Mina's Perfect Pleats

Hi peeps :)
I hope that everyone is managing to stay warm - jeez it is COLD here.

It's Friday - where has the week gone!! - and that means it's time for another fabbydoodles Just Magnolia challenge. This week, it is our special monthly challenge sponsored by Simon Says Stamp (fab prize) and the sweetness and loveliness that is Mina Pink Puds has done a brilliant tutorial for you.

Our challenge is paper pleating and if you've not had a go, nip and check out the
tutorial - this technique is such FUN, I kid you not!!!



So this is what I did.

I used the usual PMs and Glamour Dust of course. The usual 'fab' photo editing has changed the red on practically every pic so it looks different on each one - not sure what I do but I wish I could flippin sort it out lol xxx

Of all the pics, this one is the one that is most accurate :)

The gorgeous papers are Doodlebug's Ladybug Picnic which you can get from our Tracy at Dies To Die For and the black and white tartan-ey one is from Funky Hand and is one of the Salt and Pepper collection.

I thought, just for a change, I'd use one of my MS punches as well lol !!!

Now I realised AFTER I'd done my card that as gorge as the black and white paper is, it doesn't show the pleats off very well!!! You can only just about see them here!! But if you nip over to the challenge, you can see the rest of the DT girlies beautiful cards and you can see the effect much better.

I am such a dope sometimes!!!

The ribbon and twine, were from the local floristry warehouse and the button was in the good old stash box!!!

And here's the dodgy angle pic, for good measure.

There's something about black, white and red that I just love. It has to be one of my fave colour combis I think.

Well I hope that you are all managing to stay warm. Richard was on nights last night and when he got home this morning at 6.30am, he said that it was minus 8!!! But this is nowt compared to Scotland where it was apparently minus 20 last night. That's Arctic conditions. So if you are from Scotland, as my fab blog bud Kath is (xxx and hugs to her), stay extra warm peeps xxx.

Richard and I went for a lovely long walk yesterday - we must be madder than a box of frogs, I know. I bet I look gorge in me green wellies, every inch the sex goddess (retired!!) but I don't care really - as long as I don't fall over. Although Richard did point out that there is lots of padding if I do!! How nice of him!!!

But the walk was nice and the lanes and fields do look pretty. We saw quite a bit of wildlife as well, including and up close and personal encounter with a fox!!! We are both outdoor types and there is nowt like a good walk in the snow to blow away the cobwebs lol xx My old dad used to say that we need a really good cold spell to kill of the germs, and I think he was right.

Well I better go and have me lunch and then possibly make a couple more cards, including Kyla's birthday card for Sunday. Have a warm and crafty day peeps and see you soon. Hugs to all xxx

Papertake Cheatly lol xxx

Ohhh what have I done!!!!

Well the challenge this week over at Papertake Weekly is Black & White + 1. Now you'd think that someone who spends most of her professional life dealing with figures etc would be able to count to 1.

But seemingly I can't.
Cos I realised after I did me card that I'd coloured the grass green.

In my defence, I was so smitten with me new Heidi In The Flowers image that I just HAD to use her cos she is so cute.

Which obviously led to me having one of me moments cos I was merrily colouring away and forgot and used a bit of green for the grass.

Which makes it black and white + 2.

Of course, I couldn't really have used any other colour really, so please forgive me peeps.

Like I said to someone the other day, you can take the blonde out of the hair,
but not out of the girl :(

So here's the big picture, and the scene of the crime.

I coloured Heidi in with PMs but forgot the Glamour Dust - just when you thought it couldn't get worse lol xxx!!

You can get hold of a Heidi for yourself over at Dies To Dies For and check out the offer of the day - it's Magnoliatastic :)))xxx


I did a bit of a funky mix and match with the papers. They are Funky Fairy's gingham and Funky Hand's Salt And Pepper spotty.

I've been on the scrounge round the old cards again and found a bit of me fave ribbon :) The button was from a kit but that's about all I can tell you cos I can't remember which one!!!

You're not surprised are you, considering I couldn't even count to 1 lol xxx

The 'cute' bit on the side (ohh that sounds bad) was a mistake (most bits on the side are!!). I shouldn't have put it on cos it's made the card very unbalanced which I don't like. If I get a sec I will put something on the other side to even it up a bit. Note to Dawny - please re-read the bit in one of your book about the rule of thirds!!!!

Well apart from the cheating, it is a fantastic week over at PTW cos we have 4 brand new designers joining us. They are Sharon, Jill, Debi and Donna.

Sharon is one of the best and is one of my oldest blog buds - that is oldest as in how long I've known her, not in age (sorry Sharon, cos I've just made you sound ancient xxx). When I first started out in the land of Blog, I was just blown away by her style and work and I still am to this day.

