Farewell to 2011

Last Day of the Month

Last Day of the Year

Last Day of 2011

Looking forward to....

the First Day of 2012

Winter Walks in cold, crisp conditions

Winter stews

Completing my December Daily 2011

the remainder of the boys school holidays

Family Time together.

Thanks so much for stopping by today and indeed every other day.  I really appreciate your visits/comments and encouragement.

Wishing you and yours a truly happy and blessed New Year 

and continued health and happiness throughout 2012.

Gift Ideas - cookie mix in a jar

I am always looking for fun Christmas gifts instead of the usual chocolates and tins of biscuits.  Came across Cowgirl Cookies on Bakerella's site and knew I would have to go in search of jars and ingredients to make my own.

The photo above I took just after packing!.

Here are jars packed with M&M Peanut candies and smarties.  Pink Smarties are available in most large supermarkets in tubes at this time of the year.  Grab them while you can!  I bought pink and white gingham and suede cord for wrapping around the tops but it is difficult on these type of jars as you are not working with a screw on lid!.  Some of the ingredients shifted/moved on packing - but I think they still look great and are a fun/novel idea.

I picked up the Kilner Jars in Brennans Cook Shop.  They are approx a quart, 2 pints/1litre jars.

Full instructions are available on Bakerella as to how to pack/cooking temps etc.  I cooked two batches to test!  I have a fan oven so put them in at 170C (instead of 350F).

Yum, yum!! Thanks so much for stopping by.

Shortest Day of the Year! - Christmas baubles and subway art

My stars were made using sheets of A4 plain paper printed with music (or you could stamp with background music) then I inked with tea dye using my blending tool.

Last year I saw adorable paper stars on Purple Onion Designs (made by Michele) created to look just like the Pottery Barn Paper Music Star Vase fillers (below)

 I made a stash in various sizes and never got around to posting about them. 

This year I decided to change out my mantle arrangement and went away from the traditional (photo - 2009)

 and used the wonderful subway art on Eighteen25 to create this mantle.

I filled my vases with gold and red baubles and used the stars to fill in the spaces.  Would you like to know how to make them?  Check out the easy step by step instructions here or here.

3 days and counting!  Hope you have a wonderful day.

December Daily - Day 17

My December Daily for 2011 is not as complete as I would like - I am doing a digital version!.

I wanted to share a photo from Day Seventeen - Santa arriving by water - delivered by the local RNLI.

We had such a fun day - lots of excitement.

 My 2009 December Daily arrived on Day Six - I decided to convert it to digital and print it with My Publisher.  Love the packaging - TA-DA!  Got two books for the price of one.  One for each of my boys.

Thanks for peeking.  Hope you are having a great day.

Hello Monday

Hello Monday!

Hello Christmas Week!

Hello to the list making, present wrapping, cookie making and school concerts.

Hello to the not "so-fun" stuff of groceries, cleaning, tidying and chores!

Hello to the running around for "last minute" stuff even when you are totally organised!

Hello to putting up the Nativity figures, lighting the Christmas candle and aroma of christmas cooking.

Hello to preparing for Santa's visit - so exciting!

Hello to time spent with family and friends- can't wait.

Crafting Ireland - issue 6

Open publication - Free publishing - More 2012 calendar

Issue six of Crafting Ireland has just been released.  I was thrilled when Nicole contacted me a while ago and asked if I would like to be featured in the publication - see page 66!.  

Of course I said "yes" - thanks to the Crafting Ireland Team - check out their blog here.

Enjoy the issue - I hope your week is going well.  I am working my way through my to do list!  

Looking for cute December Subway art? Check out Eighteen25 -  I got this printed at my local photo developers today and have it on my mantle.  Will post a photo!

Thanks for stopping by.

Christmas stocking stuffers and gift ideas

I just have to share some of the wonderful things I have found around blogland.

