Christmas is coming

 Hello 

So this week over at Fab'n'Funky Challenges we are thinking about

CHRISTMAS

That's right, with only 10 weeks left until the big day, we just have to think about all those cards.
Especially if you have loved ones in far off places. Those Last Post dates will be here in no time.

There is also the important job of ensuring all Eggnog ingredients are present and correct 😉

But now for the important sharing part, I've gone all 3D with this little project. 

I used the Sizzix Thinlits 661555

It starts Life as a flat card basically 

But when you stand it up

Add a tealight 

(please note:- As this is a paper project only a small electronic tealight is safe)

And it becomes something much more magical

I have coated the snowflakes and sentiment in iridescent glitter to give them a frosty feel. 
For the open panel sections I used iron-on interfacing from my sewing stash (I knew it had more uses 😉) and just glue it around the edges.

Remember to leave some love for all the love DT's

Hugs & Happy Thoughts
Buffy xx

Add a Button

 Hello lovely peeps,

So this week at Fab'n'Funky challenges we are adding buttons to thing.

We have all had great fun spreading the buttons and of course I had to dig out one of my favourite stamps for this. 

I love this little guy, Sunflower Teddy from LOTV. He is the stamp I turn to when I really don't know what I want to create. 

I think most of us have that little "Go To" item we rely on.

I went for simplicity, first I stamped my image using Tuxedo black momento ink and coloured it using ProMarkers (Sunflower, Ginger, Tan, Caramel, Burnt umber, Pear & Olive & Moss green, Pale rose, Orchid And Amethyst), A5 card blank, Kraft card-stock, ginham ribbon and butchers twine, TL flower & leaf dies, foam pads, double-sided tape and a Button (the vital ingredient.) 

First I stuck down the Ginham ribbon using double-sided tape I then wrapped the butchers twine around the ribbon.

Now for our stamped image. Use Black ink for the stamp (Note: if you are using alcohol pens ( Promarkers, Copics, Spectrum noir, you need to use a water-based inkpad like Momento Ink)

First and most important decision is to which direction the light is coming from. I have a very simple rule, I always have my light coming from the top left corner of my image. This means I can instantly look at any stamped image and know where the "Dark-Side" is 😉

1. Colour bear in Almond (this allows better blending in the end)

2.Add the Burnt Sienna to the shadow side of your character. 

See below as I accidentally add the tawny owl colour too early.

3. Now add Tawny owl, (remember to work in tiny circles it helps the colours blend better)

4. Use Tan over the whole bear  (tiny circles) 

The flower at the lower part of my card is not cut from coloured cardstock. I usually die-cut my everything in white cardstock and then colour it in to match my project.

I hope some of that it helpful and remember to check out the DT's fantastic creations.

Back soon

Hugs & Happy Thoughts

Buffy xx

Trip down memory lane

I was having a peek through some of my old post.

It's hard to believe I've been blogging for at over 10 years, since 2007 to be exact.

Anyway I've picked out a couple of favourites to share again

A Day at Doncaster - 2011 - hubby didn't enjoy the day and I just can't imagine why 😂 lack of trains I reckon

Happy Anniversary - Less is More - 2011 - got to love a One-Layer card

No Mistletoe Just Wine - 2016 - the saddest thing about this is my sis-in-law never got this card because I put it in a safe place.......................🤦

Kraft Away - 2016 - Ah my adventure into quilting.....

Fab'n'Funky Time Again - 2016 - Looking through all these posts, we seem to spend a lot of time at Donington Park Racetrack

Card Tutorial PLUS Hire a stall?? Oh Help  -  ah Christmas cards for the masses or should that be for my children to give out😂

Holy Crochet Batman - 2012  -  I can't believe how excited I got when this happened, especially since I can now whip up anything I set my heart on making. 

But you know what they say "You can never beat your first time 😉

Well that's it for this trip down memory lane, I hope you found something to inspire you.

