Hand Crafted Memories

I haven't disappeared, I've just been working on projects that can't be revealed yet. In the midst of this activity one of my friends at work welcomed his baby son. As he was a few weeks early I was caught off guard and had to come up with a couple of cards. It gave me the chance to get out my Promarkers again, its been a few weeks since I did any colouring and now I'm hooked again. I've stamped a few images out and today I will be found in my craft room colouring in, among those images are a pair of new baby cards, one for a boy and one for a girl. I don't want to be caught out again.    

They say practise makes perfect, so I've been practising. I needed some cards for babies that are due to arrive over the next couple of months, and I recently bought this stamp from Lilli of the Valley . I was trying to resist buying Flex markers but have now realised that to get the effect we were taught at the recent workshop, I do need them. I still need more practise I think.  

I was asked last week for to make a card for a baby boy, then quite by chance Ineeded a baby girl card as well. I have this thing about making new baby cards in pairs, I've no idea why but usually I like to make one for each sex. The stamp on the baby girls card is one I use loads and it always makes me smile, it looks great for both boys and girls. I've had the little boat on the boys card in mind for some time now, I tried everywhere the get the embossing folder that you see in the background. You won't beleive how happy I was when I finally got my mitts on it.  

Another class completed and photographed, class 8 over at A Trip Down Memory Lane was for a home decor frame. I loved the idea but I don't have anywhere to put it. I decided to use the idea and make a card for my friend ready for when she has her baby daughter. I really enjoyed making this and hope it is still eligible. I couldn't quite work out where to get the template from so I decided to go with the tag shape again.

I know I'm not posting in order but the layout challenges need me to collect photos, so although they are 'miostly' done I don't want to post until the photos have been added. This class was to make some cards, perfect for me I need to stock up the supplies we use at work. This year we have three expectant parents, although we don't know what they are having I felt to have a selection meant we would be prepared. Here are the cards I made for the class

Here was another opportunity to combine two challenges. Daring Cardmakers are looking for layers on the card, they are sponsored this week by Teri's Delicious Doodles .  Allsorts are looking for a baby or child's card and they are sponsored by wink wink . No excuses needed to use my favourite from Craftwork Cards , their colour me ovals , although these are not on the website, I know they have them in stock. Contact them if you want some. I also like to pair of cards if I'm making them for my stock, that way all bases are covered when the new little one arrives.   

My friend had a new grand daughter arrive a couple of weeks ago, so I made her a nappy cake and card. For some reason I forgot to post it. I'm getting quite a reputation for the nappy cakes now, I have to say I love making them and they are always gratefully received. I love this image from an old Woodware set that I have. I have had it for so long it is yellow but still stamps beautifully.

I almost forgot the post this card and mention the fabulous competition over at the Sir Stampalot Challenge Blog . The deadline is 12 o'clock lunchtime on 28th April, so I'm sliding in under the wire with this one. The theme of the challenge is Fantasies for you to interpret how you wish. Fairies, pixies, goblins elves all popped into my mind and I immediatly thought of this stamp. My best friends son and partner have just had a little girl, they are so happy the waiting is now over, this also made me think of this stamp. a little elf waiting. It was stamped and embossed with black ink and black embossing powder, then glitzed with pink and lilac glimmer mists. I masked the moon so it didn't get glitzed, then added some glossy accents to make it shine, dropping a purple gem over the end of the swirl. The rest is self explanatory. Phew! just in time. Don't forget you only have until Friday to enter the Craftwork Cards Card Candy Challenge , there's a great prize o...

We continue with our Craftwork Cards Challenge, this weeks sees the start of the O is for Ovals leg of the challenge. Don't forget you have until the 26 th (this Friday ) to enter the W is for wraps challenge, there are some great entries so far go and check them out. I made several cards using these ovals, they have become one of my stock staples as they never fail to disappoint. i love the ones with flowers and butterflies on, so much so that when it came to this challenge I didn't have any 8-( Here is my idea, I love layering them and adding bits onto them to make them 'pop'. This card is a triple card only 4" square, but this adds to the cute factor. Come back tommorrow to another version. You have to go over to the craftwork cards blog to look at a sneak peek of their Glitz and glamour range. I can't wait to getit into my sticky fingers, its gorgeous!!

I've made a couple of cards, the first one was a gorgeous new boy card that I made at the Craftwork Cards workshop on Saturday, I loved it but I have this thing about having to have a new girl card handy as well so I made it a partner. I'd seen these zig zag cards on various blogs and was never too keen, but I love these, I'm thinking of my Christmas cards. The ovals from Craftwork Cards are gorgeous and make it really easy to create a great card. Then a male birthday card, these are always hard to think up, but I make all the cards for work and as it's mostly men I have to think about it all the time. So when I get an idea I do it straight away so I don't forget. More crafting planned for the day now all the housework, washing and ironing is done.