Just checking in

Just a quick note to let everyone know I am still around and sorry for lack of blogging (again).

As many of you know I have been trying to get my website up and running so have been doing this non stop last week. The good news is that diestodiefor.com will eventually be up and running again this week sometime, so watch this space. Although everything will not be on it I'm so pleased that we have got as far as we have. I say we, this is my husband and myself. I know nothing about computers and Andy knew a little bit but we have done it all ourselves so that's something to be proud of.

I have also taken over the running of First Class Crafts and eventually this will merge with dies to die for. Once I can get everything onto one website it will make things so much easier. I have ordered lots of new stamps. My Whipper Snapper order was sent to the wrong address so I will hopefully have that by the end of the week (fingers crossed). I have High Hopes coming, Pink Cat Studio (the new Billy ones), My Favorite Things (mid April) and BELLAS, yay.
Now I am not allowed to sell Bellas on the website so can only say on my blog that people can phone to see what I have. I will let you all know when they arrive.

I will be sending something to Michelle and Tara (Design Team) shortly after the new bits arrive and will put their designs on here for all to see.

I have been making cards and I have had PIF Candy so will be adding these soon.

Byeeee for now

What A Week

Hi everyone, sorry for lack of blogging. Can you believe a week has gone by? I have been so busy with both my websites. I'm rebuilding one and taking over another one, so am just a little sressed at the mo. While pictures are being imported I will tell you a bit about my manic week. Sorry to bore you all.

Now people say it comes in threes, not sure I believe this theory any more. Two of aunts were taken to hospital last week. One has a broken back and the other caught the MRSA bug and sadly died. My nephew had to go to hospital as he couldn't move his neck and it was very painful. He drove himself to the walk in centre, who immediately called an ambulance and told him he shouldn't be driving. He was in hospital for 7 hours, having tests but was eventually told they thought it was just a strain.
My eldest son was excluded from school for a day for something very stupid and he is very sorry he was involved and they said had his track record been different it would have been a lot longer.
My husband and middle son were in a car accident (nothing serious, but it did frighten Jordan) and last but not least, my sister, who lives in Lanzarote phoned to say that her purse had been stolen and whoever took it had taken all her money out of her bank using her card. So there we have it.
Had my moan, pictures have now imported and children will be coming home from school soon so here are the cards I have made.

By the way, had a bad night the other night, couldn't sleep thinking about bellas. Am I mad, do I need help? I wanted to sell them on my website but am not allowed. People have to phone and ask me if I have them(???) Anyway, there I was lying in bed thinking of all these bella names. Swimabella (I've just learnt to swim), Slimabella (I need to diet), etc, etc. Then Andy started snoring, that's when it got silly. Snoreafella, grumpafella. It has now started up the school with non crafting friends thinking what they would call their fella (some best left unmentioned).What would you call yours?

I was asked to make a wedding card for a friend of a friend. The one I had showed her was very pale pink and she asked if I was able to incorporate the colours they were having for the wedding, so this is it. Not my colour choice at all but I like the card. I know the picture is bad so have taken close ups. Not very good at uploading either, am I. All I have done is cut three scalloped circles from nestabilities, edged them in shimmer chalk and embossed with cuttlebug wedding folders. Wording was done on pc.

Another very simple male card. Cuttlebugged black background, layered onto silver and a car topper I picked up from a fair.

I made this card with candy I received from Tara. I do not have any sugar nellie stamps but love this one. It's perfect for a little boy, who I sometimes find difficult to make for as they are not quite old enough to be into football, etc. I think this one needs something down the right hand side but not sure what yet. Will have to look in my stash.

This was made for my brother in law. It is his birthday on Easter Sunday so I will post it today. I find him very hard to make cards for but know that he likes rugby. I'm not sure about this card but it's one of those that I know will be thrown away after a couple of days as they keep nothing. They can't be crafters, lol.

This one actually started off as the 18th birthday card, as I knew it was a girl I was making it for. I always panic though and think, what if their not into that, so that is why I made the other one as I thought it was quite neutral (she could be a non drinker though, lol). Terrible aren't I.

I love the way this card turned out and know that I will use it anyway. I have left it blank for now and see who I'm going to give it to.

This was an order. They just asked for an 18th birthday card and said they would leave it up to me to decide on layout which was really handy as it had to be quick. It has just been cuttlebugged with sizzix lollipop numbers and quickutz bottle and presents. You cannot see from the picture but there is glitter on the edge of the numbers and a few other places.

