Hope & Chances Creativity: November 2011

Wednesday, 30 November 2011

WOYWW and Spellbinders Hexagon Pinwheel Top Box

Hello friends,

So my desk.. it is pitch black here at 6am -

I tried a few photos of the desk but seeing as it is black glass, it looked like a coal hole!

But I do have a project to share ....

I'm really rather keen on the Spellbinders box die templates! I think you may have guessed that by now!

I've put together a little video showing how this one is made and there is a little something inside too!

Many thanks for your visit and I hope you enjoy the video.

Wishing you a very happy What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday!
Don't forget to swing by Julia's blog for all the details.

Tuesday, 29 November 2011

Poinsettia Patchwork Card

Good morning to all!

I'm back with traditional reds and greens.

This card compliments the gift bag in this post and I'm yet again using my absolute favourite

Layered Poinsettia!

I like the simplicity of this design and the shabby chic stitching.

Way back in about October I had the idea that I would make lots of these to hand out this Christmas,

to date I've made...one!

Does anyone else struggle to find more hours in the day..to craft that is??

I would like to report that my Christmas gift shopping has slightly improved, at least three people will be getting gifts so far - thankful for small gift shops and on-line shopping!

See you tomorrow and yet again, truly appreciate your visits.

Monday, 28 November 2011

Monday Morning Photos and a WINNER!

Hello Blogland friends!

My Monday Morning Photos this week are of my weekend away, Bath and The Cotswolds.

We were blessed with good weather, cold and dry and even a bit of sunshine,

apologies now if this blog post is a little photo heavy - keep with it as announcing a winner at the end!

The famous Roman baths and pump room.

Wonderful architecture.

Travelling in style (not me, but some lucky people!)

A stunning carousel, I'm afraid I was so keen to capture the lights and colours

I chopped the horses out of the photo!

The market is a series of little wooden chalets around Bath Cathedral

all offering seasonal goodies, crafts and more. You can shop well into the night... :)

The following day we headed to Bourton-on-the-Water,

such a beautiful Cotswolds village.

A camera shy duck!

The colours of Autumn and such sweet little bridges crossing the river.

A particularly lovely hotel and restaurant.

So, if you've reached the end of the weekend away photos,

I've got just a few more to announce the WINNER of my Christmas decoration.

Thank you all for such lovely comments - they really do mean so much to me.

It's not quite the 'Spotty Potty' as featured on Create and Craft but I thought it could be a mini version.

As you can see I was assisted by Bella!

Investigating and picking out a winner...

Having to explain that she can only pick one!

She was very obliging and held it up to the camera for me!

Ta-da! My Christmas decoration goes to....

HELLMA

Congratulations!

So Hellma, please put fingers to keyboard, pen to paper or tie note to pigeon leg(!) to let me have your details and I will very happily pop it in the post to you.

Back tomorrow with something crafty.

Have a good start to the week and thank you for visiting today.

Sunday, 27 November 2011

Holiday Hugs

More lilac Christmas to share with you today.

I love that I've got to grips with Blogger scheduling as I feel like I can be in two places at one time!

If only that were really true!

I do enjoy the reds and greens at Christmas but just occasionally it is nice to wander off to other colours and this card compliments the lilac tag I posted yesterday.

Again, I used the Layered Poinsettia - look at that embossing! The veins on the petal show perfectly.

The sentiment is stamped onto the top section of Labels Twenty Two and the pretty holly strip at the side is Holly Accents. The card base is white dotted Swiss layered onto some lavender cardstock.

Oh yes, the sentiment stamp is Waltzing Mouse Stamps.

So how is everyones' Christmas cardmaking coming along?

Don't forget tomorrow I'm picking out a winner for the Christmas decoration -

all the details are in this post, just leave a comment on that post and you may be the lucky winner!

Thank you for stopping by today.

Saturday, 26 November 2011

Lilac Tag

Hello Blogland friends!

Keeping with the Christmas theme, I thought I would share with you a festive tag.

Untraditional colours but still very winter-like.

I love the plain kraft luggage tags that you can pick up in most stores,

with just a few additions they can be transformed.

I used the gorgeous Spellbinders™ Snowflake Pendant and then added two Layered Poinsettias, I cut those from pale lilac cardstock and rubbed the edges with some Colorbox chalk fluid. A piece of dotty ribbon and a little bit of bling and ready to go!

As you read this I'm heading off to Bath and The Cotswolds - a Christmas shopping trip,

I will share photos on my return, rain rain go away....please!

Have a great weekend.

Take care,

Friday, 25 November 2011

Poinsettia Patchwork

It's Friday! And look over there on the right hand side - a Twitter button!
On the advice of Dawn Bibby I've decided to give it a go, I'm suspecting it could be addictive?
If you happen to be on Twitter and would like to follow, click on my new button -
I intend to make crafty Tweets!

