mjm-the art tart

Happy Glitzy Christmas!

2011-12-09T14:00:00.001Z

Hi all
Well it's that time again when I get to share some Glitzy goodness with you all from Glitz Designs and this month I've gone all festive :) 1st up is this layout ....

Santa Baby
A layout of our very cheeky grandaughter on Christmas day. I very rarely get a serious photo from her or her brother, but I love these photos they sum her up exactly. I wanted the layout to look like a present that was being unwrapped and the mix of elements from Beatiful Dreamer and Dance in sunshine with a little vintage blue thrown in for good measure gave me the fun festive look I wanted.
Here's what I used:
Glitz Designs Beautiful Dreamer paper; Floral, Polka, Stripe and Houndstooth
Glitz Designs Beautiful Dreamer embellishments; Giant Rhinestones and Epoxy words
Glitz Designs Dance in Sunshine paper; Polka, Floral, Damask, Stripe and Raindrop
Glitz Designs Dance in Sunshine embellishments; Glitzers, Epoxy words and Trim
Glitz Designs Vintage Blue; Glitzers
Glitz Designs teeny alphas; Mint Grunge
Glitz Designs frosting; red and black

I ripped around the edges of the paper to create a frame and pulled sections back to create the un wrapped present feel and then added Glitzers to some of the patterned paper to create presents for some of my embellishments.

The tree is made up of sevearl layers of different greens from the papers and the Giant Rhinestones make perfect shiny decorations.

And the reindeer and sleigh is an embellishment created with some paper piecing, placed hanging over the page so it looks like rudolph is flying overhead pulling his sleigh with some of the Dance in Sunshine trim:) I think this will make a fun piece of home decor for the festive season!

Next up is this layout...

First Snow
We had a hard winter last year and it was Olivers first winter, after the initial shock of landing in the snow he soon got the swing of it and loved it as much as his brother. The colours in the vintage blue collection were perfect for this layout and here's what I used;
Glitz Designs Vintage Blue paper; Stripe, Polka and Motif
Glitz Designs Vintage Blue embellishments; Titles stickers, Journalling Stickers, Epoxy words and Giant Rhinestones
Glitz Designs Teeny Alphas; Pearl

I kept this layout quite simple to focus on the picture and let the lovely colours of the paper do the work. After ripping strips across the layout, creating a curled photo mat and distressing liberally I added some splodges of acrylic paint with my fingers to create some snowy paw prints across my layout.

The fab stickers from titles and journalling added great accents to my page adding just enough detail and the Giant rhinestones give it an icy, blingy lift.

One little detail I love is the bottom corner that I ripped away to give a puppy chewed effect :)

And that's it for this post and also sadly for my time with the Glitz DT. I have had to do a lot of soul searching with my decision to step down from this amazing team but life has got busier and busier and unfortunately some things have got to give :(

I have been honoured and proud to be able to work along side such amazing designers over the last 2 and half years and of course it has been a complete pleasure to work with the gorgeous Glitz girls and their wonderful product. I may not be here every month but in my heart I will always be a Glitz girl and will continue to love all the gorgeous product they bring us.
Thanks to everyone for having me along for the ride and hopefully I will see you all in cyber space soon.
Much love
MJM x

A Black & wite Froggy Christmas

2011-12-04T06:00:00.000Z

Hi all
Time to deliver a project of the day over at the Lily pad again. Some super simple but stylish black and white Christmas cards

As ever a more detailed post can be found on the Banana Frog blog.

Well it’s time for this froglet to hop off the lily pad I’m afraid. After much soul searching and juggling of time I have decided with great sadness after 2 ad 1/2 years it is time for me to step down from the Banana Frog DT and have said my fond farewells over at the Lilypad today.

Thanks for stopping by and hopping over to the Lily pad, I hope you're well and happy and until soon Happy Crafting
Love
M x

Scrap 365!!!

2011-11-09T12:00:00.004Z

Hey all just had to share this thing of beauty with you all ...

It's the cover of the new mag, I snagged a copy at the NEC as I know a lot of you did and those that have subbed will have them landing on the doormat (if they haven't already ;)) before general release on the 18th and I may be biased but I think it is FAB!!!

It speaks to scrappers of today with a real mix of layouts, mini books, off the page projects, digi scrapping and all sorts of other gloriousness to fill a crafty brain. The design team are AWESOME and I love the eclectic mix of styles from clean and simple to out and out grunge with pretty in between ... what a talented bunch of scrappers I am lucky to work alongside.

The comments from all you lovelies out there have been great and I know that Katy Fox is one happy editor knowing that you all love it as much as we do and I know for a fact issue 2 will be just as good ... I've seen the projects already ;)

So if you want to get your creative mitts on a copy hop on over to the Scrap365 blog and check out the post from 2nd November to see all the different ways you can do it!

I hope you're all well and happy out there and until soon Happy, Happy Crafting
Love
M x

My Glitzy nieces

2011-11-04T14:00:00.002Z

Hi all it's that time again to share some gorgeous Glitzyness with you from Glitz Designs. This last week I have had my 2 nieces staying with me and of course I had to keep snapping away! The photos I have chosen to scrap really sum up their personalities and the Glitz embellishments let me write some meaningful aunty messages to them.
First up is Lilly ....

Completely be you always.
Lilly is such a unique, beautiful girl and I want her to always be exactly who she is, the hello kitty hat won out over a piece of Goth jewellery for instance on a shopping trip, I love the fact that she is an individual and proud of it. For the layout I used;
Glitz Designs patterned paper: Dance in Sunshine; Birds, damask, polka and raindrops
Glitz Deigns Dance in Sunshine; Trim, Epoxy Words, Paper Layers, Whatnots, Journalling stickers and Glitzers
Glitz Deigns Vintage Blue Peek a boos and Glitzers

By combining lots of strips of papers down the page I was able to use lots of the lovely paper, I love the green and lilac combo in this line with the pep of the yellow. I distressed the 2 circular whatnots to add an extra mat for the photo and added a glitzer for some extra bling. I love how the lines can cross over with their patterns and colours.

By lifting the photo on foam pads I was able to slot in the journaling block behind it, and a bird cut from a paper layer sits on top.

I love the new epoxy stickers, you can make up all sorts of sentiments with them in colours that all co-ordinate.

And lastly by adding the peek a boo from vintage blue onto some of the yellow paper I could make it take on a green hue to co-ordinate with my layout and this was my way to add my little message to Lilly

My next layout features Megan

KISYCMV
No I haven't spelt it wrong, this is Megans version of the kissing rhyme! She had us in stitches and it's just so Megan, there's no one like her! The 2 photos are the 2 sides of this complex, funny little girl.
Beautiful dreamer was the perfect line to tell the story and here is what I used;
Glitz Designs patterned paper: Beautiful Dreamer; Damask, Floral, Stripe, Polka and Toille.
Glitz Designs Beautiful Dreamer; Trim, Giant Rhinestones, Epoxy words and paper layers.
Glitz Designs Dance in Sunshine; Whatnots
Glitz Designs Vintage Blue clear stamps
Glitz Designs Teeny Alphas; Bubble gum pink

The spiral is cut from a paper layer and I only adhered it at the end so it has some movement. Strips of paper across the layout build up the background and again allowed me to use lots of the yummy colours.

I love the Pink and green in this line and used the bold pink stripe as mats for my photos to pop them off the page. The what not bunting from dance in sunshine is a perfect accent for my main photo and little word details added with the epoxy words work beautifully to tie everything together.

I created a journalling block from some of the ledger paper, punching it along the side. Adding some trim and a rhinestone added that extra bit of girlyness and the final touch is my little message to Megan in the form of the stamped heart from the Vintage Blue clear stamp collection .... I love Glitz stamps!

That's all from me for now, Thanks for popping by and letting me share my Glitzy projects with you.
I hope you're all well and happy and until soon Happy Crafting
Love
M x

Lost in Space

2011-11-04T06:00:00.001Z

Hi all
Well this blog title is fitting! It is actually the title of my Project of the day over on the Banana Frog blog ...

and it also kind of sums up my recent absence! I know I have been MIA and apologise for my lack of beng here but it's been one of those months. I've been poorly sick, had visitors, TV and well just life in general has gotten in the way but all's good and I'm still alive and well.

As you are reading this I will be at the NEC taking a peek at the early issue of the Scrap 365 magazine, not available until the 18th anywhere else. I am super excited about it, I've seen a lot of the proofs and a lot of the gorgeous projects in it in real life and all I can say is it's going to be FAB and you're going to love it! So if you make the NEC hobbycraft show today wave if you see me and say hi, and if you make it any time over the weekend be sure to check out the magazine on the traplet stand!

Now I'm going to do an impression of a bus .... no posts for ages and then 2 in one day! I have a Glitzy post going live at 2pm!! So I'll either see you here or at the NEC!

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you're well and happy and until soon Happy Crafting!
Love
M x

A Glitzy time with 3 Jolly Scrappers

2011-10-07T14:00:00.001+01:00

Hi all
Last week I was lucky enough to be able to teach an all day workshop for 3 Jolly Scrappers, made all the more exciting by being able to use some of the yummy new Glitz Designs products, even before I had managed to get my hands on my fantabulous DT kit so I thought I would share pictures of the layouts we created in class.

Then and Now
This was the first layout we created. I used the idea of a previous Glitz project I created here and it was fun to use all the lovely blues in the new Vintage Blue line for a monochrome front...

...as a contrast to the pop of colour from the new Dance in sunshine line. These two lines mix brilliantly together, that flash of green either side of the central strip across the centre is the green side of the raindrop paper.

The vintage blue paper layers created some lovely embellishments, and also the frames around my photos

and with scraps of the papers and some of the paper layers we created some lovely paper flower embellishments with beads set in glossy accents for the centres. As it was a class kit we had other product mixed in, but the new Teeny Alphas from Glitz would work brilliantly on this project as would the super cute What Nots.

Next up we created a layout using the lovely colour combo of Dance in Sunshine

This is our Happily ever after
I LOVE the colours in this collection! And the splash of red from the aida in the kit works brilliantly.

We splattered the 12 x 12 base with a co-ordinating green paint and did lots of distressing

And then lots of paper cutting in strips, hand cut scallops and circles allowed me to include as many of the yummy colours from the line as I could, well it would be rude not to!

Then finally the Dance in Sunshine paper layer created a great title for my layout and the birds and hearts cut from another paper layer made some cute embellishments.

So that was 2 layouts down but I couldn't resist creating this from what we had left

My Guy
This was a great way to use up our left overs with some clever paper piecing and again also shows how these two lines work so well together.

I love the frame cut out from the reverse side of the Dance in Sunshine stripe paper backed with a paper layer to create a title block.

And a cute strip of bunting cut from the raindrop paper finished off the layout, tying it all together.

I really enjoyed sharing the Glitzy goodness with the ladies at the workshop and loved combining 2 of the fabulous new lines to do it.
Here's what I used
Glitz Designs Vintage Blue papers; Floral, Polka, Rose, Toile
Glitz Designs Vintage Blue paper layers
Glitz Designs Dance in Sunshine; Floral, Polka, Raindrops, Stripe
Glitz Designs Dance in Sunshine paper layers

Thanks for stopping by today, I hope you're well and happy and until soon Happy Crafting
Love
MJM x

A spooky twist with Banana Frog

2011-10-04T06:00:00.001+01:00

Hi all

Just a quicky to drop this off

My project of the day on the Banana Frog blog. A little spooky twist using the fairytale princess castle ... yes really :) Pop on over to the Lilly pad for my project.

I hope you're well and happy, see you Friday with 2 posts and until then Happy Crafting!
Love
M x

A quick catch up

2011-10-02T17:01:00.022+01:00

Hi all
Well I did promise (kind of) to be a better blogger and seem to have fallen at the first week but I have a reason honest! I've been a bit poorly sick ... I was struck down with a naughty cold type virus last weekend and it's taken a while to drag my sorry self back to normality (whatever that is!) BUT I am still alive and in one piece and laying catch up with life so here goes!

Last week was crazy busy leading up to the pre launch of the new scrapping magazine Scrap 365, the response has been AMAZING and the blog hop was great, what a talented bunch of scrappers we have on board. The 1st issue is well on it's way and finishing touches are being done .... exciting! Also you can now subscribe on line! Check out the blog post 29th Sept on the blog!

Just before the blog hop, hubby was home for a whole week (shock horror) so we took a trip down to the West Country to visit his family.

Grandad had a spelling lesson with Sophie

We all went out for dinner and the girls tackled the most obscene pudding I have ever seen! Mountains of ice cream, cream, chocolate bars and smarties! Even they got beat so Sophie and Dylan had to help out .. then came the sugar rush!

So off we went to the beach to walk it off

What an amazing sunset!
It was Ollies first time on the beach but he soon got into the spirit! A mad chase with another dog saw Stan and Ollie launching into the sea, Stan took it all in his stride but I wish I had a picture of Ollie's face when the sudden realisation hit him that he was swimming. It would be titled 'how the? How did I get here' trust me it was hilarious and even funnier was seeng hubby having the 'shall I dive in?' dilemma

back to the house for cuddles before bedtime, and then the long drive home!

Oo I got some new glasses too last week, I was so excited! (ignore the pink hair in bad need of a dye job LOL)

Turquoise and black

Pink and Purple.
I have always wanted glasses in different colours to swap about with my moods and this is the start of my collection. In fact I took hubby in for an eye test when I picked up the new specs and he treated me to 2 newpairs that are more dressy, just think purple sparkly LOL Lucky me :) I'll share pics when I have them(and I'll dye my hair before I take the pics!)

Last Sunday I had a FAB time teaching an all day workshop at 3 Jolly Scrappers. If you are close enough to get to any of their workshops please go, everyone there is so lovely, lunch is delicious and you even get afternoon tea with homemade cake!! I will share pcs of the layouts we created soon, they're coming up in my Glitz Designs post on the 7th but in the mean time here are some pics of the lovelies I spent the day with.

Then the lurgy struck so that's all I have to catch up with apart from AND FINALLY ..

Stan and Ollie hugs on the way down to the West Country

They make my heart melt

2 very soggy, sandy happy dogs after their adventures on the beach. The kids were happy too even if Dylan looks very serious, he was told not to do a cheesy grin so that's the face we got LOL

So that's been my week and a bit since our last visit except for one other little excitement that perked me up no end ... I got our tickets for next years 80's rewind festival, don't know who's on yet but I'm looking forward to it already whoop whoop! I'll be back on Tuesday with a Banana Frog project, until then I hope you're well and happy and until soon, as ever, Happy Crafting
Love
M x

Scrap 365 .... the cat's out of the bag at last!

2011-09-22T18:00:00.004+01:00

Hi all

Welcome to my little slice of the Scrap 365 blog hop, I hope you're having fun :) If you are here under your own steam why not start at the beginning on the Scrap 365 blog? I don't want you to miss out on any of it!

So finally the cat is out of the bag and we can shout about Scrap 365, the brand new UK scrap magazine coming very soon. I have been lucky enough to have worked with Katy Fox (the editor of Craft Stamper and this new title) as a freelance consultant on Scrap 365 and all I can say is this is going to be a great magazine with a super talented design team bringing articles covering all aspects of scrapping today.

