Crafting with company....it had to be snow!

Hello Again,

An extra post from me today :D  No challenge, just me and crafting with my family, the best way to do it xx

As some of you know, its an exciting time for me, I have stood down from Polkadoodles DT and wish my teamies the very best of everything for the future, an uber talented group of ladies.  But, as we all know, crafting moves and changes as we learn new techniques, find new stash...so its time to explore.....very exciting :D

So, what has that got to do with todays post I hear you all saying, get on with it lol

Yesterday all full of smiles and no direction, I spent a totally awesome afternoon with my crafty stash and found a stamp I had bought at the NEC show back in March but never used (not enough time!)!  So it was a perfect time to get messy.

My gorgeous sister was over, so Brenda (that's my sis) and my youngest daughter sat at the table and we got to messing with inks and stamps and this is one of the things we came up with :D

We had a great afternoon and its the first time in ages that I have had the time to sit and play, so have to thank my big Sis for that xx mwah xx

Here's what I used to make it:
Image & Sentiment: Incylicious 'Frosty Skater' clear stamp set
Coloured with: my Graph'it Marker pens
Background: I used copier paper and ripped it to form a rough oval and used it as a mask to ink the lake for him to skate on.  Broken China Distress Ink (Tim Holtz) was used on a bit of cut n dry foam.  The another ripped paper mountain stencil was used to add a touch of landscape to the backing.
Card stock: The white stamping card (for the image) was cut to 5 1/2" square, and matted onto dark grey pearlescent card stock, the put onto a 6" square card blank (Top tip: I always use 300gsm blank card stock, its more expensive but it means that what ever I use on the card design the backing will be strong enough to hold it properly without bending or tipping over!)
Extra's: I added glossy accents to - the baubles, the star, and as suggested by my daugher...to his nose and hat!

Here's the close up:

Thank you so much for visiting, and please leave a comment before you go as I love to read your feedback xx Also, I have moved the follow me options to the top right sidebar so it would be wonderful if you would follow my little blog too :D

Happy Crafting :D

Sandie xxx

Challenges:
Not just cards challenge - 6 AG
Creative Card Crew - 74 Christmas Joy
Inspiration Destination - 5 AG
Creative Fingers challenge - 55 AG
Get Creative Challenge - 1 anything goes
Card and Scrap challenge - 85 lots of layer (layering under)
A Crafty Mess challenge - 1 anything goes
TTCRD - 4/11 ag
Love to Create - 141 AG

Throwing my hat in the ring for a dream DT call for Noor Designs UK...

Hello Again,

Well, this is a special post for me (so apologies for the length of this post!) as the design I'm presenting (with butterflies in my stomach) is my entry for the Noor Design UK Design Team call! 

OMG I can't tell you how much I would love to be a part of this team, I adore the designs, I adore their concept of design and how they transform that into products for us crafters to use.  The dies and stamps are so detailed and versatile that once you start your collection of products I am sure will grow and grow!  Take a peek at Noor Design UK store and you will see what I mean.  There is so many products I have yet to try that my Christmas list is full of them :D

So, more talk in a mo...first, here's my design :D

We were asked to do a quick bio in this post, and so here goes....

I have been crafting in one form or another for as long as I can remember, I adore art, I adore inks and stamps and creating something beautiful, or thought provoking or something that will bring a smile of joy to someones face when they receive it :D  I started papercrafting properly with decoupage and stamping.  Stamping and inking became my passion for a long time and I still love altered art, book page art and distressing bits for the home but I have moved more to stamping and digital images with my new love of my alcohol markers.  But I still find time to stamp and play with colour :D

Being a colourist brings a huge sense of satisfaction, that you have brought a digital image or stamp to life, given it warmth and a personality.  That then carries forward to the whole design of the makes I do.  Adding die cuts, papers and embellishments to a finished piece continues to bring life to a project, it compliments, enhances and defines the fantasy feeling of the piece.  I so love it, to stand back and say...wow, done!

I have experience of working with Design Teams, and two of my current teams are ending at the end of this year so this call couldn't have come at a better time for me...a dream team and I would have more than enough time to devote to promoting these gorgeous products :D  my blog is active and growing and I actively promote all of my posts via social media and as many group outlets as possible so I can showcase the products and designs to a large audience.  I actively use Pintrest also and ensure that products are also tagged to appear in search engines.  I am an active team member, and I love interacting with my teamies and sharing crafty love.  I am sure if you ask any of my teamies they will tell you that I am enthusiastic, always way ahead on deadlines (can't bear not to be ahead lol) and am just the right amount of crazy :D  I have as a part of one of my teams also provided samples for shows and TV appearances at short notice and always deliver well within timescales.  I am proud to say I have never missed a deadline yet :D

I was right there when the Noor Design UK blog and the Noor Design UK shop was launched and have been bugging Tracy Payne on her posts for a DT call and then here it is...eeek!  It would be so amazing to be a part of this talented team and be apart of the wider uber talented Noor Designs International Teams :D 

So, I hope that's enough about me and we can go back to my design entry :D

Here's what I used to make it:
Image: Alyce Fairy from The Stamping Chef
Coloured: with Graph'it Marker Pens (the blues are so gorgeous and vivid)
Backing papers: Autumn Shabby Blue from Michele R Designs; I added Tim Holtz distress ink in Brushed Corduroy to the edges to age it a little.
Dies From Noor Designs - Star Cut and Emboss set (a fabulous set of 4 stars that cut and emboss star's both filled and just edging) and Leaves and Butterfly Edge cutting stencils.  (As I have already said, my Christmas list will add more and more of these amazing products)
Embellies: Lace, liquid metal (added to the die cuts and melted with the heat gun), butterfly charm, pearl, pink burlap and flowers all from my crafty stash
Top tip! To make your own edging lace, use the hot glue gun to make the pleats in super quick time, but here's my top tip - place the glue on your backing, lay the lace over and then push the lace with your metal embossing tool to fold it up into the hot glue!  That way, gorgeous gathers without your finger being anywhere near the glue!  (once cold the glue just rolls right off the embossing tool too!).

Here's the close ups to show those fabulous ingredients:

Thank you for stopping by and I have all my fingers and toes crossed that I will make the design team and join the uber talented team already at Noor Design UK

Keep Crafting :D

Sandie xxx

Challenges: