teams yummy creations, get some inspiration and please enter.

Here are my first set of projects suitable for spicing up your kitchen  decorations.  I have altered 2 wooden picture frames (from Poundland) by embellishing the frames with various dried herbs and spices.  I decided to leave the frames bare and natural for a change.  "Bake" and "Cook" were stamped and embossed for the center of the frame.  I used Clear Art Stamps Artsy alphabet for this.

In case you want to know...the "Bake" frame is decorated with Cinnamon sticks, Star Anise, Cardamon pods and Cloves.  The "Cook" frame has more Star Anise, Chillies, Bay leaves and pink peppercorns but you could use anything that's lurking in the back of the kitchen press.  No, I have never in my entire life used Star Anise for cooking...its purely for decorating with!  The one thing that I can't tell you is how wonderful this frame smells!  Any little blobs of glue were covered up with a shake of powdered cinnamon or clove and that folks is the recipe for an altered kitchen frame.

Happy Creating!

Ger x

Distressed Card!

Look at this beautiful picture:

This week at the Shabby Tea Room the challenge No 131 is to make a card or project inspired by the photo using blue navy and neutral with a distressed element.  Here is my attempt.

 The background is made from a sheet of Primas Pixie Glen paper concertina folded to give the effect of a blind or shutter with a frayed piece of a tea cloth (unused!).  Center panel is some embossed and sanded Core'dinations Whitewash framed by my crochet bead edging.  The stamp is from Hero Arts and the butterfly and lace corner (available here)are my own makes.

 Close-up of edge of card showing folds.

Detail of lace corner and bead edging.
Really enjoyed making this card.
Card suits the following challenges:
Crafts and Me "Pretty in Lace"http://craftsandmechallenges.blogspot.com/2012/02/challenge-73-pretty-in-lace.html
Crafty Creations Challenges "Vintage Fashion"
Thank you for popping by.
Ger x

Pink Flower Angel card

Here is one of the embroidered Angel cards that I make for charity:

Entering this to Flutterby Wednesday Challenge No:191
Thanks for looking.
Ger x

Cute Kitty Card

Made this card as Liam's Valentine.  Thought I'd better stay clear of anything doggy but as he loves cats...

 Nearly all the papers I used are freebies from the inside of magazines while the stamp is also a freebie!  The cat is embroidered on to a scrap of Prima Botanicals papers - the first time I tried this technique and the ribbon is from my stash.

                                                 Close up of embroidered cat

                                      Butterfly details
The tiny buttons are from Hickeys and the butterfly is one of my own makes.
Entering this card into
Paperplay challenge No. 7 "Critters"
Crafty Ribbons "Paws for Thought"
Ger x

"Love is in the Air" at BTC&G Challenge Blog -mid month reminder.

Just a little reminder that you have about 2 weeks left to enter this month's challenge.  It needn't be a Valentine card: any project made for someone you love is grand.  For details/prizes/rules/and some new mid-month inspiration from the DT see HERE
Well, I took the title "Love is in the Air" literally and made a          banner that could be used for an engagement or anniversary celebration as well as Valentine's Day.  The papers I used are from a Red/Pink Capsule collection from Papermania, the crochet letters are my own makes and the ribbon and ribbon flowers are from my stash.
Entering this in the following challenge(s)
Joanna Sheen's "Love is in the Air"
Crafting for All Seasons "Love is in the Air"
Clearitout Pink/Red challenge 
CraftyBloggersNetwork "Love is in the Air"
Ger x