Halloween Tag

I know I'm late with this but thought I'd share it anyway.  

I made a Halloween Tag to go on some fancy chocolate to give my sister when she brought her boys round Trick or Treating.

I rather like the way the flowers and die cut twigs have a spidery feel - or perhaps that's just a vivid imagination!

I wanted to say thank you to everyone who offered good wishes for the speedy recovery of my Guinea Pig Archie last week - he is still doing well and hopefully will be back to his old self very soon!

I'm linking up with Julia over at WOYWW this week

October Birthday Card

I have managed to make a quick birthday card for my sister's October birthday, despite all the mayhem of looking after our sick guinea pig.  He became ill and had to have surgery and for the last week and a half we've been nursing him back to health.  I've been too worried to do much arty crafty stuff and I must say a huge 'SORRY' for not returning quite a few visits - I did my best but as soon as Archie was home from the vet's life became very hectic!

Here's the birthday card...

...and matching tag  - I got carried away stamping and nearly didn't leave any space for writing a message - I remembered just in time!

And here's my boy, taken back in the summer.  He seems well on the road to recovery now.

I'm linking up with Julia over at  What's On Your Work Desk Wednesday.

Trying To Get A Little Bit Festive

Just beginning to feel festive and having a bit of a play to see what I'll be doing for tags and cards this year. 

I don't think it will be this!  Despite using Fired Brick Distress ink over the background and on the flower it has turned out pink!  Now I'm not a 'pink' person at all, least of all at Christmas, and even with snow and glitter it still doesn't look festive to me.  So I'm now having a re-think....!  

And while I'm having a re-think I 'm joining Julia over at WOYWW this week!

Finishing Up Before Autumn

I have been busy getting the house decorated for Autumn and arty crafty stuff has had to take a back seat.  This is my mantle piece and my method of decorating is anything orange/brown or autumny gets chucked on it!

Although busy changing over from summer to autumn I did get a chance to finish a tag that had been hanging around - it had been left half done when I had no idea what to do to it next!  I used Ranger black Enamel Accents on some of the die cuts and I really like the hard glossy effect of it - I wasn't sure how shiny it would turn out to be but it's certainly better than I expected.

I'm linking up with Julia over at What's On Your Work Desk Wednesday.

Poinsettia and Rose Christmas Card

 Just beginning to feel slightly Christmassy and managed to make the first card of the year!

I used my favourite Tim Holtz Poinsettia die and added a cream rose to the centre of it.

Thank you to everyone who visited me and left such kind comments last week - I really appreciate it and I think I can safely say I'm bug free now - touch wood, so on with the arty crafty stuff! 

I'm linking up with Julia over at WOYWW 

Welcoming Autumn

I haven't posted much recently as I've been a bit under the weather, and my studio door hasn't even been opened for the last couple of weeks!

However I was given a beautiful bunch of sunflowers this week and they have been on my desk waiting to be photographed - so on that reasoning I'm joining Julia over at 

What's On Your Work Desk Wednesday to say Hi!

Paper Roses

I don't think I'll ever tire of making paper flowers - they are so relaxing and satisfying to do!  Here are a couple of tags I've made - both flowers are made in the same way using the Tattered Florals die.  I just creased and curled them in different ways.  I love Peonies and old fashioned cabbage roses, anything where the petals turn inwards and make a 'bowl',  which is the look I was trying to get with the peachy flower.

I'm linking up with Julia over at WOYWW, where you can see what other people have been up to on their work desks this Wednesday!

A Nature Themed ATC Swap

 I have recently been involved in a lovely ATC swap with Elaine over at
 Craft Shed Girl - I was so pleased when she let me know she was up for a swap, as we have similar tastes and a love of nature in our artwork! 

This is the ATC and matching box I sent to Elaine, it's based on my current work around the moonlit garden ...

... and this is the beautiful ATC holder and gift tag Elaine sent me...

 Elaine very cleverly designed and made the holder herself - it's absolutely ingenious and such an effective and beautiful way to present the ATC.  I felt I was opening a birthday present when it arrived!

As you can see once you undo the ribbon holding it closed, it opens up to display the ATC which is held in the card groove - and what a stunning ATC it is. Elaine thoughtfully and carefully worked with images, colours and subject matter that she knows I like and if I had sent her a list of my requirements she couldn't have got it more right!!!

This has been such an enjoyable swap - thank you Elaine!

I must add that for anyone interested Elaine has listed her supplies and techniques over on her blog.   

I'm linking up Julia over at WOYWW this week.