For those that don't know me let me introduce myself. My name is Michelle Jackson-Mogford aka MJM. I’m a onetime theatre designer/stage manager who decided to give it all up to get back to my arty roots and I’m loving it! I’m married to a comedian (that’s a whole other story!) and I live in the beautiful British country side with him and our 2 little dogs Stanley Dervish and Oliver Pickles

I discovered scrapbooking at the beginning of 2007, I love creating art with meaning as well as being really into collage so scrapping is perfect for me. I also enjoy using my model making skills to create 3D scrap art and interactive pages.

I was proud to be a Best of British Scrapbooking winner 2008. I am a regular contributor to the Craft Stamper magazine and have been featured in other craft magazines in the UK. I design for Banana Frog stamps here in the UK as well as Purple Cows Inc and Glitz Designs in the States. I also work with Serif (Digital Craft Artist) and I have been demo-ing their product on Create and Craft/ Ideal world TV as well as Purple Cows tools for the last year and a half and love being part of an amazing TV family!

The rest of 2011 going into 2012 is shaping up to be very exciting with many big crafty projects on the go and a 6 week Amazon cruise on which I will be teaching craft classes ... lucky, lucky me :)

As part of the hop we've been asked to share one of our favourite projects of 2011 with you and I think mine has to be a class I designed for the Scrap-A-Mia retreat back in the Spring ...

A scrapped birdcage....

...A unique piece of home decor...

...That looks good all ways round...

...Containing pictures of our Granddaughter...

...and our Grandson (I know what you're all saying, I don't look old enough LOL, it's my step son's children ;))

I also converted it to a double layout

For anyone a little nervous to tackle the construction

and I have to say I like the layout just as much :)

I best stop waffling now and let you carry on with the hop. Before you go don't forget to leave a comment. REMEMBER! leave a comment on EVERY DT blog and on the Scrap 365 blog for a chance to win a years subscription to Craft Stamper (our big sister magazine) PLUS over £20 worth of stamps .... now that's worth leaving a few words for isn't it :) Oh and if you're lucky enough to be at Ally Pally for the Big Stamp and Scrapbooking show this weekend don't forget to pop along to the Traplet stand for a sneak peek of the new mag and a fabulous subscription offer! (Can't make Ally Pally but still want the fab subs deal? If you live in the UK you can still get it by calling 01684 588599that'll get you the first 3 issues for just £1 whoop whoop! And click the button on the post earlier today on the Scrap 365 blog to be entered into the prize draw so you don't miss out on a thing!)

So you're next stop is with the oh so talented Wendy McKee Enjoy!!

Thanks for stopping by. I am absolutely thrilled to be part of the Scrap365 Design team..... It’s going to be a grand adventure!

*see you* soon, until then HAPPY CRAFTING!
Love
M x

A new look at last!

2011-09-19T17:47:00.043+01:00

Hi all

Well finally I got round to some redecorating, what do you think? I think I quite like it but need to 'live in it' a while to decide :) So along with the new look comes the new intention to pop in more for a chat .... well that's the intention .... time will tell!

As I'm here I thought I'd stay for a little catch up. At the moment life really is crazy busy but all good. These past few days I've been playing with some of the new Glitz Designs goodies creating 3 workshop classes for 3 Jolly Scrappers next weekend ...

....what you doing next Sunday? Fancy coming along to play?

Last week I was published in Hebrew on an Israeli scrapbook site with this...

A pop up family tree!

Last month me and hubby went to the Rewind festival (I think I mentioned that in my last Glitz post, on face book and to anyone who will listen to me LOL) We had the BEST time and I did promise to share some pics so here we go ... hold on to your leg warmers there's a few :)

The sun shone, it was a great atmosphere

But it did rain a little!! Look at those spotty wellies I LOVE them!

We dried out eventually ... from the rain anyway ;)

There were some fab costumes, lots of madonnas, Adam ants and village people and so much neon!

As well as fairies .... Love this pic!

Hmmm there's that Pimms again! Followed by Moscow Mules;) Note the chairs match the wellies LOL

Hubby getting down to the average white band!

Saturdays top of the bill the AMAZING Holly Johnson ... better than ever!

And Sundays top of the bill the legend that is the Human League!

We're so going back next year just waiting for those tickets to go on sale, don't care who's on it'll be great ... heh it's the 80's!

Random picture alert! Just taken this off of hubby's phone ....

How idyllic is that pic, it was a perfect blue sky one afternoon when we were walking the boys and corn fields for miles ... bliss!

Talking of the boys let's talk ... and finally

This is the park in Stratford - Upon - Avon where we walk the boys sometimes by the river ... look at the haircut on those trees, weird huh!

Stanley Dervish ready for the off

Joined by Oliver Pickles not to be left out!

I think that's enough of a catch up for now :) It's been nice to chat ... I'll try and do it again soon .... honest guv! I do know however that I will definitely be back on Thursday night with a rather special post .... please pop in and see me :)

I hope you're all well and happy, thanks for dropping into the new gaff and I'll *see you* soon.
Until then as ever HAPPY CRAFTING!
Love
M x

Tweet and fluffy

2011-09-04T06:00:00.001+01:00

Hi all
Today is my turn to share a pick of the day over on the Banana Frog Lilly pad. I decided to create some fun and fluffy cards this month

As ever the stpby steps can be found over on the Banana Frog blog .... enjoy!

Sorry this is fleeting, my old nemesis time seems to be getting the better of me at the moment but never fear ... I will win eventually and I'll be back to tell the tale :)

I hope you're well and happy, thanks for stopping by and until soon Happy Crafting
Love
M x

Anyone for Pimms with some added Glitz?

2011-09-02T14:00:00.001+01:00

Hi all
Today it’s my turn to share some Glitz Design goodness with you so I thought I would create a couple of projects using up some of my scraps to make way for all the new Glitz goodies coming! My first project is

Anyone for Pimms?
A couple of weekends ago my husband took me to the Rewind 80’s festival in the beautiful Henley on Thames and we had the best time! I was transported back to my teenage years and had a ball singing my head off and dancing my wellies off to some great bands with 40,000 other people. We had a perfect British Sunday afternoon, the sun shone, the music was chilled out and the Pimms was fabulous. These pictures sum up my perfect weekend! As I said I used up lots of scraps all from the Afternoon Muse line;
Glitz Designs Afternoon Muse papers; Carte Postal, Polka, Block and Stripe
Glitz Designs Afternoon Muse embellishments; Peek-a-boos, Whatnots, Glitzers and Cardstock stickers titles and journaling
Glitz Designs Afternoon Muse clear stamps
Glitz Designs Teeny Alphas; Yellow block and Bubble gum pink

I built up lots of strips of papers across my base

Even cheating and using very thin scrappy bits as the bottom layer.

The Glitz Designs clear stamps are perfect for creating embellishments with scrap paper, and I did just that with the hot air balloon.

The Ferris wheel is cut from a Whatnot.

I layered up some of the cardstock stickers and Whatnots to add my journaling to and added the balloon on foam pads for dimension.

I attached the bunting peek-a-boo with a Glitzer at one end and the best day ever sticker at the other. My photos are on foam pads for dimension and the teeny alphas are perfect to finish of the title and journaling. Oh it really was a perfect day!

Talking of perfect the next layout is a picture of our grand daughter

Sophie Elizabeth
I love this photo of Sophie, it sums her up with that cheeky grin and makes us realise how quick she is growing up! I only used Laced with Grace for this layout and I think it’s a fun way to use up all my left over embellishments.
Glitz Designs Laced with Grace Paper; Rose, Floral and Butterflies
Glitz Designs Laced with Grace Embellishments; Paper layers, Whatnots, Glitzers, Peek-a-boos and Cardstock stickers Titles and Journalling.

I positioned the photo where I wanted it on the base paper, and then drew a rough circle around it, cutting it out of the paper with a craft knife.

I ripped around the circle and then tore back away from the edge, curling and folding the paper back. I then backed the hole with some of the floral paper and with a craft knife cut around some of the roses so I could slip my photo underneath them, kind of melding it into the paper.

I then gathered a whole host of embellishments with flowers on and set about cutting them up.

I arranged them around the frame, mixing up all the different textures and adding some on foam pads and Silicon gel for dimension. I cut a few butterflies from the paper, folding them up and curling the wings so they ‘settle’ on the flowers and added the bird Whatnot and a journaling sticker with a Glitzer to finish the piece off. I think this is a layout for an easel to put on display, so much more interesting than just a photo in a frame don’t you think?

I hope you have as much fun using up your scraps! Thanks for stopping by, I hope you’re well and happy and until soon as ever Happy Crafting
Love
MJM x

Getting on my Glitz in a different size

2011-08-05T14:00:00.011+01:00

Hi all
It's my turn to share a couple of projects with you using lovely Glitz Designs products and this month I thought I would change it up a bit and scrap in a different size. I decided to use A4 (uk paper size) and found it an interesting challenge and really enjoyed the different discipline. Here's what I created

Nothing is Black and White

And here's the twist on the title, my hidden photo and journalling!

For this project I have used:
Glitz Designs Love Games Papers; Floral and Damask
Glitz Designs Afternoon Muse paper; Floral
Glitz Designs Love Games Paper layers
Glitz Designs Afternoon Muse Journal stickers
Glitz Designs Teeny Alphas; cream and ivory block
Glitz Designs frosting; red and black
Glitz Designs Giant Rhinestones; pink, black, green collection.

The photos are from a cruise we went on, it was a formal night and we went to have some proper photos taken, all started out well but after a nice bottle of red with dinner the giggles set in and the formality of the photo shoot was blown! I printed off the 'proper' photo in black and white and then one from the end of the shoot, when it all started going south, in colour. The black and white of Love Games works perfectly with my black and white idea and the zing of Afternoon Muse works great for the shot of hidden colour.

I ripped away an aperture slightly larger than my colour photo from the Love Games floral paper and then cut away the centre of the crossword paper layer to create a frame.

I adhered a mat of the yellow paper to the back of the photo and cut a journal sticker to a rounded shape, added this to my photo and recorded my hidden bit of the story.

After matting the black and white photo onto some of the papers, making it big enough to cover the hidden section and distressing the edges, I created a hinge by cutting two of the little damask patterns from the paper and folding the strip in half, adhering it to the photo and the base of the layout so the black and white photo became a little 'door'

Cutting some of the black ad white poppies from the floral paper and scrunching them into shape I created some bespoke flower embellishments.

Adding rhinestones, lace, ribbon and the gorgeous teeny alphas for my title finished off my layout.

As I had done one of my pages landscape I thought the next one should be portrait

A Volcano and a camel ride

For this project I have used;
Glitz Designs Laced with Grace papers; Floral, Plaid, Rose and Polka
Glitz Designs Love Games paper; score card
Glitz Designs Laced with Grace Journal and Title stickers
Glitz Designs Afternoon Muse Title stickers
Glitz Designs Teeny Alphas; Burnt Orange

I love the orange colours in the Laced with Grace colection and the richness of them has always reminded me of the many volcanos I have been lucky enough to visit, so, the other day when I came across these photos of our camel ride through the Timanfaya volcano range in Lanzorote I knew just the papers to use to scrap my memory of an unforgettable day (for many reasons LOL)

When I get to work with such great paper colletions I really like to be able to mix the different papers up and let them do the work. I cut several layers in different colours and distressed the edges.

When I adhered the paper layers I made sure I left the top edges loose so I could slip my little photos under them in position. I created a distressed matt for my larger photo and added that on foam pads for added dimension.

I then set to and started chopping up some of my lovely stickers, they are heavy duty stickers and can take the punishment! It's really interseting to see how the stickers can be transformed into something completely different and I will keep all the bits not used as I know somewhere along the line they will be perfect for a project.

After adding the stickers, journalling and creating my title with the teeny alphas my layout was finished and even though it is mainly papers and stickers it still has a lot of dimension and I love the colour of it!

So why not try a different size to scrap your next page in? It'll make you look at things in a different way! Thanks for stopping by and I'll see you soon, until then Happy Crafting!
Love
M x

Simply Clear scrapbook stamping

2011-08-04T06:00:00.002+01:00

Hi all
Today is my turn to share a project of the day over on the Banana Frog blog and as promised I expanded on the card idea I created for the Frog hop last Saturday

I've taken it large on a scrap page! As ever the step by steps for the poject can be found at the Lily pad.

I hope you're all well and happy, life at Mogford towers is still super busy but very exciting (and keeps me out of mischief LOL) I have so much I need to catch you all up on and one of these days I will be true to my word and get back on track with this blogging malarkey!!

Until then nice to *see you*, stay safe and Happy Crafting
Love
M x

Froggity blog hop!

2011-07-30T09:00:00.003+01:00

Hi all

It's that time of the month when the froglets leap from their Lilypads and share some work with you on the Banana Frog blog hop. You can start at the beginning from the frog blog if you have just happened to visit, if you're here on the hop I hope you're having fun :)

This months theme is Summer so I made some summery cards to share with you ...

I like the clear fresh look of the acetate and love adding a splash of colour to acetate stamping with some alcohol inks.

Happy Days card

This is super simple. Using the Totally Tropical stamp set, add some different coloured stayzon to the large corner stamp and stamp twice onto your acetate. I really like mixing inks on my stamp to get a shaded, multi coloured image. Top tip, when stamping onto acetate get right over the top of your work and stamp straight down positively but not too heavy handed as the stamp will slide!

Stamp two title blocks from the Tropical Taste tadpole stamp set, again mixing the colours and then stamp the greeting from the Sentimental Style stamp set on to one of them. I have stamped two sentiment blocks so the one with the greeting will be for the front and the other one attaches to the inside behind it to cover up the glue marks, obviously it shows just plain white on the inside as the stamped side goes against the front block, but, as I have used gel glue to attach the sentiment for dimension it is quite nice to see the double stamped image. Hmmm I keep re reading this last bit .. does it make sense?? LOL

You are my sunshine card

Again another simple card but I think it has added impact with the alcohol ink. Using the Scribble Flowers stamp set, I stamped a pattern using black stayzon down one side of the card front.

Flipping the card over I then dropped on some alcohol inks in different colours and let it do it's own thing! While it dried (it doesn't take long!) I stamped the little sentiment block from the Build a Daisy stamp set, again I did this twice attaching one to the front and the other behind it

Flowers in Nature

And finally, a card that mixes a bit of all of them! I stamped the flowers from the Super Dreamy stamp set using several stayzon colours, Stamped the sentiment from Build a Daisy and finally added some butterflies from the Swirls and Butterflies stamp set. I then added some alcohol ink to the back of the sentiment area, letting it do it's own thing again and that was it, a striking card made simply :)

I hope you've enjoyed your visit with me on the blog hop and feel inspired to do some simply clear summer stamping, I feel inspired to take this to a larger project and am cooking up a layout for my Project of the Day on the 4th August so please check back then!

