Getting Back to Normal…..

Hi All,

Sorry its been a while but I think I think that I have finally emerged from beneath the sea of removal boxes Ha Ha! In fact I have actually managed to make a couple (or 5) new cards since my last post but still working with limited materials as my destined craft area is still yet to sorted out, so I have lots of new ideas to try but will need to be patient for a wee while yet.  I am hoping that given another week, I shall as they say be back in business.

Whilst I may have been unable to create I have been trying to promote both my facebook page http://www.facebook.com/BeGreets and my Etsy shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/BespokeGreetings so that I don’t disappear completely.  I am also hoping that now I am living in the lovely city of Edinburgh I shall be able to find a regular spot at a nearby craft market so as to do a bit of face to face selling  or failing that find a corner/shelf to rent in one of the many gift/craft shops here.

Since my last post I have heard that I am to have more of my work published in both Do crafts Creativity magazine and Papercraft Essentials so that is as always very exciting.

As well as my cards I  have lots of projects to complete for my new house by way of up cycling a few things (will post pics as and when I complete them.)

Here are the few cards that I have made over the weekend as soon as i get my designated craft area sorted there will be many more.

Well I’ll say “Bye for now” until next time Debbie X

For the glamour girl in your life!

Don’t usually do much in the way of cards for children (unless commissioned) but made a change.

Mix of traditional elements in a modern style.

Had to do a boy’s card too only fair!

Simple less is more for this one.

Think this is one to be featured in Creativity Magazine…..

Almost moved……

It is almost a week since i last regaled you with tales of my life Ha Ha! It’s definately been a busy one as I’ve had the small people off school (something to do with half term I believe) so not much time to go around but as usual i am up until the wee small hours tinkering about with something or another. Added to that I do have a touch of that horrible flu bug thing that always seems to do the rounds at this time of the year, not that I am sympathy seeking or anything (but all aaaaaahs and good wishes very welcome lol.)  My house move is becoming much more imminent now although I still don’t really have a grip on getting organised for it, I think the word I am looking for here is EeeeeeeK! I think that half of me is still sort of hoping that a moving fairy will materialise from somewhere and lift the burden from upon me (oooooo very dramatic eh!) lets just say if I don’t buck up my ideas soon I will be screeching with panic next week (I wonder if it is possible to do that via text, perhaps we shall see……)

Right on the craft front what have I been up to? Well I knitted another Bunny this time for my niece Milly and I have made a couple more cards, one of which was for

friends card

my friend’s birthday. I have knitted an iced ring do-nut lol and am part the way through knitting an iced finger, although even typing that seems somewhat ludicrous Ha Ha!  I am absolutely loathe to start packing away any of my craft stuff and fully intend not to be parted from it until the very last-minute as I am convinced that crafting is the only thing that keeps me even partially sane, although I am sure that there are those that would question my level of sanity with or without crafting …….

I also received a surprise gift from Cardmaking Essentials magazine for having one (is actually 2) of my cards printed in the latest issue of their magazine so that’s always exciting.

Well I will now endeavour to attach some of the pictures of my latest handiwork to this before drift off in search of more cold and flu pills (poor me…) Until next time.

Debbie x

Love is in the air?

Well Valentines Day is almost upon us although I have to say I am a little disappointed by the lack of Valentine card sales but hey ho, Mothers Day next. I think that I might need to look into finding somewhere to sell on a face to face basis once I move, (I’d prefer that as I like a bit of a chat anyway.)

On the plus side I have managed to feature in a magazine in one way shape or form lol no less than 5 times in the last month so I must be doing something right somewhere. In fact I had an e-mail yesterday to say that I am to be in the May edition of “Creativity” magazine concerning my dabble with Steampunk.  It is all very exciting and of course sometimes there are prizes involved which is better still. I have just received a wonderful set of paper, card, ribbon,stamps and ink from “Let’s Make Cards” magazine and I’ve also had some lovely prizes from “Quick Cards”  and I am due to receive £30 to spend online from “Craftseller Magazine” and I won another bundle of goodies last week from the “Card making and Papercraft” facebook page so I can’t really grumble.

My 11-year-old daughter is quite fond of knitting on occasion (it took me about 2 years to teach her) and she was lucky enough to receive a bundle of knitting goodies from a very kind lady who lives nearby. It was within this bundle that there was a pattern for making small toys and play food so guess who has been roped in to try her hand at making some of these? Yep got it in one,  so far I have managed to create a small bunny (in neon pink!) A little robot like creature (with a scarf and bobble hat) and a slice of jam swiss roll (yep I really did say a slice of jam swiss roll) I was absolutely amazed at the sheer variety of stuff that can be knitted these days.  I remember bidding on a knitted box chocolates on e bay a wee while ago and believe me having knitted a couple of things the last few days I have a new-found respect for the amount of work that must have gone into that particular item. That said it is quite therapeutic  in a way I am spurred on by my creations to continue so we will see where that takes us. I have to say that I am quite fascinated by the idea of knitting cakes.

I have to admit that it has been quite a crafty week in various forms as I also managed to purchase a sewing machine that does all kinds of fancy things, most of which I have never heard of I have to say lol. To tell the truth it has been more years than I care to disclose since I last had any kind of encounter with one, although I do remember at school being forced to make a somewhat hideous pinafore dress (mine turn out so huge that it could have served as a tent for the majority of the class). At the moment it sits in its box pristine and gloating from the hall, as my excuse is that I am moving the beginning of next month so there is no point in getting it all set up now.  My daughter said that being as I have taught her to knit I could now teach her the art of using a sewing machine, however I feel that I may just need someone to teach me first Ha Ha , watch this space for updates on that one.

