...a little blog candy

It's high time I offered a little blog candy. I have reached nearly 20 000 hits on my counter - ok 19 000 were probably me checking to see if anyone was looking but nonetheless - anyone who suffers my blog on a regular basis needs a little pat on the back - I'm not going to tell you what the candy is - I have nearly finished organising it but not quite, tho' the one thing I will say is that PTI fans will like it for sure.

What I want you to do is leave me your best house-cleaning shortcut tip in the comments to this post, I'm anxious to cut down on housework so's I can stamp. - I'm going to let it run until midnight (my time) on Friday 26th sept (so's all the bloghoppers get a chance to play too!) and then I will get a number randomly picked - there must be a generator somewhere on the internet that I can use.

I will post the winners name on the blog hopefully on Saturday.

Oh look - I managed to squeeze in one more fimo snowflake!! lol.

Hope it tickles.

...a ribbon tree

Wondering what to do with all those teeny scraps of ribbon, ( i don't throw anything away!! I always imagine it'll come in handy some day) I had an idea to make a little string tied christmas tree. I tied wee bits of ribbon to a length of string and then trimmed it up and down the sides into a christmas tree shape. I threaded the string through two eyelets that I set into a cream rectangle and mounted it onto a scalloped rectangle.

Made a backing paper with Guidelines and First fruits stamps and matted it onto the green - added a sentiment held on with string and I have to say I quite like this. Might make a few more - when I find something good I kind of beat it to death!! - you may have noticed the fimo snowflakes!! Lol.

Hope it tickles.

Stuff used.
Card Base: Kraft cardstock from my local Print supply, Vintage Cream, Dark Chocolate and Spring Moss cardstock All PTI, Ink - Versacolour white - LSS. Ribbon - Aqua Mist, Dark chocolate and Spring moss assorted scraps - All PTI. Nestabilities Long rectangles - Grid stamp - Guidelines set. Leaf stamp - First Fruits, Sentiment from Holiday Wishes. - ALL PTI. String - back of my kitchen drawer. Mini Eyelets - Papermania.

...couple o' things

Edited 16th Oct 2008 - The resist was done by stamping in versamark, clear embossing and then sponging the red ink over after - hope that helps Tracy.

I was on the floor, picking up lego, playmobil - that sort of thing, in the girls room when i spotted a length of black thread poking out from under the dolls basket - I pulled it and instantly discovered two things I didn't know before - 1) spiders legs pop off if you pull too hard, and 2) I will push a one and a half year old out of the way in order to escape from large spindly spiders.

Right now I'm calming down with a cup of tea and posting a few cards.

I so love the leaf stamp in PTI First Fruits set - I think it qualifies as one of my all time favourite stamps. I made some background paper with it using what is apparently called the rock and roll technique. Added a sentiment, some ribbon, pure poppy card base (all PTI) and pouff!! All done.

The second card is the beginning of my Christmas production line this year - In a small, totally inadequate way i'm attempting to bring home the bacon this year (that's what I say when I'm asked but really, lets face it, it's all going straight back onto PTI goodies!!). Anyhow - I wanted to start with some simple easy to make cards that I can sell as wee sets etc.

Inspired (who isn't) by Pinefeather I did some resist snowflakes - the third card is the same as the first just finished differently - I think they're fairly self explanatory and I need stronger tea, but any questions just email me.

Oh aye, and I managed to use some bling - not a big fan but I'll let it go this time.

Apologies also for anyone who likes card recepies - I always for get to list these but I'm going to make a big effort to improve on that score.

Hope they tickle.

Stuff used.
Card 1: Pure poppy cardstock, Vintage Cream cardstock, Inks - Pure poppy, Plum pudding, Raw Sienna, Burnt Umber. Ribbon - Pure Poppy saddlestitch, Nestabilities Ovals - leaf stamp - First Fruits, Sentiment from Mixed Messages. - ALL PTI

Card 2:Kraft cardstock from my local printing supply. Versamark Ink and clear embossing powder - LSS. White versacolour Ink - PTI Aqua Mist ribbon and cardstock. Snowflake Serenade stamps and Mixed messages sentiment - both PTI. White sheer ribbon - Offray. Making memories slot punch tool.

Card 3: White cardstock from my local printing supply. Versamark Ink and clear embossing powder - LSS.Snowflake Serenade stamps and Believe sentiment - both PTI. Pure poppy Ink and ribbon - both PTI. estabilities long rectangle. Bling by Papermania - crystals on snowflake and star crystal on 'wishes'. Making memories slot punch tool.

... a few snaps

I do actually have cards to post but the light here was awful today and I'm not so good with a camera yet - I need natural light for good shots. Anyhow hopefully get them up tomorrow. In the meantime a couple more holiday pics - two views of Croagh Patrick with a photo of Cong Abbey in between. My eight year old climbed that mountain - I'm so proud of her!!

Note the turf stacks in the B/W photo - I love the smell of that stuff!!

...a GSS submission

ED - the sweets are Chocolate limes - little its of chocolate wrapped in a lime flavoured hard candy - easily available in Ireland - not sure about USA.






I had such fun making this dressed up jar for the GSS competition over at PTI - Congratulations to the winners by the way - some awesome creations - you should really go check them out here.

I intended my Witch jar as a hostess gift - since I'm hosting the Halloween party this year - I guess I'll be keeping it!! Lol.

The hat opens to reveal a secret compartment containing a pendant i made from black shrink plastic - I love how it looks like velvet when it is shrunk. - the wee hats are a cinch to make - they'd make great party favours and if you'd like to see how leave a comment and I'll make up a tutorial.

The witches cloak is actually a bag - you could use it for trick or treating or holding more sweets - liquorice strips etc. - Hope it tickles!!

I love the Spooky Sweets 2 stamps and the latest releases look fantastic too!! - All I have to do now is wait for that wee brown parcel...