Happy, happy, happy!

Can you all hear me singing and whooping with joy as I skip around my house and garden????

For anyone who has been following my blog for a while (thank you, thank you) you will know that I've been studying for an Institute of Customer Services Award. I have just finished my last piece of work and couldn't be happier!!! If I could turn a cartwheel or walk on my hands I think I would... although it might scare Custard the cat.

OK, I've still got to present my coursework folder to my coach AND undertake the Oral, but I can't believe that I've completed everything else: HURRAY!

Sorry guys, but I just had to share the news. I did tell Custard, but as it didn't seem to involve extra biscuits or a comfier place to sleep he soon lost interest.

Here's a quick card share while I calm down:

This is the card that was at the 'finishing touches' stage on my WOYWW post. Luckily, I managed to save all of the paper from this card after a disastrous incident with the Versafine. I added a replacement coloured image.

Isn't this new Tilda sweet? She's called Tilda with flowerpot and I love her coat and boots!

However, I'm not too sure about how I added the sentiment though... it looks a bit clumsy.

Well folks, that's it for today. I'm off to skip around the house again now...

Happy crafting everyone, and have a great weekend!

Tilda revealed!

I thought I'd drop back with the 'reveal' for that 'Unwrapped Tilda' image that you caught a glimpse of on Wednesday.

This card ended up smaller than planned as I managed to cut the base card to the wrong size (duh!). I decided to carry on... and actually quite like the result.

I think I prefer the version with the bling, but I'm not 100% sure.

So enjoy the rest of your weekends guys, and happy Halloween for tomorrow!

WOYWW

Happily there is something on my workdesk today as I managed to leave work early and sneak home for a little crafting time! Wooooo hooooo!

Once again you can see that my workspace is fairly tidy. I'm a 'tidy-it-up-afterwards' kind of girl and probably have my Mom to thank for this!

No, your eyes do not deceive you ... that really is an empty cat food box. I'm planning a little altering project and have got the box on my desk in readiness. However, this one needs lot's of thought before I get to work on it. Don't be surprised to see this box still in residence and looking just the same next week. Perhaps I could make a weekly feature of it!

Today it's Tilda time!

I am able to declare that I finally 'get it' about Tilda's: they are beautifully drawn and a real joy to colour. This little cutie is 'Tilda unwrapped'.

My plan is to use her for a birthday card, but she'd also work great on a Christmas card with a festive colour combo.Here she is at a very early stage in colouring. I've just used Ivory and Vanilla Promarkers to start colouring her skin. Love those socks!

I also want to share the finishing touches that I added to the card from my previous post. Does anyone else photograph; post a card and then think 'Mmmmmmmmm, still not quite right' and add a little something extra?

The addition on this occasion was violet Versacolour ink daubed through a scrap of sequin waste.

I'm really pleased with the effect that this technique gives as it improves the balance of the card.

Thanks for dropping by, now it's my turn to go WOYWW visiting!

Happy crafting everyone!

Oriental Tilda time!

After feeling a little let down by my last card I decided to spend longer planning what I wanted to make today, rather than just rushing and ending in a muddle again.

Here's the result... rather cute, huh?

This is my card for The Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge #105 which is Oriental, and I have to say that I am very grateful to the lovely (and ever so slightly crazy!!!!) Tracie for choosing this theme as I had sooo much fun today!

I'm also grateful to my mate Vicky for stamping Tilda for me and letting me borrow that gorgeous Tim Holtz Collection swirl stamp (Take flight set). I paired the swirl with the Hero Arts Raindrops design block for the background and love the effect of the two patterns together. I used Stampin' Up 'Whisper white' ink.

The blue patterned paper is a free download found after searching for Washi paper on the Internet. I'm not sure if it looks that Japanese, more patchwork, but it works well with the look of the card and stops it looking too pink. I had fun making the tiny little fan embellishment... don't think I've made one of those in years!

Must go and make a sandwich now as I'm super hungry!

Happy crafting everyone!

A challenging challenge!