This card I have made for Dawn to send with the images for the SBS swap, just to say thank you for organising it. Hope she likes it. Not sure how long it will take to get there, especially with Easter break.

This is the third and final that went out with the candy. They are all very similar and all colours I don't normally use. This is what I like about PIF candy, you don't know what you are going to get and it sort of forces you to try different things.

Hope you ladies that receive them like them.

This was another one sent out with PIF candy. Again papers and embellishments used are from candy I have received over the last couple of weeks. I also took the idea from the card that Natty K sent me.

This is one of the cards I made to go with the blog candy I sent out. This is the first time I have used these stamps and I have never used these colours before but it came in some PIF candy I received, I think from Natty K. I was quite pleased with the outcome actually.

This was made for my friends son who has had chicken pox. It was a sort of thank you as they had to take my youngest to school for me one morning and kindly offered even though they didn't need to go up the school themselves. What would we do without friends like this. Thanks Maggie. I knew she wouldn't want anything for doing it but felt I had to say thank you so made Max the card and gave him some chocs. Got this idea from a magazine a while back.

That's it for now.

Forgot to say

As many of you know I also run dies to die for website. This has had major problems over the last few months. We have started rebuilding this from scratch and are nearly there. Eventually I will be merging diestodiefor and firstclasscrafts together but for now am running two websites.
Diestodiefor will hopefully be up and running again by the end of next week. I will be relaunching it with a great competition so keep a look out.

I will be sending out my Candy in the next couple of days, sorry it has taken so long but I really needed to get the website sorted. I have more Candy coming soon.

That's it for today. I have cards to make so will post them tomorrow.

Announcement

Hi everybody, apologies for the lack of blogging this week. I can assure you I have not been sitting around doing nothing. I have had no time to make cards though.

I have just taken over the running of First Class Crafts from Kitty Frampton. At the weekend I had to go and get all the stock from her, and there was a lot of stock. At the moment I am going through boxes to see exactly what there is.

At the moment if you look at the website www.firstclasscrafts.co.uk it still has Kittys name and email at the top of the front page. Please ignore this for now as it needs to be changed but we cannot get onto it for the time being. If you need to contact us please email me at track456@btinternet.com

I have all the new catalogues arriving early next week so will be ordering lots of new goodies, keep looking back.

I have a new design team. There is Alex, who is carrying on from where she left off and our newbies are Michelle Short cardgrotto.blogspot.com and Tara Deeney tarasdesigns.blogspot.com
I will be sending them some lovely goodies in a few weeks, when my new stock arrives, for them to make some lovely cards for you to see.

I've been tagged

I have been tagged by Spanishbella This is the first time I have been tagged and the first time I have added links, so I hope they work.

The rules of game:
*Link to the person that tagged you & post the rules on your blog
*Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself on your blog, we all want to know them.
*Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs
*Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

So here are seven facts about me. Not sure that they are weird though.

1. I love being in my pyjamas (don't we all though)

2. I hate January, it's my worst month of the year

3. My hair is nearly all grey (I'm only 35 and greyer than my mum, story to this though)

4. I like cooking but I'm not sure that I'm very good

5. I have only just learnt to swim

6. I do voluntary work at my local police station

7. My favourite dinner is roast chicken

I will tag:
Tara
Michelle
Sarah
Natty K
Julie
Ruby-Claire
Anna

Could these people please email me their address

Inkey pingers and spanishbella. You have won my blog candy. I will post as soon as I have your addresses. Anna Jones, I think I have your address from SBS.
Remember, when you receive your candy that you then have to do your own candy to the first three people to leave you comments.

Hope you likey.

Last but not least

Here are two more cards I have made recently. I think I actually got both layouts from Michelle at Cardgrotto. The cake is Pink Petticoat which has been coloured with my watercolour pencils (still trying to master this). I did add glitter on the edges of the cake but this cannot be seen in the picture.

The other card has just had punched flowers added to give the effect of it being embossed. The 18 was cut on my cricut machine and then three bits of ribbon attached with brads.

Phew that's it for now.

PIF Candy

Here is my PIF Candy from Tara at Tarasdesigns. It was all very male themed which is nice and she also sent me the card with the little monkey on. Don't you just love him.

So all the new bloggers PIF means Pass It Forward. The first three people to leave a comment under this will receive some candy from me. Once you receive it, its then your turn to send out a little PIF of your own to the first three people that leave you comments. Hope this makes sense.

This is a close up of the handle. You can just make out the charms on it. To the left is a horseshoe, in the middle is a butterfly (with friends written on it) and to the right is a key.

