Apologies, News and a bit of a Review.

Good morning all.  Apologies for the lack of a promised post yesterday, I was ever the eternal optimist and was waiting patiently (well ok, not very patiently lol), for the day to improve and provide a bit more natural light ...and of course that never happened.  I've decided that with autumn upon us and the days fast drawing in, I need to invest in a lamp for photographing. I'll see how things go today and if there's no improvement from yesterday, I'll just bite the bullet and use the flash *sigh* but I will post the results today regardless.

On a completely different note................I have been having an incredible week.  Over the last 2 days I have had a total of 3....that's right 3! wins or top 3 placements in challenges and 2 offers of GDT places.  My cup runneth over :)

In addition to all the success in challenges etc, I am in a happy place because I received a lot of goodies recently.  Last month I won prizes at Tilda's Town and at Bunnyzoe's crafts and I received my orders from both of them yesterday so I have new goodies to play with.

 In addition to getting new stamps and materials I recently managed  managed to sell a laptop that hadn't been used for around 2 years and used the proceeds to help buy a new die cutting machine.  

I had a Cuttlebug, which tbf I was mostly very happy with, BUT it would not cut the larger A4 shaped dies, so my shaped cards were a little on the small side. 

Also I was having to make several passes with some dies, trying to get an even cut all the way through.  I looked at buying either a Grand Calibur or a Big Shot Pro.  The Grand Calibur was a LOT cheaper than the Big Shot Pro, but it won't cut the sizzix dies and I heard a few stories of them breaking. The Big Shot Pro seems nice and sturdy and will cut most of the different die cuts on the market, but you still need to buy extra accessories, and the thing is mahoosive lol, but even so I'd decided that this was the best option until.......I discovered the ebosser.  Priced between the Grand Calibur and the Bigshot Pro it will cut and emboss every die you own and any you're likely to buy including large up to A4 size, and what's more it comes with all the kit needed to do so, no having to buy additional cutting plates.  What makes it even more attractive is that it's electrically powered, so no more winding through several times by hand!

It arrived yesterday and having tried it out I can say that so far I'm a big fan! It takes up relatively little space on the counter (though you will need a little space to store the cutting platforms which are A4 size, and thus far it's cut everything I've thrown at it beautifully in one pass.  What's more due to the large cutting area, it will cut several smaller dies at a time, saving you time and effort.  

So far ( and bearing in mind I've only had a day to play) I would definitely recommend it, particularly if you have any hand or shoulder problems as there's no winding, you just feed the plates and it does all the for you. Once you get the sandwich correct for whatever make of dies you are using (it cuts them all I have thin metal dies from Spellbinders, Whimsy, Memory Box, La La Land, Marianne, Cherry Lyn and Magnolia and some of the thick Bigz dies) it can chomp through paper, card, chipboard, material etc.  It comes with 4 different plates, plus a magnetic shim, an embossing mat and even an A4 embossing folder....I also have to say I'm not being paid by Ebosser to advertise for them LOL!

Anyway, if you're thinking about an A4 cutting machine I'd recommend this one (so far), of course it's early days, but I use my die cutting machine....a LOT...so if I encounter any problems, I'll keep you posted.

It looks like it's going to be a brighter day today, so I'll finish my coffee and go grab some pics of my new card before the sun has a chance to run away!

See you in a bit  :) xx

Challenge #197 at Crafty Catz

Good morning crafty folks!! For once this post isn't scheduled because I'm not at work, I'm enjoying a little 4 day holiday at the mo :)

There might even be a further make from me today if I get my finger out lol.

Anyhoo, it's time for a new challenge over at Crafty Catz and it's Jac's turn to choose the theme.  She chose bookmarks to celebrate the anniversary of the opening of the 1st free British library on 6th September 1852.

Ok, I'll admit this one gave me some pause, not because I don't like reading or have bookcases full of books, but because for the past couple of years all the books I've bought or had gifted have been digital ones...and you don't need bookmarks for those and my mother reads on a tablet, my daughter reads on her iphone and I actually don't know anyone now that still actually buys books, it's quite sad really.  

I hate making something I won't use or give away or sell, so I had a think about how I could make a bookmark that I could turn into something else later.

This is what I came up with. I thought that some time later I could dismantle it and reuse the framed images on cards or gift boxes or notebooks lol

I loved both these reading images from the talented Krista Smith at Saturated Canary and I thought they'd be really good for a 2 sided bookmark, kind of showing the day & night or light and dark of reading...you know you start out all fresh, read for a while and then think....'I'll just finish this chapter before I go to sleep'...next thing you know it's 2 am and you're wrecked and need to sleep but you just can't stop turning the pages lol!

It's very simply made, just coloured the 2 digital images, cut them out with an oval Spellbinder, used a little DI in........ on the edges then sewed around and matted on some Coredinations cardstock cut with another Spellbinders die.

Then I taped some doubled over ribbon to one side and stuck them together, just the top 3rd or so, with some very shallow foam squares.  Then the book mark just slips over the page or pages with the ribbon on either side.

Do go check out the rest of the teams wonderful creations, there's a real variety to choose from, even a beaded number which is stunning,  and have a go at making one yourself!  We have a great prize from our sponsor Alota rubber stamps, and shiny badges for our top 3,  so what are you waiting for? Go check it out!

I'll be here again later with a card, so do check back when you can :) xx

Work in Progress

Afternoon peeps!  I'm enjoying my day off and being very lazy lol.  

I've had some very exciting news today too, not only did I win over at Marvellous Magnolia for Challenge #42, but the lovely Rina (who btw makes the most jaw droppingly awesome mini albums....and if you haven't seen them, head over to her blog here and take a peek), has offered me a GDT spot with them, how amazing is that?!  Of course I said yes and I can't say anything more about it as it's all to be a huge surprise so all I can say is watch this space! :)

I will have a card finished by the end of today, but as the light will no doubt have died by then and I hate killing my work with bad lighting or flash I won't upload it until tomorrow.  Soooo......in the meantime I have a little teaser for you.

I thought I'd show the focus of the card at least and then you can speculate in your own imagination what it might turn out like and see if you're right tomorrow lol.  It will be the 2nd post of the day as my first is a scheduled DT post for Craft Catz.

Anyhoo......this is what I've done so far.

It's by no means finished even without the card it goes with and sadly the pink glitter gel pen I used on the wings and to dot her hair isn't showing up well in the photos, it gives a very pretty effect live so I'll have to see if I can get that to show up better.  I've been dying to use this Tiddlyinks digi, I do love Tiddlyinks stamps but my favourites are the romantic slightly Gothic ones like this and the one I used on the wedding card I made, I wish she would make more like these.

She's coloured in Copics (of course), I will try something else like distress inks one day I promise, but I feel I still have tons to learn about Copic colouring, so that will just have to wait lol.

Colours used are:

Skin: E11, 00, 000, R11

Hair: W0, 2, 3, 5, 7

Dress: R81, 83, 85

Well that's it from me today, I'll see you tomorrow as I'm not back at work until Monday, yay!  :) xx