Check It Out

 Over at Fab'n'Funky it's all about the Checks. Or if you prefer tartan or even plaid.

So I have amde a sweet little card for a lovely friend who's birthday is fast approaching.

I love the Gorguss stamps and have quite a few of them. I overlaid 2 heart-shaped doilies (fractionally off-set to give a sense of depth). I used subtle colouring to compliment the plaid/check background papers. But also to allow the doily to take centre stage. 

Last week I rediscovered a pack of brads I thought I'd lost, so of course they had to be included.

 

I have had a mental couple of weeks with craft-shows and comicons and I will share it with you as soon as I've uploaded all the photo's and video.

 

Hugs & Happy Thoughts

Buffy xx

Spooky Season is upon us........

 Hello my lovelies,

We're back!

I know it's been a while but we are now back up and challenging everyone to show us their creations.

And we haven't forgotten that it is SPOOKY SEASON.........

I have to admit I am far more of a Halloween fan than a Christmas fan, there is just something so enjoyable about trying to frighten the neighbourhood children. 

But my nextdoor neighbour is definitely the king of scares 😱 and the children always come back for more screams....

So here is my creations for our Fab'n'Funky challenge.

I used a chalk pen (it's slighty waxy) made a cntral circle then used my finger to smudge it outward to create the haze around the moon.

The witch & pupmkin are from Waltzing Mouse stamp sets. I stamped each image several times so I could layer them up to give depth.

Hugs & Happy thoughts

Buffy xx

Goodness, how time flies

 I've just looked up at the calender and I'm in shock.....

OCTOBER!!!

How did this happen, where has the year gone??? Unbelievable! 

Well these things happen.

Keep an eye on the Fab'n'Funky Challenge blog as we are back up and running from next wednesday. And we haven't forgotten that it's spooky season........Mwahahahaaaa.....😈

I can very proudly say I have grown my first pumpkin

It's not big but it's mine and I am very proud of it. I should have come out of smug mode some time in the next few weeks 😂

 Anyway.... 

I shall be back soon with more sharing....

Hugs & Happy thoughts

Buffy xx

Christmas in July

 Morning 

So I've been busy creating my charity card sets. Each year I like to create a few packs of cards to donate to charity shops for them to sell. 

As a DT for Fab'n'Funky Challenges I like to share my makes in hopes of inspiring others to do their bit to

As you might have guessed, this weeks theme is:

Anything Christmas

(but seasons greeting is also good 😉)

So without further ado, here is my inspiration creations

I used a cute little gingerbread man die as my main focal point.

I made a mask before stamping the candy canes so the eyes, mouth,etc, would remain blank when the topper was added.

Promarkers for colouring in the canes and to finish off the cute little gingerbread ribbon I discovered in the bottom of a box.

Hugs & Happy thoughts

Buffy xx

#532 C.A.S. with Colour pallette option

 

Good morning all

It's Buffy here with our new challenge for this week here at Fab'n'Funky Challenges

 

 

Our challenge this week is 

 

C.A.S

(we want to see your clean and simple creations. But to add a little bit of extra to the challenge we have a colour pallette too)

I'm quite proud of the colour pallette I created for this challenge. I used one of my photo's from our Portsmouth trip.

 

I stamped the little sailboat and clouds (F.T.L.S -Ahoy Matey set) and created a mask for it.

I then used Bashful Blue inkpad and a sponge to blend in the sky.

The boat was finished using Promarkers (Ice-grey 1, Ice-grey 2, China-blue and Burnt-Sienne).

If I had felt like it I could have made a larger mask that would keep the blue sponging in a more confined space but I liked the more natural roughness.

Please check out all our lovely DT blogs.

Hugs & Happy thoughts

Buffy xx

Christmas no card

 Hello

Another exciting week over at Fab'n'Funky challenges

Our challenge this week is 

Christmas but not a card

(anything christmassy but not a card)

 So I had a little bit of fun with my best friend Heather and we made 

Paper Baubles

Super simple and fairly quick to make

You just need:

• 6 circles (all the same size)
• Glue/double-sided tape
• String/ribbon

 All our lovely DT always appreciate a visit - HERE

Hugs & Happy Thoughts

Buffy xx

Wedding

 Hello lovely people,

We're thinking about long term commitment over at Fab'n'Funky challenges

This weeks challenge is

Wedding 

show us your beautiful

I discovered a small box of pearlescent cardstock when I was moving my craft stuff into my shed. It seemed like the perfect medium for a wedding card.

Here I have used pale beige and cream with lots of layering.  

Sunshine at Fab'n'Funky #522

 Hello

So this week over at Fab'n'Funky we are looking for

Sunshine Colours

I had great fun using stencils for this creation. (Stencil I forgot I had 🙈)

So I started with the lightest colours 

I bought these a little while ago and I am really enjoying using them, "finger ink blending brushes", I find they are much smoother than the foam finger blenders and they don't breakup like foam does.

And of course I label them after use, who wants to cross-contaminate their blenders 😉

For the narrow branches I used a good old fashioned cotton buds

 Sometimes the simplest solutions are the best.

The finishing ribbon was simply put on using double-sided tape.

Just slowly worked my way round the corners, folding them at 90degrees to produce a neat 45 degree angle.

Please leave the lovely design team some love and go have some fun.

Hugs & Happy thoughts

Buffy xx

Fab challenge

Hello my lovelies, I hope you have had a GREAT week and you are ready for some more sharing.

So here is Fab'n'Funky's challenge offering

Our challenge this week is 

NEW

optional-change it up

this weeks theme is all about new, so babies, homes, jobs, etc. 

(Optional extra - try one colour scheme but for both 1 male & 1 female version.) 

I decided to colour-in my chosen stamp with the same colours, I then based all the backing papers and accessories on those colours.

So the Prams are coloured in using ProMarker colours March Hare, Tawny Owl & Olive green, with slate on the tyres. The backing papers were from the same collection (can't remember the name 😔) with a muted colour palette. 

I also used a woodgrain textured paper, minimising its use on the feminine version. 

Stamps - WMS sentiments & FtLoS New arrival

Ink (sentiments) - SU Olive green

Corner punch

Wooden gems 

 All our lovely DT always appreciate a visit - HERE

Hugs & Happy thoughts

Buffy xx

From My Design Table - DnD Dice bag

For my youngest daughters birthday I decided to make her a new Dice Bag.....yes a dice bag!

She's into DnD and has a few different dice sets. But let me share the story of how the bag came to be.

 It starts with an idea - you have no idea if you can pull it off or how to start or if it will work, BUT you carry on and have a go and that's what really counts, having a go. First comes a tatty looking sketch of what you want to make.

This is how everything I have ever shared with you always starts, and yes sometimes even I can't make sense of my scratty little sketches 😂

My pattern making is quite hit or miss, and a project can change several times as it goes.

I also don't own all the fancy dressmaking tools some people may have, so normal household object get drafted in as sewing tools - in this case it a an old record we inherited that was badly scratched and unplayable (yes, we still own a record-player). 

So we have an inner/outer main base plus the bottom support. Maths time, divide 360 by 7?!? no by 8 to give pocket positions. I hope I'm not underestimating how many sets of dice she has.....especially as there are two sets sitting here on my desk (they were on her wish-list from an Etsy company called Luffleberry) 

Pockets - I originally considered just flat ones but as I looked at the dice sets I realised depth was a must. The angles meant figuring out a shape that would hold the sets comfortably (easily get the dice in and out when required). BUT, I want each pocket to have embroidery on it, so I had to trace the pattern that I came up with onto the fabric so I could position it in my embroidery hoop.

The other two pockets were still being embroidered at this point. 

A little press with the iron before top-stitching and attached to the base

To finish the inner base I created a base circle from the outer fabric to add a little contrast. I then quilted the outer fabric.

As I was sew I kept looking over at the inner section, it occurred to me that it looked a bit like a lily-pad, so there was only one thing for it.

It needed a little frog, it was probably also in my mind because my daughter keeps putting the most adorable YouTube clip up on the telly- it's called "Coqui song" (if you get the chance click the link  and go take a peek, it's so cute)

So it was then just sewing the inner and outer together, and adding the drawstring.