I have met some amazing people an made some great friends, Thank You xx

Hugs & Happy Thoughts

Buffy xx

Creative Free for All at Fab'n'Funky

Hello my lovely peeps,

So this week we have a really exciting challenge over at Fab'n'Funky challenges

CREATIVE FREE FOR ALL

But Add PINK

(we want to see your creativity set free, so you can make a card or crochet or knit or paint or sew or paper-piece. Absolutely any craft BUT make sure there is a good dollop of PINK!! 😁)

Lets take a better look at my little creations

Lets start with a clean and simple card.

It's just a plain white card with a PINK layer topped with a simple design of multiple butterfly stamps all in a PINK ink that matches the PINK layer. I deliberately left space on one side for a sentiment stamp. Here I've used happy birthday but on a design like this you could easily use "just for you", Thank you".....the list goes on.

(INGREDIENTS - plain white card blank, SU  Strawberry Slush Ink-pad and card-stock, Momentos Tuxedo black Ink-pad and plain white card-stock. TOOLS- Acrylic stamp blocks and Stamps from "For the love of stamps" range.

These 3 are my evening relaxation past-time, I happily sit crocheting whilst my husband plays on our PlayStation or we watch TV together. It's a nice simple pattern, I created the smaller ones as key-chains. (pattern can be found in tomorrows post). (INGREDIENTS - DMC Petra No.3 [54458 pale pink, 53803 fuschia, 5712 beige] and 2.5mm crochet hook and key-chain accessories)

 

We return to our Strawberry Slush card-stock for this little 3D card.  On a piece of 12x12 card-stock draw a line 5" from the bottom edge and cut along this line. Now on the 5" wide piece measure 2.5"  from long edge and draw a faint line (this is your centre fold-line) now measure 2.5" markers along the line you've just drawn, these will be the flaps of your faux-box. Once marked up cut down to the centre fold-line but no further than this. (the rest of the instructions can be found in tomorrows post)

Last but by no means least in the top left corner we have my Bedtime Story Buddy 

I designed this cuddly toy with a book pocket at the back to help encourage a love of book in very young children. No plastic eyes or nose so it's safe for children under 2, although I've put them up for  sale as 3+ (mainly to reduce the quantity of drooling 😂) I'm sorry but no instructions or tutorial for this one, I spent the best part of 3 months perfecting this pattern, I am on version 3 now and kind of happy with it, this Owl is not the only character in my Bedtime Buddy range but that is to follow.

If you would like one check out this link - ow.ly/mKh550AthYa

PLEASE - check out the wonderful inspiring design our lovely team at

 Fab'n'Funky Challenges 

have come up with and leave love x

Back tomorrow with the Ice-cream cone crochet pattern and the faux-box card instructions.

Hug & Happy Thoughts

Buffy xx

Mothers day is coming

Well what a week we have had. Snow, sub-zero temperatures and a lot of people driving stupidly.
I personally love snow and have driven to work on several occasions in the past in rather poor visibility.
Well when you work up on the Staffordshire moorlands you have to be prepared for anything, especially when there are areas with no mobile signal if you get into trouble.
I have to say, it was easier to get to work in a blizzard up on the moorlands than it is here in the city...go figure.

But let us get back to the more important matter of crafting. Over at Fab'N'Funky Challenges we are celebrating Mothers day.
We would love for you to come and join in with us.
I have had several requests for card from work colleages, but here are just 2 of the many I have had to make.

This first card I decided to go elegant & understated, gentle mute tones and just a simple ribbon.

Sticking with the multi-stamp tulip, I changed up a gear with bright crisp colours.

I have also done something crazy, I have entered a dress I made into the "Dress maker of the year" contest. I am actually feeling slightly queazy now that I've done it.
Every entry gets 2 dressmaking patterns, so that's like winning to me 😁
I will keep you updated.

Getting late and I'm shattered.
Back soon with more sharing

Hugs & Happy thoughts
Buffy xx