First up are these wonderful crayons (above) made by Amber on Sew Totally Smitten.  You can find out how to make them right here.  She is using them as stocking stuffers.

Another fave is the Five Finger Snowman Ornament by Full of Great Ideas.

This is so fun and so easy - going to make them today with my two little fellas.

Frozen reindeer treats - aren't these amazing?

Step by step instructions are available over on howdoesshe?

Finally - check out Bakerella

Cowgirl Cookies anyone?  

Step by step instructions together with packing instructions can be found here.

Hope some of these tickle your fancy!  Hope you have a blessed Sunday.  Thanks for stopping by.

Paperplay - Snowman using freebie digis

Supplies:  Cosmo Cricket - Jolly by Golly pp 6x6 Mini Deck, Sentiment by Aga, 

Snowman digi - Torico's Digital Gallery, Gems - Hero Arts (coloured with copic), 

Diamond stickles - Ranger, copics, machine stitching, red cardstock for 

matting and layering, Anita's white card blank and adhesive - tombow.

Paperplay - yeah... snowmen... yeah! .... want a little row of Snowmen?  

I love how they are all lined up in a row.  

This is a quick and easy, clean and simple card.  I used two freebie digis to make it - firstly the little snowman is by Torico and is available here.  If you are going over to nab it! be sure to say I sent you over and say "thanks!".  

The second digi is the sentiment which was designed by Aga and is available here - again remember to let her know you love it!

I kept the colouring quite simple and added my favourite embellishment at this time of the year - Diamond Stickles!.

Just have to enter this into this week's Tuesday Trigger on Moxie Fab World

Other Challenges

Creative Card Crew - Tis the season
Creative Craft Challenges - Faux or real stitching
Top Tip Tuesday - Let it snow
Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Christmas photo montage inspiration

Thanks so much for peeking - hope you have a wonderful week.

Cheerful Happy Birthday to Virginia

Supplies - Cosmo Cricket pp - Social Club 6x6, Crate Paper 

farmhouse chipboard, A6 Card blank - Anita's, SRM sentiment sticker.

Happy Birthday to Virginia Lu - she is due to celebrate a birthday v.v. shortly and is having a party celebration right here.  This card is a nod to her wonderful creations using SRM Stickers (she has been on the SRM DT for 2011).  Love what Virginia creates and she is a super nice gal too.  Hugs to you on your birthday Virginia.

This is a real clean and simple card - I teamed a chipboard shape by Crate Paper with some Cosmo Cricket pp and got a fun graphic card.  Sentiment is a sticker by SRM Stickers.

Thanks for peeking.  Hope you are having a good day.

Playing with felt - a very pink post!

I got a packet of raspberry fizz felt from Papertrey Ink during the Summer and it has sat on my shelf like a forbidden fruit - I dare not touch it.  

Last week I was doing a card demonstration in UCC and decided I would add some colour (non festive) to proceedings and ran a piece of the pink felt through my Big Shot with Rose Creations dies by Spellbinders.  I then added two Papertrey Ink buttons stacked on top of each other and loved the result.

I am thinking that these adorable flower could go on a hair clip or hair band to adorn a little cutie's head or on a brooch clip.  I haven't decided what it is going to be when it grows up yet! LOL!

Then, since I had cut into it... I got very brave and cut two stars using my Spellbinders largest star die and a piece of leftover canvas fabric.  Firstly I stitched the canvas to one layer of felt and then blanket stitched the two together, stuffed with filling as I stitched and produced this fun, girly, very pink ornament!.

I added two raspberry fizz buttons for the finishing touch along with a hanging loop.

Thanks for peeking, I hope this encourages you to look at your supplies in a new way - go have fun!

The Second

I promise I am not doing my December Daily via my blog! 

This morning there was a "pep" in the boys steps on the way into school.  

Why?  Because I had just shared with them that tonight is the night that the The Late Late Toy Show is on tv. 

