Woo Hoo I did it

Well I am over the moon today, I have been on a diet almost 6 months now, the reason was of course I was overweight but I had high cholesterol ( not sure I spelt that correctly) well I have been doing the diet on my own with the nurse at my doctors weighing me every 3 weeks, I have not cheated once and today when I saw her I have lost my target weight plus 2lb more and my total weight loss is 58lb and I have lowered my Cholesterol to and will not need pills, so I was just so happy :-) plus to keep me motivated my daughter and i are doing the walk the walk next May in London, all 26 miles of it I hope, so we will have a 12 week training programme to follow next year. Well just had to advertise this loss to someone and here it is, thanks for reading love from a very happy me xxx

SS Challenge red, gold and green

Here are my SS entries for this week, there is red, gold and green there somewhere, though the top card might be missing gold !!!! these are Tim stamps and coloured in with promarkers, a bit of white paint type stuff and glitter to, hope you like them and thanks for looking xx

Santa in the pink

This made you look me saying Santa in the pink, now what were you all expecting ??????

For this tag which I have made for this weeks Sunday Stampers, I have covered both sides in pink dabbers and the top picture I tried and failed to do what Dan does when he re-stamps an image over the top of your already stamped image ( now that makes no sense) I painted Santas beard in with white acrylic paint, used a script background stamp and the word believe, the little tag is from Tims new range. the bottom picture is using a new weinter tree stamp and I have put stickles on that and some background script again and wording in brown, hope you like this tag and sorry about the rubbish explanation of its making, thanks for loking xx

Christmas Tag

This is showing the fronts of tags I have made for a swap I am in and also the snowman is what is on the back of the tags, so its decorated both sides. The Father Christmas side has been coloured in and I have used this white raised stuff ( no idea of its name) and glitter for a bit of an extra effect, shame its not showing up as it looks quite good, even if I say so myself, then I have masked and inked and stamped the background and used some ideaology tags covered in a white dabber for the word ( copying Tim) the stamps used are all by the master himself.

The back of the tags, thats the snowman is coloured in with blue and black dabber and stickles for the gold, I copied Lindas idea of the hat being coloured in, hope she does not mind, she is very talented and I loved what she had done. then I inked the background and the snowflakes stamped in blue and whit dabber, hope you like the tag, I really enjoyed getting messy, thanks for looking xxx

A few purple Tildas

just a few purple Tildas and using some papers I have had in ages and ages, I quite like these colours and they have grown on me, I do think this Tilda is rather sweet, I have used glitter and gems to finish them of and my promarkers as usual and the cuttlebug, hope you like xx

A little bit of red

here is my SS entry for this week, just hope Hels will accept the red on this as I know its not all red, I am sure she will as she is such a great, wonderful lady :-)

this is made using basic grey papers, Tilda Stamps, Penny Black Stamp and a huge red flower with a button in the middle, the image is coloured in with my pro-markers as I love them. hope you like this and thanks for dropping by xx

Two more Butterflies

Here are another two butterflies for the butterfly project, thats the last two at the moment, so I best get my botty in order and try and make some more. Hope you like these and thanks for dropping in xx

Butterfly Project

These two Butterflies are for the Butterfly project, if you want to know more about this and how you might be able to help then Check out Dans Blog here he explains everything and theres a link all about it to, please check it out as its a very worthy cause. also Dan is very talented and has lots to offer on his Blog x

These are actually quite small and have been stamped, masked and generally inked about, not sure if they are right but I enjoyed making them, hope they are ok and they can be used this week for the Sunday Stampers challenge as it involves orange, you will find that fab challenge here at Hels Blog, also check that out if you get a chance as its got some great artwork there, thanks for looking xx

Three more little snow peeps

these are all much the same as I have done before, used a square nestabilities this time, different papers and a snowflake die cut to, no good at keep explaining, so here they are, good for me to keep a record of what I am making xx

A snowman or two again

Here is another 8x8 card, I just love the size of these as you can put so much on them, though one card uses rather a lot of my precious papers LOL

This ones made using Cosmo Cricket be good papers, Stitchels snowmen that I have masked to stand them next to each other ( should really be snow people as there are two ladies in the collection) coloured in as usual with the Promarkers, matted on a piece of metallic DCWV card and put through the Cuttlebug then sand papered, the flower is a Paper Artsy Stamp and a button to finish, the quote again is Penny Black and one completed card.