A lot of the froglets are very busy at the moment with summer holidays etc so this month is just a short hop, I will direct you back to the Lilypad to catch up on those you've missed or to peruse for added inspiration and don't forget to check the shop link to grab a sale bargain while you're there! thanks for stopping by and I'll see you soon, until then Happy Crafting
Love
M x

A Huge thankyou!

2011-07-29T13:46:00.012+01:00

Hi all

So this is weird ... this is me blogging without having a Team project to share, this is me blogging, well, just as me really!

I just wanted to post a Huge thankyou to everyone that tuned in to Create and craft for the aazing POW shows I had with Serif Craft Artist and the American crafts bundles last week. Thankyou for all your support and lovely messages and the over whelming amount of Birthday wishes you sent me .... It really means a lot when you take the time to contact and to all those that managed to grab the POW before it sold out I hope you enjoy it!

I thought I would share a few pics that were taken in the studio, it really can't be called work it's too much fun!

Me and Nigel May being visited by 'super hero' magic hands

Having too much fun on set!

And this is one of my favourite digi layouts I did for the show .... it is on my studio door now :)

There is a lot of prep for the TV shows and Stan and Ollie do get a little fed up with me sitting on the computer for days

luckily as it is digi crafting I can set my lappy up on my little table and sit on the settee comfy creating but it also means the boys can get to me

and they got so fed up they kept sitting on the mouse mat on my knee LOL And yes I am in my dressing gown, it was about 2am! (honest it was LOL)

Well I quite enjoyed my little catch up, maybe I should do more of this chatting thing LOL, I'm off now to post for the frog hop tomorrow, Project of the day on the 4th and to create some Layouts for Glitz. I hope you're well and happy, thanks for stopping by and until soon Happy Crafting!
Love
M x

Happy July with Glitz Designs

2011-07-19T14:00:00.002+01:00

Hi all,
Well it’s that time again to share some Glitzy goodness with you with some Glitz Designs loveliness.

July is one of my favourite months, it holds so many memories for me as it’s the month that the long school holidays start and it’s my birthday month so I wanted my projects to sum up those feelings ....

40 years on

I hardly recognise this little person, but it is one of my favourite pictures of me and makes me smile, I realised it is now 40 years since it was taken, oh my life!! And I thought it would be interesting to see what I would say to that younger me knowing what I know now so created this layout with some hidden journaling to hold my message.

I have mixed up the collections for this one and this is what I used
Glitz Designs Love Games papers; score card and polka
Glitz Designs Laced with Grace papers; polka, floral and stripe
Glitz Designs Afternoon Muse paper; polka
Glitz Designs Teeny alphas; apple green block, pink block, yellow block and burnt orange
Glitz Designs Laced with Grace Whatnots
Glitz Designs Laced with Grace paper layers
Glitz Designs Afternoon Muse peek-a-boo
Glitz Designs Love Games clear stamp set
Glitz Designs Afternoon Muse clear stamp set
Glitz Designs Save the Date clear stamp set

I started by laying down a rough block of colour in the centre of the score card paper with some distress ink to create a base to lift my design...

...Then built up a collage of distressed circles to reflect the circle of the date stamp and to introduce all the happy colours from the papers. I also put my photos through a cartoon effect and printed them onto some mat paper, a fun effect that lends to the retro story I am telling.

I added some foam tape around three edges of my ‘now’ photo to adhere it to the page, leaving the right side open to slip in my hidden journaling.

I love the sentiment on the Laced with Grace paper layer but it was too big for my layout in its entirety so I cut some word strips from it ....

.... then added in the missing words with the teeny alphas. I love mixing up typesets and these teeny alphas are not only one of my favourite Glitz products but quite possibly one of my most favourite products ever! I love the colours.

Finally I stamped the Hello stamp at the top of a strip of card and fold it concertina style to slip in behind my ‘now’ photo. This is where my hidden message to the younger me lives.

This layout will live on an easel on my side for a while, I love its happiness with all the colours and I love the message it speaks to me.

So with the summer holidays round the corner over here in the UK and all my memories of long days playing in the back garden with the paddling pool and trips to the seaside I really smiled when I saw this photo of my cousins two little ones sitting in their sandpit in the sun, I love the candied shot.

Happy Life

I used;
Glitz Designs Laced with Grace papers; stripe, polka and plaid
Glitz Designs Afternoon Muse papers; block, stripe and banner
Glitz Designs Afternoon Muse paper layers
Glitz Designs Afternoon Muse cardstock stickers; titles
Glitz Designs Afternoon Muse Whatnots
Glitz Designs Afternoon Muse Glitzers
Glitz Designs Laced with Grace cardstock stickers; titles

I took some bright yellow paint and splattered the middle of my base paper, adding ‘sunshine’...

....And started building up layers of paper as a base for my photo. I created a paper ribbon with some of the Afternoon Muse block paper by folding a strip backwards and forwards along its length and when adhering allowing sections of it to stand free.

The clown from the what not was perfect as an accent at the corner of my collage so I cut him free and adhered him to the end of the follow your bliss title sticker.

The Glitzers were perfect for finishing off my layout as was one of the banners cut from the banner paper, while the ferris wheel cut from the paper layer finished of the happy fun fair feel of my page.

I hope July is a happy month for you too, thanks for stopping by and until soon Happy Crafting
Love
M x

Happy Scrappy stamping!

2011-07-04T00:01:00.001+01:00

Hi all.

I cannot believe how fast time is going again and that we are already in July! I've also been rubbish at keeping in touch with you all I know, life is super busy but very exciting though. I WILL get into a better routine and pop into my little corner of blogdom a bit more often .... honest :)

Ok, so today is my project of the day over at Banana Frog, inspired by a glorious summer morning I made a 'happy card'

As ever the step by steps are over on the Lily pad and all the stamps I have used are in the sale so why not grab yourself a bargain treat or two while you visit!

Talking of projects of the day I had a lovely email from a lovely lady from across the pond the other day. She owns a FAB website called All free Holiday crafts, there are loads of great projects over there and lots of inspiration for all manner of holidays and celebrations and all free! (I spent far too long having a happy trawl around over there!) Go and check it out, and while you're there see if you can spot this

My Project of the day that went live on the Lily pad on Xmas day last year. I was thrilled skinny (oh there's a dream way to lose weight LOL) and very flattered when she asked permission to use my project on the site, maybe some more will pop up :)

Things are good at Mogford towers, busy as I said and full of craftiness that I hope to share soon!

The boys are good too

It's been a while since they made an appearance here hasn't it, haven't they grown!

Plans are afoot to take my website off line soon to give it a much needed face lift and update and I really want to re decorate here too .... now if only my old nemesis Mr time would slow down a little maybe I'll actually get there!!!

Thanks for popping by, I hope you're all well and happy and until soon Happy Crafting

Love
M x

A {tweet} project

2011-06-28T14:00:00.000+01:00

Hi all
Last month I had the pleasure of teaching at the Scrap-a-Mia retreat and loved being able to share some of the Glitz Designs papers from the Aftenoon Muse line with the delegates. This is what I created;

A scrappy piece of home decor.

When you look closely there are so many colours in the Afternoon Muse line we were able to mix things up a bit so everyone could have a colour scheme that suited them from lilac to peach!

We constructed the cage from mountboard, covering it in paint and stamps and the Glitz papers made the pop up frame in the centre which was double sided so it looks good from all angles.

With the addition of some elements sheets put together from old scraps and some handmade net flowers there was a veritable feast of birdcages to coo over.

Remember somtimes when you look at pattern paper really look at it to see what other colours are lurking and also don't always see it as a solid sheet of pattern, imagine small flashes of it within a project and you'll be surprised how different that one piece of paper can look!

Thanks for stopping by, I'll be back soon, until then Happy Crafting
Love
M x

Papers used;
Glitz Designs Afternoon Muse; Stripe, Banner and Polka

Designer Friday over at the pasture!

2011-06-17T12:33:00.008+01:00

Hi all

It's Designer Friday over at the pasture and today is my turn to share a purple cows project using the some of the new Craft Geek tools ..... they're so cool!

I've created some bespoke designer papers using the punch its and roll it and smooch spritzers

it was so addictive once I got going and I had a happy messy afternoon creating :)

Pop on over to Sadies brand new blog for some step by step pics and come back soon to see the project I created with them ... I love it!

I hope you're well and happy, I'm busy creating some stuff I'm really rather proud of and will hopefully be able to share soon ... until then Happy Crafting!

Love M x

July Craft stamper

2011-06-12T14:53:00.007+01:00

Hi all

Just dropping by to let you know that the fabulous craft stamper magazine July issue is available now

It is packed with some lovely projects and loads of inspiration and oh yes a little project from me!!

It's an altered book special and is well worth getting hold of... happy reading :)

Lots of painty, doodly things going on in the art tart studio at the moment, plans are a foot and I can't wait to share them all with you, needless to say (while I keep you all in suspenders) I'm having a super, jolly, crafty time :)

I hope you're all well and happy, I'll be back soon, until then happy crafting
Love M x

A Glitzy Beach hut and a Glitzy dad!!

2011-06-07T14:00:00.001+01:00

Hi all, for my Glitz offering this month I decided to swap one of my layouts for something a little different ....

Oh I do love to be beside the seaside!! And the fabulous Afternoon muse papers with a few other Glitzy bits from the other lines were perfect to create my little piece of summery home decor ... here's the ingredients;
Glitz Designs Afternoon Muse papers; Stripe, Polka, Floral, Block and Carte Postal
Glitz Designs Laced with Grace paper; plaid
Glitz Designs Afternoon Muse Glitzers
Glitz Designs Love Games Paper layers
Glitz Designs Love Games cardstock stickers - titles
Glitz Designs clear distressing stamps set 3

I cut out my pieces for construction from some chipboard...

...then covered them with the yummy papers on both sides and started to construct. Before I attached the back of the hut I decorated the inside of the back panel with a Glitz stamp, my family photo and some material for texture.

After attaching the back of the hut I decorated the door and added a hinge down the left side made from a strip of patterned paper folded in half.

For the roof tiles I cut the green diamonds from the reverse side of the Carte postal paper, cut them in half and layered them up on the roof, adding the bunting cut from the paper layer to the front.

I added some little trinkets inside the hut and added a small step to the front finishing it all off with the cardstock sticker on the inside of the door. I hope you've enjoyed my little trip to the seaside. Next I'd like to introduce you to a very special man in my life ...

...My Dad! As it's fathers day this month we are celebrating the special fellas in our lives over at Glitz and the Love Games line fits perfectly with this rare photo of my dad not making a cheesy grin at the camera! Here's what I used;
Glitz Designs Love Games papers; polka, stripe, damask, floral
Glitz Designs Love Games cardstock stickers; titles and journalling
Glitz Designs Love Games paper layers
Glitz Designs Afternoon Muse glitzers
Glitz Designs Love Games whatnots
Glitz Designs teeny alphas; Burnt orange and cream
Glitz Designs Run on fancy frames

I started with a bit of distressing, well I would wouldn't I! and decided to go with the lovely black side of the Love Games floral paper as my base, adding in a little red insert with the polka paper to match the mount I created for the photo.

I built up layers of paper, paper pleats, rub ons and some hessian for texture.

My top tip when using the fabulous Glitz whatnots and stickers, if you only want to have a bit peaking out, cut them so you get the rest to use on another project.

Adding the teeny alphas (LOVE these!) for my title...

... I finished off the layout by circling the relevant words on the paper layer for my journalling. I think this layout will go on an easel on the side in my house, the Love games papes are so stylish and I want everyone to know how much I love my dad!

Thanks for letting me share my Glitzy projects with you and thanks for stopping by. I'll see you soon,until then Happy Crafting
Love
M x

Glue stick embossing!

2011-06-04T09:00:00.003+01:00

Hi all, today it's my turn to share a project over on the Banana Frog Lilypad.

It's a technique based project using a glue stick for that distressed embossing look. Step by step photos are on the frog blog, so why not hop on over and take a peak and get creating with your glue stick!!

I hope you're well and happy, life has been busy in Mogford towers as usual but hopefully one of these days I will keep my promise to come back and have a chat ... you never know stranger things have happened :)

Until soon Happy Crafting
Love
M x

{happy birthday} froggity blog hop

2011-05-30T09:00:00.001+01:00

Hi all
Well that's another month gone and time for another Banana Frog blog hop, can you believe we're nearly half way through the year!! Anyway this months blog hop is a special one .... it's the little green guys birthday and what's a birthday without some cake?

And better still this one is calorie free :) and doubles up as a great gift box! I have used a veritable feast of Frog stamps for this project Charming prince, Tropical garden, Build a daisy, Simple greetings, That takes the cake and It's all about elegance (psssst all these stamps are on sale, go on treat yourself ;))

1st up I cut a strip of white card for the lid and stamped along the bottom edge with the lace trim from It's all about elegance and trimmed to the pattern. Then added the greeting from simple greetings along some ribbon with permanent ink sticking it along the strip above the stamped lace trim.

Next thing was, what else but, the cute little frog from Charming prince, again stamped with permanent ink so I could colour them in with my pro markers.

I cut a wider strip of white card for the base of the box and added a purple trim to the bottom of it and along the top of the top strip of card using a stapler to pleat it as I went to give a look of piped icing.

I then added some bling to the crowns with glitter glue.

Cutting a circle with dragons teeth for the top and bottom of the box I added pretty sprinkles to the top from the stamp in that takes the cake and inked the edges.

Using the totally tropical stamp set I stamped some leaves and flowers mixing the ink on the stamps to create shaded colouring. I used one of the petals from build a daisy to create the candle and one of the leaves stamped in yellow for the flame.

To make the candle stand up on the cake I cut it with some tabs on the bottom of the petal that were stuck to the underside of the top when it was in position.

The flowers and leaves were added with silicon glue and curled before sticking in place to add dimension.

And that's it a unique froggy birthday gift box :)

Thanks for hopping by today, your next stop on the hop is the fabulous Francine (I love her style) and don't forget to comment as you go there may be birthday prizes!! Enjoy the rest of the hop and I'll see you soon. Until then Happy Crafting
Love
M x

Glitzy ladies

2011-05-12T14:00:00.014+01:00

Hi all
This month on the Glitz blog we are celebrating the special ladies in our lives. I am lucky enough to have many special ladies in my life, past, present and future but no one is more special to me than my mum, everything that I am is because of this lady and although I may not always have been the perfect daughter we have a great relationship and I'm thankful she's my mum!

I love this candid photo of us at my wedding and the colours of the Glitz papers are perfect for showing off a very happy moment. Here's what I used;
Glitz Designs Laced with Grace papers; stripe, plaid, polka and floral
Glitz Designs Afternoon Muse papers; cart postal and polka
Glitz Designs Laced with Grace clear stamps
Glitz Designs Afternoon Muse clear stamps
Glitz Designs Laced with Grace Journaling Cardstock stickers
Glitz Designs Laced with Grace paper layers
Glitz Designs Love Games Glitzers
Glitz Designs Love Games Whatnots
Glitz Designs Love Games Titles Cardstock stickers
Glitz Designs Teeny Alphas; Olive green and Aqua block
Gitz Designs lear frosting

I've always loved the fact that you can mix and match across all the Glitz Designs collections and love that they use colours that really sing together.

