Winter Wonderland challenge

Hi everyone!

Welcome to Elf's Crafting Life..

Hope you are all well today.  I have had a very exciting morning. I logged on to check the blogs that I regularly follow and to my great surprise I have won some lovely blog candy from the very generous Corry.

I can't wipe the smile from my face today! I'm never very lucky when it comes to entering competitions.  So one very happy bunny down in Devon today!

Today's card is for the Winter Wonderland challenge which this week is to make something that includes lots of holly red and green.

Here is my entry

I thought I would give myself an extra challenge on this card today, as I always reach for the stamps straight away but today I thought I would try something different.  After having the shop I have piles of peel offs and I must admit I do not use them a lot I have really gone off them.  But I thought I have to use them up some how and after all it is crafty stash just sat there and that is never any good!  

 

I'm actually really happy with the outcome.  So remember your peel offs folks.  They are great for Christmas cards as we all have to make so many this time of year for friends, family, Christmas school stalls, charity the list is endless and they make the job quick but still effective!

This card is my entry for the Winter Wonderland  challenge.

Thank you for popping by my blog today please feel free to leave a comment.

See you all tomorrow for yet another challenge.

Love Em x

Allsorts challenge ~ Plain and Simple

Hi everyone!

Welcome to some new followers this morning.  Thank you for all your comments on my last post.  I did enjoy that challenge, those bears are so cute x

Today's challenge is from Allsorts challenge and their challenge this week is Plain and Simple.  Which is actually harder than what it sounds. 

This is my entry

As you can see I have definitely made it very plain and simple.

Stamp is from a collection ~ Clear stamps Magical Christmas, which I stamped using a Verasfine ink pad.

Ribbon ~ Celebrate ribbon by the spool

Gems ~ Anita's.

I had to add a little sparkle!

I am entering this card into the Allsort challenge week 71.

Thank you for visiting my blog.

A bit chilly down in Devon today unfortunately no hot chocs around to warm me up (unlike Sunday!) but I think I'm off to have a lovely cup of coffee!

Hope you all have a great day

See you all tomorrow for another challenge entry.

Love Em x

Forever Friends Challenge

Good afternoon everyone!

Welcome to Elf's Crafting Life

Today's card I've made for a lovely challenge blog that I have found through one of my lovely followers Poppy

Forever Friends ~ these bears are so cute I can never resist them.

This weeks challenge is to follow a sketch

I do love following sketches for a challenge.

This is my entry for the Forever Friends Challenge Blog

Background paper ~ Forever Friends Santa's on his way ( red paper) and Forever Friends Christmas Glow ( holly paper and stocking image).

Stocking image is mounted on silver glitter card.

I have added poinsettia's, ribbon, sentiment and brads are from my crafty stash.  Oh and plenty of glitter (silver and transparent glitter glue) because it's Christmas.

Thank you for taking the time to visit and read my blog.  I'll be back tomorrow for another challenge.

I have to go and set up a tent in the living room now in time for the little one getting home from school (her cubby hole) ~ don't ask! The things us Mummy's have to do lol!!

Hope you have a lovely evening.

Love Em x

Not such a lazy Sunday ...

Hi everyone and welcome to some new followers!

Today there has been a mixture of activities going on.  Obviously the main thing that happens every Sunday is getting the school uniform ready for next week.  So you have to imagine I am like little Miss Tiggywinkle herself working through piles of laundry.  The weather down in Devon today is beautiful so I have the pleasure of watching my washing blowing in the breeze out of the kitchen window, whilst ironing another load dried yesterday.

Our garden is still being productive for us, not as productive as last year, unfortunately we have been so busy with work this year that I'm afraid my beautiful garden has been a little neglected.  Big plans for next year though (huge time management organisation going on).

Some yummy beans to go with our lovely Roast Chicken dinner mmm....

I'm having a little play with an idea of some Christmas cards today.  Hubby and I run an embroidery and printing business and the machines were all turned off today.  I thought I would have a play as I have had some ideas for a new line of cards.  They still need a little bit of tweaking but so far I'm really happy with the out come.

I have used the machines to embroider a gorgeous Christmas ornament design.  I didn't want to embroider straight onto paper/card as I thought this may be too harsh for the design as well as the machines so I had some mulberry paper in my stash and I started the experiment.  Part of the design had to be deleted as there were too many stitches and it was tearing the paper.  I feel adding the sentiment in the centre really works. 

 What do you think?

Like I say they need a little more work and I'm hoping to come up with a series/pack either with different designs or the same design in different colours.  Still playing around with it.

For now because the skies are clear I think it is a little chilly today so I have made a lovely treat for myself and the little one to snuggle up with.

Hope you are all having a lovely weekend and beautiful clear skies like us down in Devon.

See you tomorrow.

Love Em x

Just a quick one....

Good evening everyone!

Thank you! for all your lovely comments that keep coming up on all different posts, you are all very kind and I do love reading them. 

