Happy New Year Everyone x

I hope everyone has a brilliant crafty New Year x
I havent been able to craft recently but I have been thinking of you all....and remembering all the wonderful pieces you've made.....and the kindness you have all shown me.
Heres to 2009...May your Mojo be working non-stop !
Hugs and love....RubyMay x

Happy Christmas x

Happy Christmas Everyone

Have a good time and I am hoping to be able to be back crafting again soon. Love to all....xxx

Vintage...Two Challenges !

Here is one of the pages from a "Coffee filter" book I am making. The shape is based on a coffee filter and working with it was certainly a challenge! It seemed a good idea when I started but all the different angles have proved to be quite difficult.
Anyway I've done six pages up to now so I'll stick with it and hopefully get it finished soon !
I am entering this page in this weeks "Theme Thursday " challenge which is "Vintage"
...and "Created By Hand" challenge which is "Ribbon and Trim"
I hope you like it !

"Arty Girlz"..."Fabric" challenge

Here are two mini books I've made and I have covered them both with fabric....the smaller one with an Anna Griffin swatch....and the larger one with a small remnant. I am entering them for this weeks Arty Girlz challenge....which is "Fabric"
Thanks for looking !

"Card on a Card" for "Rainbow Lady"

Sorry to be a poor blogger for the last week but my grandson has been in Frenchy hospital having bone grafts. The operation went well and he is fine and recovering well, so I am calm enough now to get back to some blogging!

I have started off with a "Card on Card" for "Rainbow Ladys" challenge this week. I have done one pic to show the front and the other to show the card standing up
I hope you like it !

"Orange and Blue"......for "Artygirlz"

Well it's no secret that orange and I are not the best of friends !
....but I wanted to join in the "Artygirlz" challenge so ...here I go again...trying to come up with something that doesnt make your eyes water...Lol !
I hope you like this one !

"Patchwork"......" Gothic Arch"

Here is my Gothic Arch for this weeks challenge which is "Patchwork"
Cora...our host for this week used a painting technique for her sample....so I thought I would give it a try.
I dont know if I got the technique quite right as you were meant to paint over pieces of paper covering the arch and then rub some off to reveal what was underneath....unfortunately my paint had dried too much and I had a bit of a job! I enjoyed having a try though and will definitely have another go at it in the future.
I hope you like it anyway !

"Autumn"..."Cute Card Thursday"

"Can you see the Acorn Fairy hiding in the trees?
She's basking in the Autumn sun ....before the winter freeze!"

Just a simple card from me this week to try to capture some of the magic of "Autumn"....
I hope you like it !

Tag You're It....Pink Brown and Green.

Here is my tag for this weeks challenge at "Tag You're It" which is "Pink, Brown and Green "
I used "Cosmo Cricket" for this one as I am going to use it in an album I am making.
I hope you like it !

"Think Pink".... and " Ribbons"

Here is my card for the "Theme Thursday" challenge...which is "Think Pink"...chosen to highlight Breast Cancer Awareness month.
it is also for the "Rainbow Lady" challenge ...which is "Ribbons"
I ran the satin ribbon across my scissors to curl the ends and used silicone glue to hold the ribbon in place after letting it fall naturally onto the card. This card will be for a christmas day birthday ....hence the mistletoe paper !
I hope you like what I've done.

Thanks Rosie ...!

I have to share this with you as I was thrilled to have my name picked for some blog candy from Rosie of "alteredartandstuff".
I was able to pick a piece of her artwork and.. wow...here it is ...an altered domino....made in Rosies own unique style.
Thanks Rosie...its a little treasure x


Please may I ask anyone visiting to respect that all Rosies artwork is copyrighted by her...thanks guys...!

"Mixed Media "..." Arch"... !