The stamps are fab and here I have stamped directly over my small photo

And look at the detail in the fairy whisper stamp which looks great stamped onto some of the Laced with Grace paper

The teeny alphas are just perfect in all their different colours and styles

And even the 'plain' papers in the collections are full of tones and interest.

For my other layout I decided to celebrate a lady that is special to me in my creative life, someone who is a source of inspiration to me. I have just re organised my studio and I wanted to create some wall art so I made this layout as a tribute to Frida Kahlo

The papers in the new collections have always made me think of Mexico with the hands that appear regularly in Fridas art, the butterflies and the colours of orange, green, turquoise and yellow so I thought it would be fun to mix them up for this layout. I have used;
Glitz Designs Afternoon Muse papers; Floral, Carte Postal and Block
Glitz Designs Laced with Grace papers; Floral and Butterflies
Glitz Designs Love Games paper; Polka
Glitz Designs Laced with Grace paper layers
Glitz Designs Laced with Grace Whatnots
Glitz Designs Laced with Grace Glitzers
Glitz Designs Laced with Grace Peek-a-boo
Glitz Designs Love Games Peek-a-boo
Glitz Designs Love Games title cardstock stickers
Glitz Designs Afternoon Muse peek-a-boo
Glitz Designs Giant Rhinestones

I created a frame from the floral paper and ripped out the centre, ripping back into the frame and rolling the paper back to reveal the bright yellow on the double sided paper.

The peek-a-boos create great layers and all the colours in the paper lines mix so well. The butterflies cut out from the laced with grace paper make great embellishments.

Dimension and layers are built up with more peek-a-boos, paper layers and stickers. I love the bright happy colours in this layout and it will make a great addition to my studio wall to inspire me when creating.

Thanks for letting me share my creations with you, what special ladies will you celebrate with your Glitzy stash? Don't forget to play along with the Get your Glitz on challenge either .... there's goodies to be had!

I hope you're well and happy and until soon Happy Crafting!
Love
MJM x

PS Fancy a Crafty Retreat? Check out my post below NOW!!!!

Scrap-a-Mia ... YAY!

2011-05-11T13:27:00.006+01:00

Hey all

Life has been crafty crazy busy at the art tart towers this week getting ready for my trip to Southampton to teach at the Scrap-a-Mia retreat at the weekend and I have to confess I am super excited, if not a little over awed, to be teaching alongside some uber talented Crafters; Dina Wakley, Celine Navarro and Emma Trout gulp!

We have just found out today that 3 places have unexpectedly become available .... so fancy playing? .... Go on I know you're tempted! Visit here to see what it's all about and call 01935 422499 NOW to snag one of these coverted places!

All you will need is some clothes and photos ... I happen to know that the amazing organisers supply everything else ... trust me they will really look after you! So what are you waiting for? come along it will be great to see you!

What? You want a sneak of my class? well go on then ...

It's one of my 3D projects with a scrapbooking Glitzy twist and is oh so 'tweet' as for the other classes ... all I can say is I wish I had time to do them, they look AMAZING! You'll just have to come along t see for yourself!

I have also been busy getting my Glitz post done for this month going live tomorrow :) and also prepping for a Serif Craft Artist Platinum Pick of the week launching live on create and craft with a 2 hour show live at 12 noon!! (I'll just fit that in before I hightail it down to Southampton to prep my scrap-a-mia class!!) So busy, busy but Happy, happy! I ohpe you are too and hope to see you at the weekend :)

See you in cyber space tomorrow :)
Love
M x

Get your Glitz on challenge #2

2011-05-07T18:00:00.008+01:00

Hey all

HAPPY NATIONAL SCRAPBOOK DAY!!!! Hope you've all had a little creative time! I also just wanted to drop in and let you know that the Get your Glitz on challenge #2 will go live today on the Glitz blog .... it's time for YOU to get your Glitz on and show us what you can do with yummy Glitz product, there are prizes and you will be featured on the Glitz Blog so go for it!

This months theme is clustering all the details can be found on the Glitz Designs blog ....I had a play and came up with this for my Dad's birthday card ...

.... it also goes to prove that even though Glitz product is oh so pretty it can be used for a masculine twist!

Thanks for stopping by and I look forward t seeing what you all come up with for the challenge!

I hope you're well and happy and until soon Happy Crafting!
Love
M x

PS I have used Glitz Designs;
Love games papers; damask and stripes,
Love Games peek-a-boo
Love Games Glitzer
Love Games paper layer
Love Games cardstock stickers titles
Laced with grace clear stamps
Afternoon Muse glitzers
Teeny alphas in cream
Black frosting

A Royal Froggy celebration!

2011-05-04T09:00:00.001+01:00

Hi all and today it's my turn to share a little corner of the lily pad over on the Banana Frog blog. With all the weekend festivities, what a lovely wedding it was! I am feeling quite patriotic and as I had my sister and nieces to stay and we had a right royal a tea party I have quite a lot of photos to start scrapping so where better to start than right here with some perfect Banana Frog stamps!

As ever the full step by step photos and instructions are over at the Lilypad!

It's been a busy time here at Mogford towers with hubby home for a rare length of time.... nearly a whole month! We were crazy busy spring cleaning .... and I mean full on spring cleaning!!! and visiting family and having family to stay so I'm sorry to have been AWOL a while but normal service is resuming and with that a pledge to you from me to be a better blogger :) .... we'll see LOL

I hope you're all well and happy and until soon (I hope!) Happy Crafting
Love M x

PS Thusday 6pm I have a 2 hour Serif Craft artist show on create and craft!

Glitzy Springtime and Bunnies

2011-04-18T14:00:00.001+01:00

Hi all,
Spring is here and with it arrived a box of new goodies from Glitz Designs on my doorstep. It's contents made me smile as much as the blue skies, the flowers in the garden and the lambs in the field, the new lines are yumsville and I know you're going to LOVE the new stamp sets. So what better thing to scrap first than some Spring photos!

This layout is inspired by the beautiful Spring day today and the 'song' I have journalled. It is from one of my all time favourite films Willy Wonka and the chocolate factory (the original Gene Wilder version, love you Mr Depp but Gene rules this one!) and I sing it a lot at this time of year, but originally it came from As you like it by Willam Shakespeare and even then he was quoting from a celtic ballad 'it was a lover and his lass' ... hmmm best stop waffling and let you know what I used!

Glitz Designs Afternoon Muse papers; Banner, Stripe, Block, Floral, Carte Postal, Polka
Glitz Designs Laced with Grace paper; Butterflies
Glitz Designs Afternoon Muse and Love Games Clear Stamps
Glitz Designs Afternoon Muse Glitzers
Glitz Designs Afternoon Muse Paper Layers
Glitz Designs Teent Alphas; Burnt Orange, Cream, Bubble gum pink, aqua block, yellow block, apple green block
Glitz Designs Maya cardstock stickers

I cut out all the shapes I needed for the fields, rainbow and clouds etc distressing edges as I went. When doing a collage like this I use a plain 12 x 12 piece of cardstock to build it on so I don't waste too much of my precious paper (this also means it's a great way to use up scraps!) The colours and patterns of the afternoon muse papers are great for my happy spring collage, love that polka paper!

The hot air balloon and sun rays are made using the new stamps. So useful and so much fun not to mention brilliant stamps that give a great image every time.

I took some photos of the lambs in the field next to our house and cut them out to fit into my collage and cut out the photo of my nieces (a great way to lose a dodgy background)

With scissors still in hand I cut out lots of flowers from the floral paper even ones that were missing petals (as they are tucked under flowers in the design) and those around the edges as they still work when I layer everything up.

Once I'd layered all the flowers around my photo and tucked some behind the 'hills' I cut out some of the butterflies from the laced with grace paper, curled the wings and added them all over the collage.

Finally I set to with the teeny alphas. My favourite all time alphas ever and I LOVE the new additions to the line with their mixed up style of letters, the colours make my heart sing! I added some doodled journalling inbetween and doodled in places on my collage

and that was it done, a happy spring time layout with one of my favourite photos of my nieces. My second layout stays with my beautiful nieces and something else that happens at spring time ... Easter.

This is a record of a really fun Easter weekend spent with them and my sister. Decorating eggs, eating roast dinner and driving the girls crazy with a fiendishly clever Aunty Michelle treasure hunt LOL. Here are my ingredients;

Glitz Designs Laced with Grace papers; Rose, Stripe, Polka
Glitz Designs Afternoon Muse paper; Floral
Glitz Designs Laced with Grace Peek-a-boo
Glitz Designs Laced with Grace Clear Stamps
Glitz Designs Afternoon Muse Peek-a-boo
Glitz Designs Afternoon Muse Cardstock Stickers-titles
Glitz Designs Afternoon Muse Paper Layers
Glitz Designs Clear stamps Distressing set 2
Glitz Designs Teeny Alphas; cream

The orange tones with the playground imagery from Laced with Grace mixed with the Afternoon Muse yellow were perfect to tell my story. I broke up the orange 12 x 12 by stamping, using a distress stamp with yellow paint, around the area my photos would sit to tie everything all together.

I stamped images on to the yellow paper and also adhered one of the Afternoon Muse peek-a-boos onto it to pop it off the page.

I lifted my photos by matting them onto some of the polka paper and cut out the photo of my bunny eared niece to create a photo embellishment of my own.

I framed my cut out niece with a peek-a-boo from Laced with Grace and as it has a cut out centre I could pop her out of it on foam pads for dimension. I added an orange butterfly from the paper as an extra embellishment.

The cut out stamped images, cardstock stickers, a paper layer and those gorgeous teeny alphas finished off my layout. Another happy layout that makes me smile

So what new Glitzyness will you use to make you smile? .... warning! You will be spoilt for choice .... whatever it is please share it with us and now there is the perfect opportunity to show off your Glitz with the new Monthly challenge, see details here and get Glitzy and creative!

Thanks for stopping by and letting me share my projects with you. I hope you're all well and happy and enjoying Spring, until soon Happy Crafting
Love M x

Old Techniques and favourite stamps!

2011-04-04T09:00:00.001+01:00

Hi all
It's my turn to share a project over at the Lily pad. A revisit to an old chalky technique and some of my favourite Banana Frog stamps

As ever the step by step instructions are over on the frog blog so why not hop on over and check it out, and while you're there snag a bargain, there's an AMAZING sale on stamps in the shop!!!

I hope you're well and happy, I'll *see you* soon, until then Happy Crafting
Love
M x

NEW and absolutely FREE craft stamper e-zine

2011-04-01T14:14:00.015+01:00

Hi all

Have you heard about the new kid on the block?? We all know and love the Craft Stamper magazine right? Full of inspirational projects covering all crafts with a twist of something different thrown in for good measure!....

..... Well today see's the launch of the craft stamper e-zine FREE to download NOW

and packed full of projects, 12 complete step by step projects to be exact, all projects chosen from the best of 2010 by the readers so what are you waiting for? ....

.... oooh! wait! there's more! add this....

...Blog button to your side bar (adding this link http://www.craftstamper.com/ezine/ to it) and then go to the Craft stamper website and leave a comment, there is blog candy available so really it's a win, win situation for all of us .. a free e-zine and the pleasure of spreading the word about it with blog candy thrown in for your efforts woo hoo!

So go download and spread the crafty word to one and all wherever you can shout about it, from face book to the roof tops and anywhere in between .... you know it makes crafty sense!

I hope you're all well and happy, enjoy your craft stamper e-zine and I'll see you soon .... Happy Crafting!
Love
M x

A {Tweet} Froggity Blog hop!

2011-03-30T09:00:00.003+01:00

Hi all

Well another month of 2011 gone and it means it's the Banana Frog blog hop time once again! With Spring in the air the theme for this month is birds and I hope you've been enjoying the {tweet} offerings from all the other froglets :) If you're here without hopping why not hop on over to the Lilly pad and start at the beginning to be inspired!

So without further ado here is my feathery offering for March ...

Is it a piece of wall art? is it an embellishment? or is it a bespoke brooch? ... the answer I think is all of the above! It's small and cute and oh so easy to make.

I used the Hiya Chick stamp set and the shake your tail feathers tadpole stamp set alongside some chipboard, music paper, gesso, distress inks, blonde moments embossing powder, small flowers and bling, some scrap paper and some craft wire. (by the way both stamp sets are on sale at the moment go grab a bargain!!)

Using the transparent image sheet in with the stamps I was able to draw out a template big enough to accommodate the bird on the branch and then cut this from a piece of chipboard.

I covered it in strips of music paper..

.... then trimmed it to shape and painted it with gesso.

I coloured it with distress inks ..

... and then stamped the end of the branch around the outside for a decorative pattern and embossed the bird. Some of the embossing powder stuck to the pattern I had stamped, a happy accident as I like the way it fills the branch out :)

Stamping the sentiment from the tadpole set ...

.... I then cut it up, inked it and added it to my collage along with some tiny paper flowers.

Leaving my collage aside to dry I made a wire cage to go over the top of my compositon. A little fiddly but worth the 'slightly' blue air in my studio LOL

I slipped the cage over the top of my chipboard collage...

...and attached the craft wire at the back with masking tape.

To finish off the back I glued some scrap paper onto it, trimming away excess with a craft knife and sanding any rough bits with a nail file

et voila, a cute little birdcage that could be used for anything you like!

I like it as a little wall plaque and think it would look great as a set of 3 but also think it would look great as an embellishment on a special card or scrap page and would look cool as a brooch by just adding a brooch pin to the back .... why not have a go and show me what you do with yours?

Thankyou for visiting my little corner of the lilly pad today your next hop stop is with the lovely and oh so talented Jo Firth Young and don't forget to leave comments where ever you go there may be prizes!

I hope you're well and happy and until soon Happy Crafting
Love
M x

PS My limited edition Art Tart DIY project CD's are available on my website see the post under this one for details and links ... why not try something different today :)

The Art Tart DIY CD collections

2011-03-25T14:37:00.011Z

Hi all

How are you? I hope the sun is shining with you today, doesn't life seem so much better when the sun shines?? I seem to have been so busy these past few months, chasing myself coming back that it's been difficult to think straight but with the sun shining and spirits lifted I think it's about time for a shake up on many levels ;)

I feel I have neglected my little corner of blogdom of late and my poor website is in desperate need of some TLC so there will be spring cleaning and re vamping going on over the next few weeks!

I also feel I have neglected the crafter within me of late but never fear the craftiness inside is waking up and I am cooking up lots of very 'Michelle' things that will become the focus of my attention going forward .. isn't it all too easy to get bogged down with things sometimes? But no more! I am flinging my arms wide and embracing new challenges with a spring in my step!

I had a great time at the Olympia stitch and craft show last weekend and I think that was also a big 'wake up and take stock moment' for me as I had a gallery of my work out,things I had forgotten about and things that I miss! I had great workshops and met some lovely people .... all the lovely comments did me a power of good so thankyou to all the great people who crossed my path! I will share workshop photos soon but first the other thing I want to share from the show are the 2 DIY project CD collections I produced for the show.