I am trying to boost my followers at the moment so if you like what you read then please feel free to follow my blog (in the sidebar), or if you know someone that would then I would really appreciate being suggested.

All that aside it is only a quick blog tonight not a huge amount of crafting gone on today.  I have had the mammoth task of catching up on the housework (been so busy with work and a bit hooked on blogging) ~ feels good to get it all up to date.  Actually I'm quite sad as I LOVE doing housework =D

Background papers ~ Papermania honey & hugs

Stamps ~ Penny Black Hugs which I stamped with Versafine ink and coloured with watercolours.

Assorted ribbon, sentiments and brads from crafty stash and Prima flowers

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog.

Please feel free to leave a comment.

I'm going to sit down now with a well deserved (large) cup of coffee!

See you all tomorrow.

Love Em x

Get well soon

Hi everyone and welcome to Elf's Crafting Life....

Thank you for the comments to my last blog you are all very kind x

I made a get well card today for our good friend that I mentioned in a previous blog.  Our friend does amazing charity work for Afghan Heroes with his Tour of Duty Bike and unfortunately was involved in a hit and run last weekend.  The good news is he is home and hopefully on the mend.

Please check out the link above to his facebook page and take a look at the great support he shows for our troops.

I printed off 3 copies of each of these photographs onto photo paper and layered them up.

I then just added a few peel off stickers to finish off.  Card complete and in the post!

I wanted to keep the card really simple as the detail in the images need to stand out not compete.

Thank you for reading my blog please feel free to leave a comment.

Just a short post today feeling a bit zapped ~ end of the week.

Hope you all have a great weekend.

See you soon

Love Em x

Cute Challenge Card

Good afternoon everyone!

Well as I said in my blog yesterday I am having problems with taking my photographs at 11 o'clock at night due to the light so I am blogging earlier today.  The sun is (was) shining through the window and I was able to take some good pics.

Today's card I have made is for 2 challenges again for  Penny Black Saturday challenge and Winter Wonderland.

Penny Black Saturday's Challenge this week is a sketch

and for the Winter Wonderland challenge it is a Monochromatic Christmas Card ~ a one colour card with either cream or white.

So this is my entry for both blog challenges

I used ~

Christmas papers ~ Forever Friends Santa's on his way ...

Stamp ~ Penny Black Holly-Jolly which I stamped using Versafine ink and coloured using watercolours. I also layered up the snowman's scarf and added white glitter to the bobble on his hat.

Punch ~ EK success Snowflake

I added finishing touches with gems, glitter, baby blue liquid pearls, a sentiment and a little ribbon bow.

I also took photographs of my last lot of cards again ~ due to the light being so bad, so hopefully these are a little better x

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog.  Thank you so much for all your lovely comments on my last post.

 I do love to read them so please feel free to leave a comment.

See you tomorrow

Love Em x

Christmas is here!

Good evening everyone!

I would like to start by thanking the kind ladies that left such lovely comments on my post from yesterday.  Thank you, you really are to kind xx

Today's card I have made is for 2 blog challenges Allsorts challenge and Penny Black at Allsorts

Allsorts Challenge this week is to use at least 3 punches.  It gave me a chance to use all 3 of my new punches!!

Penny Black at Allsorts September challenge was punches.

and now you see how I was able to use this 1 card for both challenges.

I apologise again for the light! I'm putting it down to the energy saving light bulb in the room (rubbish) or possibly I need to blog earlier in the day!

I have used

Christmas papers ~ Forever Friends - Santa's on his way...

Punches ~ EK success snowflake, Docrafts Xcut sparkler border punch and Woodware scalloped circle punch.

The cute little stamps ~ Penny Black Holly-Jolly which I stamped with Versafine ink and coloured with watercolours.

As finishing touches I added some red paper roses to the snowflakes, a Merry Christmas sentiment and of course Glitter (and possibly too much of it lol!)

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog please feel free to leave a comment.  I am off to tidy a very untidy craft room now ready for tomorrows makes.

Love Em x

Happy Birthday and 'Anything Goes'

Good evening everyone

Today I've been making a card for a special friend of ours.  My hubby met him through our work with the charity Afghan Heroes and he is a great bloke that raises a lot of money for the charity with his gorgeous bike.  The Tour Of Duty Bike is adorned with the most amazing paint job in honour of our troops out in Afghanistan alive and sadly gone.  Please take the time to take a look at their facebook page and see the great work that they are doing ~ just click this link The Tour Of Duty Bike.

Now this bike is our friend's pride and joy and we had some terrible news at the weekend, he was involved in a hit and run on his bike on the way back from a charity event.  Fortunately he has only come away with bruises and bones that will mend and heal with time (although still very unwell), but I'm afraid his bike has taken it a bit worse (but it can be rescued).  I made this card from photographs taken of The Tour Of duty Bike to hopefully raise spirits a little higher.

