12 days of Christmas swap...

its not a regular thing for me taking part in swaps...but over on UKS atm...i was tempted by the 12 days of Christmas swap...inspired by a project in Craft Stamper Magazine...designed by the fabulously talented Linda...

the idea is that 12 people make 12 thrinchies {3 inch squares} and decorate them, leaving the corners clear for attaching with jump rings...then when we swap...we end up with 12 different Christmas themed squares and it makes a lovely wall hanging for the festive season :0)



if you're wondering why i've made 9 turquoise and silver thrinchies...its because some of the people have requested specific colour schemes {including me!}

this red, green and gold is my chosen colourway...

this totally golden one was just for fun...

...and this black and gold colourway was chosen by another swapee...i hope she likes it!

the more observant of you will have noticed my absence and may like to know that i fell down a rather nasty poorly hole last week...but i'm doing much better this week...hope its a good one for you too...

al!x does t!m...

...or so to speak!?#$! those of you with eagle eyes might have spotted my grungy door sign project in this month's Craft Stamper...and here are couple more projects using the same stamps and techniques:

a Birthday card for the man of the house...and a little box with secrets in...obviously i can't share those...or the secret wouldn't be...well...secret, would it??

the stamps are all by T!m the fabulous...as are the dies...the paint dabber...and even the rock candy distress paint!

...and just in case T!m, or anyone else, hadn't noticed this was a tribute...on the box i've used one of his bookplates, with one of his tickets...and coated it in his delicious Glossy Accents!!

Hope you like what i've done...now get back in your own craftroom...and PLAY! :0)

woyww 70

hi there julia and all her followers! here is womyww:

a total mess is what is on my workdesk today! just in case you haven't spotted either of this weeks' highlights...1. i have a cold...and 2. i've got a project in the November craft stamper...now be a good little crafter and make sure you go get your copy asap! ;0)

i'll be round to yours in a wee while...i have to do a random smattering as there are too many for my brain to process otherwise...but i do get to them all from time to time!

Happy Birthday Craft Stamper!

Did you know that Craft Stamper celebrates ten years in print with the June 2010 issue!!
Its a bumper issue, on sale around the 7th of May...make sure you pick up a copy before they sell out...

Here is the quick card i made to celebrate the event...why not have a look~see here at the other designers creations!

ok, thats all from me today...his Nibs and i are still feeling quite poorly...so i'll go and have a little lie down i think before its Dorothy ~time! ;0)

a little Easter fun...

i decided to jazz up the wrapping on my Easter egg gifts this year...with a little help from one of the Craft Stamper free stamps...remember this little bird? he is bonkers...but i kinda like that! ;0) and the finished projects look so cute all lined up on the window sill...

its a very simple tag i've made, cut using a Nestability die...an orange flower shaped brad added at the top...stamped the birdie...drew in some ground for her to stand on...and coloured with watercoloured pencils. {i've used a thinner ribbon to tie the tags on below the large spotty ribbon.}

the same principle works on other shaped Easter goodies too...although...you have to look quite hard to see what Richard's gift is!! ;0)

for his Nibs...nothing but white Lindt will do...and the big bunny is sooooo sweet...i think it should keep him happy for a couple of days! *hope so darling xxxx*

hope you've got some fun plans for the long weekend? and a little bit of chocolate too...
Happy Easter, bunnies!
Alixxx

ooooh fancy a bit of blog candy???

just a quick heads up to let you know that there is a fabulous Sharpie pen giveaway going on over at Craft Stamper...pop on over there for a chance to bag yourself some fabulous pens!

good luck!

a ribbon frenzy...

one of my lovely uks teamies very generously sent me a bundle of ribbons this week...actually it was about a month ago...but another lovely chum held them hostage...so i only actually got them this week!! i love ribbon and couldn't resist picking out the reds and greens and making a cute christmas wreath for my lounge door. even hubby likes this one!

if you like it too...its super easy and quick to make {had to be this week or there was no way i'd have even got started} i started with an old embroidery hoop and simply glued buttons in groups of three all around the edge sort of like clock numbers...i then glued assorted bows in between the buttons and added a big red bell to the inside of the hoop in the middle of each bow. a few red gems on a few of the larger buttons...a loop to hang...and its done!

these gingham bows are my absolute favourite...i love the naive charm of gingham...it goes well with my own primitive or rustic sense of style!! nothing fancy here...just cute charm :)

oooh and today in the advent calendar of bonkerness? a travel size L'Occitane Verbena shampoo! *loves*

oooh almost forgot to say...have you seen this month's Craft Stamper yet? i've got an article in it on making really quick christmas cards...but there are lots of really lovely non-christmas makes too...enjoy!

ooops...i was nearly a naughty alix...

apologies for promising to share an item i made for Craft Stamper last Christmas...it turns out i'm not allowed to show it even after 3 months now...so if you want to see it...you'll just have to look out an old issue!!

good job katy is on the ball...i was very nearly in trouble then!!

i'll think of something else to share tomorrow :)

ooh yes...and several people have asked me whats in the advent calendar...and like a twit i forgot to mention...as yet its empty...but i do plan to fill each day with a cute suprize for my hubby :)

advent calendar idea No1

hi everyone :)

a huge thanks to those who drop by...and especially those who take the time to leave me cute comments...its so good to get a little feedback when you're online crafting...you wouldn't want to feel all alone in the craftroom, now would you? ;) its so great to know that you're crafting too...and i really hope sometimes i inspire you to go off and make something lovely!

right, today its the first of my advent calendars...the weather is still grotty...so the photos aren't superb...but i think its enough for you to get the idea...and if you do decide to run with it...please let me know by leaving me a comment and a link to what you've done :) thanks!

ta daaaa...a shot showing not only a section of the calendar...but also a glimpse into my messy world!! lol

what i've done is take a pack of wage envelopes {£1.99 for a pack of 50 in my local PO} and stamp them 1-25 in pearly brilliance ink. i've then stamped a cute Christmas tree by Tanda Stamps on the first 24, and a cute Santa on 25.

i've added a gem star to the top of each tree and drawn in a trunk, and i've coloured the santa brightly to make the final day look *special*...