Thanks for popping by and hope you like this one x

Christmas Tilda

well I never really took to Tilda when she first came out, but as you can see she grew on me, this is a stamp from the last years Christmas Collection, yet again I used my cuttlebug with nestabilities for her to be mounted on, promarkers to colour her in, a bit of embossed glitter words and card complete, hope you like and cheers for looking xx

A cat in a Santas hat

These two cards are 8 by 8 again, yes same old story, but this time notice its a cat stamp from Penny Black and different papers, the styles the same as I am liking that style, when I find something I like then I am sticking with it, plus Christmas cards I do not usually do, I have used the Cuttlebug to again, must say a great gadget if you do not have one. hope you like this and thanks for looking xx

A snowman or two

Another large card, much the same as the last but different colours, I am having a Stitchel Snow people craze right now, I just adore using them ( think I have said that before) this time they have 3 flowers to finish of and just coloured in different colours. Hope this one you like to x

My Little Fella

Well this is all Hels fault, she has started something now, George made a card with Hels when she stayed here, the result being him and the card in the top photo, boy he looks chuffed with himself and rightley so, he did a fantastic job and his first make, of course now he wants to make more and using my stash LOL, well his second card is the result below

He did all the card himself except for the white ornaments, I cut those out for him, he cut the papers himself, used the Cuttlebug himself, stamped the greeting and put it all together, I must say he has made me a very proud mum :-) now the question is will he want to do more??????? Hope you like his cards and thankyou for looking x

Stitchels Snowmen

Here are two more Stitchel Snowmen cards that I have made, very simple, the snowmen were coloured in with the promarkers again, I think they give such a bold effect, then the nestabilities for the snowmen to sit on, a bit of mirri card and coloured card, a merry christmas wish stamped and embossed and the card completed, hope you like these cards, I am hooked on these stamps xx

another Christmas card from the weekend away, more stamping, papers and Ribbon, hope you like this one and thanks for looking xx

A Blue Christmas

A few weeks ago I went on a craft weekend with a few crafty friends, we made a batch of different style Christmas cards and I learnt a few new things along the way, we had such a great time and it was made even better by being with such good mates.

This card was stamped all over with the snowflake and a border put along the card with the fantastic ribbons that were knotted rather than a bow, and a merry Christmas added also and a few gems dotted around the snowflakes.

Hope you like this card and thanks for looking, actually this would of been ideal for Hels SS Challenge if she had not already seen it and made one herself :-)

SS Challenge Mr Blue Sky

Here is my entry for this weeks Sunday Stamper challenge, yes it got other colours than blue and hopefully it will pass the test. Goodness my Blogs a bit cobweb laden as not been here in a while.

well this card is huge its 8x8 inch Square, I have used Bo Bunny Christmas papers and the Stitchels Snowmen, which are just great to use, the flower is a stamp from Paper Artsy and I believe there should be some green there but I like it all red, the expression is a Penny Black stamp and I also used a cuttlebug for the very first time to do the Matt that the snowmen are on, WOW I love it and big thanks to Hels for bringing it here this weekend when she stayed with me, we have had a fantastic time of Craft and chat :-)

Hope you like my card and thanks for looking, grab a feather duster on your way out please and get them cobwebs x

Another Card with houses

This is another card I made after Hels set a Sunday Stamper challenge, the stamps are the squggly ink range from Paper Artsy and the houses are coloured in with Promarkers, the hearts are the Stitchels range and hey presto a card finished that I am not sure with words like that what I can use it for, maybe a Anniversary card for hubby LOL. Hope you like and thanks for stopping by xx

Tags and Quotes

here is a tag that I have made for this months tag swap that I join, well most months I try, I have used my faithful Distress Inks for the colouring and the Stamps used are some of Tims new ones and basic grey ones to, not much written info from me today and I hope you like this tag and thanks for looking xx

Christmas Stampbord Canvas

This is a Christmas Stampbord Canvas I have done using the 2 inch squares and in the middle an oval piece, all stampbord, I have used the Victorian Christmas Plates from The Artistic Stamper for this Canvas, the squares were coloured with Alcohol Inks, Dabbers and Ink Pads first, then the various Images were stamped on, scratched about a little and then some I have triple embossed, thats a thing I do not usually attempt but I love the look. the Canvas is done in Gold Dabber with a little Red blotted about.

Sadly I scanned the finished article and its not scanned all that great, I am useless with my camera, so sorry its not a very bright picture but it is in reality, hope you like this and thankyou for stopping by xx

A Card for my Nephew

I have made this for my Nephew Brian, I have used the bear stamp from Whipper Snapper and coloured him in with Promarkers, matted on blue card and the words are printed from the computer, they are rather large as I wanted it to be a personal card for his Birthday, hope you like this, I love that stamp myself, thanks for looking x

Its Christmas !!!!

Well I never me make a Christmas card, actually there is a reason behind it, this is for Jennie at The Artistic Stamper, its using the Stitchel Snowmen which are just so cute and easy to use, the stamps can be bought Here along with other great Stitchel designs and fab products.

I have used 2 of the snow people and used masking to get one behind the other, I have coloured them in with the Promarkers, matted on gold, green and red, though the gold never shows up in pictures, the wording is also a stamp from The Artistic Stamper, sorry my descriptions bad, hope you like this card it was fun making it xx

A Clock for a friend

Here is a wooden clock that I altered for Dan for his Birthday, he is such a special friend it was very hard to know what to make him, I knew he likes practical presents so hoped this what fit the bill :-) for some strange reason I even decorated the back!!!!

