A Fabby Early Christmas Prezzie!!

Did you see this post on the CCAYR blog?? Evidently this card is a winner & I'm now a proud member of the January to March DT! Obviously, I'm thrilled! LOL
I'm taking a break from Deanne's team this week & from Di's Team next week - with hospital visiting & the fact that I've not started my Christmas preparations yet, I just needed a li'l time off to concentrate on making all those Chrimbo gifts that I've planned. So I might be a li'l bit quiet this week ... but then again, I might not! LOL

Well That's A First!

I went to Bury St Edmunds last weekend with my Mum, stepfather & some of my ladies (on a coach trip) to the Christmas markets ... sooooooo much shopping! Mum took these photos of the stiltwalkers & I have actually scrapped them - within a week!!!!!
Before you start thinking that I've gone all super-organised, I should say that this is my 1st December layout for Deanne & that I have only just got it to her - so actually I'm late & not at all organised. Go visit to see what the rest of the DT did ... fabulous pages!
What can I say? it's been a manic couple weeks but the webstore finally went offline this morning - & with it went all the stress & irritation it has been causing for quite some time. The MISI store makes me happy ... & the group of friends I have made over there keep me laughing too - life is good!
Today I'm thankful for:

• Deanne's understanding of my missed deadline ... she didn't sack me yet!! *must try harder*
  
• Online friends ... sometimes it's difficult to find the block of hours to actually visit friends but online you can snatch a minute here & there ... even if it's at 2 am! LOL
• My folks for taking me to Bury with them - had a fab day out!

I'll be back later on with my winners announcement as I promised yesterday!!

Deanne's November 15th Sketch

Loved working with Deanne's new sketch ... although it did take a li'l while to get everything to come together. I really wanted to shabby everything up for this one, so I had a bit of a play with some different techniques.

I used papers from Fancy Pants Crush line & the ledger paper is Holly Jolly. I sanded the edges of all the papers & for the journaling mat I used a distressing tool (remember the Making Memories distressing kit???) to shabby up the right hand edge - I created the torn notebook effect on the left edge by making holes with a cropadile & then tearing out from the holes to the edge ... then I inked it all up!
The photos were cut leaving a white border, roughed up with the distressing tool & then inked. I machine stitched the ribbons in place ... check out the printed leaves twill - it's Cosmo Cricket ... from the Mr Campy line.
I inked the chipboard flourish with olive pastel chalk ink (love chalk inks) & then aged the edge with chestnut roan chalk ink. The 'stems' were painted with crackle paint & then aged with chestnut roan too. I added a twist of rusty wire (scrapbook safe stuff that I've had lying around for 3 years!!) & the blossoms are made up from Prima Artful Collage, Kaisercraft (taupe)& self adhesive pearls (I used Blush)
I broke out the acrylic paint & my old foam stamps for the title ... haven't used them for ages either! If you got the september embellie kit, you'll have one of these fabric tabs (to the left of the bottom left photo) too - i just swiped with a bit of ink to make it look less 'new'

17 Ways to Say 'Thank You'

Deanne posted a fabulous sketch or two a couple days ago & I thought this one was just right to make a whole bunch of Thank You cards. Normally I create one-off cards but as I include a li'l thank you with every order at the webstore, I get through a lot! LOL.
The benefit of batch-making cards is you can create them assembly line style ... completing one step at a time on several cards. I make 5-10 at a time, using whatever scraps I have on hand. Why not have a go yourself & get ahead on all those thank you cards you'll need for the gifts received & party hosts over the Christmas holidays.
If you'd like to see the supply lists, tutorial etc - check it out on the store blog!!

Deanne's November 1st Sketch

Here's my DT page for Deanne's current sketch - I'm just loving being a part of this team. The other designers produce such awesome work for each & every sketch - go check them out. I've used We R Memory Keepers Promenade papers, Prima Artful Collage flowers & a bunch of odd bits from my stash!

Deanne's Mid-Month Sketch

Loved Deanne's latest sketch! You might have noticed that I haven't been crafting much for some time & when I have, maybe it's just a quick & simple something. I get absolutely no satisfaction from that! LOL.
Since I stopped taking part in so many challenges & have just stuck to my DT projects, I have been having more fun with it. Sure, it might well take 3 hours to make a card (yes, really) & I spent waaaaay more than that on this page ... but I'm finding that I really like what I'm doing that way. So now I'm gonna focus on quality, not quantity.
This layout (like most of them) doesn't look particularly complex ... it's the li'l details that take the time. Each piece of paper has been carefully sanded (including the handcut lettering) & the machine sewn elements are a bit of a challenge on a mini sewing machine (that would be why I don't often sew on layouts, only cards! LOL) & I am currently crafting with a broken thumb - but then I like a challenge! LOL
The papers are Bo Bunny Teen Chic, die cut elements are Making Memories 5th Avenue (who knew those 2 ranges would work so well together?), MR chipboard & odd buttons, blooms & fabric from my stash.
Be sure to get over to Deanne's blog, check out the DT layouts & grab the sketch!

