Craft Event Today

I'm back from the Open Day at Knuston Hall in Rushden. It was cold to start off with this morning but then it became hotter and hotter and hotter and the crowds became bigger and bigger and people were sitting on the grass outside the marque.

What an earth shattering day talking/concentrating for that length of time. People weren't generally interested in seeing demos and a lot didn't even look at the stall. I heard some comments about people buying cheaper in town but I said nothing like a good little girl but it did upset me. I'd certainly not say something like that in front of people. In the end I sold £35 worth of cards/bookmarks/gift tags so £17.40 went to Knuston for Macmillan Nurses and £17.40 came to me.

There was a good mix of cards sold but I sold three cats from the Colour my World template and one sheep from another template I'd got. One card I could have sold 4 times over as three people came back for a second look and it was gone - it was a beautiful scene invertage from Sharon Duncan's Flowers Just for You that I won recently.

It was certainly an experience and it helped knowing you were there by my side literally. I have put some photos of the event above in case anyone is interested. Thanks for all your good wishes.

Can you spare a thought of me tomorrow?

Well, I've been very quiet of late and a very poor blogger - I hope you will forgive me.

I've had a bit of a frantic few weeks trying to make cards and also samples for an event I am going to tomorrow. I initially said I would go there to sell my cards for charity but then they asked if I would make cards in front of people as well so I said "yes". I've never done it before but I received some wonderful advice from Joanna Sheen, Tina (from Joanna Sheen's Forum) and Jak Heath about what to do/what to take etc. Still though my stomach is in knots already. I'm also nervous how my health will stand up tomorrow but I can only give it a try. I will try and take as many breaks as I can and I've got my flask out ready to take with me as I have to constantly have hot drinks especially when I talk a lot. I've also bought one of those travel mugs with a lid as no doubt I'd knock the cup over all over my work.

I've tried to do as many different things as I could but you could just go on forever and forever. I've used many different CDs, downloads, stamped images, templates etc and I have also taken some decoupage things to cut out if I have "spare" time.

I thought I'd attach some photos of the cards I've made up for demos. Some I made the card as it should look but nearing the end I just had to get the sample cut up/prepared. I just hope I've done enough for my stint from 11.00am until 4.00pm.

I'm a happy bunny!!!

Well, I'm such a happy bunny. I've won some lovely goodies in the Creative Card Crew challenge for last week. I shall look forward to giving Popcorn a lovely new home and the charms will be put to good use as well. If you haven't seen this challenge blog click here to go and have a look.

Thank you to the Creative Card Crew and for Bunny Zoe's Crafts for donating the prize which I'll put to good use for my cards I make to sell to raise funds for different charities.

Cute Daisy May Challenge 23/8/09

Over at the Cute Daisy May Challenge Blog this week the topic is blue and green. I've coloured this little girl in with my watercolour pencils/Inkintense pencils. The backing paper is from Joanna Sheen's Cottage Garden CD. The sentiment is a See D's stamp and it might look a bit strange in the photo but half of it is printed in green, half in blue. I saw this done the other day on TV so thought I'd give it a go. I've made a little flower with some Papermania papers and finished off with a bit of bling ie a green gem.

Commissioned Retirement Card and Three Clovers Designs Challenge 20/8/09

My husband asked me to to make an A4 card for people where he works could sign a card for a bus driver retiring. They weren't sure of hobbies etc so it had to be a bus card. I used My Craft Studio to make the backing paper with the unusual shaped illusion mat on top. The buses have been decoupaged. Just hope the recipient likes it!!

This card fits the bill for the Three Clovers Designs Challenge this week as the topic is planes, trains and automobiles ie a mode of travel.

Commissioned Birthday Card and Lili of the Valley Challenge 12/8/09

My hairdresser has a customer who wanted a special card for her brother's 65th birthday and who is into golf. I breathed a sigh of relief as I knew where to find a suitable image - Joanna Sheen's Victorian Companion CD. I cropped the topper and took into Word and made the corresponding insert.

This cards fits the bill for the Lili of the Valley Challenge this fortnight as this was to use a charm on your card.

Card for Customer for her Son's Girlfriend

My hairdresser is due tomorrow. She wanted an 18th birthday card for her son's girlfriend. She gave me quite a few topics to choose from - which was wonderful. Mainly she's into animals and especially dolphins so I chose this image from Joanna Sheen's Jayne Netley Mayhew CD and bumped it up to nearly fit a landscape piece of paper height-wise as I was asked for an A4 card. I've used plenty of mirri card as I thought it worked well and printed off the A4 backing papers and edged with ink.

My photo isn't brilliant and "no" I haven't made all these cards in one day - it's just the fact I've been able to photo them as the camera is on its third set of batteries already!!!

Corrosive Challenge Blog 23/8/09

Over at the Corrosive Challenge Blog the topic this week is jungle animals. I am trying to get some cards ready for my charity stall and thought these giraffes were so cute and fitted the bill for this challenge so well. The giraffes have been decoupaged and I have done some doodling on the edge of the backing paper.

Cutie Sunday 23/8/09

There is a lovely sketch over at Cutie Sunday and I thought this image with the harlequin paper from Summer Driggs went so well together. The image is from Lily-Boo's Boutique and this little boy is so cute.

Penny Black Challenge 22/8/09

Over at the Penny Black Challenge this week the topic is stitching so this card to go in my card stall stash fits the criteria for this. I'm terrible at taking photos with this new camera so please excuse me!!!

Card for Neighbour's Daughter

It is my neighbour's daughter's 10th birthday tomorrow and she loves horses so I thought this image from the Joanna Sheen Jayne Netley Mayhew CD was perfect. I took one of the toppers into my 3D2 Decoupage CD and made it into oval pyromage.