Jillis one of the nicest, sweetest girlies ever, she does fab work, and again she's one of the first blog buds I ever had.

Debi is one of my newer blog buds and she is also one of my AFA teamies and her work is amazing.

And Donna is also one of my newer blog buds and her work is also fab and she is a granny and she's funny. So my kind of gal.

I am looking forward to working with all of these talented peeps, I really am. Though after my cheaty bit today, it might not be mutual lol xxx

And of course we still have my other fabulous blog bud as one of our GDT and that is the wonderful Mrs Kath. She'll probably hate me for doing this but I just have to give her a toot .....

fanfare please .....

... cos she's only been invited to participate in the Countdown To World Cardmaking Day which is hosted by Paper Crafts Magazine and Moxie Fab World. How fab is that!! You can read all about it here.

Not only is Kath in there but also Kim (Dellow xxx), Rach (xxx) Andrea and Lucy. Girlies we couldn't wish for anyone better to represent us UK cardies and the work you did is just awesome.

Well that's me done for today, although sadly not in the work department cos there is a stack of it on my desk. So I'd best get on and get it done. Have a great day and hugs to all xxx

Buttons, Bows & Brads

That's our theme over at Anyone For Anya this week, and there's also a wonderful prize up for grabs which has been donated by the totally fab Tracy at Dies To Die For, so pop over and have a mooch when you get a sec.

Now you could be forgiven for thinking that I'd gone at bit OTT with the Glamour Dust going by this pic, but IRL it doesn't damage yer eyeballs quite as bad as it does here. I think that the light must have just caught it funny.

But check out her fab 'lurex' socks!!! I am just loving them :)

So this is what I did.

Once again I have done a sterling job with the photo editing (not) and it looks a tad on the wishy washy side.

Anyhoos, the theme is Buttons, Bows & Brads and you can use any combination . I went for 1 button and 1 bow. I WAS going to use tiny brads on either side (where the stick on gems are) but I didn't have enough - doh!! So stick on gems it had to be!!!

The paper is Funky Hand's Salt And Pepper ...

... and the ribbon was from the Paper Mill Shop.

The buttons were from my 'cut from an old pair of trousers or something that doesn't fit me anymore due to the increased lardage' collection.

I have quite a lot of these buttons lol xxxx

And that's it peeps.

Well we (Nikkie and I) had a fabulous day yesterday in Manchester at the GMEX. I bought lots of beads and jewellery type stuff but only one stamp.

Mmm, a worrying trend seems to be emerging.

But best of all, I got to meet Dulcie from Wild Rose Studio at long last. Oh she is exactly how I imagined her to be and is just the sweetest and nicest ever. And it was quite surreal for me in a way to see my work on display. I am not really a 'proud' sort of person, unless it comes to my kids, but I did feel a teeny bit chuffed to see it there and hearing that people were saying such nice things about it. It was quite humbling really so thank you to everyone for their nice words xxxxx

Then last night, his nibs and I went out for dinner to a place which is about 35 minutes from here and which we'd heard a lot about but had never been to. Ohh it was FAB. Once again I lived up to my pink piggy name, (minus the pink lol!!!!).

Once again I came home stuffed and once again I am about to start another diet which once again I won't stick to.

On that chubby little note, I am off to do my prep for tomorrow night's card club - tis all go!!! Have the fabbiest of Sundays and don't forget to nip over and check out the AFA blog cos there's some fabbydoodles team cards to see.

Hugs to all xxxx

I Got Funky xxxx

And not an image in sight lol xx

I just had to join in the new challenge over at Get Funky cos 2 of my best blog buds (Kath and Enfys) are on the DT, and I wanted to show my support.

Plus Anice's papers are rather fabulous!!!

And I think it does you good every now and again NOT to rely on an image as the focus of your work. It makes you think more about the card and I really enjoyed making this one.

So this is my take on Anice's sketch.

I have to admit that when I decided to do the challenge, I had one of those little 'bit of panic' moments. But this sketch is a dream to work with and the DT cards are so inspirational - every one is gorgeous.

So I soon got busy with the papers and this is the result. Not something you'll hear me say often, but ....... I like it :)

AND the only red on here is what is supposed to be on here cos I checked every inch for errant bits of backing tape and I even made sure the charms were straight!!!

Is this the end of slap-dash Dawny?

Haaaaa, what do you think? I'll give it a week lol xxxx

All the papers I used are Funky Hand (naturellement), and they are all from the Salt And Pepper collection.

The blingy bits are Kars and I got them from Creative Pastimes.

Seeing as I am still in jewellery making mode from Tuesday's class, I made a little charm to hang from the ribbon. I've had the ribbon so long that I cannot for the life of me remember where I got it from :(

And yes, it has made an appearance!! God bless Martha Stewart and all who sail in her!!

I nicked the idea of using chipboard letters from my lovely Kath who is indeed the Queen of chipboard letters. Hers are neat - mine are not. But I still have 'L' plates on where they are concerned!!

I like the smudgy black bits round the edges. I felt that I had to say that incase anyone thought I'd just made another one of my grand messes. A bit like when you trip over and then start to run so people don't think you really tripped over!!! Well it isn't one of them, honestly. You know I'd tell you if it was :)


You can see the dimension here - I don't like flat (you probably noticed!!)

It's a bit different from what I usually do, but thanks for a great challenge girls - I will definately be joining in with this one every month.

I'm off to do a bit of work so that I can see my desk again, then it's off to the post office for me - lots of post to go out today, and some of it is long overdue!!

Have a fab day and hugs to all xxxx

Ready, Steady, Craft and a Triple Deckeroonie of a PRIZExx

What I wouldn't give to have legs like this instead of the 3x2s that I got :((

This week's Papertake Weekly is a fab Steph recipe ...

1 ribbon

2 rectangles

and

3 small, round embellishments (zooms, eyelets, brads, buttons, gems etc!)

So this is my version. The stamp is by the very lovely Toodles And Binks (as are the zooms), and I coloured it with me Pro Markers - just for a change. The DP is gorgeous Funky Hand Salt and Pepper - love it - and the ribbon is Poppicrafts.

Not only is this a fab recipe, but there are

3 fab prizes

up for grabs so mosey over and check it out :))) x

CRAFT SALE

This next bit is just to let you know about something that is happening here on Saturday.
I know not many of you will be able to come, but if you live fairly close, it might be worth your while.

Basically what has happened is that a young girl was selling some new craft stuff at a local car boot sale that my friend went to. My friend asked this girl if she had any more and she said she had loads. Her mum had suffered from agoraphobia and had been into making cards and spent a lot of her time (and money) ordering stuff from QVC.

Sadly the girl’s mum died just over a year ago and this poor kid has been trying to sort it. We went to see it and help sort it all out for her cos she is not into crafting and doesn't know what half the stuff is, let alone how much she should ask for it. There is just so much stuff and an awful lot of it had not even been opened. To give you an idea, there is over £10ks worth, I kid you not.

So this Saturday, there is going to be a sale at Saughall Methodist Church Hall from 12 – 2 and it all must go, so it is going to be silly prices, ie generally at least half price for most of the stuff.

This is NEW stuff girls, not second hand and there is everything you could imagine there, including items which would make nice presents. So if you are not too far away, I really think you would find it worth your while to come over.

If anyone wants direction, please let me know - dawnyp123@hotmail.co.uk

Also, could I ask a HUGE favour and ask as many of you to spread the word if you can, cos there will be people who read your blogs that don't visit here and they just might live close enought to come or may know someone who is.

I really want to help this kid cos it brought it home to me what would happen to my stash when I go to the great craft workshop in the sky. I would hate anyone to take advantage of my kids and just want to make sure that the same doesn't happen to this girl.

Thank you so much for reading this and for any links you put up - I really appreciate it

xxxxx

Brand New Fabbytastic Stamp

Guess what arrived here today??? Only my new
Sugar Nellies Home Grown Santa stamps from Funky Kits!!

I only ordered them yesterday as well!! So I thought I would put them to good use and do a challenge - like ya do lol xxx

This is my card for this week's Ismaki challenge which is based on a sketch. The papers are Funky Hands Funky Little Christmas and that red paper I found in my 12 x 12 box which shouldn't have been there (see previous post lol xx). The ribbons are Raspberry Ribbons and a tiny bit I found in the bottom of my ribbon stash. The green has not showed up at all well here and it actually looks a lot nicer in real life.

Finally here is a quick peek at another gorgeous ribbon from the new Raspberry Ribbons kit which I think Caroline has named after me.

It's called Fat 'n' Funky lol xxx

The papers are PP and also Funky Fairy's Blue Christmas. I really like this kit - there are some gorgeous papers in there. The image is from the new Woodware Christmas Ribbon Tree set. I am going to be using this set on the next Creative Pastimes workshop cos it is juts so yummy - I love it.

And finally, some sad news ......

The pink hair is gone - I am now just brown.

Well not just any old brown, oh no!! Velvet brown if you please!!!

By L'Oreal, cos I'm worth it lol xxx

My badger- like roots were practically down to my ears and I couldn't wait to get an appointment, so for the first time in **** years (actually, the first time ever in my entire life) I got me a home dye your hair, hands, towel and bath kit. And Emma put it on for me using an old pastry brush. Well it wasnt old but it's sadly now gone to pastry brush heaven , but it's gone with the most amazing tan!!!. She has done a great job as well and we both like it, but I am missing my lovely pink highlights.

They may well return. A bit like me tomorrow xxx