This year's theme / set design for the show is Toy Story and the presenter is going to dress up as Woody!  The Late Late Toy Show is an institution here in Ireland and guests tonight include Olly Murs and Jedward.

Spot the presenter?  Here they are in rehearsals.

Now ... onto a creation.

  Have you seen the Christmas tag challenge on Waltzingmouse Stamps?  Well, I knew I had to play along.  I made a 3D hanging tag that can then be used on a tree!

This started out life as a Cheerios box which I ran through my Big Shot with last year's Vintage Ornament dies by Spellbinders.  I found that Cheerios / Nestle do the whitest cardboard in their cereal boxes.

Supplies:  Vintage Ornaments - Waltzingmouse Stamps, Seasons of Love - WMS, 

Spellbinders - Vintage Ornament dies, oval and heart dies, Memento Ink - 

Bamboo Leaves, White gel pen, Tea Dye distress ink and blending tool, 

gingham ribbon - Gisela Graham, mini bells - Paperchase, 

adhesive and glossy accents.

I cut out first, then stamped then cut out the ovals, then distressed, glued and hey presto a tag for my hubby's gift this year.  Below is a shot of the production line for distressing!

Thanks for peeking.  Hope you have a great weekend.

The First!

Ah, The First.

The 1st of December.

The First "real" day of the Festive Season.

The first Christmas song is played on the radio - 2fm by DJ Larry Gogan.

The day the boys open their 2011 Advent Calendars for the first time.  Such excitement.

The First Day of December Daily 2011. * (this year I am doing a digital daily album)

Time to start thinking about doing Project Life for 2012.

First Day of Tim Holtz 12 tags of Christmas.

Time to get my Holiday Cards for the USA written and posted!

The First Day of a "To Do" list! and The First Day of Countdown!

* December Daily - Full details on Ali Edwards blog.

Season's Greetings

Supplies:  Seasons Greetings Collage Digi kit by Hero Arts, sentiment by Hero Arts, 
copics, red cardstock, Anita's card blank, black tuxedo memento ink, 
glossy accents and adhesive.

Quick card share today.  Had fun with the Hero Arts digital kit - Seasons Greetings.  I coloured with copics and added two layers of glossy accents to the berries to make them "pop".  Cannot believe it is the last day of November? 

Countdown starts tomorrow!  I have taken an idea I read on Ali Edwards blog and wrapped up the boys favourite Christmas storybooks and other favourites (as I didn't have 25 Christmas ones!) and am going to have some "story" time each day.  Most probably after dinner just before bedtime.  The surprise is which book we end up reading as they are all packaged in the same Christmas paper.

Thanks for peeking.  Happy Hump Day! and boy is it a hump in this house!

Christmas On Campus - UCC

I was invited to give a card making demonstration in University College Cork for "Christmas on Campus" Week. 

So today I got to meet a lovely group of ladies and share my love of card making with them.  I focused on "Christmas" and made some cards and tags. 

During the demonstration I was asked if I would do a list of supplies - so here it is!

A6 card blanks with downloaded sentiments - sentiments are available from PaperCrafts Connection.  Click here for Christmas/Holiday free downloadable sentiments.  Embellished with bakers twine, pearls, stickles - diamond, enamel accents, glossy accents and "fluffy" stuff - Woodware. 
(no photos available as these cards were raffled! sorry ladies).

Supplies:  My Minds Eye - Lost and Found Christmas 6x6 Paper Pad, MME Lost and Found die cut shape from sheet, A6 kraft card blank, cork, Tim Holtz scattered leaves die which was run through the Big Shot, Basic Grey button, embroidery floss, adhesive tape runner and foam dots.

Supplies:  A6 White Card Blank, Cuttlebug Embossing folder - Holly Ribbons, Spellbinders Labels Fourteen dies, Sentiment - Waltzingmouse stamps - Seasons of Love, Barn Door distress ink (red), X-cut corner punch (large), Making Memories Christmas Blossoms - Poinsettia Cranberry and foam dots.