Each CD contains 4 of my full step by step DIY projects with templates and 11 bonus projects of workshops I have done over the past year oh and also 290 photos of my gallery for you to peruse, scrap lift and hopefully be inspired by. Many people have asked me for a book of my stuff and at the moment this is the best way for me to share :) They were made as a limited edition for the show so there is only limited stock so please pop on over to the shop on my website www.mjm-thearttart.com and grab a bargain. Each CD is £10.00 that's 15 projects (A single DIY project has been on sale for £5.00 - £7.50) for a bargain price (and no P&P when posting within the UK) Here's the pics of the covers so you get an idea of what's on offer ...

The back cover is the same on CD 2 just blue LOL

There are more DIY projects being cooked up at the moment and lots more exciting things, watch this space, that crafter within is taking over LOL.

And Finally just before I go the other thing I have neglected is sharing photos of the terrible twosome Stan and Ollie, they are as adorable and funny as ever and I will share lots more of their antics soon, in the meantime here are my boys ...

Thanks for letting me waffle on :) and thanks for popping by, don't forget to pop on over to the website to snag a CD bargain .... the website will be going off line in a week or so for it's overhaul and spring clean so grab em while you can!

I'll be back soon, I hope you're all well and happy and as ever Happy Crafting!
Love
M x

Glitzy scraps and a message to me!

2011-03-24T14:00:00.001Z

Hi all
It's my turn to share my Glitzy corner of the crafting world with you for this month and I thought I would look at using up some of those scraps that we all keep!
I love that you can mix and match the paper collections in the Glitz Designs lines, the colours and patterns work really well together and both my layouts this month show that so without further ado let me share my creations;

This is a layout showing a sequence of photos my husband took of the grandchildren while he was having a conversation with them via skype ... the wonders of modern technology heh!
The ingredients;
Glitz Designs Hoopla papers - pipework, frames, floral
Glitz Designs Scarlett paper - wallpaper
Glitz Designs Love nest paper - stripes
Glitz Designs Scarlett paper layers
Glitz Designs Scarett glitzers
Glitz Designs Clear distressing stamps - distressing round

I created a mat and layer for my main photo and worked out it's position on the page (the pencil marks you can see are the position of the bits on my layout that I laid out before committing to the design!) I then distressed the edges of the 12 x 12 and inked it. Using the distress rounds stamps I then added some circular shaped features to the background with some peeled paint distress ink.

I then ripped the edges of some of my scraps....

.....and assembled them with the photo and mat in position

I cut mats for my small photos and creased and curled the edges upwards to add dimension adhering them to the layout at various levels using foam pads for dimension

Taking a paper layer I cut the phone and speech bubble from it and mounted them on cardstock to create embellishments

And added them to my layout on foam pads for dimension along with some ribbon for texture and my journalling.

I love this layout as the photos not only tell a story of a conversation but catch Sophie and Dylan being absolutely natural!

Moving on ... recently I have been giving myself a good talking to. I think it is all too easy sometimes to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life and forget to touch base with ourselves so this layout is all about me and the secret message I have written to myself on the hidden journaling block.

The sentiments of the Glitz Designs stickers fit this layout perfectly, and so to the ingredients;
Glitz Designs Love nest paper - polka
Glitz Designs Hoopla papers - zebra and polka
Glitz Designs Scarlett paper - polka
Glitz Designs Love nest rub ons
Glitz Designs Love nest glitzers
Glitz Designs Love nest cardstock stickers - titles
Glitz Designs Love nest what nots
Glitz Designs tulle
Glitz Designs frostings in pink and clear

I distressed the edges of the 12 x 12 liberally

Then cut out 3 portrait photos of me and mounted them on to some Glitz paper ...

.... cutting them out with a loose border and mounting them onto some distressed rectangles of Scarlet polka paper. I also added some hessian across the page, yet more polka paper and some pink tulle.

After adhering the photos onto the page with foam pads for dimension I added some secret journalling to a what not ....

... creating a secret pouch for it on the back with foam tape and paper, leaving the sentiment at the top poking out.

Cutting the roses from the polka paper I created an embellishment to sit under the remember tab.

Adding cardstock stickers said everything I needed to say on the layout and I had a bit of fun with a birdie rub on, a glitzer crown and some frosting.

This is a very personal layout, and I love the fact I have been able to hide the message I have written to myself on the the what not.

So what will you do with your glitz scraps? what message do you wnat to write to yourself? Whatever it is you want to create I know you will find just the right Glitzy product to help you along the way.

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you're well and happy.
Until soon Happy Crafting
Love
M x

Great show and a big hello!

2011-03-22T00:44:00.002Z

Hi all
Just a flying visit to give a big shout out to all the lovely crafters I met at the Stitch and craft show in Olympia London this weekend. It was a great show and I had some lovely ladies come visit my workshops. I will blog photos soon and fill you all in but at the mo I am Glitz crazy getting a post ready for Thursday and prepping for create and craft telly on Wednesday with serif so sorryit's short and sweet but I will be back soon!
I will also be uploading my new DIY project CD's to my website soon, just bare with me a couple of days :)

I hope you're all well and happy and until very soon, as ever, Happy Crafting!
Love
M x

Springing into Spring

2011-03-04T06:00:00.001Z

Hi all,
Today I am springing into Spring with my project of the day over at Banana Frog with this layout ....

Hop on over to the Lilypad for the step by step instructions AND to bag a bargain ... there's a sale on!!!

I hope you're all well and happy, I have been a crafting fool with deadlines, trade shows, magazine submissions and TV and I'm now prepping for my workshops at Olympia for the Stitch and Craft show however I will endeavour to get back soon to fill you in on my life in general, crafty goings on and of course those boys :)

Stay safe and until soon Happy Crafting!
Love
M x

Craft Stamper and painted backgrounds

2011-03-02T22:15:00.008Z

Hi all

Have you got the March issue of Craft stamper magazine?

If not why not? It is full of inspiring techniques to use in all your crafting plus it has an article by a certain someone on creating your own painted and stamped scrapping paper :) so go grab it while you can before the new issue hits the shelves on the 4th of March .... Run .... Run like the wind LOL

I hope you're well and happy, I'll be back soon with a Banana Frog project of the day funnily enough on the 4th so until then as ever Happy Crafting
Love
M x

PS Are you going to the stitch and craft show at Olympia later in the month? Would you like to join me for a scrapbooking workshop? Book up a class (a unique class with my own, one off scrapping paper) and come see me I'll be there and I will have a stand ... I'll let you know the number soon and may even have that elusive carousel DIY project for sale :) Love M x

A {loving} Froggity Blog hop

2011-02-28T09:00:00.000Z

Hi all

Well can you believe it is a month since the last frog hop with the talented froglets from Banana Frog? That means it's a month since I was in Mexico realising all the pictures had mysteriously disappeared from last months post! More on that later for now let's get on with this month ....

The theme for February is hearts being the month of love so I thought I would see what else I could create from the many choices of heart shape stamps from Banana Frog and came up with this...

A {Heartfelt} Butterfly

A very simple but effective idea for an embellishment, a brooch, a mobile etc etc using the I heart you stamp set and a Big and Juicy ink pad with a few beads, a bit of wire and some stickles for added sparkle

I simply stamped one of the hearts 4 times, joining two of them. I used the big and juicy ink pad so I could get a rainbow of colour

I cut these out and curled them adding a layer of stickles to the surface with my finger tip (do this gently so as not to smudge the ink, although that could be quite a cool effect!)

I made a simple wire body, threaded with random beads and stuck my butterfly together adhering the single hearts as the top wings so I could space them out.

Just look at all the possibilities for different size butterflies and different shapes with just this one set. They could be stamped onto vellum, book pages, felt .. the possibilities are endless and only limited by your imagination. So why not grab some lovely heart stamps and look at them in a new light, you never know what you may find and I think these heart felt butterflies would work perfectly with my heartfelt blooms posted on the frog blog a while ago!

And so to last months blog hop post and those missing photos, it has taken me a while to get them on line due to a whole host of reasons with demming at the stitches trade show, tv, dropping my hard drive (yep my whole life is on it eek!) and being poorly sick but I'll stop making excuses and say they are now in their rightful places in this post here and this is what it looks like finally!

Ok whittering over, thanks for dropping by and your next stop is with the oh so talented Jo. Have fun on the hop, leave a comment, a little froggy mentioned prizes :) and I'll see you soon
Until then as ever I hope you are well and happy and Happy Crafting
Love
M x

With love from Glitz

2011-02-24T14:00:00.000Z

Hi all
Today I'd like to bring you a bit of love from Glitz Designs as February is the month of love :) I was a very lucky girl this past valentines day and my wonderful hubby spoilt me rotten. We'd not long been back from our holiday to Mexico before valentines day and a couple of days later hubby was off on his travels again for 3 weeks so he decided to take control of the day and all I can say is the boy done good :) The lovely Glitz lines are perfect for all you love layouts and for this project love nest was perfect .... just like my valentines day ..

This is the list of Glitzy goodies I used
Glitz Designs Love nest papers; Sky, Damask and Floral
Glitz Designs Love nest rub ons
Glitz Designs Love nest What not
Glitz Designs Teeny alphas; Baby pink block and brown block.

I distressed the edges of the brown wrapping paper 12 x 12 and mounted my 3 photos on to some of the damask paper, distressing and creasing the edges for extra dimension as well as building them up in layers on foam pads.

I cut out some of the flowers and leaves from the floral paper to create embellishments, distressing and curling them into shape.

The large rose is one of the lovely what nots, to give it some movement I snipped into the leaves so I could lift them over the edges of the photos.

And the final touches were the journalling block from the what nots a couple of the pretty rub ons and my favourite, some teeny alphas. I'm glad I have a record of a wonderful day.

Now, I love my Husband and my family and of course my friends but the other two great loves of my life are these guys

My lovely furry best friends. Whatever happens in life, they always love me, they're great listeners, they make me laugh and are perfect for cuddling :) I love the colours in the Scarlett collection too and they were perfect for my layout, here's what I used;
Glitz Designs Scarlett papers; Polka, Bouquet and map.
Glitz Designs Scarlett Glitzers
Glitz Designs Scarlett Paper layers
Glitz Designs Love nest Cardstock stickers, titles
Glitz Designs Paisley flourish rub ons
Glitz Designs Vintage extras rub ons
Glitz Designs Teeny alphas black round

I distressed the base 12 x 12 paper and then really went to town distressing the map paper, ripping out the centre and rolling the paper back to create a frame.

I layered up papers and stickers

Added rubons to tie the layers together

And adhered the heart with foam pads to add some dimension to the layout, decorating it with the teeny alphas and the glitzers .... well a bit of bling is never out of place :)

I hope you've enjoyed my little Glitz love in and thanks for stopping by
Love
Mx

Apologies!

2011-02-15T20:16:00.002Z

Hi all

Just a quick sorry from me!
I know I said I would post those missing Banana Frog blog hop pics today and have a chat but it's been a funny old day and well .... you'll have to wait one more day! I would do it tonight but Hubby is off to work for 3 weeks in the morning so I want to spend some time with him :) especially as he was such a Valentine star with roses, cd's, sweety love hearts left everywhere AND cooking dinner last night (with pink fizz ofcourse!) The boy done good :)

I WILL be back tomorrow, I hope you're all well and happy
Hasta manana
Love
M x

Purple Cows love on Valentines day

2011-02-14T19:12:00.004Z

Hi all Michelle here with my little corner of the pasture for this week over at Purple Cows! So have you seen all the udderly cool new toys coming out of the ranch in April? The craft Geek range is about to hit and you can check it out in all its purple gorgeousness here.

I knew you would be gone a while once you clicked the link, excited? I know I am and I have been lucky enough to get to play with some of the new lovelies already. This ....

... is an ATC I have just made using the ‘punch it’, the ‘wind it’ and ‘roll it’ (such cool names!)

Using the dots ‘roll it’ ball I created a texture on the background of my ATC by rolling it round a colorbox ink pad and then rolling it around the card, and look you can even write with this beauty ... oh the possibilities!! The ball is so easily changed so you can use the other lovely patterns available.

Then moving onto the ‘punch it’ I created a complete pattern on a slightly lighter red coredinations card. I used the winter pattern; it is so easy to line up to create an infinite number of patterns.

I then cut out half a heart from my punched card and look you can create your own doyleys in whatever colour you want to create whatever shape you want!

This was followed by creating a smaller heart from white card and using the ‘roll it’ with the heart ball and some red colorbox ink to create some texture and then it was the turn of the ‘wind it’ to create a metal embellishment threaded with some red coral chips. Such a cool way to create metal embellishments for your work!

Adding some cosmo cricket tiny alphas finished of my ATC which is now destined as a topper for the front of my hubby’s valentines card but heh love is not just for the 14th of February right?!

If you clicked on the link to see all the new goodies or you saved it until the end of the post you will see 2 more ATC offerings from me in the catalogue. This one .....

‘Silent sea’ using the ‘roll it’, the ‘wind it’ and of course my all time favourite Purple Cows tool the freestyle mouse, and this one ....

‘I craft therefore I am’ using the freestyle mouse and the ‘pin it’ as featured by the lovely Robin last week, now we have the ability to staple ANYWHERE on a piece of work, even slap bang in the middle of a 12 x 12 scrap page .... how cool is that?!

I hope you’ve enjoyed taking a quick peek at the brand new Craft Geek range with me I know you’re going to love it over the coming months I know I do! Thanks for popping and spending some time with me and don’t forget to pop by Sadies blog often to see oodles more inspiration from all the talented cow girls and remember to pick up your free PDF downloads of our projects! I’ll see you soon and until then Happy Crafting

Love
Mx

PS I will be back tomorrow with all those missing photos from my Banana Frog blog hop post and who knows a bit of a chat :) see you then! Mx

Lets get messy!

2011-02-03T09:00:00.000Z

Hi all
Over at the Lily pad today I'm getting messy with this project

Lots of alcohol ink and super dreamy stamping, with full instructions on the Banana Frog blog of course so hop on over and fill your boots .... enjoy!

I hope you're all well and happy, until soon, as ever, Happy Crafting
Love
M x

Froggity Blog hop

2011-01-30T18:00:00.002Z

Hi all
And welcome if you are here via the Banana Frog blog hop, but you're also welcome, ofcourse, if you have just arrived here in passing! If you'd like to join in the hop it's not too late just hop on over to the Lilypad and start at the top of the list I know you will find loads of inspiration along the way from the oh so talented froglets!

At this point I am adding in that this post is late (sorry) as I have holiday brain and have gained a day somehow .... hmm margueritas?? I am also now saying a HUGE sorry as now this post is publishred all my photos seemed to have disappeared from my post!!! I'll post the lovely photos (such a shame I love this project!)when I get home next week as I don't have them with me :( I also prepared this post before I flew off from blighty and before the winter theme for the hop was decided ...oops! Going well so far LOL ok enough extra waffle let's move on :)

So here's my project for today, with valentines on the way I thought I would share some Lurve!

Love Tokens

The ingredients
This project uses the aptly named It's all about love stamp set and the DeLouisville tadpole set. I have also used some Bubblegum Canford card, white card, colorbox archival ink in Firebird, red devil and dark cherry, Embossing ink, cosmic shimmer ruby blush blaze embossing powder and a pink doodle pen.

Stamp the large heart from the set on to some white card and draw a line around it larger than the image, cutting it out to create a template for the top and bottom of the box.

Draw around the template onto the pink card and once again draw around the image creating a margin to snip so that it can be folded over and create the anchor for the sides of the box.

Fold up the snipped sections and adhere a strip of card around the hearts. Before adhering the strip around the top of the box, stamp it with the small dangling hearts fronm the samp set. NB you need to make the top heart the merest fraction bigger than the bottom so the lid fits on the box snuggly

Stamp the large heart onto some white card and cut out following the scallops, then stamp the large heart again on to some pink card this time cutting just inside the line of the inside heart to create a mat for the box top.

Emboss the smaller heart onto some white card and cut it out to create an embellishment for the centre of the box top.

The box could contain any treasure for your loved one to enjoy but I think these love tokens are fun, personal and in expensive as they can carry such promises as breakfast in bed and a day of sport on the telly! Stamp the large heart onto some white card and cut out following the scallops. Use the Tadpole set of DeLouisville to write the word and doodle around the heart with a pink pen. The 'claim' for the token can be written on the back.

Add some tissue paper in the bottom of the box, maybe some chocoates and a few love tokens and enjoy that specal squidgy feeling when you give it to your loved one and they admire the effort you've made to say 'I love you'

I hope you feel inspired, and talking of inspiration your next stop is the talented
Lory and I know she will be better organised than me :)
Enjoy the rest of the hop and thanks for stopping by my little section of the Lilypad :)
I hope you're well and happy and until soon Happy Crafting
Love
M x

A Froggy new year!

2011-01-25T09:00:00.001Z

Hi all
Today I am sharing this

on the Banana Frog blog, a fun firework party wih step by step instructions on the Lily pad so why not hop on over :)

I hope you're well and happy, see you soon and until then Happy Crafting

Love
M x

Simple Sparkle Things

2011-01-21T00:05:00.001Z

Hi all
Just a quickie to drop of todays Simple Things project for this month. The word is Belief and I couldn't resist sharing my sparkle created by my 5 year old niece Megan!

You can read the full story on the IACW blog, I think I may have the youngest DT member ever LOL

I hope you're well and happy and may all your wishes come true (go on read the post LOL)

Happy Crafting
Love
M x

Tropical collage

2011-01-16T00:05:00.000Z

Hi all, I have an offering over at It's a Creative world today

A bright and breezy tropical collage to help chase away those winter blues :) Why not hop on over to the IACW blog and read the full post .... enjoy :)

Short and sweet I know but I'll be back soonad may even blog from my beloved Mexico where I will be landing today ... Yippee!!

I hope you're all well and happy and as ever until soon Happy Crafting!
Love
M x

Soul mates and fun with Glitz Designs

2011-01-11T14:00:00.001Z

Hi all and Happy New Year and what better way to start my creative blog posts for 2011 than with fabulous Glitz products! After all the recent festivities I am now looking forward to going on holiday next week to my beloved Mexico so I decided to look at last year’s photos to get me in the mood. While looking through the many files I came across a series of photos of me and hubby, part of our holiday tradition holding the camera aloft everywhere we visit, and I had to smile. People have always told us we look alike and one of my dear friends calls us split aparts, meaning two halves of one whole, and never have I really seen this until these photos I was amazed to see we are pulling exactly the same facial expressions, well they just had to be scrapped!

And what better papers and embellishments to use than Glitz Designs so here’s my list!
Glitz Designs Hoopla paper; Floral
Glitz Designs Love nest paper; Floral
Glitz Designs Hoopla peek-a-boos
Glitz Designs Love nest peek-a-boos
Glitz Designs Hoopla cardstock stickers; titles
Glitz Designs hoopla rub ons
Glitz Designs Love nest glitzers
Glitz Designs vintage whatnots
Glitz Designs teeny alphas green

I started by printing all 3 photos at 6’’ x 4’’ and then ripping away the excess from 2 of the photos and distressing the edges of the main photo. I added some rub ons to the edge of the main photo to fill in the dark space, the Glitz rub ons are so super strong they are great for adding on to your photos to add extra interest.

I added some of the torn Hoopla floral paper in strips and adhered my photos in place adding in the map peek-a-boo from the love nest collection and then framing the 2 top photos with peek a boos from the Hoopla collection. I think these peek-a-boos are a genius idea for adding layers to your work without too much bulk.

On the back of the main photo I adhered a casing of foam tape to act as the housing for my vintage what not journaling card and added a hoopla title sticker to the edge of it to peek out as a pull tab.

Adding a bit of ribbon to the end of the pull tab makes the hidden journaling more inviting to pull out and some ribbon on the other side of the photo ties the layout together.

The finishing touches were the gorgeous Glitz Designs teeny alphas, a number 2 from the hoopla title stickers and a little bird from the love nest glitzers for a little bit of bling, love those glitzers! And that’s it a simple layout with hidden journaling and added acetate interest from those peek-a-boos with a map including Mexico to boot!

And while we’re still in the post festivities mood and in the spirit of using up those left overs I thought I would do a fun and bright layout using the Maya range launched this time last year to make way for the new Glitzy goodness coming (take a peek on the Glitz website for the ’coming soon’ gorgeousness!)

These photos of my nieces make me laugh so much they really capture their cheeky spirit. For this layout I have used
Glitz Designs Maya complete paper collection
Glitz Designs Maya cardstock accent stickers
Glitz Designs Maya rub ons
Glitz Designs teeny alphas in pink

I have used loads of scraps of papers (you know that pile of bits we all keep because we can’t bare to throw them out!) to create the pattern on this layout and covered some naked chipboard alphas in scraps too for the title. The accent stickers do most of the rest of the work on the layout alongside the rub ons added to acetate to make the butterfly embellishments fly. The journalling is done in the style of an advert on tv at the moment and the teeny alphas are perfect for the punchline.

The Maya bird adds the whimsy on top of the stapled ribbon and layering up the scraps and alphas creates dimension. A happy layout that really makes me smile!

Thanks for stopping by and letting me share some Glitzy goodness with you today. I hope you’re all well and happy and until soon, as ever, Happy Crafting
Love
M x

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

2011-01-04T13:57:00.002Z

Happy New Year to you all, I hope 2011 is a great year for everybody! Ialso hope you had a great festive season.Normal service is gradually resuming in my household and the creative grey cells starting to wake up again I just hope they find my mojo LOL.

I just wanted to post a greeting to you all today and I'll be back soon for a chat properly and some crafty sharing :)

I hope you're well and happyand until soon as ever Happy Crafting

Love
M x

A froggy Happy Christmas

2010-12-25T09:00:00.003Z

Hi all!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! I hope you're all having a lovely day with family and friends and over indulging to the max ... hopefully I'm doing the same :)

However the world of crafting doesn't stop for anyone ... well why should it? and today I have a project over at the Lily pad

A festive indulgence for your New year party table .... as ever step by steps are on the Banana Frog blog, enjoy!

As I don't know if I'll make it back before the 31st I'll post a quick Happy New Year to you all here. Thanks for all your support and cyber friendship in 2010 and here's to a very happy, peaceful, prosperous and healthy 2011 to us all!

If I don't *see you* before I'll see you next year and as ever Happy Crafting
Much seasonal love
M x

Festive Glitzy fun

2010-12-20T14:00:00.001Z

Hi all, with the festive season upon us I thought I would share some fun and festive glitziness with you;

Happy Christmas
I love creating collages and paper dolls, my Christmas card last year was a print from a paper doll collage I made so I thought I’d do the same again this year, especially with all the gorgeous Glitz colours to play with. These collage projects are great for using up all the scraps we all keep and I have used a veritable feast of Glitzyness in this project so with a deep breath here is my shopping list;

Glitz Designs Love Nest papers; stripe, floral, polka and sky
Glitz Designs Scarlett papers; polka and stripe
Glitz Designs Hoopla papers; floral and polka
Glitz Designs Hoopla GlitzersGlitz Designs Hoopla cardstock stickers; titles
Glitz Designs frosting; pink/clear
Glitz Designs Glitzers; circles
Glitz Designs Teeny Alphas; Red block

Phew! I have scrapped this page in A4 UK size (which is about 8 ¼’’ x 11 ¾’’) I sketched out my scene and then pieced my papers together to create a background on the Love Nest stripe base. Using a decorative cutter on different green papers I cut strips for my tree layers and used the bunting from the hoopla cardstock titles in the top corner, I cut the strip to allow me to ‘curve’ the bunting on the page.

I then decorated the tree with the circle glitzers (I love Glitzer stickers, with a clear base you can see through and bling encapsulated in them they are so easy to use!) I also added some pink frosting for extra sparkle.

I made some parcels, stacking them up and adding contrasting ribbons, inking all the edges to add definition.

I then made my paperdolls using white card and coloured them in with pencils and making clothes from my selection of Glitz papers, inking edges to create shape. I printed head shots of me and my husband to go on the dolls.

After dressing the dolls I added them to my page on foam pads for extra dimension.

I added further decoration to my scene with Glitz frosting gems on the shoes and the hats, a star for the tree and the balloons from the Hoopla Glitzers.

Of course a family scene wouldn’t be complete without Stan and Ollie so I printed out a small photo of the dogs, cut them out and made antlers for them. I added my title using the teeny alphas and sat the boys on top of the letters.

With a bit of extra bling here and there and final touches my fun festive scene was complete, well it makes me smile!

I will scan my page and create prints for the front of my card blanks and send out some festive Glitzy fun to my family and friends for Christmas. What will you create today that will put a Glitzy smile on your face? Whatever it is I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy and safe Christmas and may all your festive wishes come true. I’ll see you soon and until then, as ever, Happy Crafting
Love
M x

A Glitzy Hoopla winter

2010-12-10T14:00:00.004Z

Hi all, I am so enjoying playing with all the new Glitz lines and fun products that they have brought to us. Hoopla is a really fresh and funky collection that is perfect for recording birthday and celebration memories, but also perfect for lots of other projects like this wintery offering I have for you today.

My beautiful captor

This page is a record of the 10 days I was trapped in our village in January this year due to a sudden heavy snow fall, it was very beautiful looking at the snow laden trees on the lane and Stanley my dog loved playing in the fields but it was very isolating and oh so cold! I think the colours of the hoopla collection lend themselves very well to the wintery subject and here is my Glitzy shopping list:

Glitz Designs Hoopla papers; Polka, pipework and frames
Glitz Designs Hoopla cardstock stickers; journaling
Glitz Designs Fancy frames rub ons
Glitz Designs Pom Poms; white/red/pink
Glitz Designs Tulle; Aqua
Glitz Designs giant rhinestones; green

I love the pattern of the pipework paper that I used as my base, there’s so much to look at in one piece of paper! I used a strip of the polka paper to give my photo grounding on the page and added a fancy frame rub on to further create a focal point to be built on, while also tying in the black around the edges of the patterned paper.

Next I cut off a length of the aqua tulle from the 12’’ long strip. I think this card of lovely coloured tulle is so much fun to play with and has so much potential to be used in different ways. I used some white acrylic paint to adhere my tulle to the page while also creating a snowy feel to the material. Because acrylic paint is a plastic based paint it is great to use as a decorative adhesive, just be patient waiting for the blobs of paint to start drying! Scrunching the tulle up also adds texture and intensifies the colour of it in places.

To tie in the use of the paint I also added it quite roughly to the bottom corner of the paper strip and to the top right corner of the page.

Using the lovely blue colour on the reverse of the frames paper I created a distressed mat for my photo and then had a play with the fun new pom poms. Using the white pom poms as snowballs I tied a loop in the cord that I hooked over the top corner of my photo, securing with some silicon glue and tucking a little of the cord behind. I trimmed off the excess cord to use later.

In the bottom right hand corner of the page I created a small embellishment for my journaling using one of the card stock stickers and scraps of paper to tie the page together as well as adding in some ribbon and lace that I used under the main photo and the little bit of excess cord I trimmed from my pom poms.

Using more scraps from the frames and polka paper I punched out some snowflakes and brushed them with some stickles for extra wintery sparkle ....

.... adding them in clusters around my layout, making a main feature under the corner of the photo by using 2 of the fabulous Glitz Designs giant rhinestones in the prettiest green colour alongside them.

Finally adding my jounalling to record the memory, my wintery page was complete. Glitz products come in such pretty colours and all co-ordinate beautifully and I really enjoyed working with the colours in the Hoopla line, by playing on the turquoise and aqua colours a seemingly bright and spring coloured collection can look quite wintery and I hope you have fun recording some Glitzy winter memories this year!
As ever thanks for stopping by, and if the temperature is starting to plummet with you stay wrapped up, safe and warm, see you soon with a Glitzy festive offering and until then Happy Crafting
Love
M x

Purple festivities

2010-12-09T16:44:00.006Z

Hi all

I hope you're all keeping warm and safe! This weather is bonkers isn't it? Luckily I haven't had the snow but I know family and friends who are so over the white stuff .... thinking of you all!

I thought I'd share some colourful festive pieces with you tobrighten yur day with the main colour being purple of course ... purple for Purple cows and today I have some projects to share over there ...

.... as always I got very carried away with my freestyle mouse and 2 in 1 combo trimmer LOL and don't forget you can downlaod the PDF instructions for FREE from Sadie so why not mosey on over and have a look :)and don't tell Sadie I told you as I'm sworn to secrecy but there are some amazing new products coming out next year .... I can't wait for you to see them!

Right I'm off to light the fire, put on a few more layers of clothing and write some Christmas cards, thanks for hopping by, stay safe and warm and as ever until soon happy crafting!
Love
M x

Putting on the Glitz

2010-12-02T15:14:00.000Z

Hi all, today I’d like to share with you some ‘Glitz and glamour’ I have been lucky enough to be on the fabulous Glitz Design team for over a year now and every time I get my Glitz box out to play I find myself in the happiest of moods, not only is the product so edible to look at but the quality is second to none. Looking back over the last year of my time with Glitz I came across this project which was one of the first things I made with my first official Glitz DT box of goodies and as this time of year is all about looking back and being thankful I thought it would be fun to share it with you today.

Putting on the Glitz
It is a super simple handbag mini book that looks glamorous on my shelf as a piece of home decor and contains special memories of a birthday cruise I went on with my husband, the photos I will share in this post will explain the story as we go! Before we start, here is my shopping list;

Glitz Designs Plum Crazy papers; floral, stripe, polka, circles, chair and diamonds
Glitz Designs Plum Crazy cardstock stickers; titles and journaling
Glitz Designs Plum Crazy alpha cardstock stickers
Glitz Designs Olivia Glitzers
Glitz Designs flourish rub ons
Glitz Designs distressing round clear stamp

The front and back of the mini book are cut into a simple handbag shape and the 2 sides are linked with a concertina of paper with mounted photos stuck into each crease so when the bag is opened all the photos kind of fan out, it’s quite impressive in its simplicity!

