No blog saturday

Sorry didn't blog yesterday, but had a chance to go over and visit baby sis and her new baby, just about the only thing likely to stop me crafting. Both of them are looking beautiful!

No crafting today either, as I had to do some decorating(which tends to turn into crafting), after all I need some where to diplay home decor projects.

Did collect loads of photos from baby sis though, so normal service should resume shortly, though hubby has day off tomorrow so not likely to get much crafting done then either.

Fingers crossed!

Big Congratulations to Lorraine over at Lorraine's Creations on her 1st blog award

love as always Gina x x x

ooops !!!

I seem to have lost my followers pics. Don't know what I've done? Don't want anyone to think I've removed them on purpose!!! Help!! If you know what I've done could you please let me know so I can fix it!!
Loads more love than usual Gina ???

It's the little things...

Todays image doesn't have a title, but it is a beautiful image from "Dezinaworld"(there's a link in my blog list), and it's free! They are just starting a Wednesday Freebie spot so check it out.
As soon as I saw her I knew I had the paper to go with her. The twiggy branches behind her look just like pussy willow about to bud, so I backed her with the pussy willow paper from K&Co's Blossomwood collection(my fav at moment). After colouring image I used tiny spots of pearly paint(various brands available) to highlight the buds on the branches. The sentiment from CC's Peter Rabbit stamp set reads "Appreciate the lttle things", and I always do!!!
Love as always Gina x x x
P.S. you might also like to check out Marjie's Malarkies for some more freebie images.

Get Well Soon!

Todays blog is for Wendy over at Digital Doodling. A pain in the neck is especially uncomfortable for us crafters as we spend a lot of time bent over projects.
I've used the latest free download from Digital Doodling called "Tilly on a mushroom", and though you can't see him, there is the cutest little snail in the bottom righthand corner of the image. The background paper is from the "Blossomwood" collection by K&Co.
Best wishes Wendy, I hope your feeling a little better each day.
Love as always Gina x x x

Beatrix Potter Banner

Late blog today as I've been playing with Beatrix Potter CD's from Crafter's Companion. This is a banner for Bumpy's bedroom. I printed the letters from Mrs Tiggy-winkle cd in largest size, and then printed de-coupage images in A5 size from Mrs Tiggy-winkle, Peter Rabbit and Tom Kitten cds.

I then punched holes and added eyelets to thread ribbon through.

Hope you like it. love as always Gina x x x

Whoa! No blog monday?

Sorry no blog yesterday as it's nearly end of tax year so hubby is trying to use up his holiday days.(not much chance of crafting while he's home, finding things to do!)
Anyhow, this is my entry for this weeks Scraproom blog challenge. It was a sketch for a 2 page 12x12 layout set by http://thescraproomblog.blogspot.com/www.letsscrap.ning.com
It really is quite a complex layout, with specific photo sizes, and stitching( I suppose you could use rub on or stitching templates if you have them). I just poked holes with a pricking tool and stitched through the paper.
love as always Gina x x x

Life's adventure...

I thought it was time I had a go at a few challenges, so this is my entry to The Scraproom Blog's week#7 challenge. They give you a sketch to work with, but you can use whatever products you like!

Her's hoping I manage to "upload" it correctly ha ha!

Love as always Gina x x x

Our Peter Rabbit

This is my 1st project with the new Beatrix Potter CD's from Crafter's Companion. The lettering. backing paper, borders and 3D embellishment are all from the Peter Rabbit CD. The rabbit in the photo is one our border collie adopted after seeing of the greyhound that was digging out the nest. Unfortunately the rest had all been killed, so she carried it home(I was with her) and we kept it until the following spring when we released it back into the wild. It actually lived in the sitting room in the side-board!

Oh, and I must thank my son for the money to buy the CD set, as he finally got his student grant through(applied last june), and gave me some money back we had to pay out for trips and food and stuff.

Off to play now. love as always Gina x x x

Little Star!

Say hello to this fridays freebie from Polly Craft. His name is "Willie" and he's just adorable! I've coloured him with copic ciao markers and added glitter to the stars with a quickie glue pen. I made the backing text myself with a free "Walt Disney" font. He relly is just too cute for words, thanks Polly Craft!!!