Supplies:  MME - Lost and Found Christmas scraps of the patterned paper, Kraft tags by Papermania, SRM Sticker - {MERRY}, Spellbinders Rose Creations dies, Tea Dye distress ink and blending tool to ink the edges of the flower petals, Basic Grey button and foam dots.  (sorry about the shine on the sticker - too dark to take the photos without the flash).

Supplies: Snowman Stamp - Hero Arts (handcut), Papermania kraft tag, sentiment - Waltzingmouse stamps, coloured with Promarkers, pearls used for the eyes (coloured with sharpie / permanent marker to make them black), Martha Stewart Snowflake punch, large pearl in the centre, adhesive and hand torn paper to create the snowdrifts.

Supplies:  Foil gift cards with ribbon - Paperchase, Santa stamp and sentiment - Waltzingmouse Stamps - Santa's coming to town set, StazOn Black Ink, Stamp press, Crackle Accents - Ranger Industries and foam dots.

(Left to right above) - (1) Mini Decoration (pack of 10) Tesco, adhesive to adhere to foil gift card. (2) Christmas tree from Free Digital Stamps, coloured with copics and glossy accents on the heart. (3) supply list as above.

 Supplies:  Little Snowman digital image - Torico's Digital Gallery (freebie), Papermania kraft tags, Cosmo Cricket Patterned Paper (scraps), Spellbinders Oval dies and Scalloped Oval Dies, Stickles - Diamond, copic markers to colour, wood clothes peg covered in scrap of patterned paper, adhesive and scissors.

Other tools I used
Heat Gun
X-Cut Corner Punch (large)
Big Shot
Guillotine

I know I haven't posted everything I made today but most of the products double up on the cards  - I hope these photos and lists are helpful. 

I have provided links to some of the items that can be found in Cork Art Supplies/Cardz 'n' Scrapz but if you click here it will bring you directly to the online store and you can peruse at your leisure.

Inspirational Places I visit
Moxie Fab World
Paper Crafts Connection
Hero Arts Blog
Penny Black Blog
Tim Holtz
Jennifer McGuire

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Hope your day was great too.

Monster Birthday

Supplies - Spike digi from Pollycraft, BG Oliver pp, copics, black tuxedo 

memento ink, Spellbinders oval dies, White card blank - Anita's, glossy accents, 

Number Five stamp - Papermania and tombow runner adhesive.

You know that I am a big fan of Pollycraft - and love what Paula creates.  Here is a fun monster "Spike" from her Critters range available here.

Made this card for a 5th Birthday.  Stamped the "Five" on the reverse of the pp and cut it out and mounted it behind the card aperture which I cut using an oval die.

Thanks for stopping by.  Hope you have a wonderful day.

Happy Birthday

Supplies:  Waltzingmouse Stamps - Free Spirit Boy , PTI sentiment and guitar,
Memento Tuxedo Black ink, Kraft card blank - papermania, Quickutz 
cookie cutter circle dies, black cardstock Canson, and
glossy accents - ranger industries.

It is all girl birthday's this weekend but I have a boy card to share!  

Yeah - I know, it's just the way things work out.  

My son needed a card for a 9 year old friend last week and I made this fun one - all stamps from Waltzingmouse and PTI.

Thanks for peeking - hope you have a wonderful weekend.  Huge Birthday wishes to Bláithín, Karen and Anne (might even get a chance to share their birthday cards next week!).

Happy Thanksgiving - Being Thankful

Supplies:  PTI On the Couch, PTI Chocolate Brown carstock, Memento 

 Rich Cocoa ink, Staz On Fuchsia Pink, Canson Pink Cardstock, pop dots, 

Fiskars threading water border punch, Purple cows guillotine, 

scissors for fussy cutting and tombow adhesive.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone Stateside - I wish I was there to celebrate this great holiday with our friends.  Sending hugs and holiday wishes to everyone.

