Happy 'Bird-day'...

...Hello, dear Blogger friends!  So where did February go to?! Not long now until the clocks go forward, the days get longer and hopefully a little warmer too! Can't wait to get out in my neglected garden, I so want to grow some more veggies this year!
Anyway, I have been sat at my crafty table for a couple of hours today and have a card to share that was inspired by the talented Tara Godfrey from Inking on the Edge...I just love this girl's style and use of colour and talk about die envy!!...So this was my take on the card she made HERE...

At Leigh Show, everyone loved the colours of the Bird design set from Animal Antics and I've teamed the papers with bolder mats than usual, to keep the card bright and sunny (though I did have to take pictures with the flash, so the pink isn't quite as bold as showing in the photo)...

After talking to so many crafters last weekend, the resounding thought was that people were unsure how to go about replicating the samples that they'd seen.  With this in mind, I will try whenever possible (a. if I remember and b. if I get the time) to add a card recipe and sizes when making new samples, so if you would like to replicate this card, or just use the layout for another project, heres the card recipe :

Hot Pink mat - 12 x 17cm

Bird Blossom paper - 11.5 x 16.5cm

Green mat - 12.5 x 9cm, corners rounded

Bird Polka dot paper - 12 x 8.5cm, corners rounded

Aqua mat - 14.5 x 5.5cm one end fishtail

Bird Chevron paper - 14 x 5cm one end fishtail

Hot Pink Spellbinders Scalloped Square

Bird Stripe - 7.5cm square, corners rounded

Bird Image Topper

Bird Sentiment - Snapshot Tool around the Happy 'Bird-day' sentiment, Click to Print, set Custom Scale to 130% and Print

Sentiment cut to 2.5 x 9.5cm, fishtail both ends

Green mat - 3 x 10cm, fishtail both ends

*Please let me know if you think this is a good idea!?!  (I so want people to achieve the same results as what they've seen)  And if you ever have a question about how I have made a certain card or a technique, then please do not hesitate to leave me a comment ( I have comment moderation turned on and will not publish anyone's email address) and I'll get back to you or send me an email at contact@ellasdesign.co.uk *

I embellished the card with buttons, pearls and White Liquid Pearl dots, plus highlighted the bird image with crystal glitter.  The inside was finished with the coordinating Bird 5x7 landscape insert.
It's workshop in the morning then a bit more sorting out of the house - I want to change the boys' bedrooms around as they're outgrowing their midsleeper bunks now (especially my big man who is now over 6 foot!) So, if I don't get chance to pop in, have a wonderful weekend, whatever you are doing!
Huge crafty hugs,

Animal Antics, Now Available!...

Good afternoon, my lovelies!  Firstly may I say a HUGE thank you to everyone who came along to Sincerely Yours Papercraft @ Leigh Show over the weekend - it was lovely to see so many familiar faces and to meet some new crafters too! Your support and lovely feedback really does make it for me and is the reason I continue to design! I can officially confirm that my new papercraft DVD-Rom (I couldn't fit it onto a CD!) is available to buy via the Add to Cart button on my sidebar!  It ends another six months of work from pencil and paper, colouring, digitising, creating the browser, compiling, burning, to printing and packaging...on to the next one?!  Maybe next week?!...
...I have had a couple of days off...well, not crafting anyway...trying to catch up with all the neglected housework plus delivery of a new sofa, tackling the washing and ironing piles and various appointments.  I have to take a family member for a hospital appointment tomorrow and workshop on Saturday, so the week will soon be over!
I have a couple more of the latest samples to share with you which I had at the show and have been trying to add some more images to my samples blog, so that they are all in one place and easy to browse!..

...The first was a flower wreath that I made by drawing around a CD for the outer circle and cutting the inner with my Spellbinders circle die.  I then printed off the Flower embellishment sheet, cut and shaped the flowers and added buttons to the centres, before attaching to the circle along with a hanging loop.  I used my Cheery Lynn Horizon Fishtail die for the centre, then used the Snapshot Tool to just print the birds from the Bird Image Toppers, cut out, glittered and attached with Pinfalir glue gel...

