Still getting used to the copics....

I've been using my new pens as much as possible and getting used to them slowly. I just need to increase the range of colours to enable me to improve my skills, which brings me neatly on to this blog candy on 'Crafty Goings On' which is giving away a set of 72 copics. OMG! how much would I love to win that.
I originally made this card (below) for my Father-in-laws birthday but my husband pulled a face and said 'it's a bit girly isn't it?' and I suspose he's right (even though I hate to admit it), so I found another handmade card which I'd done awhile ago.


Hope you like what I've done so far, keep practicing!

Check out the new pens....

Yes yes yes I've got some more ciao copic markers!!! I started off with 3 and bought another load today. Now trying to get the hang of how the colour works. Have to wait until pay day now to see if I can afford some more. Happy, Happy, Happy!!!!!!!!!

Anyway made this card to put on a challenge but missed the deadline never mind it's all coloured with my new copics.

Just Magnolia challenge week - Sketch by Tab

Here's my Just Magnolia challenge entry for week 15, I used papers from the 'Wisteria' collection of Basic grey and assorted card from my stash. The image is coloured mainly in watercolour pens with skin tones done with copics. The brads and sequins are from my stash.

This card is for my father-in-law who is still very very ill in hospital, not done a card before as he's just been so bad we weren't sure if he would make it and it almost feels wrong to take the card in now. But he was sat up in bed when we visited the other day and we had a conversation with him (of sorts) for the first time in over a month! We don't want to get too excited because he is still so very ill but it made me cry when I saw him smile and ask what time was tea time!

A spoon full of sugar challenge 'Swirls'

Here's my take on the challenge 'Swirls'
I used a Peek-a-boo box from craftwork cards and sprayed it with Glimmer mists in Turquoise blue and Iridescent gold and Moon glow Glitz spritz in Desert moon endless sky, I used a glimmer mist stencil from fanciful stencils set to create the swirls.
Whilst that was drying i made the keyring using assorted beads and charms from my jewellery making stash and then punched out a scalloped circle of shrink plastic and stamped an image from 'Bubbly T for transparent' Penny black set. Making a hole with a hole punch first so I could thread a jump ring through afterwards.
Next I used my Big shot to die cut out some tags which I stamped with images from the same set and then coloured with watercolour pencils. Next I inked the edges of each tag and then attached the smaller two to the box with brads and the largest with a piece of ribbon to the lid.
I'm really pleased with this, which makes up for the peek-a-boo box i spoilt yesterday!

It's still raining ahhhhhh!!!!!!!!

What's with the weather? It's still raining please can we have the sun shine back, i'll be good I promise. I want to be able to get into the garden without having dodge the frogs which have taken over and have the nerve to come up close to my house! I won't hurt them but they should move back to the little river that runs along the bottom of our garden. Anyway enough of my frog related ranting.

Here's what I've made this morning, I was watching Create and Craft and the lady on there was making paper flowers which were really cute, so I've done my little twist on them. I've used some ramdon bits of paper from my stash, mainly Pink Petticoat and some Doodlebug. I also found some paper buttons which were buried in a folder full of things I'd forgotten I had, they came from Craftwork cards.



Also the other day I made another Christmas card using my new Copic markers, yes you heard me right I actually managed to buy some, it's only 3 so don't get too excited (unlike me who needed a brown paper bag when I went into my local craft shop on Sunday to discover that they are now stocking them, at £1.95 each which is quite a good price I think?) I've bought the flesh tone colours to start with and will build on them from there. It's a Magnolia image coloured with my new copics and watercolour pens, the background paper is one I had for a while now and bought a second set of cos it's so pretty with a beautiful shimmer to the paper. I stamped a snowflake onto shrink plastic to add as a charm, the deco trim is die cut with a Hello Kitty die.

Cute card Thursday challenge 69

Cute card Thursday 'Christmas in July' well it might as well be Christmas cos the weather is as bad!
Anyway I used a Magnolia stamp coloured with watercolour pencils matted on some Bling cardstock, next I used Glimmer mists and Glimmer screen to create a background paper. Stamped a 'Merry Christmas' sentiment. Also stamped some clear shrink plastic with brillance inkpad and used as charms inside the card. It's quite simple but ok!

Colour create challenge week 23

For this challenge I used my much loved but under used Peacock stamps from elusive images I had a bit a spending spree last year and have most of the sets!
The shrink plastic charm took me 3 attempts as it kept sticking together but after lots of swearing I managed to get it right.
The ribbon and beads are from my stash. I stamped the Peacock lady image in black stazon and then coloured with h2o's and watercolour pencils.

A spoon full of sugar challenge 'Swirls'

Here's my take on the challenge 'Swirls'
I used a Peek-a-boo box from craftwork cards and sprayed it with Glimmer mists in Turquoise blue and Iridescent gold and Moon glow Glitz spritz in Desert moon endless sky, I used a glimmer mist stencil from fanciful stencils set to create the swirls.
Whilst that was drying i made the keyring using assorted beads and charms from my jewellery making stash and then punched out a scalloped circle of shrink plastic and stamped an image from 'Bubbly T for transparent' Penny black set. Making a hole with a hole punch first so I could thread a jump ring through afterwards.
Next I used my Big shot to die cut out some tags which I stamped with images from the same set and then coloured with watercolour pencils. Next I inked the edges of each tag and then attached the smaller two to the box with brads and the largest with a piece of ribbon to the lid.
I'm really pleased with this, which makes up for the peek-a-boo box i spoilt yesterday!

Just Magnolia week 13 Sketch by Mina

Here's my twist on the 'Just Magnolia' challenge sketch.
I've used a Tilda from the butterflies collection so cute! Coloured with watercolour pencils and H2o's, then matted onto Bling cardstock, the papers and stickers are Doddlebug.

Colour create challenge 22

Colour create challenge 22 is lots of Greens and yellows pretty bright summery colours yum to make up for the fact it's raining during MY holiday how very dare it!









I've used Magnolia stamp coloured with watercolour pencils and chalk inks and papers, ribbon and gems from stash. The dragonfly and flowers are punches.

Cupcake craft challenge 48

Here's my entry to the 'Blossoms & Butterflies' challenge, A magnolia stamp coloured with my whispers pens, the papers were a freebie from a magazine and a little bit of ribbon from my stash.

I've actually made some cards!

Just some cute Magnolia stamps which I'd coloured last week and not had time to make into cards. The papers toned in well so there you go.

A few days away from Zummerset....

Back to normal now, we've just come back from visiting our daughter in Nottingham. It's great to see her and I hate leaving and cried like I always do which my husband and daughter just roll their eyes! I forget that she's nearly 21 and very independant (As she always has been, since a toddler really!)
She couldn't get any time off from her placement on Friday as she's only been there a few weeks but we managed to keep ourselves busy by going to the Yorkshire sculpture park. What a great day, loads to look at and we must have walked miles but good for the soul.

Here's some pics of the day! My fav is my husband with the very very big bunny!

News update....

Still awaiting my own computer so still no pics to upload, not that I've done much crafting over the last couple of weeks. What with work and my father-in-law still really ill in ICU. unfortunately there's not been much change, he is breathing by himself with a little help but is still not come around yet. It's been pretty upsetting for us all and hard to go in to see him cos' you can't talk to him and get any response. I hate to see my husband upset, but we have to be strong for Rex.

Anyway on a fortnights holiday now so will have more time to craft and get in the garden. We're going up to spend some time with our daughter, which I can't wait cos we haven't seen her since April!

Now I'm afraid it's back to the mountain of housework which has built up this week, deep deep joy!!!!