'My Crafty Friend of the Month'

Welcome to the first of 'My Crafty Friend of the Month. I would like to introduce you to my crafty friend Emma Goddard. I met Emma through our love of crafting. Emma run's a group on Facebook called Emma's Hints, Tip's and Crafty Inspiration. It is a group where crafter's can be invited to show off their creation's. You can also see Emma's blog here http://www.emmascardsuk.com/  where you can see the work of this very talented lady. She also has tutorials on here which are easy to follow.

Emma kindly answered some crafty question's that I put to her. Thank's Emma, I bet you did'nt realise it would be like an interview when you agreed to do this! lol

How did you get into crafting?

I've always been into crafts in some way or another but got into paper craft/cardmaking after a severe illness. I apparently had a breakdown after losing my Dad to Alzheimer's and my sister-in-law to breast cancer a few Christmas's ago. I stopped eating, which caused a swelling on the part of my brain that controls all the things that you don't have to think about doing. So I was left temporarly paralyzed and had to learn how to breath, talk, walk and everything again. Bryan, my partner suggested I try cardmaking as I always wanted to have a go. So, I thank him for encouraging me because I love it and it has really helped me.

If you had to choose five must have crafty items what would they be?

Probably a good craft knife, a good pair of scissors, a clear metal edged ruler, craft mat and good colouring pens such as pro markers, zig pens etc.

What craft techniques do you love to do?

I love stamping and playing with inks in ways like distressing, resist technique. I love decoupage because it can give so much depth to your project, and love colouring because it's relaxing.

If you bought one crafty item this month, what would it be?

Hmmm...that's a tough one.....it would probably be Spectrum Noir pens because they look fab and would love to have a play.

Who inspires you in the crafting world and why?

That's easy, it's got to be Phill Martin, he is talented. He does his own thing and comes up with some brilliant techniques and is always there to help. Barbara Grey too, she is just inspirational and a very talented lady.

Thank you Emma, very interesting answers and I'm so glad you have made such a wonderful recovery from your illness. You also are an inspiration and a fine example of how you can bounce back from severe illness, to go on and have the strength, courage and love to do the things you enjoy most!

As well as Emma's work and tutorial's on her blog, she also has crafty items for sale too. Take a look and check it all out. I am sure you won't be disappointed.

I hope you have enjoyed the first 'My Crafty Friend of the Month'. I would like to say a massive thank you to Emma for agreeing to take part and I wish you well for the future my friend. Please take the time to look at her gorgeous work.

Happy crafting everyone,

lots of love NJ XXX

'My Favourite Blog of the Month'

Tabby Craft Designs - Tab Robinson

Welcome to the first of 'My Favourite Blog of the Month'.

I would like to introduce you all to the wonderfully talented and inspiring Tab Robinson of Tabby Craft Designs http://tabbycraftdesigns.blogspot.com/ . Tab has kindly agreed to let me feature her on my blog.
I first came across Tabby's work when I went to the Summer Crafting event in Doncaster this year. One of the exhibitor's had these absolutely stunning cards on his display. A friend I was with told me who had made them and that was when I was told about Tab. Truly inspirational!

Tab is on the Magnolia stamps DT as well as being on other DT's, you will see why when you check out her blog. You will see the various items she makes. As well as stamping and making cards, Tab also crochets and sews too. The list of this ladies talent's is endless. I for one feel priveleged that she agreed to be my first guest for favourite blog of the month!

You can also find her on Etsy where her gorgeous work is available to buy http://www.etsy.com/shop/tabbycrafts?ref=em 

One of my favourite's is the Handmade Shabby Chic Hanging Heart with Crochet Flower and Gem Button.

So, I hope you have enjoyed meeting Tab and learning about her fabulous blog. I would highly recommend you follow her. Please respect her wishes to be inspired by her ideas and work, but please do not copy them directly. Tab is a unique and amazingly talented individual with a very creative imagination, who works hard, and, fortunately for us crafter's...enjoys sharing with us her work.

On a final note, a massive thank you to the lovely Tab Robinson for giving me permission to share her gorgeous blog and work with you all. Thank you  Tab from the bottom of my heart.

Have fun and happy crafting.

Lots of love NJ XXXXX

Happy Sunday.....