I have done the front with gesso first then dabbers and distress inks, I stamped the border stamps and clock faces with versafine then quickly rubbed them of to give the faded look ( well tried to) the stamp in the middle is a great stamp by Paperbag Studios, if you click on the image you will be able to read what it says, the words are using an alphabet set and the numbers are grungeboard, did not do the norm as I wanted it to be different, the back of the clock again is using ghesso first then the dabbers, the scene is made using stamps from Tim Holtz and Stampscape, hope you like this I actually really enjoyed making it xx

We also had a brilliant day yesterday shopping and celebrating Dans Birthday, he recieved some fantastic gifts from everyone.

Wintery Feel

Yet again another house, this time its meant to have a Winter feel about it, well the main stamps I used were from an Oxford Impressions Winter sheet, the top picture is a backing paper by Bo Bunny, rather delicate it is to, I also ripped a piece and put it down the side, then curled it back to show a white piece underneath. The bottom side is rather a mixed bag of stamps, Oxford Impressions, Paperbag Studios and Lost Coast Designs. Hope you like this house and thanks for taking a peek x

A Javablu Award

Here are the rules for the Javablu Award:

1. The winner can put the logo on their blog.

2. Link the person you received your award from.

3. Nominate at least 5 other blogs.

4. Before listing the nominees give a brief reason why you chose them.5

. Put links of those blogs on yours.

6. Leave a message on the blogs you have nominated.

Firstly thankyou to Karen at Scrapz and Tracey for this fab award I feel honoured they have chosen me.Well where do I start I have so many Blogs that I visit and that are so inspiring to me that I could not just pick out 5, I have so many talented friends that do such a vast range of fabulous crafting and have been in magazines, done demostrating, been guest designers, are in creative teams and just generally fab at there artwork, so if you visit my Blog today or tomorrow the chances are you are a friend, so consider yourselves worthy of this great award, love Andrea xx

SS Challenge Home

Well hope this fits the criteria for the SS Challenge this week which is Home. Thought it was a good excuse for me to add another House to my book I am making and after all the Quote does mention home in it.

For this house I have gone very bright and used some Paper Artsy bricks and mortor sheets that I have had for a while, the top side I have also used some of the mini Stitchels on the background and they can be bought from here and there are lots of designs and some great snowmen to. I love the quote on this side it makes me all warm. For the other side I have again used Paper Artsy and a background that I got from America, both sides are coloured in with Promarkers and backgrounds are distress inks. Hope you like this house and thanks for looking xx

House Book

Whilst I have been busy making houses for the swap I am in, I have been making one of each design for myself for a BIA book ( yes suprise suprise a BIA book, only had the BIA nearly a year and not yet took it out of its box, oops ) thanks to Dan who has kindly cut out the house shapes for me to make the book, thats the reason this house is straight on one side. have to cut and make covers yet ( Dan may need your help :-) Please )

for this house I have used a various mix of stamps, backgrounds and good old faithful distress inks, what on earth did I use before I bought these, you will spot some Tims backgrounds there, hope you like this and thanks for looking

Am all excited

Well I never I am very chuffed as I have made the front of Scrapz Website with my beach houses that I made for a swap I am in, I made Gallery winner :-) I never thought that my artwork would be good enough for that so it was a total shock, if you have never checked out there site then I must advice you to do so as they have some brilliant stash on there and well worth the browse.

Art In My Pocket

This weeks theme on Hels pocket challenge is Art, for my pocket I have used some crate paper as the pocket, I have stamped the quote on the front and then put a slide mount over it, for the Inner of my pocket I have stamped on card and cut and coloured the various images, highlighted with gold and a white pen, the pocket as been edged with a gold Krylon pen also.

Hope the pockets fits the challenge and you enjoy looking at it, thankyou xx

Girls House

Firstly I have had the bestest weekend as I went to stay at Hels house and we had fun crafting, chatting and the Wii Fit ( thats another story ) whilst I was there I made a few houses for the swap we are in and here is one of them.

both the girls stamps are from Paperbag Studios and coloured in with my fab new Promarkers, the backgrounds are the great designs of Tim Holtz and the expressions are a couple of Hels great stamps she has in her craft room, the bottom girl has a few jewels added to finish it of. hope you like this house and thankyou for popping by xx

Beach House

Here is another house for the swap I am in, for this house I have used Chalk Ink Pads for the background colours and the stamps I have used are Oxford Impressions, Tim Holtz, Lost Coast Designs and I think the other is After Midnight, its most unusual I never used a single Distress Ink Pad, that was a suprise to myself, I will not explain all what I have done as you can see really. hope you like this Beach House and thankyou for stopping by xx

82 Croak Lane

Here is no 82 Croak Lane now, its not a lot different to my first house, still have granny in the attic, I have used different backgrounds for the top side and also the door is done with Alcohol inks and painted with them to, the granny is painted with pearlescant powders and water. the second side has a different door and the same background as my first house but just a different colour, hope you like house no 82 and thanks for looking, by the way house no 84 is the same so I will not be Blogging that xx

Pocket Challenge Postage Stamps

This Wednesdays Pocket Challenge is Postage Stamps, I have used some patterened card for this and some Egyptian rubber stamps that have not really seen the light of day, I used Distress Inks and the white pen, the actual Postage Stamps I have used are Egyptian and I won these a while from the well known Auction Site, just a combination of things here and my Egyptian Post is completed, hope you like this and thanks for looking x