I kept each page a 6’’x4’’ photo mounted onto some of the fabulous double sided paper. I cut it with a thin decorative edge showing behind the photo to add interest, and was able to journal on the reverse.

As I wanted the photo to be the main focus of each page I added some simple embellishments of lace and ribbon and a small piece of flourish rub on as well as a cream flower that I sprayed with an intense, very sparkly cosmic shimmer mist to each photo.

I kept the same simple embellishment of each photo throughout the book to create continuity

I used the fabulous round distress stamp on the reverse of each photo page to create a background pattern.

I then added cardstock stickers and hand cut and distressed journaling strips throughout to tell my story.

Although the end of the story may not be quite as glamorous as it set out LOL I love my little bag of Glitz and glamour as it reminds me of such a happy time and as it says in the sticker it makes me stop and remember sometimes how really Happy I am to be me!

I hope you feel inspired to create your own little piece of Glitzy glamour, a simple idea like this would make a great Christmas gift wouldn’t it! Thanks for stopping by and sharing a little reminisce with me. I’ll see you soon, until then Happy Crafting
Love
M x

Lilypad lesson

2010-11-26T09:00:00.001Z

Hi all

This is the last of my Banana Frog triple for now :) My Lily pad lesson for today

Me and you, canvas on canvas

Class is in session now over at the lilypad and over there you will find step by step instructions for stamping onto canvas, image transferring onto canvas and creating a bespoke piece of home decor to create your own canvas on canvas project

I love the dimension of this piece and it takes pride of place on a little easel on my bookcase in the front room now

Another bonus is the swirl stamp set that I have used is in the Banana Frog sale at half price, so you can grab a bargain to boot when you visit the Lilypad today :)

I hope you enjoy class and I hope you feel inspired. I'm off to start creating the next project to share with you ... whatever that may be :)

Thanks for stopping by, stay safe, well and happy and until soon Happy Crafting!
Love
M x

Project on the Lily pad

2010-11-25T08:00:00.000Z

Hi all

Here's the second installment of my Banana Frog triple, today it is my turn to share a project of the day

I have expanded on my trick or treat bag from last month and gone all festive with some fab Christmas stamps (Retro baubles on sale now for just over £3, and loads of other goodies at crazy prices, it would be rude not to shop!) As ever hop on over to the Lily pad for the full blown step by step instructions to create some festive treat bags for yourself!

Ok I am hopping off myself to get my lesson at the Lilypad ready for tomorrow, class starts at 9am ... don't be late :)

As always I hope you're well and happy and until tomorrow Happy Crafting!
Love
M x

A Froggy Autumn

2010-11-24T09:00:00.000Z

Hi all,

It's the second installment of the Banana Frog sketch focus for this month and this is my offering

Hop on over to the Lilly pad and check out how the other froglets interpreted it but before you go I'd like to share a quick step by step of the layout I made.

I used some small leaves from 3 different stamp sets; totally tropical, tropical taste and build a daisy and arranged them in a pattern on a stamp block to create the pattern on the paper strip across the layout.

I tore a strip of cream card and using a clear embossing ink stamped a pattern of the leaves and then embossed them in gold.

Using a spice big and juicy ink pad and some cut and dry foam I coloured the strip of stamped card with all the lovely spicey colours in the pad

Next I customised my 12x12 brown Kraft cardstock by distressing and inking the edges, coloring a block in the middle with some more ink from the big and juicy ink pad and stamping the cherry blossom stamp from the Banana Frog Kawaii Kokeshi stamp set in the top corner and then embossing it in gold

I stamped out my title using the rosecube alpha stamp set and mixing up the colours from the big and juicy ink pad, cutting them into letter tiles

And lastly my journalling block came from the totally tropical stamp set, cut out and distressed again with the spice ink

I assembled it all with some more torn cardstock in dark brown, some vintage lace and small photos mounted onto distressed mats of brown cardstock.

I love the autumny colours of the big and juicy ink pad and the gold embossing of the simple stamped images.

And that's it for today, what will you create with your Banana frog stamps and autumn colours? There's still time to hold onto autumn before the winter really sets in!

I hope you're well and happy, This is the start of a Banana Frog triple for me so I'll see you tomorrow with my project of the day, until then Happy Crafting
Love
M x

Love abiding with Glitz Designs

2010-11-23T14:00:00.002Z

Hi all,
Today I get to share some more Glitzy goodness with you ... I am so lucky to get to play with the amazing Glitz products and new lines and I am so lucky to be married to a wonderful man. 19 years ago I met my soul mate and 11 years ago this month I got to marry him. It has become a little tradition of mine over the years that I scrap a page of us then and now, this year my page was prompted by the Scarlett paper layer I’ve used.... a perfect sentiment and a perfect Glitz line!

Love Abiding

Glitz Designs Scarlett papers; Wallpaper, Polka, Bouquet
Glitz Designs Scarlett Paper Layers
Glitz Designs Scarlett Rub ons
Glitz Designs Scarlett Peek-a-boo
Glitz Designs Scarlett Glitzers

Now I have to confess I thought I would stick to the darker colours of the Scarlett line but I was drawn to the yellow side of the Bouquet paper so much I had to use it, which scared me a little as I think this is the first time ever that I have scrapped with these colours, but do you know what? I loved using a different colour palette, it was refreshing and so easy with everything co-ordinating within the line.

I cut the beautiful floral corner from the Bouquet paper, tore a strip from the green polka of the same paper and a large green rectangle from the wallpaper 12 x 12(love that green!) For my page base, distressing edges and inking.

Layering it up I tried to make things overlap in places to meld it altogether.

I printed some small ‘then’ pictures of us in sepia and distressed them with my trusty nail file.

And printed a large ‘now’ picture of us in colour, matting it onto some of the bouquet paper, distressing the edges and curling them up to add dimension.

After layering the 3 small photos down the page I added one of the new embellishments to the Glitz family, a peek-a-boo, a pack of fun designs printed onto transparent film to overlay and layer up. I used the lovely frame one to pick out a photo of us on our wedding day, attaching the top right corner with silicon glue as this would be hidden by the main photo.

To tack the opposite corner of the peek-a-boo down I used some of the pretty Scarlett Glitzers, they tie in beautifully with my floral corner and also add the perfect amount of bling (those crystals are encapsulated within the stickers, so easy to use!) while acting as a fastener.

I ripped the bottom and one side of the paper layer which started this layout and inked the edges before simply adhering it to the page to sit under my main photo which was added on foam pads to make it stand out.

Lastly, to tie in the floral bottom corner of my page and to add an interest to a bare, sharp corner of the main photo I applied a rub on to a piece of acetate and cut it out, the rub ons are so super strong and beautifully detailed they are great to create your own embellishments, adding them to acetate allows you to use them in other ways than just flat.

I added it to the top corner of my photo on foam pads, added a bit of handwritten journaling to the top left corner and voila there is this year’s then and now layout.

A complete departure on the colour front for me but I love it and I also love the fact that everything on this page is from Glitz and all from one line to boot!

I hope you’re having as much fun as me creating with the new Glitz products! Thanks for stopping by and I’d like to take this opportunity to wish all my Family and friends in America a very happy and peaceful thanksgiving. Until soon, Happy Crafting!
Love
M x

A Beautiful Glitzy Autumn

2010-11-19T14:00:00.002Z

Hi all,
It’s that Glitzy time of the month again when I get to share a project with you AND some of the new goodies that the Oh so talented Glitz team have brought us. If it’s possible to be in love with paper products I am head over heels ... the biggest question is where to start! Which line, which exciting new embellishment to use?
To be honest I wanted to use it all but settled with a little ... for now!

Beautiful Autumn

We don’t have thanksgiving here in the UK but there are times in life that stop you in your tracks to give thanks for family, friends and moments like these. Driving home on bonfire night last year Mother Nature made me stop in my tracks, get out of the car and snap this pic on my mobile phone. Who needs a firework display to ‘oohhh’ and ‘ahhh’ at after you’ve seen this! I wanted to record it in a scrap page and the new Love Nest collection from Glitz Designs was the perfect choice.

Glitz Designs Love Nest papers; Polka, Sky, Damask and Floral
Glitz Designs Love Nest Rub ons
Glitz Designs Love Nest Cardstock stickers; Titles and Journalling
Glitz Designs Love Nest What Nots
Glitz Designs Tulle

I marked out an aperture, slightly smaller than the photo which I wanted to be central (unusual for me!) to take focus, and cut it out with a craft knife from the polka paper. I then ripped a square from the reverse of the sky paper (a fabulous scrunched up brown paper) to add a frame over the frame and ripped out the centre.

After ripping out the polka aperture, distressing paper edges and inking copiously I adhered the brown paper frame to the page and then ripped back into the polka aperture to roll and fold sections back.

To continue the optical illusion that the photo is popping out of the paper I then backed the aperture with the damask paper.

I added the photo into the frame on foam pads to add more dimension and used some words from the Love Nest titles, journaling and rub ons packs as well as adding the cute bird rub ons to fill the edge.

To pull some of the fabulous citrus green colour from the title stickers I tore a strip from the green side of the floral paper, I love how Glitz add contrasting colours that really pop in their collections so you can mix it up. I also tore another strip from the brown paper side of polka, inked them and attached them across my page with just enough green peeking out.

One of the new additions to the Glitz lines is the Tulle which comes in yummy colours, I used a strip of the brown attaching it across my page with brads and twisting it to add interest. I also twisted and tacked down the bit of tulle that would sit under my journaling block to add more shape (and also to make it easier to add the block!)

I sanded, distressed and inked the Love Nest What Not, I love that Glitz has brought out a set of What Nots to go with each new line, they’re so useful and so much fun!

I used the What Not for my journaling and added it to my page.

The finishing touches were some flowers and vines to reflect nature and to tie in all the elements of the page. And that’s it a record of a most amazing display from Mother Nature brought together beautifully with the new Love Nest line from Glitz.

That’s all from me for now, I’m off to delve back into my box of Glitzy goodness and create some more .... Now which line next? Scarlett or Hoopla? And Oh look at those peek-a-boos......

Thanks for stopping by, see you soon and until then Happy crafting!
Love
M x

Designer Friday at the ranch

2010-11-19T09:00:00.001Z

Hi all
Today is designer Friday over at Purple cows with little old me, I have created a super simple photo cube

Perfect for a Christmas present don't you think? And here's an alternative for that special person who can never make a decision

Pop on over to the ranch and see a fuller description of my super easy project!
and pop by later around 2pm, I have some Glitzy goodness to share :)

See you then
love
M x

It's a {thrifty} creative world

2010-11-15T06:00:00.000Z

Hi all
Well here I am again .... so soon!! Today is my turn to share a project over at It's a Creative world, an inspirational blog full of wide and varied crafty inspiration and a great team of girls!

My project this month is a thrifty pretty

We all love those prima vines, but not so keen on the price! So pop on over to It's a creative world and follow my step by steps to have a go at making your own!

A great Christmas present for a crafty friend, unusual and bespoke, easy to make and as I said most importantly thrifty :) Enjoy!

Good to *see you* If I don't see you before I'll see you here on Friday with some delicious Glitzy goodness, and of course Wednesday on Create and Craft with Serif! Until then Happy Crafting
Love
M x

Tis me!!!!

2010-11-13T19:01:00.020Z

Hi all!

Yep tis me!! Although the old bloggity blog has been ticking over nicely with DT posts that I schedule to do their magic by themselves I have recently realised it's July since I was here in person ... eek!! So I thought I would drop by and say 'yoo hoo' and do a quick catch up on life in general, I'll try not to make it too long even though it's been nearly 4 months!!

I don't know about you but time seems to be going crazy fast at the moment, I can't believe it's nearly Christmas again and my battle cry at the moment is definitely more hours in a day please!

So as you may or may not know a lot of my time recently has been taken up with Create and Craft TV. Never in a month of Sundays did I ever think I would be guesting on TV shows, let alone doing live hours but do you want to know a secret? I'm really enjoying it! It helps that I love the products I take on; Purple Cows tools and Serif digital scrapbook artist 2 and it also helps that everyone at the studios is so lovely and so much fun to work with!

Talking of Serif digital scrapbooking, that's another never in a month of Sundays moments for me! never did I think I would love digi scrapping but I am, here's a small selection of my latest favourite pages

The software makes it so easy and creating my own papers and my own embellishments has never been more fun!

This month me and him celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary! We've been together 19years now and to be honest it seems like 5 minutes, I am a lucky girl to have met my soul mate, here's a montage of then and now

Blimey we look so young in some of those pics!! On the same day as our anniversary Sophie was born 4 years ago so we had a trip to Devon to see the grandchildren.

I went armed with a birthday tea, complete with egg sandwiches, sausage rolls and cheese and pineapple on sticks LOL Sophie decided she liked cheese puffs and chocolate cake together the best and Dylan managed to polish off most of the sausage rolls!

Way back at the end of July, when I last did a 'live' post I mentioned we were off on a cruise. Hubby was working on it so it was a cheap birthday treat for me and we had a fab time. It was a Baltic cruise, and the main reason I wanted to go, as we had 2 days in St Petersburgh Russia and it was AMAZING! We also met some great people, ate too much and endulged in the old vino LOL here is a very small collection of photos (you can only imagine how much I could bore you with more!)

Back in September I was honoured to be featured in the September issue of Craft Stamper magazine in their stamping for scrapbookers section with an image transfer technique, here's my layout

Keep your eye out for more features in 2011

I mentioned Christmas earlier and in this household that can only mean one thing ... it's panto season ... oh yes it is!!! Hubby is in Bristol again this year at the Hippodrome with the lovely Barbara Windsor and back in September we spent a couple of days in Bristol for the launch

Rehearsals start next week and it opens at the beginning of December. It's going to be a goodie!

October saw the end of my 2010 workshops at Bee Crafty :( I've had a fab year with the girls there and all that attended the workshops, I particularly liked it went Santa came to visit when we made the light up Christmas tree :)

Let's see what 2011 brings!!

2011 is filling up with bookings too. I'll be at Stitches in February, Olympia in March, Scrap-a-mia in May and sparkle dreams in October, check out the side bar for details and any additional info and I'm also working on something exciting that I hope to bring you all soon :)

And that's it really, the last 4 months kind of caught up on, life is mighty busy but I can't complain because life is good and at the end of the day I am getting to do what I really love .... create!

So all that's left for me to say is ... 'and finally' ...