I'm still getting used to this new camera so you might have to bear with me for weeks, months etc!!!

Card for Four Challenges

Another card for my stall. I'm not sure the make of the stamped image as it was sent to me by a friend. He's such a cute little dog. I have coloured him in with chalks for a change as well as the edges of the papers and then added some ink. I seem to be getting a bit more adventurous. I saw Nikki on Freeview Create and Craft the other day making some flowers out of circles so I decided to have a go with a brown Papermania paper and two Basic Grey papers and put them in the Wizard and cut/embossed them, inked their edges, cut about 1.5cm in at intervals and then scrunched up the edges.

This card fits the challenge for:

Basic Grey Challenge - brown, yellow and pink (I have used three different Two Scoops papers)

Stamp Something - Birthday

Our Creative Corner - Colour Combo

Lots to Do Challenge - Paper Craze

Creative Inspirations Wednesday Challenge 19/8/09 and ABC Challenge 19/8/09

Another card for the stall. I'm not sure where I got the image from but I so love dolphins. It has been decoupaged and the backing papers are from Summer Driggs. This card fits the bill for the following challenges:

Creative Inspiration Wednesday Challenge - Spots, dots and circles

ABC Challenge - B is for buttons

Card for Four Challenges

Another card for the stall. This time I have fitted it in with four challenges. This little dog looks so happy at play. I'm not sure where I got the image from but he's been decoupaged up.

Cute Card Thursday - Lazy Dayz

CRAFT Challenge - use the picture of deckchairs as inspiration - I thought this little dog out in the summer field of poppies matched well for this inspiration

Pink Elephant - Summer

Theme Thursday - Seasons - so I have chosen summer

Dutch Dare Challenge Blog - 13/8/09

I'm not sure whether or not this challenge is still open on the Dutch Dare Challenge Blog but I can't see a new one so I have made a card for my regular stall using this topic of Christmas in August. I'm not sure where the topper/patterned card/snowflake is from as these were given to me.

Creative Card Crew Challenge Blog - 18/8/09

Over at the Creative Card Crew the topic this week is Christmas in August. I am making some cards up for a demo day I'm doing next week (stomach in knots already!!) and decided to make a few Christmas cards as well. I'm not sure where the topper/patterned card is from as I was given it and another person gave me the little snowflakes so I don't know where they came from either.

Daisy May Challenge Blog - 31/8/09

Over at the Daisy May Challenge Blog this week the subject is "and the word is?". I have used one of my newer Daisy May images and used a saying from a See D's set of stamps "birthdays are like flowers, the passing time brings forth the most beautiful blooms". The image has been coloured in with a mixture of Sakura pens and watercolour pencils. I have used some Papermania backing papers, some grosgrain ribbon and some gems to set this card off.

Well, it seems ages since I did a challenge card but it's only just over a week as we've been away. It's amazing how we like challenges as part of our life.

Please excuse the awful photo. I just can't get to grips with this new camera.

Two Anniversary Cards

Two of my brother-in-law and sister-in-law's have their anniversary in the next week. I have used my new Sharon Duncan's Flowers Just for You CD for both of these cards that have been decoupaged. If I go to the trouble of making a card I want to do it how I want it rather than worrying about postage. I just make sure that I add plenty of postage on the envelope.

Please excuse the state of the photos. Our camera broke when we were on holiday so we've had to buy another one this week but I just can't get to grips with it - not that I'd got to grips with the other camera after two years!!!!!

Creative Inspirations Challenge 12/8/09 and Lots to Do Challenge 15/8/09

For the colleague I am making a card for I wanted to get a little gift to cheer her up as it will be a long and slow recovery. As she's taken up cardmaking this year I thought I'd put a box of goodies together for her including card, paper, decoupage sheets, stitching sheets, ink pad, Christmas stamps, glue dots, clips and some double-sided tape. I know she won't be using them for a while but she can have them ready for when she is OK to do things. I have used Sharon Duncan's Flowers Just for You to decorate the box.

This gift for my colleague fits the bill for two challenges:

Creative Inspirations - to make a gift

Lots to Do Challenge - Free week.

Please excuse the poor photo as it has been taken on my son's phone as our camera has broken.

Papertake Weekly Challenge 18/8/09 and Crafty Creations Challenge 11/8/09

I have made this card for a colleague at work who has gone into hospital for a hysterectomy. I am hoping this card made with my recent winnings, Sharon Duncan's Flowers Just for You CD will cheer her up.

This card fits the bill for two challenges:

Papertake Weekly Challenge - to celebrate their 100th challenge we could take our pick from a previous challenge. I decided to opt for Monday 6/10/08 challenge of no stamping. As I'm so into stamping now I nearly had to do the other kind of stamping ie my feet as I decided to pick this challenge.

Crafty Creations Challenge - to use yellow.

Please excuse the bad photo. Our camera broke on the third day of our holiday. My eldest son has kindly taken this on his camera for us.

Some cards I made on holiday and Reminder about Cards for Charity

One day I stayed at the chalet and made some cards with bits I had already cut out from various CDs ready for the Dog Show that needs cards for the beginning of September and also another event I making/demoing cards at at the end of August. I would have liked to have made more but just didn't get the time and I thought it was important to get some rest but also to spend time with my family.

Some fellow bloggers wanted to make some cards for my charity events but wanted a reminder nearer the time. Here is your REMINDER as the first event is Bank Holiday at the end of August and the Dog Show is at the beginning of September. Any donations would be more than welcome. Just add a comment and I will contact you back to give further details. Thanks to anyone that can help. I do appreciate it and I know the charities will do as well.