Sew mice ......

Once again I've taken this week's challenge sketch from clean&simple this time I've come up with a Thank You card.  I've also tried a different technique (for me) of colouring a stamped image with pro-markers but I think I need more practise!! I've had trouble with the black from the image bleeding into the colour - I need to establish the best ink pads to use with alcohol based markers.  This is the result:

I used small buttons to add detail and texture

Enjoy!

Paper Angel 2 .......

I've decided against doing the housework ..... instead I'm going to craft all day.  I'm fairly certain that the housework will still be there for another day unless the helpful elves visit overnight!!

Less of my ramblings.  Here is the second card I've completed using my current favourite Angel stamp and my current favourite technique of paper piecing.  The card is based around this week's sketch  for the challenge on clean&simple number 263! I like the sketch so I may make another card in this style.

The stars are peel offs - the closest to bling in my stash!

I visited a new blog this morning (new to me!) they also run weekly challenges - this week is anything goes as long as it's a Christmas Card and as this is a Christmas card I thought I would enter it there too.  Oops nearly forgot, you need to know the name of the blog C.R.A.F.T.Challenge 

Paper Angel ......

What a week that was!!  Not a great deal of time for crafting .... which always makes me sad but sometimes paid employment and housework has to take precedence.

I've been thinking about card designs I just wish they turned out as good as my imagination!  I thought I would have a go at the challenge over on "retro sketches" - in fact I've done nothing but think about it until this evening when I found some time to have a go.  The sketch for this week is:
     

The challenge is to design a card using the elements of this sketch - this is my attempt.

Paper pieced angel

I'm really not sure about it.  I love the image but I'm not convinced about the final layout especially the ribbon.

See how cute this angel is!

I think I'll still upload it to the challenge!

Black and White Christmas .....

My parents are quite divided when it comes to black and white cards - my mum loves them but my dad can see nothing nice about them.  As you will know the last Christmas cards I made were white on white - so I thought why not just introduce one more colour and see what happens.  My idea also happens to fit the challenge over at the 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown blog - where the challenge is to make a Christmas card without using green and red.  So here is my challenge entry.

The black on this card actually has a silver speckled coating

It's easier to see the silver speckles on this photograph.

I also tried the same layout but using a matt black card for the layering - the jury is still out in my house as to which is preferred.  I'll leave it up to blog readers to decide.  Here is the second card with the matt black card.

Back to textiles........

I've been so involved with card making recently that my poor sewing machine has been feeling left out.  I've a number of craft fairs coming up this Autumn and I need to get making otherwise my table is going to be empty!!!!

Last night I made a start and with more and more people using e-readers I decided to make some covers - it took three attempts to get the size right!  The first was too small and the second two big but I'm delighted to say that it was third time lucky!! So here is the first successful one and I have material cut and ready for more,  I just hope they prove to be popular!

Hopefully spots are in!  I do have some different fabrics so there should be plenty of choice.  If ever get organised I'm also going to set up an Etsy shop to see if people are interested in buying from me!

White Christmas ..... Take 3

This is the last 'white on white' .... for the time being at least!!!

As I went to bed last night I remembered that I had embossed some 'stamps' that my  Mum has and I began to wonder whether they would work simply mounted  white on white.  I added a little ribbon and a peel off sentiment to complete the card - here is the result.

The detail

This is for Chrissie at "Less is More" and will be submitted to the challenge!

I didn't think that I would ever make a 'white on white' card again after I completed my first one but now I'm beginning to think that they make a great change from all that colour!  I didn't realise that I owned so much white card but all different whites!!

White Christmas ..... Take 2

If at first you don't succeed try, try again .... so here is the second card I've made 'white on white' but this time I've added some texture by embossing a section of the card and the Christmas Trees.  I'm still not convinced but I'm not one to give up trying - there may well be a take 3!!!!

Maybe I should put this on "Less is More"  too!  I might just put it on the Keep it simple challenge as well.