Write your own text papers!

Oops! Should have moved off craft desk first, but at least you now know I have got one. Quick scrapbook page for my collection.
Inspiration: Crafter's Companion Challenge pink/black and Paula from Polly Craft who suggested making your own text paper.
I used My Craft Studio graphics programme to make the black and grey background paper using free font downloads and a Spencerian print from The Graphics Fairy. I think it opens up great possibilities where scrapbook journalling is concerned. Have a go yourself. It's only a sheet of paper and some ink. You don't need a posh graphics programme, you can just type out a document using the different fonts on your computer in different colour, onto coloured paper you already have. Once you get confident you could add text to pieces of patterned paper.
Love as always Gina x x x

New Old Master

As promised a pic of the framed photo. In a smaller frame the image might have been lost, but in a 12"x14" it makes a strong impact.
It's for Chunky Monkeys room which is oriental themed.
Love as always Gina x x x

So Sleepy......

Not going to get any crafting done today I think. Got over excited last night thinking about Beatrix Potter goodies I bought, and I've got a house full today.
So I thought I'd share this photo of Chunky Monkey and his new cousin Bumpy. I've printed this image out on A4 canvas paper and framed with deep red mount and black frame. Sounds harsh but looks like an old oil painting. I'll try and take a photo to post.
Love as always Gina x x x

OOPS! Nearly missed one!

Good grief! I nearly forgot to blog today! To excited about the Beatrix Potter release tonight. Been tidying and cooking pancakes, oh yes, and planted 3 willow trees.
As for crafting, I've been playing with "My Craft Studio" graphics programme making background papers for a scrapbook page I'm planning, so here's one I made earlier. The main image is "Mrs Tilly Claus" from Digital Doodling (and yes it was a freebie!) I've cut her out, but she is actually standing with snow falling round her. I think she's gorgeous!
Love as always Gina x x x

Inspirational challenge no4

Here is my entry for the Crafter's Companion Inspirational Challenge no.4
The elements I've taken from the photo's are ; the rose, pink/purple and black contrasts, glistening dew.
The backing paper and Rose fairy are fron CC's Flower Fairies CD.
Love as always Gina x x x

Polly Craft challenge"34" Double Up

This is my entry for the latest challenge from Polly Craft. It was set by Joanne, and requires the use of 2 polly craft images. I am new to the site and only have 2 images so starting was easy! I resized, and printed the "Love from above" image onto an A5 page, then coloured and glittered the balloon. The second image is "follow the leader"which I've cut out, coloured and raised on foam pads.
Hope you like it
love as always Gina x x x

Crafter's Companion Members free download!

Think I just found my "OMG" moment. This is what I've made with the free download for Crafter's Companion members. It's a sample of what's to come on the new cd they are releasing on Tuesday's create and craft show(9pm). All I've added is a few peel offs.

Race you to the buy now button on tuesday!

Love as always Gina x x x

OOOOOOOHHHHH!!!!!!!

Sorry, I know I promised, But I'm off for my first cuddle today.

Love as always Gina x x x

Lovely Free Images

Sorry, a bit blog happy tonight. Hubby was home all day so I didn't get my crafting fix til now!
Just had to share this lovely image from The Graphics Fairy site. Try them out, the lady there has been posting free images since 2007 and there are thousands to trawl through.
By the way, just incase there is anyone out there that does't know about Crafter's Companion, they're bringing out a new CD on tuesday nights Create and Craft show and it's" Beatrix Potter". I'm already jumping up and down, and creeping round Hubby. Can't wait!
Love as always Gina x x x

A man in his element

No good, couldn't resist another visit to Magmypic.