...For the second, I opened the jpeg and png folder and printed the branch from the Owl folder using Windows Photo Viewer, with A4 Page Size and printing 2 to a page.  I again used the Snapshot Tool to just print off the elements I wanted - the 2 Owls from the Image Topper sheet and the moon and stars from the second Embellishments sheet.  I added some Gold Liquid Pearl dots as extra stars and a hand stamped sentiment and bow...

...Lastly, I made one of the simplest cards ever!  I printed the Sun and clouds from the second embellishment sheet and attached to a panel embossed with Cuttlebug Divine Swirls embossing folder and used some yellow paper scraps as the sun's rays.  I printed a simple sentiment and matted the panel onto aqua cardstock.  The outer of the sun and the rays were highlighted with crystal glitter (which has shown up really well for a change!)...
Once again, many thanks for your continued support and lovely comments!  I hope you like my crafty creations and I'll be back soon with some more makes...until then, have a wonderful week and take care!
Hugs,

It is hard to be a woman...

Good morning, everyone!  Hope your having a wonderful Wednesday!  I'm back again today to share a  fun sample that I made using the Horse image from Animal Antics...not long now until it's available, I promise!...

...I decided to alter up another one of my 10p mdf plaques and thought it would be fun to use the horse image with one of the sentiments, which reads "It is hard to be a woman.  You must think like a man, act like a lady, look like a young girl and work like a horse!"...

...I used the Frog cloud paper as a background, Owl flower paper and Bird stripe, cut with my new MFT fishtail flags die.  Of course, I HAD to add some clouds...and buttons (another of my latest fetishes!) I highlighted the grass with glitter paste and the edge of the plaque with Liquid Pearl dots.  All that's left to do is for me to add a hanger of some sort - will have to raid hubby's shed later!
Hope you like my fun creation and thanks for dropping by!  I'm off to print covers for my new discs and start sorting things out for the weekend!  Leigh Show is only a couple of days away!!!

See you soon, take care,

I'd like to enter my plaque into the following challenges :

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

All Creatures Great and Small (2nd entry) closes today

Creative Inspirations

Add a Button closes 24th

Papertake Weekly

Bingo closes 23rd

I've used Die Cut (fishtail flag die), Free (image) and Glitter

Passion for Promarkers - Perfect Pearls...

Good morning, everyone!  My, where are these days going to?  Less than a week to go before it's Sincerely Yours Papercraft@Leigh Show!...

I always get the jitters before a show and tend to flap about a bit like a headless chicken, trying to make sure I've remembered everything!  I'm hoping to make some more new samples before the weekend so that I'll have plenty of ideas and inspiration to share with you all!

But before then, it's Tuesday, which means the start of another fantastic challenge over at Passion for Promarkers!  It's the lovely Nic (aka Coops) in the chair and she has chosen the easy theme of 'Perfect Pearls'.  This week we are sponsored by the fabulous DigiStamp Boutique who are offering one lucky winner a £10 voucher to their store....yes please!

Don't forget, to be in with a chance to win the prize, you MUST use your Letraset products (i.e. Pro/Flexmarkers, Aqua markers, Tria, Metallic or Neon markers)

 ...The lovely Sally-Ann gave us the opportunity to choose an image for our DT inspiration and I chose the pretty Shopping Kate.  The background is, believe it or not, the back of a Carling lager box, embossed with Embossalicious Floral Frenzy folder and inked with Vintage Photo DI. (The lager hasn't been drunk (We'd rather have tea!) but it was essential for me to have the box for crafty purposes, so it had to find a new home!)  The daisy paper is one from a Papermania pack...Garden Party, I think and the lovely aqua paper is from Prima Divine Collection.  The die cut is Spellbinders Labels Eleven - one of my favourite die shapes at the moment and then I used the centre die from a Marianne Doily die set to create the sun and added some of my favourite obsession...clouds!  I printed the sentiment and mounted onto my latest crafty purchase - Cheery Lynn's Horizon Fishtail Banners...