This week's challenge on Paperplay is very apt - "Being Thankful".  I made a card that really typifies what I am thankful for this week.  It is a clean and simple card with dark chocolate brown and fuschia pink.  

Be sure to check out what my teamies created right here.  We are sponsored by Bunny Zoe Crafts this week.

Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful day/weekend.

Happy First Birthday

Supplies:  Duck with cake Digi by Pollycraft, Computer generated 

sentiment - Carrotflower font, copics, Ducks in a row pp - 

October Afternoon, machine stitching, 

glossy accents, pop dots and tombow adhesive.

You know I am a huge fan of Paula Lee over on Pollycraft Designs.  

So when I had to make a first birthday card - I automatically reached for a fun digi - duck with cake (which I picked up as a freebie a while ago).  Paula has a new freebie since yesterday - be sure to check it out.  She also has huge mega deals going on right here.

I added a layer of glossy accents to the cupcake to create the shine of icing.  Coloured the image with copics after fussy cutting it.

Thanks for peeking.  Hope you have a great day.  

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Joy!

 

Supplies:  Vintage Ornaments and Basket Additions by 

Waltzingmouse Stamps, Memento ink - New Sprout, Copics, Memento 

ink - black tuxedo, A6 card blanks - Anita's, Green textured cardstock 

- Papermania, adhesive and Purple Cows guillotine.

This month's Christmas Card Challenge over on Waltzingmouse is a clean and simple trio!  So I made this trio for the Challenge.

 I didn't have enough of the green cardstock to mat and layer all three so there are some variations in the cards for a touch of individuality!

I ran each matted image through my sewing machine to create a row of even holes to show the ornament "hanging".

Thanks for peeking - you can check out the WMS Challenge here.  Hope you have a great Tuesday.

Guess who's coming to town?

Supplies:  Waltzingmouse Stamps - Vintage Ornaments, Santa's coming 

to town set, Memento Black Tuxedo ink, Spellbinders Vintage 
Ornament Dies 2010, Clear embossing powder, versamark ink, Tea dye 
distress ink and blending tool, pop dots, adhesive, kraft and black 
cardstock - Folia, mini bell - Paperchase, Anita's A6 card blank
and embroidery floss.

This week the challenge on Paperplay Challenges is "Cracked Glass" and I have this santa's silhouette stamped and "cracked" for the past few weeks on my desk and hadn't manage to make anything with him.  So here is my card using non - traditional Christmas colours and various techniques.

This is an upclose shot of the "crackle/cracked glass".

Waltzingmouse Stamps have had a Christmas Card Challenge running since the beginning of the year and I have taken part in April's one but really wanted to do more.  Going to add this card to February's Challenge which was "quick pick" - use something on your desk (mine was the cracked glass silhouette lying around begging to be used!).

Also entering this card to the following Challenges

Delightful Challenges - Snowflakes

Jellypark Challenges - Non traditional Christmas Colors

Cards for Men - Christmas Cards for Men

For my Godmother

Supplies:  North Pole Employee digital stamp by Mo Manning, 

computer generated sentiment - CK Tate, copics, Diamond Stickles, 

red cardstock, textured green cardstock - Papermania, Anita's white card 

blank and adhesive.

When I saw that Mo Manning had teamed up with Penny Black was I an excited girl!.  However, I just don't have the patience for the stamp to ship and decided to buy the digi version from Mo and get colouring.  This comes in a package of 2 (wonderful North Pole employees #5533 and #3355).

I had so much fun colouring this and making a fun card for a wonderful Godmother for Christmas.

Challenges
Digital Tuesday - Anything Goes
Top Tip Tuesday - Anything Christmas Goes
There She Goes - Holiday Projects
Christmas Stampin' All Year Long - Never seen ink
Crafty Catz - Use a digital image

Thanks so much for peeking.

