Quick post before I have to go to work. I`m doing the pay it forward thingee - I managed to be one of the lucky five people to comment on Kates blog. The idea is that the first five people to comment on your blog receive something handmade before the end of 2011. Those five people then post this same offer on their blog and so it carries on. Hope that explanation makes sense, I am not very good at explaining things Lol. Everybody ready then ? on your marks, get set GO x Vinny

I`m not sure if I`m really enamoured with this card although I had fun doing it plus it hasn`t scanned in well at all. Really need to start taking photos I think. The challange over at Bah Humbug hall this week was `oldie but goldie`.The idea being to use stash that you`d forgotten about or haven`t used for ages if at all . In the bottom of the card I used gold foil over one of those glue transfer stickers. This was a kit that I have had for ages but never actually got round to using like you do Lol. I used a arch shaped stamp of a stained glass window to get the shape for the main image. I used distress inks sponged on for the background but I used twinkling H2O`s to colour in the three wise men, also hardly ever used, thats the H2O`s (I`ve never yet used this stamp before). The sentiment is from a hero arts stamp with the phrase in one line under an image but I just used the words and cut them up to use separately.  I think with hindsight I could make a much improved version as I`m not sure about the black but I wanted the foil image to really stand out otherwise to be honest this was a kit that was going to be boot saled !!. Thanks for looking x Vinny

Its my Mother in Laws birthday soon so though I had better get on and make her a card. This is especially as she never received the Christmas card we sent, think it fell into the Royal Mail black hole somewhere. I used a mixture of EI essence of nature stamp plate and the crackle stamp is a crafty indivuals one. I stamped the butterfly tree on the main image then coloured the butterflies in with copic markers. I then went over the top of the butterflies with glossy accents and although I don`t think you can see from the scan, I added glamour dust glitter into the glossy accents while it was still wet so the butterflies have a beautiful indiresscent glitter to them. I used three colours of distress ink - spun sugar and victorian velvet blended round the butterfly tree and then victorian velvet and pumice stone to stamp the folliage along the bottom.  Well had better shuffle off now to get on and make more February birthday cards as there are quite a few. Thanks for looking
x Vinny

holly and fairies

I have been following the Bah Humbug challange blog but as usual I am three weeks behind everyone else !. The first challange was holly and fairies but I only got round to making a card today although I still wanted to do so because I really liked the theme. I used the lovely distress inks in scattered straw, crushed olive, bundled sage and forest moss for my background. I flicked a mixture of gold perfect pearls mixed with water over the top to give a lovely speckled effect a bit like snowfall. I then stamped my holly wreath in forest moss and coloured the berries in barn door. Glossy accents give them a shiny effect. My faries are also coloured with distress inks with watercolour pencils adding extra shading over the top. I hope this Friday to take part in the challange properly and actually enter Lol. Thanks for looking x Vinny

I`ve taken the plunge

Well, I`ve taken the plunge and set up a blog. No idea how it works so will have to figure things out as I go along. Hope to broaden my horrizons with my crafting this year so fingers crossed all goes well.