Happy Sunday you gorgeous people! Just thought I would have a quick chat lol. Well, today is a day of browsing.......blogs, on-line craft sites, blog challenges......product reviews............my list is endless! I have my notebook and pen to hand....how many times do we all browse the net, thinking I want one of those, and then forget where it was or which Crafty shop it was at...unless you've popped it into your basket there and then.
I love looking at all the latest crafty goodies....some of my fave online stores are Honeypot crafts, PolkaDoodles, Create and Craft.. in fact I have a lot of different  ones in my favourites list, but these are my top 3!
I have some ideas that I'm jotting down too for my crafty makes tomorrow. Monday is my day off work, so tomorrow I am having a full on craft day. I will be doing some stamping, and I have decided to experiment a little bit with the colouring. I have the following pens, kuretake, pro markers, and whispers. I will be altering between these 3 sets I have for each image I do. At the moment I am looking at flex markers and Spectrum Noir pens. I havent bought these yet, but I am tempted to!
I know your not going to want to hear this just yet..lol....but don't forget only 91 days to Christmas! A reminder for all of us crafty people that have a lot of cards to make, I know I have and must make a start lol. I also make a calendar every year for my hubby as a gift. I pick a theme every year and stick to this for each of the months. Last year I was still finishing it off Christmas week..hehehehe this year I will try and be a bit more organised! I will have to be, because at the salon December is my busiest month so need to be very, very organised lol.
I have a few ideas of my own that I want to do with my blog too. If you havent noticed already, at the bottom of my blog when you scroll down...I have a list of Crafty Goodies I love...I will be updating this list regularly, as there are so many crafty things I love to use! I am also going to start a 'My crafty friend of the Month', which hopefully they will let me feature them on my blog lol. I havent asked them yet, but hopefully they wont mind lol!
Also, with permission from the online shops Im thinking of, I would like to feature 'My shop of the month' too. With this I will add a link to the site for you all to see....and do a little write up about it. Hopefully I will be able to go ahead with this. I do like to get permission first!
Finally, another feature I would like to do is 'My favourite blog of the month', again with permisson from the blog's I'd like to feature I will put a link to their blog and do a write up for this also.
A lot of work you may think, but once I get the wheels in motion, I'm sure it will be interesting reading. Hopefully you will all enjoy my features on my blog.
I will share with you why I would like to do this. After browsing around various blogs, and craft sites and also my friends galleries...there is so much talent out there. I just want to share with everyone just how much Crafty Talent there is, and I for one love looking at it all. I hope you will enjoy the next journey of my blog, I will be introducing you all to some gorgeous, talented people.....have fun, and most of all happy crafting, with lots of love from me lol ..........NJ XXX

Pretty Sweet Cd Rom from Polka Doodles

I've made this card using the Pretty Sweet Cd-rom that I bought from Polka Doodles. It is gorgeous, to say it is a mini collection there are loads of images. Some of them are already coloured for you like the one I have used, and some you can print off and colour yourself. The backing papers I have printed off are only a small selection of what is available. If you want to treat yourself I really recommend this, it's great value and the possibilities are endless.

Gorjuss Christmas Card

The stamp is Gorjuss Holly. I love these stamps. I have coloured in using promarkers. I used an 8x8 card blank  to make a twisted easel card. The paper is actually wrapping paper that I came across over the week-end, when I saw it I knew it was perfect for this! I have used Co-ordinations black magic cardstock, embossed with a snowflake embossing folder. Sanded lightly to show some of the core. I then stamped the holly from the Gorjuss Winter Wonder stamp set, again coloured with promarkers and added sparkle with a Sakura clear star pen. As I matted and layered I have embellished with some of the broderie anglaise that I also bought. I have embellished with flowers and twine. Time to make this card was around an hour and half.



Vintage lace and ribbon bargains

I have just come back from a lovely week-end staying near Barnard Castle. It was actually a walking week-end for our local Rotary Club, of which my hubby is the President for this year. So, of course he had to do the six mile walk. I on the other hand, along with two of my friends, decided to miss the walk and try and find some nice shops instead!

After deciding where to go, we thought let's go into Barnard Castle Town and see what's there. We had a lovely walk round in the rain lol, and came across this fab shop called My Generation.

Believe me when I say, it was like walking into Aladdin's Cave! Talk about a curiosity shop. It was absolutely amazing. The front of the shop had lovely vintage glasses, ornamental findings, cups and saucers retro and vintage. Cake stands made from plate collections. Just an amazing amount of gorgeous goodies. Walking through to the next part of the shop, there was gorgeous handmade hearts, buttons galore in vintage jars and tins, vintage clothes and shoes.....a fantastic assortment of gorgeousness!

Then, in a corner I spyed all the gorgeous lace and ribbons, at a bargain price a metre. Some bundles also for a small price. When I say a bargain, I mean it. All of the lace is vintage, and if bought anywhere else you probably would pay at least triple the price what I paid. As you can imagine, I got a few metres to start with lol!

It did'nt end there, you walk through another part of the shop and there is another section selling unusual vintage jewellery, wall hangings, bunting, boxes and pads. Some very Cath Kidston looking items, just beautiful, made buy one of the girls who works in the shop. Very talented!

So, after having a good browse around.......buying my goodies...off we went!

We had a walk around and stopped off for coffee and cake......while sat chatting about what I had bought already, I decided with my friends to go back to the shop and get some more lace....who could resist. So this is how I have bought so much as you can see above, lol, my friends where like my assistants lol, taking each one I chose through to the front of the shop to get the amount I wanted cut off the roll. I told my husband when he saw it all that I actually blame them for encouraging me...not that I needed any encouragement. Anyhoo, I have absolutely loads of fab ideas for what projects I'm using it all on, so keep your eyes open for the makes.

I highly recommend a visit to My Generation. Suzanne and Helen who work there are so helpful, friendly and lovely to chat to. I really enjoyed my visit, I was there a while lol. The shop has a facebook page too which you can like.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/mygeneration.barnardcastle

A truly charming shop that sells all things Vintage and Retro, certainly worth a visit.


I hope you enjoyed reading about my crafty find.......I'm certainly glad I stumbled across this lovely place!
Have fun and happy crafting, lots of love NJ XXXX

Me To You Christmas Card

I have stamped the Tatty Ted onto white card and coloured in using Kuretake Brushables. Using the Especially for You Digital Designer discs I printed out backing paper and matted and layered onto an 8x8 card blank. I have embellished with a doily, punched flowers and pearls, ribbon and brads. The ribbon rosette I have made, and it is shown in the 'NJ's Crafty Tips' Ribbons section. The greeting is also printed from the disc. Finish with stickles glitter glue.