Here is my "Gothic Arch" for this weeks challenge which is "Haute Couture"...
I would also like to enter it into Mixed Media Monday which is "Purple/Blue Background "
I started off with a piece of tissue from a pattern and then put the image on top....I then inked the background around the image taking off any excess ink by dabbing with a baby wipe....and then added the inked border.
I made holes where the buttons from the pattern showed through and stitched them and then placed the needle and thread on the side overlaid by the thimble button.
Haute Couture is usually made in miniscule sizes...hence the words !
....and finally I ran thread along the edges of the words by making a small nick to slot the thread into to stop it from slipping.
I hope you like it ...!

Buttons and Bows....2 Challenges !

Here is my entry for "Cute Card Thursday" which is "Buttons and Bows"
....and "Rainbow lady" has a free theme this week so I would like to enter it for the lovely Cynthias challenge as well.
I have made a scrapbook style stand up photo frame, and after the challenge I will put a photo of my grandma in there...(the image I have used is from The Graphics Fairy)
The card has been covered with HOTP paper.
I hope you like it !

"Teddies"...and...."No Stamping "

Here is my card for the "My Time To Craft " challenge which is "Teddies"
... and also the "Papertake Weekly Challenge"..... "No Stamping"
Happy Birthday to PWC who celebrate their first birthday this week !
I tried a bit of recycling to make this card but I can't say it grabs me ! Still....just goes to show not everything goes as planned !

Altered envelopes...UPDATE

The vote is on for the best altered envelope at "The Paper Girls" blog.
There are some superb entries so its hard to choose just one !
The buzz is that there is going to be a monthly challenge soon and the first one is going to be altered CDs. Hmmm...wonder what DH will say if I alter his collection into little works of "art" Lol...!
I'm useless at links but if you want to pop over to "The Paper Girls" you can get there from "some real favs" over to the right-->

UPDATE.....congratulations to Femmy for your winning envelope...it is brilliant !


Now the comp is over here is the altered envelope I entered !

"Farewell" to "Layers of Colour " challenge

The challenge on "Layers of Colour" this week is "Farewell" as Laura is extending her wonderful stamp selection and is starting on a new journey into the business world. As Laura puts it...she is following her star. I want to wish this wonderfully kind and talented artist my very best wishes.....and my thanks for her kind comments.
I made my card by writing the words and printing them... I then masked them and stamped around the edges with Lauras L.O.C. "Fleur" stamps...first in the darker colour and then overlaid with a paler one.
GOOD LUCK LAURA xxx
I hope you like it !

Clip art for " Arty Girlz"

"Arty Girlz" have asked us to use some clip art in our challenge pieces this week.
Here is my piece...using a free download from "The Graphics Fairy ".
I have laid my flower lady onto a stamped, inked and gessoed background and chalked some colour onto the clip art. I then added the words and the large rose.
I hope you like it !
(the stamps I used were a script stamp... and the large heart stamp from Lauras "Layers of Colour" "Fleur" set )

Pink and Green Card for "A Spoon Full of Sugar "

The challenge on "A Spoon Full of Sugar " is to make a card using the colours pink and green.
I won't bore you with how I made it as I think you can see what I've done !
The card is a prettier pink than it has photographed but
......I hope you like it anyway !

"Turquoise" Gothic Arch

Heres my Gothic Arch for this weeks challenge which is "Turquoise"
I thought if I prettied up this dear little soul it would cheer her up a bit...but no....she's still got the miseries !...Lol !
Hope you like it .....!
thanks to "The Graphics Fairy" for the image

"Red" Card for "Arty Girlz "challenge

Here is my entry for this weeks challenge at "Arty Girlz" which is "Red"
I hope you like it !

Altered Fabric Flowers...Tag You're It

Hooray... one new modem later and we are back online ! Lets hope nothing goes wrong this week..... !
Here's my tag for this weeks challenge at "Tag You're It" ...which is to alter a fabric flower.
I folded a giant Prima flower in half and made it into a "fan" tag.
The fan is laid onto a half moon shaped piece of thick card
...and the "mini fan" (on the front of the folded flower) is made from medallion stamping which was cut into pieces and tied together through a small hole before pulling into a fan shape.
Hope you like it !