...The image was, of course, coloured with my Pro/Flexmarkers and here's the colour list I used :

Skin - Blush, Soft Peach, Coral

Hair - Nutmeg, Auburn, Saddle Brown, Rosewood

Top and shoes - Cocktail Pink, Watermelon, Antique Pink, Ruby

Trousers - Soft Aqua, Cool Aqua, Duck Egg, Surf Blue

Handbag - Cappuccino, Cinnamon, Cocoa

Dog - Cool Grey 1 & 3, Blender

I paper pieced the shopping bags with the yellow flower paper from the Scarecrow set of A Year in Cards and shaded with Mustard, blended out with Lemon Chiffon

To embellish, I used some yellow grosgrain ribbon, button, diamantes and pearls and then added some Liquid Pearl dots to the banner, sun, Kate's top and shopping bags and dotted here and there.

So, there we have it, another great challenge to join in with!  I hope you can find the time to play along and look forward to seeing all your wonderful creations!  Hop on over to the Passion for Promarkers blog to see what my talented teamies have been creating and I'll see you soon!

Take care, crafty hugs,

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges :

Crafts and Me Fabruary Challenge

Add a Ribbon

Crafts4Eternity

Twos - I have two characters, two shopping bags and two clouds

Bunny Zoe February Challenge

For the Girls

As you Like it Challenge

CAS or Fussy

(This is a hard one! I do LOVE a good CAS card but in my own crafting can't help adding lots of layers and details but not in a fussy way!  If fussy is seen as lots of layers, then that's me, but if it means froo froo then I'm a clean and simple kinda gal! )

Spotlight on NELaserCraft...

Good afternoon, my lovelies! Hope you're having a fantastic start to the week and sending thoughts and hugs to those in need of them!

Today, I have something a little different to share....whilst at Ross Papercraft's Doncaster Show last month, I met some lovely traders with some fabulous products, one of whom was Daniel from NELasercraft. I definitely feel that the craft industry is about sharing knowledge and helping fellow crafters with ideas and inspiration, so today am doing a little spotlight on their company and sharing what they do - here's a little about them...

"We are a North East family run business of which started just over a year now. It all started when I bought a router from my old boss and with no experience at all set out to make a plaque for my sons room ( of which took me 6 hours to make ). After a few people said they liked it and could I make them one, thats were it started, from plaques came personalised mirrors, kids chairs to handmade candy carts. Then last year we opened up our first shop in South Shields. With demands starting to rise, we bought our first small laser cutting/engraving machine to cope with orders. Then we went to our first craft show and realised that this is were we wanted to be, in the crafting industry. Within a few weeks we had come up with a new product called the "Embossing Blank" which we sold on Create and Craft on Sky TV of which sold way past expectations."


Daniel has some amazing products and ideas, but being the relative 'newbie' to the crafting industry, I offered to create a project using one of his mdf design shapes and share it with all you lovely Bloggers...

...I picked out this pretty little tree design with little birds in the branches, which I glittered with aqua glitter and added some punched paper flowers with pearl centres. I also cut a piece of hot pink paper to adhere behind the heart aperture in the trunk...

...I then painted up and shabbied and old photo frame that has been lurking in the back of one of my cupboards and printed one of my favourite family quotes..."Family, like branches on a tree, we all grow in different directions, yet our roots remain as one." I stamped the word family onto a fishtail banner and added some small buttons and organza bow to decorate. Of course, I had to add my obligatory pearls to finish...

NELaserCraft are always expanding their product base and have recently gone into creating some excellent craft storage at really reasonable prices. Daniel is a very approachable guy, so if you have any questions, just send him a message and I'm sure he'll be happy to help with any queries! They have a recently updated Facebook page which shows more of their newest products and a newly opened bricks and mortar shop called the Riverside Craft Warehouse in Sunderland , plus you can catch him at most of the Ross Papercraft Shows around the UK!

I hope you've enjoyed my spotlight on NELaserCraft and like my home decor creation, and I look forward to hopefully introducing you to some more up and coming craft businesses in the future!


Thanks for dropping by to see me today and can I say a HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who has left me such wonderful comments recently, they truly are very much appreciated and are a great boost at such a nerving time when launching a new product! You support and friendship is amazing! Great big squishy hugs and lots of best wishes,

A new medium...

Good morning, dear Blogger friends! You'll be getting used to this post a day...better get making some more creations to share! I have a fishy card to share today...

...This time I coloured with a new medium - Prismacolour pencils!  I borrowed them from Mum, but still haven't got any blending solution (wink, wink!) so this one is purely coloured on, wait for it....the back of a porridge box!...

...I did wonder whether to put my title as 'Colouring on porridge' like I did for my Weetabix post, but thought it was a bit far fetched!...

...I used the Fish digistamp, Dog plaid, Fish orange circles, Cow polka and Bird chevron papers and one of the simple Fish sentiments (again printed onto the porridge box).  I kept the design quite simple and didn't add any glitter or anything (I know!) as I thought it would make a good masculine card? What do you think?  I finished the inside, as usual, with a coordinating printed insert and was done!
That's it from me, I hope you like my fishy creation and who knows, I may be back again tomorrow with some more crafty inspiration - all depends whether I  get to spend any time at my crafty table today! Have a super Sunday!
Hugs,

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges :
Sister Act Challenge
Anything Goes until 19th
The Paper Shelter
Recycle until 17th
(I've recycled an empty porridge box as my colouring card)
Crafty Catz
For the Boys until 19th

Here's another one...

Good morning, my lovelies!  Hope you're having a fabulous start to the weekend and a Happy Valentine's Day to you all!
I'm back again to share another new sample, this time using another image from the Cow set, but something totally different...

...I've used the Daisy Bouquet image topper, cut with my Spellbinders circles and mounted onto a Marianne pierced, scalloped circle.  I used the Cow daisy paper, Horse stripe and Owl polka dot, a simple 'Happy Birthday' from the Cat sentiments and one of the small hearts from embellishment sheet 1...

 ...I created some fishtail banners from plain cardstock and added some white buttons.  I have just treated myself to a couple of sets of fishtail banners - couldn't get the stitched ones in stock or at  a reasonable price anywhere, so they will have to stay on my crafty wishlist for a little while longer!
I finished my card with some pearls, glitter and a coordinating insert with a birthday verse.
Thanks for dropping by today and I'll be back tomorrow with another paper creation! (My posts are a bit like buses at the moment, never around when you want one and then 5 come along at once!) Thanks for putting up with me!
Crafty hugs,

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges :
Creative Moments
Anything Goes optional twist Love until 17th
Cute Card Thursday
Perfectly Pink until 18th
Crafty Calendar February Challenge
Anything Goes
613 Avenue Create
Anything Goes optional colour bingo closes today
I've gone Pink, Blue & White (left hand column)
My Time to Craft
Banners or Bunting closes today

More new samples!...

Good afternoon, dear Blogging buddies! I am on sample overload, making cards to share for the launch of my next papercraft disc, Animal Antics... the gallery is completed and production has begun, so I get a few days to play! The first card I have to share is one using the cow image...

...I printed off one of the image toppers and added some grass with my Pro/Flexmarkers in various shades of green.  I then cut around the muzzle of the cow with a craft knife so that I could slide the fence die cut underneath and have him looking over the fence!  The fence and windmill are from a Heartfelt Creations die set called Rustic Western Elements which I picked up in the sale over at IconUK with a tenner off!  I cut the fence from brown cardstock, embossed and then inked in the die with Vintage Photo DI.  The windmill was cut from grey cardstock and inked with Weathered Wood DI...