I am also entering this card into the The Secret Crafters Saturday Challenge

I do really apologise for the quality of the photographs ~ there's not much light around at the mo..

I printed off 3 photographs and decoupaged the image up into layers with silicone glue.

I mounted the bike on backing paper from paper cellar 6x6 ~Mens.

I had some Harley Davidson tissue paper in my crafty stash which I covered the blank card and added a few peel offs for finishing touches.

As well as cheering up a very unwell friend I am entering my card in a blog challenge that I spotted earlier The Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge.  The 101st challenge this week is 'ANYTHING GOES' so hopefully this qualifies for that.  This card has involved a lot of patience and work, but the end result is worth it! Even the headache off the silicone glue.

Love Em x



Busy, Busy, Busy .....

Hi

Well what do you think of the new look blog!  I am so happy with it ~ my blog now definitely reflects ME!  Mind you it took me long enough! I'm not the best with computers I tend to learn as I'm going along, but I got there in the end.

It's been really busy here in my little home in Devon.  Not only have we been really busy with the business so my crafting time has got less and less, my little one has had birthday parties and starting to settle back into the school routine, but the crafting ideas have been flowing in so I'm trying to cram as much as possible into my day!  I have decided though I do need about a 36 hour day to complete everything as the housework is starting to mount up!

 I have so many projects on the go at the moment but I'm not going to reveal them just yet. I am going to share with you a cross stitch project that has been on-going from May - it keeps being put to one side for the smaller projects.  For my birthday I was treated to a couple of cross stitch crafty books from my sisters and they are in constant use for patterns and inspiration.  The project below is from a book ~ home sweet home cross stitch by Helen Philipps.  Such a gorgeous book all the projects I'm sure are going to be completed and dotted around my home.

Getting there slowly but surely!  Only need to finish the welcome and strawberry border!  I'll share it with you all again once it is complete and framed.  Hopefully not too long away.

I have been in touch with an old supplier of mine from the shop and I am now selling paper roses for all your craft projects in my e-bay store - so please take a look, more colours and designs will be added

At the moment I have these in stock

I will keep you all updated of any new stock, but for now you can purchase the above colours of paper roses by clicking the link.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog and I will hopefully be back tomorrow with some more creative waffle!

Love Em x



Supporting Our Troops - The Crafty Way!

Hello again!

My hubby and I do alot of work in connection with supporting our troops through our business.  My hubby volunteers alot of his time to help the charity Afghan Heroes at various shows and events.  Whilst reading through the blogs that I follow last night I discovered on the lovely Helen's blog a link.  With excitment I clicked the link and finally discovered a way that I can help!!

There I found a website that is requesting handmade cards to send out to the troops for them to send onto their loved ones back home - Support Our Soldiers

Without delay I spent most of the night making up some cards to send.  They did take a bit of working out as I wanted to keep them as simple as possible so not only are they suitable for everyones taste, but they can be posted without being damaged (as they will have clocked up alot of airmiles by the time Christmas comes around).

I blew the dust off my Christmas stamps from last year - Anitas Clear Stamps - Magical Christmas and got stamping, I then used my water colours to add a little colour and just added the ribbon to finish off.  I wanted to leave them quite plain that way they can add as many messages as they like even to the front.

I truely feel this a fantastic cause and I love to show my support to all the brave heroes and if you are able to help then that would be great.  There are some guidelines so if you click here it's all explained.

Well I'm off to post my parcel of cards

Thank you for visiting.

See you soon

Love Em x

Mmmm......Cupcakes

Well in celebration of National Cupcake week I have made my favourite cupcakes - not that I need an excuse.  You see another passion of mind is Baking!! 

Raspberry and cream butterfly cupcakes

Who could guess that these simple sponge cakes could turn into something so delicious!

But with the simple addition of the last Raspberries from the garden and we have our final taste of Summer!

Here are some cakes that I have made over the years many for family.  I do have the terrifying job of a wedding cake in November!!

My Cousins - Kate's 21st Birthday - I even recreated her business card to make it more personal to her.

My Aunty Lynn's (the Bacardi queen) 48th Birthday cake - My first attempt at a novelty cake I really enjoyed adding the personal details to the label.

Last years Christmas cake edible glitter it really sparkles a must for anything to do with Christmas

My cousins - Amy's 18th Birthday cake - I loved the quilting effect on this cake.

And last but not least my special little girls 5th birthday cake.  This always makes me smile, as she was so disgusted that I had used one of her Barbies and that she was going to be all covered in cake! (I had wrapped her up in cling film so she was very clean)

I hope you liked my cakes I am still learning and experimenting, but getting more adventurous each time. 

Not doubt we will get some more cupcakes made in this house before the weeks out as little fingers love to join in!  When we do I will be sure to share it all with you.

Hope you all get to eat something yummy and sweet this week.

Now I'm off for some of that 'me' time

Love Em x