Gothic Arch...free theme...

or...."What would I do with a brain if I had one....?"
I hope you don't think I'm cheating if I enter last weeks theme for the free theme this week as I wasn't able to post last week !
(I now have my camera welded to my hand so I am going to be playing catch-up for a while I think...Lol.)

I hope you like my "Wizard of Oz" arch.

Daft or what ....!

I've been crafting away and thought I'd post what I've done only to find I've left my camera down at the caravan! It means a 104 mile round trip to get it and as we are going down there at the weekend I thought I'd try to borrow one...but no one is brave enough to let me play with their super duper cameras ( and who can blame them ...Lol !) so I am challenge-less at the mo .
I did have a brainwave though...I thought I would put on some pics of the campsite....but then I realised they are still in the camera....daft or what ?!!!
Happy crafting everyone....!

"Dream" Tag...for "Tag You're It " ...

Here's my tag for this weeks challenge "Dream" on "Tag You're It"
The frame is made with a Paper Artsy stamp
... and the base is put through a Cuttlebug folder
I hope you think it's dreamy !

Crows ..... "Created by Hand " !

Here's my crow for this weeks challenge at "Created By Hand"
I made the background by painting acrylics (red,yellow and brown) on to my 4x4 and then while it was still wet I laid sequin waste over it and ran the brayer over it.
(The brayer had a nice row of dots on it so I ran it over some spare cardstock to use another day !)
I made the fence by using the edge of a card dipped in black acrylic.
I think you can work out the rest !
I was going to try and be clever and write "crow(n)" on it but my pen wouldn't work ...Lol !
I hope you like it !

Happy Birthday Arty Girlz !

Arty Girlz have set the challenge to make a birthday card as it is their first birthday.
Here is my card, just for them, to say "Happy Birthday"...and heres to many,many more!

I have "The Technique Zone" to thank for the basic idea for the background....you can see the tuto via right of my blog to link.... (thanks Sam )....I have to add that theirs is much better than mine is ....!
Hope you like it...!
I really enjoyed making this!!!!

"A Spoon Full Of Sugar"...christmas card

Heres my christmas card for the "A Spoon Full of Sugar " challenge which is to make a christmas card.
Well thats one more towards christmas...won't be long now....Lol !
Hope you like it !

"Papertake Weekly" .....

Here is my card for the design to follow for this weeks "Papertake" challenge.
I used an oval instead of a circle because I made a long card so I hope thats OK !
Sorry about the flare on the pic...I keep forgetting when I make a card that anything shiny is awful to photograph.
Hope you can make out what I've done ....!

"Time" for "Gothic Arches"...

Here is my entry for the "Gothic Arches" challenge which this week is "Time"
I hope everyone will "Take Time" to play and have some fun...although not necessarily with a hoop !...Lol !
I used a washer for the hoop and the hands are photo hinges.
Thanks again to "The Graphics Fairy" for the image.
I hope you like it !

Edit...I thought I would just add that the background is made by direct to paper method ...then stamping with flourishes and watches and then alchohol ink dropped on while the pigment ink is still wet (...which lets it spread)

Tag .....for "Tag You're It " and "This Thursday its all about ".....

Well as my sort out is going quite well, and I can actually find things now, I thought I would stop and make a tag for "Tag You're It" who have the theme "Monochromatic " for this week.
I am also entering it for This Thursday it's all about" who have asked us to use old stash....which is perfect timing seeing as I am knee deep in the stuff ...!
I went for pink (surprise,surprise... Lol !)
I've twisted and glued the ribbon for a change.

I hope you like it !

More sorting........

I've put some of my brushes in an old jug...


...and silver and jade glitter into the salt and pepper pots .....and the glitter comes out beautifully ! Best warn everyone though before they end up with a glitter roast tomorrow ...lol

Right...back to operation "Sort It "

Sort It....!