...I used the Bird chevron paper for the background and added some clouds from embellishment sheet 2 (I have an obsession with clouds at the moment and would put them on every project if I could!) The sentiment is from the cow set and reads, 'It's your Birthday...party 'til the cows come home!'  I finished the inside with the plain 5x7 insert from the Horse set and typed in 'Many Happy Returns'.
Hope you like my bovine creation...I really like this card, it makes me smile....and it has clouds on it too! Might have to make another one with the horse looking over the fence?! Have a wonderful afternoon and I'll be back tomorrow with another sample share!
Hugs,

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges :
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge
All Creatures Great and Small until 17th
Craft your Passion
Always Anything Goes until 15th
Open-minded Crafting Fun
No Pink and No Red closes today
That Craft Place
Anything Goes until tomorrow
Crafting from the Heart
Always Anything Goes until 15th

More sneak peeks...

Good evening, dear Blogging friends! Yes, I am still here! I have had a busy couple of weeks making samples and finishing files for my next papercrafting disc and thankfully, am now in testing stage, making sure everything works properly before hubby starts production next week! Finish post in sight!...
So, I have a couple more previews for you using the same layout as I did for my dog card here, last June (was it that long ago?!)...The first one uses the frog image and papers from Animal Antics...

...I then had a bit of a Eureka moment whilst browsing Pinterest (it's amazing how that site gets the creative juices flowing!) and had to go and make another card using the same layout and the Owl image (children had to wait for tea!)...

I used a mixture of papers from different design sets and Cuttlebug Distressed Stripes embossing folder to emboss the brown layer, which was inked with Walnut Stain to try and make it look like tree bark!  I really like this sketch and the way both cards turned out...but then, I am biased!
Hope you like my little sneak peeks and enjoy the rest of the weekend!  Oh, before I go, I'd just like to say a big 'Hi!' and thank you to Louise and Melanie who came to our class for the first time today! It was lovely to meet you both, I hope you weren't thrown too much in at the deep end and we look forward to seeing you again next time!
Big crafty hugs,

I'd like to enter my owl card into the following challenges :
The Crafter's Cafe
#102 Birthday Card closes 10th
A Gem of a Challenge
#137 Lots of Layers closes 12th
That Craft Place Challenge
Anything Goes closes 13th
Papertake Weekly
Anything Goes closes 9th

Passion for Promarkers - One for the Boys...

Good morning, my lovelies!  It's Tuesday and Team 1's turn to host over at Passion for Promarkers!  Today it's the lovely Marie in the hostess chair and she would like to see 'One for the Boys'...so all those creations for the boys and men in our lives!  We have 2 sponsors this week, the brilliant Letraset are offering one lucky winner a Promarker Manga 12 pen set and the fabulous Polkadoodles has 2 digi images to give away - Guitar Boy and Keyboard Boy!...

As I have mentioned before, I am HUGELY busy at the moment trying to make samples to add to the Gallery on my next disc, which I am hoping to finish in the next week or so and have for sale at Leigh Show on the 21st February!  So, with this in mind, I decided to kill two birds with one stone (such a harsh expression!) and make a card that would be suitable for this week's challenge and be a sample too...This is the very first sneak peek at one of the images from my new disc 'Animal Antics'...

 ...I decided to make one of my favourite pop up box cards and used the dog digistamp, papers and embellishments from my disc...

...The dog was coloured with Pro/Flexmarkers - Antique White, Champagne, Cool Grey 1, 3, 4, 5, Black, Nutmeg, Auburn, Saddle Brown and Umber.  I also used Glossy Accents on his eyes and nose for added effect...

...I embossed some kraft colour card with Craft Concepts Woodgrain embossing folder and then inked with Vintage Photo DI.  All the elements used are on the disc including papers, sentiment and embellishments and there is a plain panel on the back for writing on.  The whole thing folds flat to fit into a C5 envelope ...
...Thanks for dropping by to see me today and I hope it won't be long before I can start sharing more of my latest samples!  Don't forget to hop on over to the Passion for Promarkers blog to see what my talented teamies have been making for your inspiration and I hope you can find the time to join in with our challenge this week!
Hugs,

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges :

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

Anything Goes until tomorrow

Sister Act Challenge

Anything Goes closes 5th

Crazy 4 Challenges

#271 Make it Masculine until 28th

Glitter n Sparkle

Anything Goes until 7th

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

#3 Anything Goes until 13th