This is what I also made for her. I decorated the pail with coloured in peel offs (all in pinks and purples) then added ribbons and fibres to the handle and three little charms. I filled the pail with all things pink and purple as well. It included bath bombs, hair care bits, socks, hairclips, etc.

This is it with the bracelet in, although I did add some silver tissue. She loved it.

This is a peek a boo box that I decorated for my friends daughter. I gave her this with a bracelet in. Box and papers from Craftwork cards.

More cards (how organised of me)

This is a card I made for my friends daughter who was 18 yesterday. She asked me to make her a waterfall card.

You Make My Day Award

Wow I have been nominated a You make my day award by Tara at Tarasdesigns. Thanks Tara. Now I know I am meant to award five other people but I think everyone I know has been nominated but I will do Adele at dillydallydingle.blogspot.com. I love looking at her blog and read that she has been feeling down a bit lately, so hopefully this will cheer her up.

I will also nominate Julie Hickey at cardsbyjulie.blogspot.com

I don't know anyone else so will nominate my two sons who also have blogs

Sam at sammyseahorse.blogspot.com and Jordan at footballmadjord.blogspot.com

Sorry but I am not sure how I am meant to link them yet. I am still learning. I will practise this and edit when I can.

What you need to do : 1) Write a post with links to 5 blogs you find of interest and that inspire you. 2) Acknowledge the post of the award giver. 3) Display the logo 'You make my day' 4) Tell the award winners that they have won by commenting on their blog.

Here is the place setting to match the lily wedding invites that I made. I had to make 50 of these.

That really is it for now. I have been busy making some more cards today so will try and add them during the week.

I was asked to make this card by a friends daughter. Her friend likes shoes and handbags. I love making these cards as they are so quick and simple to make and people seem to love them. The name and age have been cut out using my cricut machine. The shoes and handbag are quickutz. Sorry about the quality of the picture again.

So here is the close up. This isn't usually the sort of cards I make but this is what they wanted and I've had two other people ask me to make them one as well. The card is Europa Ivory with a strip of black ribbon down the edge. The wire wedding words is held on with silver brads and been layered onto ivory which has gone onto silver mirri and then onto pearl black. You can just make out that there are two quickutz hearts (same colour ivory) with diamantes in the middle of them.

I also had to do 120 matching reply cards, but forgot to take a picture of them. I was so pleased to have them finished that I just put them in a box and took them round.

Well here are some more. This set is the other wedding cards I was asked to make. They actually asked me back in September last year but have taken so long choosing what wording was to go in them that I have only just been able to finish them. I had to make 120 and they took

ages, absolutely ages. Will post a picture of a close up.

Here is a close up of one of them. It was an evening invitation but these were exactly the same as the wedding ones. Very bad picture I know. They are on linen effect card and the backing and ribbon are a plum colour which can't be seen here.

Well that's it for now. I do have more to add but I really must get on and make up some more orders and I have to go shopping. Will try to add more later.

Thanks for looking.

Now here is what has been keeping me so busy. I was asked to make two lots of wedding invites. These ones were the easiest. I had to make 50 (not all shown) and 50 place settings to match.

Now this one is for my mum. I am going round there today to give it to her. I cannot remember where I got the background paper from as I have had it for ages. Stamped Penny Black and coloured with chalk pencils. Prima flowers added in the corner and some ribbon round the bottom.

This was the second one for her. These had to be quick as she only asked me to make them on Friday and had to collect them Saturday morning.

Just added ruffles onto white card, adding glitter around edge (which isn't seen too well here). Die cut letters from Sizzix Slim Jim, prima flowers wit6h diamante in centre and Craftwork Cards message. Little plain for my liking but as I said it had to be quick.

Now that I have started adding my pictures you will become aware that I am useless at taking photos, but hey at least you get to see something.

This is another Mothers Day card made for a friend of mine from her daughter. She asked me to make three and they both like Disney. This was from a kit that I bought from QVC ages ago. I don't normally do decoupage but thought I would give it a go. I was pleased with how it turned out but very time consuming.

Happy Mothers Day

Happy Mothers Day to all those mums out there. Hope you have a wonderful day.

Yay, I've managed to add some pictures, and add pictures I will do. I have loads, well a few anyway, so I hope I don't bore you with them.

This first one is my Mother in Laws card for Mothers Day. I had these blooms that I bought from Kitty at First Class Crafts ages ago and I needed something very quick and it was mega quick. I embossed some white card with Cuttlebug Swiss dots and layered it over lemon cardstock, added the bloom and the saying rom Craftwork Cards. Might have to make more like this for my card parties.