This is my eldest "Shorty" (yes he is over 6ft tall now). He's at uni now studying Enviromental Geography with a view to living in a hut somewhere counting trees! Nearly all my favourite pics of him are "up a tree". Got a lovely one, by accident, thats in silouhette. Just point and click you never know what you might get.
I printed that one out as A4 size and, put in a frame, it looks like one of those prints you can buy from furnishing shops.
Love as always Gina x x x

Fab Friday Freebie

Made this card with the fabulous freebie from Pollycraft.
I think the bright zinggy colours have been inspired by the lovely tropical weather we've been having lately(NOT).
The image is called Sky Fairy-Love from above and she is scattering little hearts as she flies by(they're covered by the sentiment).
Hope you like it. Love as always Gina x x x

Cuttlebug Cutie

While I'd got the "pink stuff" out I couldn't resist making a card with this freebie from Digital Doodling called "Little Issy skipping". And thanks to Lorraine at Lorraine's creations for reminding me that I have a cuttlbug! The embossed foil paper really shows off Issy's bright smiley face. She really is a cutie. (she does have a rope on the original image, I snipped it out to add a piece of sparkly thread)
Love as always Gina x x x

Chloe's 1st Year Book

Not that I've been waiting for years to do "girly pink stuff", but here's Chloe's 1st scrapbook page. Her mum's got loads of clothes and toys already so I thought I'd make up an 8x8 memory book as a gift. All the layouts are made up she just has to add photo's and bling (and jounalling). The whole book is made up from Brenda Pinnock Sucerie papers, with Disney princess's chipboard motifs as accessories. I bought a plain pink book and decorated the cover by stamping on all the little nicknames we've had for her while we've been waiting. I promise that my blog won't just be pics of her from now on, but please forgive these little indulgences as Her mum used to call me " mummy Gina" because I had already met my hubbie when she was born and I helped raise her til I left home.

Love as always Gina x x x

Gorgeous Girl!!!

Hello Baby! Welcome to my new neice Chloe. 8lb 2oz at 5.17pm today.

Can't wait to go for a cuddle. Well worth the wait. Congratulations and well done sis!

Love as always Gina x x x

Cards for Delia

I've just been blog hopping and found a moving request on Dustin Pikes blog page. He is helping a friend to cheer up a poorly little girl. If you can spare the postage, check out Dustins blog for more details.
This is the card I am sending her, and I've enclosed 2 owl photo's as she is very fond of them.
Pass it on
Love as always Gina x x x

Squeeelie day!!!!

1st Squeal!!! Can't believe I got spotlighted on Digital Doodling blog. Thank you everso much for your lovely comments Wendy.

2nd Big Squeeeeeaaaal!!!! Baby sister finally allowed to join "labour party". Apparently you have to be 3cm dialated to qualify these days, eventhough she's been having contractions every 5mins since last thursday!! Poor love, it's her 1st aswell, she's coping brilliantly and I just want to tell everyone how proud I am of her x xx.

See you soon Bumpy!
love as always Gina x x x

Nearly Valentines Day!

3different styles of valentines card you might like to copy. The Birdy one is using Joanna Sheen papers from "The Country Diary" cd, and the other 2 are traditional and contempory designs from Cuddly Buddly.

Hope you enjoy them.

Love as always Gina x x x

Ahh Bless!!!

Just got Digital Doodling's newest freebie "Bess" and isn't she adorable. Her slight air of mischief makes her ideal for "I'm Sorry" cards, and her big soulful eyes are sure to get your apology accepted. Sentiment written by hand (as all apologies should be) on brown paper with white sakura pen. I thought it would look like she'd written out lines on a chalkboard.
Love as always Gina x x x

Thanks Buddies

I definitley need to slow down a bit and get some housework done. Yeah I know, but hubbies got day off so I can get some furniture re-arranged. Might as well vac at the same time!

This is another lovely image from Cuddly Buddly that could lend itself to so many different occasions. It's simply titled "Ellies". Would make a lovely "from our house to yours" welcoming card to a new neighbour.

Love as always Gina x x x

Cuddly Buddly Friends

Found this Free image among many others at Cuddly Buddly Crafts.
It's called Farmyard Stack and I love it. I also got the free blinky link banner from them (one of several to choose from). You might like to hop over and give them a look. I'd describe their images as sweet not sugary.
Love Gina x x x

Oh dear!!!

My name is Gina and I think I'm a Digital Doodling addict!

The lady with the basket is called Country Tilly, and her neighbour is Little Jeanie.