It's dawned on me this week that I am spending more time looking for stuff than actually doing the crafting challenges so I am taking time out to organise my stash.
I have finally got fed up with crawling under the bed...hunting through cupboards and searching drawers for that elusive "something" that I know I've got "somewhere " I've made a start and I have a few ideas that may work...and if they do I will take a pic and blog it !
Wish me luck because I think I'm going to need it ! lol
....and any ideas you have will be gratefully received .....!
Left is my first "sort out"...these cake stands are at Homebase for £5.99 and I've put my inks and embossing powders in it. I've cleared my old dresser and painted it white so I am going to use it for some old type open storage....I like this so thats one thing sorted then....!

Book..... for Layers Of Colour (Now Edited !)

Edit......
Here is the final front cover (above) with the flowers, and the borders of the image, watercoloured ...now I can put it to bed and move on ....I think....!






Here is my new book...made for the Layers of Colour challenge this week which is...."Book" !
Its been quite a journey making this as the first version went in the bin and this one was pulled apart and re-made !.....anyway...here it is ...just about in time too...!
The words were stamped on canvas strips and the "stitches" made with a cd marker pen.
The image is courtesy of "The Graphics Fairy"
I made the white circles around the heads by stamping with the metal embellishment which is now on the book front.
The pages inside are plain... ready to be scrapped...although I have put floral paper on the pages.
Well after all that ..I hope you like it... Lol !

Dans Ma Maison...and Rosies "Sunday Share"

Rosie at " alteredartandstuff " has designed a brilliant background paper and has offered it as a free download...thanks Rosie ! (More...more...)
It inspired me to make an entry for "Dans Ma Maison il y a..." which this week is "schoolkid"
I stood the schoolmaster between the 5 and 6 because its usually between ages 5 and 6 that our little ones start school.
Fortunately school isn't quite as grim these days ...Lol !

You can link to Rosie's "Sunday Share" from "Some Real Favs" on the right of my blog ....let Rosie know what you've made and you could win some blog candy !

"Pretty in Pink"...Gothic Arch

Well this is a first for me as I haven't made an arch before.
The theme is "Pretty in Pink" over at "Gothic Arches" new site (see "My Real Favs" )...and although my lady is'nt dressed in pink she's certainly surrounded by pink !

Hope you like this one !

"Messy"..." Stencils"

Here's my 4x4 for the theme "Stencils" at "4x4 Friday".....
.... it's also my entry for "Messy" at "Crazy Amigos"
You wouldn't believe the state of my place after making this!
All those layers meant ink and paint everywhere...'twas fun though !
I hope you like it !

Stitched Tag...."Tag You're It !"

Here's my tag for the challenge at "Tag You're It" who have challenged us to make a tag with stitching on.
I've used an Anna Griffin fabric square for mine and did the stitching on the fabric before putting the tag together.
I haven't put any words on it as I'll use this on a card at some future date !
I hope you like it !

Autumn ! .......Theme Thursday

This week on "Theme Thursday" the challenge is Halloween or Autumn.
I raided the pot-pourri dish for this one...and I was glad to have the chance to use one of my little "witches" brooms!
I got the saying from "art quotes".
I guess I'll soon be out sweeping up the leaves... but in the meantime I'm going to enjoy all the glorious colours on the trees!
Hope you like it.

(BTW...I stamped the background leaves using a multicoloured inkpad)

Pink and Brown Tag.

The challenge at "Created By Hand" is "Pink and Brown " so I have made a tag.
Sorry about the poor photo...hopefully it looks a bit better if you click on it !
Hope you like it !

Architecture ! TMTA

Here's my ATC for this week at TMTA who have set the challenge "architecture"
The stamp, showing the image of a cornish tin mine, has been sat here since I bought it, and its been great to use it at last.
I have used a black background with a white cross to symbolise the cornish flag which flies proudly wherever you go throughout Cornwall.
I don't know if there are any tin mines beside the sea but I put my image beside the sea because that's what Cornwall means to me, and to many of the people who go there every year to surf and sunbathe....well that and yummy pasties....and cream teas!
Anyway....I hope you like this simple piece !