A s you can see I have made a few cards this week so it’s definately not been forgotten in favour of the

Just love this Owl

Card and Gift in one

First creation after oriental material delivery

new-found knitting craze.

Well really must go as found a fab shape template for a card online yesterday that I really want to try, and as they say (whomever they maybe) there is no time like the present. Until next time I shall bid you goodbye.

Debbie x

 

End of another Week.

Well here we are another Friday they seem to be coming round quicker than ever . It has been an extremely busy one this week I don’t think that I have been to bed before 1am one single night but hey ho things to be done etc etc. I had a bit more excitement this week as received a package in the post that I wasn’t expecting and on opening it found that I had been sent a whole load of crafting goodies from the “Lets Make Cards” team as I was having a letter/card printed in this months issue , lots of fab stuff from Stampin up which i am looking forward to using very soon.

Also this week I have been re taking my photos for my listings on Etsy in an effort to make it look more appealing/professional and whilst that has been extremely time-consuming and has given me a bit of a headache at times I think the end result is well worth all the extra effort, as it looks so much brighter. In fact tomorrow is the 1 month anniversary of the shop opening so I expect you all to check out the brand new look lol and let me know what you think.

Although as you can imagine there’s not been so much time for creating anything I have found time for one or two new card creations which I am putting up for your perusal. I  thought that I had better start thinking about Mother’s Day cards as well as Valentines being as that will also come around quicker than I would like probably. I have also entered

Check out the mini notice board, cute or what!

a couple of competitions online one for Pan Pastels Challenge and the other being the Forever Friends Challenge so fingers crossed.

Well must get back to doing some thing creative, until next time “Bye”.

Debbie x

More publishing Excitement!!!!!!

As you have probably guessed by the title of this post I am a wee bit excited about publishing again. This time it seems that the letter I wrote about my starting the “Etsy Shop” is to feature in a future issue of Craftseller magazine I received, an e mail to tell me so yesterday (fab start to the year), also later in the day my husband called me in to say that he too had received an e mail to say that I was also to feature in another magazine “Wait for it”………………………… as ‘Face of Fatigue’ LOL! It seems that he had entered a picture (might I say a particularly unflattering one ) of me at the top of a hill that we climbed together a short time ago (he drags me out to do this kind of thing quite frequently so there are plenty of bad pics to choose from lol) for a feature that they run in an outdoors magazine that he reads that involves sending in a pics of people after/during a particularly grueling outdoor activity looking exhausted and mine had won the top prize of a T shirt, oh well lets not look a gift horse in the mouth a prize is a prize, but what a way to win Ha Ha!
I have for you finally the pic of my stuffed owl as promised as well as one of my latest venture of dabbling in the “Steampunk” that I am just loving at the moment, I have so many ideas I don’t know where to start first, this is going to be a very busy year on the crafting front I feel.
In regard to my previous mentions of the ongoing Problems with my Christmas pressie Cricut mini after many wrangles with the not very efficient retailer customer service team by my husband, that has consisted of several lengthy phone calls and more than a few sighs of exasperation it has been sent on its journey back to them today for a full refund and has been replaced by my husband with a manual machine that will hopefully prove to be a lot less bother. I am not ruling out the purchase of another electric die cutter in future just that it will not be a Cricut Mini.
I am going to finish this now as I must make a special card for my very dear friend as it is her birthday next week.
Until next time bye for now.
Debbie x

What’s not to love?

Steampunk Style!

Latest Developments………

Newest creation “Experimentation with felt”

Here I am back again after a whirlwind couple of days, still juggling things with the Etsy shobut gettting there gradually. As you can see I have still managed to fit in making a few more cards. I am particularly pleased with the 2 bubble fronted ones as they are something completely new for me. The “Love” one contains silver glitter and clear sequins with the addition of a single red heart gem and was my very first bubble card. The other one I made his evening and the bubble front showcases the hand cut hand stitched felt hearts. The top heart also being stuffed and incorporating a tiny hanging loop. They were quite fiddly and time consuming to make but I am very pleased with the end result. Also as is shown by the others I am getting some use out of my new embosser toy! I have ventured out to a couple of craft shops/suppliers over the last day or two although I am trying not to go too mad buying stuff, it is very tempting and being the avid bargain hunter that I am there were a couple of bits that were just too good to miss. There looks like there is also a very good chance that i will feature in another card making magazine sometime early in the New Year but more about that once I know a bit more myself, so keep checking back for news of that one. Please have a browse in the shop and tell your friends to pay me a visit too, a little publicity is no bad thing for us struggling crafters trying to make a breakthrough into the big wide world of retail Ha Ha! Until next time.

Debbie x

Getting Published & New Toys!!!!!!!!

Much excitement today for 2 reasons, firstly got an e-mail yesterday to say that the card that I made with “Pink” on is to be published in “Quick Cards Magazine” also this afternoon I have taken delivery of no fewer than 13 sets of embossing folders for my new toy “Sizzix Boutique embossing machine” a bit like Christmas come early me thinks! Needless to say tonight will be spent happily testing out my new purchases so look forward to seeing lots of embossed creations coming this way sometime in the very near future. The chocolate mint cake that was featured in my last post was delicious and was enjoyed by all there is definitely no pre Christmas diets happening in this house Ha Ha! (although afterwards it may be a different story.) Max the birthday boy had a fab day and added to his ever increasing Lego collection which he was pleased about. Cake and Lego whats not to love there when you are 10 eh! Well on that note I will bid you goodbye as lots to be done, I am posting up a pic of a glam New Year card that I did last night, more to come Until next time.

Debbie x

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