Of course I couldn't resist adding a little embroidered bee to the outside.

Well, that's it for the moment. I have to go make the hubby's birthday present now. But I'll be back soon with more sharing and some news on new Scan'n'Cut videos I've been planning to make.

Hugs & Happy Thoughts

Buffy xx

(Wild_Nanna)  😉

Fab'n'Funky Flowers

 So over at Fab'n'Funky challenges we have a lovely cheery theme

Flowers

Show us your flower power 

And I have two offerings to share with you.

Firstly a subtle green stepper, I have to confess it's a little bit of cheating as it is a TL die I bought a few years ago at Doncaster Crafting Live. The flowers are another TL die from my 2019 advent calendar.

This bright & bold card consists of some fabulous patterned paper I have had for over 5 yrs.

Pastel strips in one direction with bold strips woven the other way. I couldn't resist adding black flowers (TL die). This card was created with one of my friends in mind. I  know she'll like the bold colours. Not sure how she's going to feel about the 3 sheet of A4 that are the letter I included 🤣.

Please visit all our lovely DT's over at Fab'n'Funky challenges and leave them some love.

Back very soon with some crazy creations.

Hugs & Happy Thoughts

Buffy xx

Spots and Stripes

 So I misread our DT brief for this weeks challenge - DOH!!!

We are doing... 

Spots and Stripes

over at Fab'n'Funky Challenges 

BUT 

I had noted it down as spots OR stripes like a ninny. And made a spotty card for my granddaughter and a stripy card for my nephew And here they are:

A simple, slightly steam-punkish card for my nephew. I was so happy when I rediscovered my wonky-squares dies. 

Cute spotting card for my little granddaughter. Can you guess how old she is? 😉 Just simple layering and a ribbon. The number die is the newest addition to my crafting stash and it's about a year old.

All cardstock and backing-papers are from old supplies of my stash collection. I'm still determined to work my way through the 2 boxes of backing-papers I have unearthed during my move into my crafting shed, which has now been dubbed Nannas nook. Photos to follow shortly

Please check out our lovely DT's creations and leave them some love.

Back soon with updates and sharing

Hugs & Happy thoughts

Buffy xx

Christmas challenge

 We are organising our Christmas card stash over at Fab'n'Funky challenges and I decided to die-cut my heart out to create a little Xmas wreath out of tiny leaf dies. 

Well, I've always been a little nutty 😜

The tiny leaf dies were a freebie from my TL subscription from 2019. It took me a good 20mins to cut the all out and a further 20mins to organise them into something that looked reasonably decent.

The Merry Christmas ribbon has been hiding in my stash for several years, so have the backing papers. 

Simple layering with the upper background papers are on foam-pads, the wreath also has foam-pads on the upper half and glue on the lower edge that is in contact with the raised backing.

The little reindeer has also been in my stash for several years and when I rediscovered him he became the focus of my design for this card.  

I am also happy to point out that this is the first card I have made in my She Shed 😀 The shed isn't quite finished but it's close.

Pop over and share some love with our lovely DT.

Hugs & Happy Thoughts

Buffy xx

Goodbye 2020 (Part 2)

 July - 

  Started the month with homemade Panko pork steaks, I was delighted with how well these turned out.

Then came a lovely zoom crafting session with my friend Tracey and some of the other ladies from our old crafting group.

Homemade Carrot soup with homemade herb bread plait, very tasty.

Closely followed by some cute crochet food

But I think one of my favourite activities had to be the Jennie Rayment online class. I love her style of dimensional sewing, texture through folding. 

It makes a great placemat, I only wish I had more of these fabrics so I could have made a set.

Ah well, I'll start the fabric search.

August - 

August means tutorial time, one of my truly enjoyable activities. Fab'n'Funky challenges take a summer break, so I write a tutorial so our lovely followers have an activity, and I always try to make it family friendly (it is the school holidays after all).

A little bit of dinner experiment, a sort of Japanese style stuff cabbage leaf parcel.

Turned out very nice. One day I'll remember to type up the recipe, especially as I took step by step photo's.