Santa's fir trim is coloured with Liquid Applique...something i seem to reach for every Christmas time for snow and fir...and every spring time for lambs' wool!! you apply it like regular paint and heat it with a heat gun until it bubbles up. if you haven't tried this stuff its fabby...and you can use it on t-shirts and bags/shoes too which is a great project to do with the kids :)

i've hung my envelopes from ribbon attached with household pegs...and i've stamped the pegs for added interest using the same Christmas tree stamp...i've done my alternating in bronze to match the tree and green to match the numbers...

***a hint***

the pegs are longer than the tree stamp...so stamp up to the metal clip from one end, then repeat with the other end :)
easy when you know how!

ok, i'm off for lunch now...hope you enjoyed stopping by...and have a crafty afternoon...tomorrow...i shall share the project i did last Christmas for Craft Stamper magazine using this same stamp!

and now for something completely different...

i thought you might like to see this rather unusual little flump fairy that i needle-felted for a friend with an obsession for all things pink! i've been totally out of love with papercrafting for a while now...and i always find having a go at something new reinspires me...and sure thing...i'm now scrapping and stamping on all cylinders again!! :)

and just in case you're interested...i have a rather unusual themed project in Craft Stamper this month too...the September issue...and it has deets of the stamper of the year comp too...so get yourselves and copy, get stamping...and enter the comp!!! Very fabby prizes to be won *wooo hooo*

{shame i can't enter....booooooo!!!} ;)

life...

...its a wonderful and unpredictable thing...but sometimes it does get in the way of crafting, huh? lol

the bonus is, i have some fun new photos to work with and a whole brain full of creative energy not to mention the huge urge to lock myself in the craft room for the entire day!!

have you seen this month's Craft Stamper btw? there are some gorgeous projects in there, a fabby new subscription offer...and the free stamp designed by kay carley is gorgeous :)

back with some photos and fun later

xx

a little heads up to all the birdie lovers out there...

...the new issue of Craft Stamper is out...and the cover mount is the most gorgeous swirly bird stamp i've seen in ages...you are going to want this one!

I've also got a project in the mag using some of PaperArtsy's gorgeous squiggly ink stamps...and if you like them, there is a deal in the mag on all the stamps i've used! Everyone a winner, huh? :)

its finally here!!!!

Remember me saying that this was about to appear in Craft Stamper magazine??? Well...it's finally here! Just pop along and get yourself the latest issue...and you can see all my work in glorious technicolour :) I'm so chuffed, I think it looks great, and its such a boost at a difficult time, not to mention a super Birthday treat!! I hope you guys like it...do let me know!

sorry!

got that last post wrong...it will be appearing in the April issue...so you'd better not hold your breath!!!

remember this?

I showed you this little sneaky peak a while ago...and if my sources are correct...it should finally be appearing in a Craft Stamper near you...this Friday! *so excited*...I'd love to hear what you all think of it, if you get the magazine... ps...no-one guessed what it is yet....;)

thanks...oooops...and a little hint!

Just a quickie to say two things!

Firstly...*oooops* part of the reason for posting the *enjoy it all* LO was because I used a really cute text stamp {bottom right} which I got from the lovely Leandra at PaperArtsy. If you haven't checked out her Squiggly Ink range of stamps yet...you really must they are just so fun, and so useable. See them here in her massive 30% off sale!!! I may just have been playing with some other stamps in the range...so keep your eyes peeled in upcoming Craft Stamper issues, for some rather intesting things to do with them! *nudge, nudge*, *wink, wink*, etc...

Finally, thanks for all the lovely comments :) its great to know who's been stopping by, and to get some positive affirmation from time to time. *thanks everyone*

can you tell what it is yet??

I'm only allowed to give a sneak peak...but this is a project I'm really excited about which will be appearing in Craft Stamper in due course...can you tell what it is? :)

Hoping to feel better tomorrow...I've had a bummer of a couple of days, bashed myself up falling out of bed yesterday {grrrrrrr's at blooming ME} then had an acute abdominal migraine, probably brought on by the shock...and had to spend the rest of the day in bed. Bless my DH, who says to me..."I kept calm...but I was a bit worried when your lips went blue!!!" Thanks for looking after me so well *loves you* xxx

check this out...

Have you seen this month's Craft Stamper magazine yet? There are quite a few of my designs in this month...and for those of you that liked them...there is an extra bonus project on the Craft Stamper Blog! http://craftstamper.blogspot.com/

What else is happening today? Well, its Elsie Flannigan's birthday today and she has some cool news on her blog...and I'm sitting back making a few cute things inspired by her online classes. My sister and I are also making Christmas decs, which is fun :)

oooops!

...i just don't seem to have gotten it into my head that it is dark when i get up from my nap now...so i only have the mornings if i want to photograph stuff nicely!

...shame i'm not great in the morning then, eh? ;)

oooh and while i'm here...remember the new Craft Stamper Magazine is out on Friday...and i'm in it...but don't let that put you off...they have some brilliant designers! :)

check out the new blog!!

The Craft Stamper blog went live today...check it out here. Don't forget to leave a comment to be in with a chance of winning the blog candy on offer!!

More tomorrow...its waaaaaay past my bedtime now...