The boys are doing really good, they make me laugh every day and are my best friends. Ollie recently went through it a bit following an op, he was very poorly and did put me and Stan through a week of trauma but I am happy to report he is back to normal and terrorising us as ever! (thankyou to all those that sent well wishes during all that via email, blog, facebook and daisy trail!) As you can imagine I have many, many photos of my fur babies so here are just a few collaged together so you don't lose the will LOL

I've really enjoyed this visit with you and thanks for stopping by, I've missed this 'live' blogging and will try and pop back soon to do it again!!In the meantime I have some DT posts coming up so hopefully I'll *see you* then. I hope you've all been keeping well and happy yourselves and until soon Happy Crafting
Love
M x

A Glitzy Spooktacular

2010-10-28T14:00:00.003+01:00

Hi all, well here I am again to share some more Glitzy goodness with you in the form of 2 spooktacular layouts with yummy Glitz Designs
As the Halloween season approaches I thought I would do a layout to record my Halloween celebration. The celebration stretches right back to pagan roots and is a time to celebrate the end of one year and the beginning of the next, in effect it is the new year celebration as well as a time to celebrate our ancestors and of course the rich harvest to see us through the dark winter months and it is known as

Samhain (pronounced sow-ein)

I love the mix of Purple and black for Halloween so what better line to use than Glitz Designs Plum Crazy, one of my all time favourites ... to date! Purple is such a hard colour to get right with papers and I think Glitz designs just hit the mark with this collection. Ok enough waffling this is my list of ingredients for my layout;
Glitz Designs Plum Crazy paper; Diamonds, chair, polka and stripe
Glitz Designs Plum Crazy journaling cardstock stickers
Glitz Designs Plum Crazy cardstock alphas
Glitz Designs Paisley flourish rub ons
Glitz Designs black damask rub on
Glitz Designs Distressing stamps; set two
Glitz Designs teeny alphas; round black.

I ripped the piece of chair paper in half roughly along the diagonal and distressed it all ... liberally! Using the text side of the paper it went across the base of the diamonds paper (also distressed of course!)

Before I adhered the lilac text paper to the base I worked on it. I used the alpha stickers to create my title but didn’t want them the strong plum colour that they are so I took some of the sticky off the back (by repeatedly sticking each letter to my jumper) and used the alphas as a stencil. As I had run out of some of the letters I cut around their outline on the sticker sheet so I could use the negative, I quite like the ethereal quality I got from mixing up the positive and negative alphas. I then used one of the distressing stamps and some black ink to stamp over my title and built up a ‘black mist’. Tip; to avoid getting a straight edge from the stamp I only applied ink to the centre, avoiding adding ink to the stamp edge. Once I was happy with the build up of black I removed the alpha stickers (remember Glitz Design stickers are really super sticky so really work at covering them in fluff before using this method!)

I then added a piece of the Damask rub on, this I ripped to avoid harsh edges, a little paisley flourish and then cut out the centre of two of the journaling card stock stickers to add later.

My photos are of my Halloween hearth, candles, crystals and offerings of food and wine, these I layered onto some distressed pieces of the polka paper

Lastly I added some ribbon, a strip of the stripe paper as a detail, some staples, the tiny alphas and my journaling which is a little bit of Samhain Lore.

And now I’d like to take you from the past to the present with all the colours of the autumn season.

Little Pumpkin

I love this photo of my cousins little boy over in the states last Halloween on his Pumpkin search. I’ve mixed it up a little with my supplies for this layout and here’s the list;
Glitz Designs Vintage Love papers; love letters and polka
Glitz Designs Kismet papers; brown and stripes
Glitz Designs Kismet journaling cardstock stickers
Glitz Designs Maya papers; damask and stripe
Glitz Designs Maya rub ons
Glitz Designs teeny alphas; brown round

I decided to use the 11’’ x 8.5’’ format for this layout for a change as I really wanted to focus the design around the photo. I layered up a strip of vintage love letters onto some kismet brown then these two onto the vintage love polka. All pieces were distressed and inked, that part of my design didn’t change!

I then added a torn strip of Kismet stripes paper, some ribbon for texture and then cut out the round journaling block from the Kismet stickers so I could keep the very fine line of the outer circle to use as well, so creating 3 circles from the one sticker.

Next I set to with my scissors and the coloured sides of the Maya damask and stripe paper and cut out some autumn leaves. I then inked the edges to define the shape and curled them with my fingers. (You could of course use punches or dies if you have them!)

I layered up the photos and the leaves, using silicon glue to give my leaves movement and added more ribbon for texture.

I added some leaves to the top corner of the photo for balance, added the teeny alphas and finally the Maya rub on birdie ....as it just seemed right :)

And that’s it my Spooktacular Glitzy offering for this month. Thanks for stopping by and whatever you get up to this Halloween may I wish you the warmest of Seasons greetings and Happy Crafting
Love
MJM x

Stamping up a treat ....

2010-10-25T06:00:00.001+01:00

.... and no tricks :)

Hi all, it's my turn to share a project of the day over at the Lily pad ... this is what I've made ...

Oh so simple and cute for all your Halloween treats, want to know more about it? Hop on over to the Banana Frog blog for full step by step instructions :)

Thanks for stopping by, I'm sorry this is short and sweet I'll be back soon to chat more, I hope you're well and happy and until soon as ever Happy Crafting.

Love
MJM x

It's a creative world

2010-10-23T21:19:00.004+01:00

Hi all
Sorry this post is late, I am nursing a poorly Oliver Pickles at the moment :( I just wanted to pop in and drop this off

It's Simple Things day over at It's a creative world and the word this month is Memory ....

....remember these? For more on my project and to be inspired by the other creative girls pop on over to the creative blog and enjoy.

I hope you're well and happy and until soon Happy Crafting

Love
MJM x

Do not open until December 25th

2010-10-16T00:05:00.002+01:00

Hi all
It's my turn to share over at It's a Creative World today and I thought I would bring out an oldie but goodie, well it only gets out once a year LOL
Here it is

An interactive memory advent calender that will fit in with your Christmas decs and if you'd like to know more, like how I did the text transfer or stretched the paper to paint, pop on over to IACW and read my far more detailed post over there as well as getting Christmas inspired by some of the other creative girls on your visit .... well it would be rude not to :)

Now while I'm here I want to ask ... how are you? It has been an age since I sat and wrote a real life blog, it was way back at the end of July so I must rectify this soon, if for no other reason than to share some pics of my woofs, they are well and bonkers as normal!! Life just seems to be going so quickly doesn't it! I know the battle cry as we get older is time goes fast but oh boy! this year them upstairs certainly have ther fingers pressed on that super fast forward button don't they!

And while I find myself chatting can I just say a huge thankyou for all the lovely messages I've had in various cyber places I frequent about the Serif POW shows on Create and craft, I do really appreciate you all taking the time out to find me and leave me some love :)

Ok rambling now, I'll save up the rest for a real life post ... very soon I promise!

I hope you're all well and happy, until soon Happy Crafting!
Love
M x

PS do you remember I mentioned retreats a couple of days ago? Well I've just been officially announced for the Scrap-A-Mia retreat in May, check out the side bar for details .... I am so honoured to be with such an AMAZING line up of teachers (if not a little nervous LOL)

Spooky goings on over at the ranch!

2010-10-15T09:00:00.000+01:00

Hi all

Just a quickie to say go on over to the Purple Cows ranch for some spooky inspiration for Halloween, there are loads of projects (and not just for halloween) all with absolutely FREE PDF downloads with full instructions for your inspiration!! Bargain :)

Yours truly has had some spooky projects published recently

The haunted castle

Halloween lanterns

A Bat Mobile (not of the car variety :))

and a real leaf wreath!

So why not visit the Ranch, do some downloading and be inspired all for FREE courtesy of Purple Cows!

I hope you're all well, I'm back tomorrow with some Xmas creativity so until then Happy Crafting

Love
M x

PS new class/workshop dates added to my sidebar .... fancy a retreat? Sparkle retreats has just been announced and I'll have another announcement soon :)

Scrapping outside the album with Glitz Designs

2010-10-14T14:00:00.004+01:00

Hi all

Today I’d like to share a piece of home decor with you using the yummy Distressed Couture collection from Glitz Designs. There are so many gorgeous Glitz papers and products I feel it is a shame to hide them away in albums. I love the new trend to display scrappy creations around the home and with the trend to upcycle things combined this is an ideal project.

The ingredients I have used; Glitz Designs Distressed Couture paper collection, Distressed Couture dress form stamp, Glitz Designs paper layers, Glitz designs Whatnot, Glitz Designs frame rub ons and Glitz Designs clear frosting

I quite simply used strips and rectangles of papers from the Distressed Couture collection, distressed the edges liberally, (this works brilliantly with the double sided paper so you get to see both sides) added aged mahogany distress ink and got out the sewing machine to stitch my layers together while adding some texture detail.

The layers of paper were then adhered to the base of the piece which is a stripped piece of corrugated cardboard box (this is where the upcycling comes in! I love stripping cardboard boxes and using them for my crafting)

The focal piece of my scrappy creation is a double Distressed Couture paper heart, distressed of course! Matted on to a stripped corrugated cardboard heart, which is layered onto a Glitz frame rub on (Glitz rub ons are second to no other rub on out there in my opinion!) and all this rests on a slightly distressed Glitz paper layer.

The addition of some lace and velvet ribbon stapled on adds to the shabby chic feel and the Glitz Dream Whatnot lends that oh so trendy Alice in Wonderland look to the piece. The finishing touches come from some Glitz frosting twisted to a flourish, the distressed couture dress form stamp embossed in black, a bit of bling and a kilt pin with charms from my craft box.

A super simple but stylish project that looks great on a small artists easel displayed for all to see. I recently taught this class at a retreat using the Glitz Plum Crazy range and that looked great too so why not have a play with your Glitz supplies and see what home decor you can create with all the yummy products, talking of which there is a whole host of new Glitz goodies about to hit the shops and they really are to die for delicious, so keep your eyes peeled, even here in the UK as I happen to know of certain places that have their orders placed and I will let you know as soon as it arrives on these shores!

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you’re all well and happy and until soon Happy Crafting!
Love
M x

Froggy colour focus

2010-10-04T09:00:00.002+01:00

Hi all

It's part one of the October colour focus over on the Lilly pad today and here's my offering

Lillian Kathleen

I got so carried away in the moment of creating this layout that this month I don't have step by steps for you but I'll try and break it down so you can see what I did!

The layout is of my nanny as a little girl, her name was Lillian Kathleen and my niece was named after her Lilly Kirsty. I have used the Mastryoshka dolls stamp set, the rosecube alphas stamp set and the it's all about elegance stamp set. The papers are 7 gypsies and I've used distress inks in old paper, antique lace, tea dye and walnut stain.

I cut the swirl from some 7 gypsies paper and then stamped the Mastryoshka dolls onto some of the remaining patterned paper. It gives them an interesting look and adds a bit more interest than stamping onto plain paper.

Once I had all my main elements ready I worked out an area on the background to stamp a random pattern, using different colour inks, using the medallion stamp from the mastryoshka set to add some more interest to the background of the layout. Before adding the photo I used the border stamp from the same set to stamp onto the photo to tie everything together. Once all the main elements were in place I added my journalling which was a mix of making memories tiny alphas, Rose moka tiny alphas and handwriting. The number is stamped from the rosecube stamp set and then I stamped the frame from It's all about elegance for my title block.

I, of course, distressed edges as I went and inked things generously :) The last addition was some prima flowers in the colour pallette I've used for the rest of the layout.

Maybe you'll be inspired to tell a story today using your Banana Frog stamps. whatever you do, thanks for stopping by, enjoy the inspiration from the rest of the froglets in the colour focus post and as ever until soon Happy Crafting!

Love
M x

Froggity Blog hop!

2010-09-30T09:00:00.002+01:00

Hi all

It's Banana Frog blog hop day, it's been a while since I played but this month I've created a little spooky offering to share with you.

Before I continue if you are here on the blog hop way welcome, if you are here just because you are then it's not to late to catch up on the hop just leap on over to the lilypad and start at the top of the list .... and remember comments mean prizes :)

Talking of prizes, thanks for all the lovely comments on my project of the day post and as promised I will now announce the winner ... drum roll please ..... Wrightboysmum you are the lucky winner of a set of Xmas stamps, please email me (mjm@jackson-mogford.freeserve.co.uk) and I'll get Bev to send out your stamps.

Now where was I? ... Oh yes I wanted to share this ..

A super simple mask to complete that halloween costume this year :) (I can't believe it's October tomorrow!!) The idea has come from one of my Guest designer posts on the Lilly pad way back in June 2009!! I've just transformed it with stars and seasonal colours.

It started life as a simple white mask, cheap to pick up from any fancy dress shop.

Then using the Retro space stamp set's smallest star, my finger as a stamp block and some mustard stayzon I stamped up a random pattern.

Then I did the same thing with the next size star and some Iris Stayzon

and finally some Royal Purple Stayzon ad the largest star in the set completed the base of the pattern.

I inked around the mask with some cut and dry foam and the Iris Stayzon and then again using my fingers as a stamp block, black archival ink and the swirl from the winter wonderland stamp set (told you it wasn't just for Christmas!)I added some swirls around the bottom edge of the mask.

I wanted to add some definition around the eyes and the small stars from the make a chain samp set were ideal with a bit of black achival ink. The finishing party touch was picking out the swirls and the small stars round the eyes with some cosmic shimmers twinkles.

Et Voila a sophisticated, unique Halloween mask to intrigue people at the party.

Hmmm I wonder what other stamps would make great mask decoration? I'm off to investigate! Thanks for hopping by and your next stop is with the fabulously talented Audrey Don't forget to leave comments on all the blogs as you go, a guarenteed (halloween) treat for someone :)

See you on Create and Craft TV 9am in the morning with Purple cows and see you here soon, until then Happy Crafting
Love
M x

A merry Froggy Christmas!

2010-09-25T06:00:00.001+01:00

Hi all

Today it's my turn at Project of the day over at the Lilly pad. Oh my life can you believe it's only 3 months to Christmas day?

So with all my froggy Christmasness over the last month I have decided to add the finishing touches to my Christmas table with this

A Place setting fit to accompany all my recent frog projects

Faux luminarys from last months project of the day, a Christmas card from this months colour focus and a Christmas cake from my Lilypad lesson.

As ever pop on over to the frog blog to see step by step pictures and instructions for my place setting.

BUT before you go! Do you fancy an early Christmas present? The lovely Bev has said I can give away one of the new Christmas stamp sets to round off my Christmas month nicely and all you have to do is leave a comment on this post AND go and leave some love on my post over at the Lilypad, Shimples!! You have until the 30th September which is frog hop day :) Good luck!

Thanks for stopping by and until soon Happy crafting

Love
M x

a JOYous day at IACW

2010-09-18T00:05:00.001+01:00

Hi all

It's this months post over at It's a creative world for the simple things project. A project that lasts all year and explores the simple things in life with a word prompt every month.

This month the word is JOY and here's my take on it

I wanted to record one of the days of my life when I felt I experienced real JOY and happiness when I became trainer for the day with the Dolphins at Xel Ha ecological park in my beloved Mexico.

I created a push me pull me card so the picture popped out to reflect the elation I felt that day. Push me pull me's are so easy to create and when you discover the secret ingredient you'll say no way like I did .... well, maybe you will! I am always amazed at how simple the mechanisms are for interactive cards. To see how easy they are pop on over to IACW to see the post and wallow in the rest of the inspiration over there from the rest of the oh so talented creative girls.

Today I'm busy preparing for a Serif Digtal scrapbook artist 2 show for Create and craft TV on the 23rd at 8am and a Purple Cows show at 9am eek!!

Thanks for popping by, I hope you're well and happy and until soon Happy Crafting!

Love
MJM x