Deanne's October 1st Sketch

Deanne's 'Am I A Scrap Addict' sketch just went live ... & here's my take on it. I have had these lush Autumn Leaves papers in my stash for quite some time now & have been looking for the perfect opportunity to use them - d'ya think this is it? I have also used the matching alpha & journal stickers & a small piece of a lace cardstock panel - they are such great value - you get 6 pieces (4"x12") in each pack - that's 2 designs in each of the 3 colours & they are great for card making too (check out my DT card for Di Hickman next week for an example).
The buttons, flower & thread are all from my stash, so I'm still working my way through it! LOL.
Don't forget to check out Deanne's Christmas Cards All Year 'Round blog too - the first challenge is up! Woo-hoo!!

Deanne's Mid-Month Sketch

Here's my take on Deanne's Mid-Month sketch
due to be posted some time today (15th September but I've scheduled this post for 16th ... confused yet???) ... but I'm an idiot & my camera battery went flat (how many times have I said I will top it up regularly instead of waiting until it dies??????? Do I learn? Apparently not! LOL) so I don't know if mine will be included or not ... we will see. Anyway, fabby li'l sketch & soooo easy to use. I've used K & Co Blue Awning, a few random buttons & a scrap from a verrrrry old record card (these were my Dad's & came my way when he moved to Bulgaria a couple years back - I scored a ton of stationary!)
You might want to check out the deets on Deanne's new Christmas Cards challenge blog too - it's called Christmas Cards All Year Round - yup! the clue is in the title there! LOL - I'm definitely up for it ... are you??

Is This Noteworthy?

I guess it is quite appropriate to have used Making Memories Noteworthy for this page. It is my first DT layout for Deanne Burton's Layout Sketch Design Team. & in true 'Crafty Moments' style, it also doubles for my Pen Pals Challenge layout this week ... to use numbers as the focus of your journaling. If you want to read the journaling, you'll have to check it out at Pen Pals.
We'd love to have some new visitors ... & some more entries to the fortnightly challenges, so do please feel free to pop on over - there's tons of inspiration each week as we publish all the entries that we receive (we will remove them if necessary, should they later be accepted for publication!) - so it's a good bit of exposure for your work too! & if its our favourite, you could also be chosen as our next Pen Pal Of The Week & have your own guest spot alongside me & Colette! Go on! You know you want to! LOL

Am I A Scrap Addict?

Evidently Deanne Burton thinks so!! I have just joined the Layout Sketch DT over on Deanne's fabulous blog ... Along with a few other names you might know! Go check it all out ... but first, just have a look at that cool blinkie over on the right column ... cool huh?
So, the deal is I'll be designing a cool layout for Deanne on the 1st & 15th of the month using one of her fab sketches ... & you can join in too - just link her up in the comments section when you've done yours ... so fun!
And don't forget the Pen Pals Challenges - you still have a few days to join in challenge #1 & grab a cool prize ... and join us in the coveted 'Pen Pal of the Week' spot.
I'm also sticking with Di Hickman's card sketch team ... even if she tries to shake me off ... I ain't goin' nowhere! LOL.
I haven't forgotten about the outstanding 40 days prizes ... struggling a bit to get straight at the mo - I feel another catch up post coming soon! LOL

FIVE Challenges in One!!

Yup! You did read that right - I'm taking multi challenge layouts to the next level! LOL
First up, Deanne Burton is hosting today's '40 Days' event. Now I don't usually enter these - doesn't really seem right as I organised the whole event, contacted our fabulous participants and all the other behind the scenes stuff ... but Deanne specifically invited me to play along - & it would be rude not to! LOL
Anyway - the challenge was to create a layout with the word 'happy' included somewhere (1) you can increase your entries into the draw by creating a completely new layout (which this one is) AND by using one of Deanne's fabulous sketches ... which brings me neatly to challenge #2 - posted yesterday, Deanne's mid-month sketch! (2)
Arty Girlz current challenge is to create something with a male theme - that's my littlest man on a playdate with a buddy in the pic (3), Colour Your World are looking for summer themed layouts with sunny colours (I think but my translation could be a bit skewed) ... so that's 4!
Last but by no means least Janean set the following blog challenge (y'all know Friday is Blog Challenge Day, right? ) on the Croppinsville blog ...
For the anagram challenge, I'll select a word. I'll then select an item or two using the first letter of the word. The remaining letters are up to you. You must then use the supplies listed along with items you selected for the remaining letters to create your project. This weeks word is: CROP.

C~
R~
O~Orange
P~

So your challenge is to use something orange. Then you'll need to come up with something for C, R and P. Hope you enjoy!
So I have: C = COSMO CRICKET (like you couldn't see that coming!) R = Red Rub Ons O = Orange P = Paper Punches (Flower & Corner Rounder)

So there you have it! total number of challenges = 5!!!!

More Challenge Entries!

I have been busy this last day or so - lots of stuff to make (some I can't share just yet), updating my blog links (lots of the challenge blogs have either moved or gone - & I had a bunch of new ones to add) and getting back into doing the challenges myself! I haven't participated since before Christmas & I really do miss it - but I'm back now & having a go.
The first card is for Caardvarks 'Baby Love' challenge and uses Deanne Burton's Feb 1st card sketch. The second uses the same set of papers (Rusty Pickle) for this week's Sketch This! Cards challenge. That's me all challenged-out for today - lots of news coming later tho' about a RAK or two!