Those fabulous girls over at Crafty Cardmakers have set a 'challenging challenge' this time.

The idea is to get us to stretch ourselves and try something new, or to go for it and finish a project that has been trucked away gathering dust because it seemed too difficult to complete.

Today I have conquered my fear of Tilda!

For such a cute little girl she has caused me considerable stress and anxiety. Don't get me wrong I always love seeing Tilda images on other people's cards but I really struggle to colour her... everyone else does such a great job, but I find her oh, so tricky.

My friend Vicky kindly let me borrow her entire Magnolia collection last week (oh the responsibility), so I decided to knuckle down and get to grips with Tilda. That's the first part of my challenging challenge.

The second challenge was to make a certain style of aperture card. I've been trying to make one of these for a few weeks, but with little success. I know a poor craftsman (woman) always blames his (her) tools but none of the images that I had tried seemed to work. In amongst the lovely Magnolia stamps on loan from Vicky, was Tilda's swing! At last I could tackle this style of card and thus challenge myself for a second time.

After alot of stamping and colouring and cutting, I created an aperture with my Cuttlebug.

I had to make sure that Tilda and her swing would fit nicely across the gap before picking the right size cutting die. Then I fixed Tilda's swing with foam adhesives and sat Tilda on the seat. Again I used foam adhesives to give a 3-D effect. I added the foliage and a few Hero Arts butterflies cut with a perfectly sized Woodware punch. I used Diamond Glaze on the butterflies and the cute little mushrooms, and actually managed not to get glaze all over my fingers this time!

If I ever make this style of card again there are lots of things that I would do differently, but I am quite pleased with the overall effect. I think Tilda looks very sweet on her swing, with her spring meadow in the background.

Finally, I was surprised to discover that my Blog is nearly 1 year old, so please remember to drop by around Wednesday 28th April as I will be having a little giveaway!

Happy crafting everyone!

A little Tilda time!

I didn't expect to feel well enough to make a card today. Yesterday morning I just had to head home early as I was soooo poorly. I'd finally succumbed to the latest bug to hit the community where I work. Everyone has been going down with it since the weekend and yesterday it was my turn.
When my hubby came in from work he was very surprised to see me in my PJ's and dressing gown! I explained that I was feeling unwell. He wanted to know how ill I was and asked a crucial question - 'have you made a card today?' I said no, I had felt too ill. 'My goodness, you haven't made a card... do I need to get an ambulance?'
HA HA, he's such a funny guy (not) !!!!!

Today I decided that I would get up and try a little gentle card making as I was feeling a bit better and anyway, it was TILDA time!
I always enjoy seeing Tilda images and Tilda cards, but have never bought any Tilda stamps.
I love this sweet 'Tilda with flowers' image (thanks again Lynne) and knew it would be perfect for a card for my lovely Mom-in-law. Her birthday isn't until mid October but, well, I just felt 'Tilda -ry' today!

The sun peeked out briefly as I was taking the photographs, but I am sorry that they are still a bit dark.
I used watercolour pencils to colour Tilda, so I couldn't get all those fabulous shadows and accents that all you Copic and Promarker Divas can achieve. However, she looks OK and is actually much brighter than she appears here. The cardstock is Bazzils and the sentiment is from Hero Arts. I added some pretty daisy vellum, oodles of gel pen, Diamond Stickles and a tiny pearl for extra 'ooooh'!

Now here are two pictures that I couldn't resist sharing....

Isn't my little niece adorable? This picture was taken about 6 weeks ago and has been greeting me on my computer desktop every day since then. I snapped a more up to date picture when I went to my sister-in-laws a few Sundays ago, but this picture remains a favourite.
...and, never one to be outdone, Custard wishes it to be known that he is cute too!

This was taken at bedtime two nights ago. Custard is quite a bright cat; understands when we tell him 'bed' and heads upstairs. We did try to teach him 'basket' but this caused some confusion as it is a bit too similar to the other 'B' word he understands, which is 'biscuit'!

Happy crafting everyone!