Monster Birthday on 11/11/11

Supplies:  Monster digis by Torico's Digital Gallery, computer generated 

number, black cardstock, Purple Cows guillotine, adhesive, glossy accents, 

googly eyes in various sizes, green cardstock, copics and SRM sentiment sticker.

It's 11/11/11 - and my son has a friend celebrating his birthday today.

You know I am a huge fan of digis and love playing with them!.  

I got these fun monsters from Torico's Digital Gallery and they are freebies - available here.  If you go over to nab them make sure to say I sent you and say "thanks". 

I coloured them with copics, added glossy accents, goggly eyes, some black enamel and hey presto - fun card for an 8 year old.  Added a fun SRM sentiment sticker, some matting and layering to finish it off.

Challenges
Sassy Studio Designs - Kids Card
Cards and Me - Birthdays

Thanks so much for peeking - hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Paperplay - Cracked Glass

Supplies:  Whiff of Joy digital freebie - Spider Henry, pp .... SRM sentiment 

sticker, Black cardstock, Tim Holtz distressing tool, tea dye ink and blending 

tool, copics, Crackled Accents by Ranger, scissors for fussy cutting, 

Quickutz Cookie Cutter circle dies, pop dots and adhesive.

Paperplay Challenges time of the week again.  This week we are very kindly sponsored by Whiff of Joy and I decided to use their freebie digi - yeap... that's what I said... freebie digi - "Spider Henry".  You can find him here.  

After roughing up the pp and cardstock I assembled the card - I partially cut out the image and used the die run through my Big Shot to do the rest.  I then coloured him with copics and added a layer of crackled accents to the "circle" for the cracked glass effect.

After it was finished, photographed etc I decided to add a layer of crackle accents to the sentiment strip too!

All very distressed - perfect card for a little boy.

Challenges
Crafting for all Seasons - Texture
Bearly Mine Challenges - One for the Boys
Lily Pad Cards - Texture
Stampavie and more - Anything Goes

Thanks for peeking - hope you get a chance to play along with this fun challenge this week.

Holiday / Winter Card

 Supplies:  Seasons Greetings Collage Digital kit by Hero Arts, 

glossy accents, cardstock - Folia, Envelope Pattern background stamp - Hero Arts, 

copics G21 G28 G29 blender 0 Y000 R37, pop dots, Anita's white A6 card blank, 
barn door distress ink andtea dye distress ink and blending tool.

I have had this card in my head for a few weeks following Jill's wonderful tutorial on partial colouring over on the Penny Black blog. 

I didn't want to use the entire Hero Arts Digital Collage stamp for this card.  I don't own the HA classic holly stamp I decided to just print the holly section, colour it, add glossy accents and do some distressing.

Kept it sentiment free - think I will stamp the greeting inside.

Have you seen the Holiday Card Making posts over on 2peas?  Check them out here.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge

Supplies:  Waltzingmouse Stamps -  Vintage Ornaments, 

Seasons of Love and Festive Foliage, Tim Holtz tea dye, peeled paint, fired brick 

and walnut distress ink pads and blending tool, white gel pen, twine, 

glossy accents, Spellbinders classic oval die and 

eucalyptus stickles by ranger.

Made a card for this fun challenge and posting a link before it closes in 9 minutes!!!
Phew - made it... now some deets!

 

I decided to use stamping to complete this card - after playing around with baker's twine and buttons first!

I decided to hang the ornament from the foliage by pushing a sewing needle through the kraft at regular intervals.  I adhered the twine bow to the card using glossy accents as it holds up so well in the mail.

I also decorated the kraft envelope but due to failing light didn't get a chance to photography yet.

I thought it needed a touch of sparkle and the eucalyptus stickles did just the trick carefully "swept" across the delicate foliage.  I added the white dots to the ornament after stamping and it really makes the ornament "pop" in real life!

I added the greeting in the ornament centre on pop dots to add some dimension.

Thanks so much for stopping by and having a peek.