Happy Leap Year!

Sorry I've been MIA, but have been poorly (sounds as though I'm 6yrs old and need a plaster!) - I'm all better now and want to wish you a very Happy Leap Year Day!

Go propose to the one you love........aaaaaahh.

I'm off crafting once I've caught up on dreaded housework - yuk!  Photos to follow soon.

Keep popping in,

Ellie Maggie x

BrossART Addiction Blog Candy

Did you ever see such wonderful candy on offer?!!!!

The lovely Tracey at BrossART Addiction is offering this huuuuuge Candy on her blog until 2nd March so get yourselves over there to be in with a chance to win it.

Keep popping in,

Ellie Maggie x

Princess Card...Oh, and one happy dog owner!

What a dull, miserable day it is outside - but inside it's all pink and 'Princessey'!  I'll come to that in a minute, firstly I am a happy dog owner because my lovely greyhound is fit and healthy again after plenty of TLC and medication.  Here he is lazing in his bed!

Back to the indoor pink-i-ness - oooh I can't live without a bit of pink, can you?  It lifts the spirit and makes me feel all girly again, especially when a bit of bling is added too.  My Promarkers make their debut on my blog today:-

Isn't she gorjuss and just a bit funky too?

I love this slightly edgy image by Christy Kroll,

 along with gems on her crown and glitter on her tutu.

These distressed chipboard letters were in my stash as were the papers.

I've 'Stickled' dots on the top strip of paper - a girl can never have enough glitter you know.

The complete easel card in all it's glory.

I distressed the 'You Rock' ticket with Tim Holtz's Tea Dye distress ink,

used Shapeabilities Kalaedoscope large and small,

added a chipboard flower and a crown charm.

Under the front panel is a tag in it's own pocket, scalloped with a Martha Stewart punch and a delicate organza ribbon through an eyelet created with my Crop-a-Dile.

This card's been added to my shop - click the link at the top right of this page to pay a visit!

Enjoy your weekend folks,

Keep popping in,

Ellie Maggie x

Picture this scenario...

(Background info) 
I ring the vets yesterday, explain doggy sick & diar diarro got the runs and very lethargic I know how to spell that one.  An appointment is booked.  We drive to vets.

Picture this:-
Doggy realises he's arrived at the lovely "playtime" building where he meets new four-legged friends.  Pulls on lead soooo hard that he crashes nose-first into glass front door.

I've been nursing....

my poorly dog today.  He's such a docile and gentle greyhound, but hasn't been able to keep anything down.  He was feeling sorry for himself this morning and thankfully has picked up a bit this afternoon, but it's off to the vets for him in a short while.  Hoping that they can fix him.

I'm glad I cancelled my day out to keep an eye on him. 

Keep popping in,
Ellie Maggie x

Celebration Card

How are we today crafters?  Piling on more layers of clothes I should imagine!! Well here in Blogland it's always a warm welcome so off we go with today's offering - a Fizzy Moon celebration card.  Remember when I showed you my craft buys in the January sales?  Well here's 'one I made earlier'!

I decided to go all out on this one and made my first pinwheel and I'm pleased with it - I used hammered card and sponged it with salmon chalk, topped off with a cute button from my stash.  The heart brad is a Fizzy Moon glossy metal one and the doily is from my local market!  I distressed the paper edges - a salmon chalked paper for the base and a gorgeous glittered Fizzy Moon paper on top.  Don't the couple look sweet?

I decorated the inside by chalking the hammered card, leaving a blank white centre for a personal message.  I added borders to match the front of the card and distressed the edges. The scalloped chipboard topper highlights the cute couple!

This card is available to buy on my CraftyMe Crafts shop at http://thecraftersbarn.co.uk, a new venture of mine.  Did I mention that?!!

My Promarkers have been calling me, so keep an eye out for my next card with a Tiddly Inks digital stamp!

This is my first 'scheduled' post, so fingers crossed it's worked.

Enjoy your day, whatever you do! 

Keep popping in,

Ellie Maggie x

Love is in the air!

Hope this finds everyone happy and warm! It's soooo chilly and bitter cold outside that I couldn't feel the ends of my fingers after being out earlier today - that's after wearing gloves too.  True to forecast the temperature is definitely sliding down .....brrrrr. 

Here's something to warm your little hearts, two Valentines Day cards - one vintage style, the other in a lovely cosy red colour.

Thought I'd make a slimline card which is a change for me, vintage style too.  Here I've softened the red of Valentines with vintage lace and a beautifully embellished 3D tag along with some Wild Orchid Crafts roses.  Buttons finish the vintage look nicely.

This 5" x 7" card has a red linen texture base with dusky pink and funky hearts mats on which I've placed 2 shiny gold heart corner peeloffs.  Funky L.O.V.E stencil-effect chipboard square toppers are surrounded by pretty Papermania paper and fabric flowers with glitter and brad centres.

I've just heard snow is forecast to return Friday - I'm off to place an online food order and get ready to bake cookies and comfort food in preparation for the weekend.  Snow outside = me inside!

Keep popping in,

Ellie Maggie x

Announcement!!

I can't wait until morning - I have to share my news straightaway! 

I am proud to announce that I am part of a co-operative of sellers on The Crafters' Barn!!!!!!!  I can highly recommend it for gorgeous one-off gifts or even a place to sell crafting goodies of your own. 

Perhaps you would be kind enough to like the site on your Facebook page (if you don't mind) to help spread the word as it is an up and coming community - and an extremely friendly and helpful one at that.

My speech (were I to be asked to make one) would simply be *ahem* "My thanks go to Auntie Noo for her invaluable advice, help, instructions and unending patience with me and my unending questions.  You are the back-bone to The Crafters' Barn and we wouldn't be there without you." 

Hope you'll take a peek (or two, or three...)

Photos to follow after I've been to my bed.

Goodnight,  Ellie Maggie x

Something in the pipeline!!

Oh me, oh my!  I can hardly contain my excitement!  I am working on something that makes my tummy go all funny (funny good that is!) and I can't tell you yet............but if any kids out there ask "Are we there yet?", at least I can answer "Nearly!"

Ooooooooh it's exciting stuff (for me anyway LOL)!  Keep 'em peeled folks, I'll spill the beans soon.

Keep popping in,
Ellie Maggie x

New Baby Cards

I am back with photos (temporarily!) - I've borrowed a mobile phone to take these two photos of new baby cards.  So apologies if the quality is below par.  The first one developed as I went along and the second one was a design I clearly had in my mind.

The source of the image escapes me - it was a decoupage design, but I used it as a flat image and used Glossy Accents on the wooden part of the crib and on the baby's bottle, Kraft paper printed from selection at Pink Petticoat , buttons ribbon and sentiment from my stash.

Nice and straightforward to make - made the gatefold card using Ultimate Crafters Companion Pro, I distressed 2 card mats, brads ribbon and peeloffs from stash, made the tag using Martha Stewart border punch and Crop-a-Dile.  Image was downloaded so long ago, the designer escapes me!

These were personal cards I've sent myself. The grandparents are not keen on modern images, so I think this cute vintage baby fits the bill.

I rarely use peeloffs nowadays, I think us cardmakers tend to use them so much when first learning how to make cards and then the poor things get frowned upon to some extent once we progress to 'bigger and better' things!  I like how they suit the vintage baby image.

Hope you like.

Keep popping in,

Ellie Maggie x