So...30 days till Christmas!! (I think that's right, maths isn't my strong point!)

I'm feeling a little bit panicked actually as the only gift I have purchased is one for the dog!

But I feel festive and want to share a little bag project with you today.

This is a little mini canvas gift bag simply decorated with some fabric patches made using Spellbinders™

Postage Stamps and a felt Layered Poinsettia (I love this die template SO much!)

The little tag is cut and embossed with Labels Twenty Two and stamped with a Holiday Greeting Stamp from Gina K Designs. Added some bakers twine and the all important tiny bit of bling!

Brilliant if you want to dress up a little jewellery gift or perfume.

Back tomorrow with more festive projects so it would be lovely if you stop by.

I love Christmas!!

Bye for now.

Thursday, 24 November 2011

Back Home, A Big Thank You and a Christmas Decoration

I'm home!

A massive heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone that supported me over the last two days with my TV appearances, all your comments, emails and text messages were truly appreciated and absolutely made my day.

I've had an amazing time, I've made new friends (at the studio and in Blogland), been totally blown away by the whole experience and the brilliant news is..I'm probably going to be doing it all again!

If you managed to catch one of my shows you may have seen me demonstrate this Christmas decoration. Apologies - the picture isn't perfect - taken rather late last night so poor lighting.

I used the following Spellbinders™ templates: Floral Doily Motifs and Fleur De Lis Motifs. Adding some vintage ribbon, decorative pins and pearl swirl all available from Creative Expressions.

It is two-sided and reinforced with a piece of cereal box packaging - nice bit of recycling!

I'm thinking to commemorate my TV appearance I would like to send this out to someone.

All you have to do is leave me a comment on this post and on Monday morning I will pick out a name -

I may even try this in true Create and Craft fashion and pop the names in a 'spotty potty'!!

Thank you again everyone.

Wednesday, 23 November 2011

Pretty Jar

Forget for a moment that it is Christmas around the corner and that perhaps the sun is shining and there are pretty pink flowers everywhere...did it work??

Oh well how about this...a decorated treat jar!

This is the perfect way to make a personalised handmade gift, you can use any shape of jar,

I was lucky to be given this one filled with fruit last year, it is a lovely shape.

To decorate this jar I used a combination of four Spellbinders die templates, Spiral Blossoms Two, Foliage, Eyelet Circles and Labels Twenty, added Nestabling and vintage ribbon from Creative Expressions.

All it needs is something yummy placed inside and a name written on the top..now who should that be....?

Please tune in to Create and Craft TV where there are lots of amazing Spellbinders offers,

this jar may indeed be on the show along with lots of other craft goodies!

Speak to you all soon.

Tuesday, 22 November 2011

Create and Craft TV!

Hello to all my lovely friends in Blogland!

A very exciting day for me today, I'm making my first appearance on Create and Craft TV!!

If someone could have told me a year ago that I would have a place on the Spellbinders™ Design Team, the opportunity of creating with the most amazing die templates ever and then be asked to be on TV...well..I would have said "look out for low flying pigs!"

But it is happening, I am massively thrilled and a little bit nervous too, but that's got to be normal right?

I'm hoping you can join me as I am showcasing some incredible die templates including the Spellbinder box range - my personal favourite being Square Bracket Edge Box. I'm also showing techniques with
Grand Impressabilities - wait until you see those - AMAZING!

Just before I pack up my little car and head off to the studios, I've put together a video showing how to make a cute Christmas box - you never know you might see this one on TV!

Products used:
Spellbinders die templates: Square Bracket Edge Box and Daisy Flower Topper,
Authentique - Wonder papers, Creative Expressions: Vintage Ribbon and Cosmic Shimmer Glue.

My show times today are Midday and 5pm (but subject to change, well - it is live TV!)
I should also have some shows on Wednesday.

Sky 671, Freeview 36, Freesat 813 or you can view online via 'Watch Us Live' - follow this link.

Thank you for visiting and hope you enjoy the shows!

Monday, 21 November 2011

Cardmaking and Papercraft Magazine

Good morning and it's feeling like Winter!

So foggy and cold here, time to curl up with a magazine and I'm loving this month's edition of Cardmaking and Papercraft Magazine,

I adore all the festive projects - most definitely my most favourite time of year.

This month I was lucky to be asked to make Christmas decorations and here they are

featured beautifully on a tree.

There are step by step instructions, really easy to do using

Spellbinders Layered Poinsettia and Classic Heart die templates.

And here are some close up shots - loving the music paper from Echo Park - Victoria Garden

I'm planning when to put up my tree but wondering if it will survive this year with a puppy in the house!

Thank you so much for stopping by.