I don't normally do "cute" but these images are irresistable, and lend themselves beautifully to all colouring techniques. What a wonderful way to use up oddments of backing papers you just couldn't bare to throw away, you just colour the image to match. Brilliant!!

Love as always Gina x x x

P.S. It's going to kill me waiting til xmas to use the bauble Tillies...

Magmypic challange

This is my magazine cover, loving this gadget. Visit Digital Doodling to find out how it's done, it was so easy even I could do it! (well second attempt anyway derrr not very good with left and right!)

Love Gina x x x

Condolence with a difference

This beautiful image is a freebie from Digital Doodling called China Belle. While colouring, I began to appreciate the calm serenity of this simple image, and found myself thinking what a gentle "with sympathy" card it would make. So I kept the colour scheme simpleand mounted it on a hand stamped backing paper. The sentiment reads "when you lose someone you love"
love as always Gina x x x

Crafter's Companion Challenge 3

This is my interpritation of Daniele's sketch. I've never done this before so I hope I've followed the instructions properly. The 3 papers are all from CC's Flower Fairies CD(buttercup section) and the stamped images are from CC's matching stamp set, coloured with Copic pens.
Hope you like it.
love as always Gina x x x

found this site through a friend!!! It's full of gorgeous free downloadable images. Check it out it's called Digital Doodling.

My Skater Boy

I love it when I've taken photos and manage to get a sequence to use all on one page. 3 is a good number, but if you can manage more just remember to print them small enough to make a page. If you can't do that, think of a double spread, or even a little brag book/mini album. This works especially well for family days out, and are fun to look through when your stuck indoors because of the weather (which is happening a lot lately).

At this time of year photos can appear quite dark because of the sun being low in the sky, so try using zinggy coluors to lift them. I've used papers with lemon, lime green, tangerine and sky blue, combining stripes and spots to give the page energy.

Hope you like the effect, Chunky Monkey did, it's going in his album.

love as always Gina x x x

Visiting George...

This is a page inspired by a visit to Julie Bonner's blog "Starting now.." She designs sketches that are featured by other sites, but is now writing her own blog. She makes up some wonderful layouts, and when I learn how to leave comments I will tell her so!

The photos I wanted to use were too big for the original layout so I have had to alter it slightly. I chose 3 co-ordinating papers (guess who's) ,not too busy because of the complex branch formations in the photos. The dark circle and border have faux stitching in white around the edges, the paler blue is a subtle polka dot cut out with fancy edged scissors. The titles are made up from alphapet stickers, but the journalling in the side column is hand written. Always try to hand write something on your page. Just one word will mean so much more to future generations.

Back to yesterday's blog. Big DERRR! Totally miss informed on one item. The card on the left is not Rose's Garden it is Spring Blossoms, and the background paper on that item is from "Roam" matt stack by K&Co. My excuse is that it was teatime and I was being hounded by offspring and friend.

I have now concluded that mornings are better for blogging, when everyone else is out!

Love as always Gina x x x

Some favourites

I usually work with scrapbooking pages, but today I thought I'd share 2 of my favourite cards with you.

Both cards use Bloom and Grow papers by My Mind's Eye, and stamped images by Sarah Kay. the only real difference between them is that Rose's Garden (far side) is embossed with gold powder and watercoloured using twinkling H2O's, while Best Friends is printed on coated card and coloured with Copic Ciao pens.

It's always worth experimenting with different colouring techniques and your favourite images, you could be pleasantly suprised by the outcome.

Why we take holiday snaps...

Every time I go out with my family I take a camera. When we get home I download the pics onto my computer. They stay there for ages until boredom drives my to browsing one day and "Hey Presto" a new page is born!

A simple layout of layered contrasting papers (Brenda Pinnock again) with the addition of a couple of homemade flowers. I can't afford lots of punches, so to make these flowers simply draw circles in various sizes( I used 3 different sized storage pots to draw around), mark the centres, mark each circle in 5 segments (like slices of cake) and draw a heart shape in filling each segment. And you end up with a Tudor rose effect. I used sraps of paper to practice on before making them with the papers to match my page. Oh, remember to draw on the wrong side of your good paper.

Inking around the edges of the petals gives a different effect too.

love as always, Gina x x x