"Secret Garden"... 4x4 Friday and TGIF

I think most women love flowers and gardens so here is my entry for the challenge "women" at "TGIF"
...and as it is a 4x4 and laid down onto board I would also like to enter it into "4x4 Friday"
I glued some scrunched up tissue onto board and when it was dry I gold embossed and added micro beads. I then built up my images with lots of pieces of torn paper. I finally added touches of inks here and there.
I had a job taking a pic so sorry its at an angle... please click on it for a bit of a closer look.
I hope you enjoy walking around my "Secret Garden" !

"Metal" Card !

"Layers of Colour" have set the challenge "Metal" this week.
So here's what I've come up with....the frame was made on the Keepsake "majestic" board by pressing "air-drying" clay into the grooves and then removing it. After cutting round the shape and leaving to dry I silver embossed it.
The net was stapled to the centre of a cuttlebugged silver card before adding the frame. I used foiled card for the stamped corner pieces.
Hope you like this one...!

Puzzle Book !

I made this a while ago and usually it is swinging from my handbag or hanging on the wall above my craft table.
I thought someone may like to make a similar mini scrapbook.
(I used pieces from my grandson's outgrown jigsaw for this one.)
Paint each of the pieces and then add little photos, words and stickers etc.
Make a hole in each of your pieces and thread onto a bookring.... add some fibres and you have a tiny scrapbook.
I'm entering this for the challenge on "This Thursday Its All About" as their theme this week is "Puzzle"
Hope you like it !

"Summer" ATC

"Arty Girlz" challenge this week is "Summer" so I've made a little ATC for my entry.
I think I may have gone a bit over the top with the fibres but they are such lovely cheerful colours that I couldn't resist going a bit mad...Lol !
Hope you like it !

Card and Matching Bookmark

Here is a card I have made (and designed !) which holds a bookmark as a gift.


Here are the card and bookmark shown separately. This is the first time I have tried to make a card like this so I am entering it in the "Created By Hand " challenge which is to try something new.
I would also like to enter this in the "Daring Cardmakers" challenge which asked us to add something extra to match our cards.
If you want to copy this you will need to put the ribbon slightly to the right on the front of your card so that the bookmark sits under it evenly...also dont put the brads in the ribbon too tight so that if you give the bookmark a slight twist the brads hold it in place on the front of the card.
I hope you like this idea !

Award ...!

I would like to thank the lovely Cynthia...who you may also know as Rainbow Lady.. for giving me the "I love Your Blog" award It has taken me quite a while to get to grips with putting the logo on here but I've finally managed it !
The rules are...
1.The winner can put the logo on her blog
2.Link to the person who gave you the award
3.Nominate 7 or more other blogs
4.Put links of those blogs on yours
5.Leave a message on the blogs of the people you've nominated.
I would like to nominate the people who I visit all the time...they are on my "Real Favs" list because I do indeed love their blogs !

I removed this to edit it as Faye very kindly also nominated me for this award. Thank you Faye....it means a lot to know that you are so supportive.
As most of you know , I struggle with computers so apologies for taking so long to say my thank yous. x

Transport.....?

This is my piece for "Rainbow Lady's" challege which this week is "transport"
I must say this pic took me back to my childhood (what a good memory...Lol) when we used to make little carts out of boxes and pram wheels. It wasn't until we were bombing it halfway down a hill that we remembered we were supposed to have a brake !
Happy Days.....!

Hope you like it !

Tick Tock.....

Here is my ATC for "Think Monday Think ATC" This weeks theme is "Tick Tock" so I have tried to do an ATC with a gold pocket watch on it. I stamped into several layers of heated gold embossing powder and then embedded the chain and T-bar. I put some mini beads around the edge.
I hope you like it ....!