Ali's card making blog

My first post for WOYWW - a day early, does that matter?! I'm out at an evening meeting with work tomorrow after being at work all day so doubt I will feel like doing much when I get back ;-) (Apart from having a large glass of wine obviously!) So here is my workdesk today - actually I don't have a permanent workspace, I have to use the dining room table. I do have all my craft stash to hand though in various drawers and cupboards. Anyway, back to what is going on on my desk this week. My new Milton and Co bunny stamp arrived yesterday so I couldn't wait to try it out! I'm planning to watercolour the bunny for a baby girl's 1st birthday card. I've also been playing with some clear embossing powder which I haven't tried before. I used a floral stamp and a purply pink ink with the clear embossing powder over the top. I've also added a bit of glitter and am very pleased with the result! The punched stars were left from another project and just happ...

I do really need to stop buying so much stash! Buying card making related items has replaced my previous passion for buying lots of clothes that I never wear, now I just buy craft stuff that I don't have time to use ;-) New items this week included some rectangular nestabilities and some scalloped circle nestabilities for my (new earlier in month!) Cuttlebug! I didn't pay full price though, they are soooo expensive aren't they?! Got them on ebay for around £14 a set, bargain! I've also got a stamp on order and a butterfly embossing folder. I also got a set of stamps last weekend at a craft shop I discovered in Whitby. 3 of them are Smirk Stamps so I'm enjoying playing with those! Anyhow, I was supposed to be going to a card making class yesterday to get some inspiration for what to do with all my new stuff. However, I was streaming with cold so thought I wouldn't go and infect everyone but would stay in and use the internet for inspiration instead. It wa...

This yummy card is just perfect for a 40th Birthday! The cupcakes were free in a magazine recently and I had been looking for the opportunity to make a card out of them and thought this would definitely fit the bill! Look good enough to eat don't they?!

This great idea was started by Jon on the new Craftrak site which allows card makers to swap cards and ideas with each other. Jon started off the card with the square sticker in the middle and invited other Craftrakkers to add an element then send the card on! I was lucky enough to receive the card recently and added some googly eyes to the teddy and some gems. Here is a picture of how it looked when I sent it on its way. Can't wait to see the finished card (will it ever be finished though I wonder?!)

I was very proud of this card which a new customer at my mini card stall at work ordered from me recently. Just the excuse (not that I really need one) to get out the glitter and glizty bits and pieces! She loved the card, so hopefully I have gained another regular customer :-)

I rescued this flower fairy decoupage today from down the back of my craft drawers! The sheets come in sets of 3 and I must have done the other two then shoved the third unceromoniously into the drawer! My drawer got stuck and when I peered into the back, there was this little fairy waiting to be rescued! Luckily she was still in perfect condition and waiting to be turned into something pretty ;-)

I love this fairy from the new Lili of the Valley range. This is a topper but I like it so much I think I might invest in the stamp so I can have her in different colours. I've combined her with a floral card blank I got in a set recently and also my first Cuttlebug embossed background! This is for a lady at work who has placed an order for about 8 cards all for Birthdays in June. This is one of the easier ones on the list, the other, more challenging cards, include a Sports Car theme (I've found it difficult to find sports car images previously) and one for her little boy (who is called Henry) with an image of Henry the Hoover! We will see how I get on!

Have you tried Craftrak.com yet? It's great fun. You purchase some special A7 size cards (seems small I know, but they look fab once you've decorated them), make your card, log it on the website then send it to a fellow Craftrakker. Then you get one back in return! I've sent and received my first few cards and am really enjoying it. Here is one of the ones I have sent.

It's lovely to have some time for a change to just sit and craft! Usually I am lucky to fit in one or two cards during the week and a few more on a weekend, but this weekend I have been playing loads! I just got a new Cuttlebug machine so yesterday I went to buy some dies and embossing folders. As they are so expensive I think I will be limiting myself to just one or two a month! I love the nestabilities dies so wanted to start with them so I bought the scalloped ovals set. Here are a couple of my creations :-)