Saturday, 19 November 2011

Afternoon Tea - Part 2!

Oh what a lovely afternoon! There is something so civilised and tranquil spending an afternoon sipping tea, nibbling at sandwiches and sampling wonderful cakes. The surroundings made it so special, I could not resist taking a few photos to share.

The grand entrance...

A fabulous view.. yes that is my shadow, I like it - proves I was really there!

This is how some guests chose to arrive! I felt cheated turning up in a regular car!!

Chim chiminey, chim chiminey, chim chim cher-ee!

A sweep is as lucky, as lucky can be!

Afternoon tea menu - the room was lit by soft lamps hence the darkness of the photos.

Tea is served - yum yum!

I would recommend afternoon tea - it's a real treat.
Thank you for stopping by.

Friday, 18 November 2011

Afternoon Tea

It's Friday and this weekend is my birthday weekend!

(Oh yes I don't just have a birthDAY - I like to celebrate for two days or more if I possibly can!)

And this is where I am going for afternoon tea!

This is Eastwell Manor near Ashford in Kent. I've been lucky enough to visit this beautiful stately home before and it is stunning. Their afternoon tea is a real treat, the dainty sandwiches, cream tea scones, slices of homemade cake and an amazing selections of teas.

This is rather an appropriate follow-on post from my previous one ...

And talking of tea, make sure you make yourself a nice cuppa and catch a few hours of Create and Craft TV today. It is the start of Spellbinders™ Pick of the Week. The super talented Sue Wilson will be demonstrating some amazing die templates on offer and lots of craft goodies from Creative Expressions - I've been lucky enough to have my hands on their gorgeous stamps, bakers twine, ribbon and more - craft heaven!

Have a great Friday everyone and a brilliant weekend.

Wednesday, 16 November 2011

Fall Sneak Peek Blog Hop for Crafters Home Day Three

Join Spellbinders™ Paper Arts and Crafters Home as we celebrate a Fall Sneak Peek!

Spellbinders and participating stores in the Crafters Home Buying Group are excited to introduce three new die template sets sold exclusively through Crafters Home stores through January! You’ll have to wait until February to find these die template designs in non-member stores.

These new dies are in stock! Get yours now at a participating Crafters Home store!
Please visit the Spellbinders Blog for participating stores.

Visit the Spellbinders Blog November 14 - 16 to see a new Spellbinders die template revealed each day! Visit designer blogs to enter the daily contests and see inspiring projects using the new releases. Comment on Designers Blogs and the Spellbinders Blog count as entries into daily drawings. Daily winners receive all three of the new designs!

Today's new die is SKU S4-350 Nested Tea Cups

Price: $19.99
The dimensions are:

Small Cup: 1 ¼ x 1 1/8”

Small Handle ½ x 5/8”

Medium Cup 2 1/8 x 1 7/8”

Medium Handle ¾ x 1 ½”

Large Cup 3 x 2 5/8”

Large Handle 1 1/8 x 2”

Here is a project I created. Seeing as I'm a bit of a 'tea-pot' I could not resist using these lovely new die templates! I altered a chalk board purchased from a bargain store. I created a frame from Fancy Pants - Roadshow collection and then went tea-mad with cutting and embossing lots of nested tea cups!

Products used:

Spellbinders S4-350 Nested Tea Cups, E8-001 Classic Scallop, E8-006 Classic Petal, S4-327 Floral Flourishes, P5-002 Petal Pack (Presto Punch)

Echo Park - Little Girl paper and lace from the Ribbon Girl

Visit these Designers Today!

Windy Robinson

Christine Emberson (you are here!)

Kimberly Crawford

Beth Pingry

Contest Details

Participants wishing to be included in the daily drawing for the Spellbinders Fall Sneak Peek contest adhere to all of the following rules.

The Fall Sneak Peek starts November 14, and ends November 16, 2011. It consists of three individual contests, one each day.
Each Fall Sneak Peek Bog will accept comments as entries from 12:00 am until 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time, on its scheduled day.
Each comment counts as one entry. One entry per person, per blog please.
One winner each day will receive the three new die templates available exclusively at Crafters Home stores.
All three winners will be announced on the Spellbinders Blog on November 17. The winners will have 48 hours to respond to the email address on the winning post to claim their prize. If a winner fails to respond within 48 hours, a new winner will be drawn.
By entering, you allow Spellbinders to publish your first name, city, state, and country of residence and a quote from you, on the Spellbinders Blog, website, and in promotional materials.
Spellbinders Designers, contractors, employees and immediate family members are not eligible to win.
The invitation to the Fall Sneak Peek Blog Hop is extended to all, we are happy to ship prizes worldwide.

Any questions regarding this contest should be sent to ContestQuestions@Spellbinders.us

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