And of course more crochet, to be more precise, more food crochet.

September - 

Christmas cards, buttons and a colouring tutorial (slight mistake but not major), what an interesting month.

Oh and a new cushion for Mawgan's return to Uni. The chairs in the rooms are a little bit uncomfortable, but she decided against taking her gaming chair.

I had to use my embroidery machine on it, I just couldn't resist.

October - 

It finally arrived

I know it doesn't look like much at the moment but my Crafting paradise will be perfect soon. (Hopefully)

Lots of card-making of course

Best part though was preparing for the 500th post at Fab'n'Funky challenges, I had the crazy idea of doing a blog hop for it. I couldn't believe the amount of organising one of those takes, I think everyone was happy with how it went.

Before the month ended we managed to get the She Shed up

November - 

So as I've already mentioned, I entered the Miku costume I made for Mawgan into the 2020 Dressmaker of the Year Competition, in the cosplay section naturally AND it got shortlisted. I've never been so proud!!! Now for the nerve wracking wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What an interesting month this turned out to be. 

A cute little card, of course

Our eldest daughter's maternity leave ended and she returned to work. So every Monday & Friday our gorgeous granddaughter spends the day with us. It is fabulous fun. She & I sing along with Mr. Tumble,  have a wee boogie to music, build blocks as high as possible or any number of messy activities. When it isn't raining we go for a walk to see what wildlife is around.

The She Shed is coming along at a bit of a slow pace but it's getting there.

I gave the internal walls a white wash so it would be bright. Having the front facing south will really help with good lighting and hopefully warmth.

December - 

So after a few days of awful weather I got the outer painting done.

And all the Ikea shelving built. I even got some books moved in. Just needs hooking up to the house and a desktop made.

This lovely cheeky monkey knows how to enjoy her lunch

I'll be damned if I'm not going to let her get grubby.

I'm looking forward to the day she has her own little wellies so we can go jumping in muddy puddles and get filthy.

None of this sterilising crap for my granddaughter 😂

Our youngest daughter came home for Christmas and we started her latest cosplay project

No she's not an elf, this is a game character called May Day from a game called No Straight Roads. This particular costume is from the Christmas DLC. She was a little upset that we no longer had the electric guitar to complete the look.

So that is my review for 2020, pretty much a good year, with only a few not so happy moments.

I hope you had as much joy and fun as we managed.

Love, Hugs & Happy Thoughts 

Buffy xx

Hearts and Love at Fab'n'Funky

 So we are in the mood for love over at Fab'n'Funky challenges, yes that's right, this weeks theme is 

Love and/or Hearts

Come show us your romantic side

I have gone for a simple easel card, with co-ordinating layers and backing papers. I used Hunkydory FtLoS characters which I coloured in using ProMarkers, The Love & Hearts die-cuts are from my TL advent calendar.

I'm not going to lie, I tried to make them look a little like me & hubby as this is going to be his valentines card. 

Ooow, oh no! I just realised I forgot his glasses. Well I'm off to find my fine-line pen.

Pop over and see the lovely DT creations and leave them love x

Hugs & Happy Thoughts

Buffy xx

Christmas at Fab'n'Funky

 So it might seem a little early but is it ever to early to start making your Christmas cards? At Fab'n'Funky challenges we think 

NO!

One card each month and by Christmas, you have some lovely cards for the ones you love. 

This little fairy will be appearing a lot in my card-making this year, I have decided that she will be trying out different looks.

In this incantation she is a Christmas/Yule fairy, with a red poinsettia and elf coloured outfit.

I coloured her in using ProMarkers.

It's a little hard to tell but the edge of the mushroom and the grass beneath are covered in frost (Sakura clear glitter gel pen).

The snowflakes around the card are from my TL Advent calendar, day 1. Simply cut from white cardstock and took my Sakura clear glitter gel pen to them and added clear glitter gems for extra sparkle.

I have also done a little bit of recycling on this card, the sentiment in the top right was cut out of one of the cards we received.

Check out our lovely DT designs and leave them a little love.

Back soon with more sharing

Hugs & Happy Thoughts

Buffy xx