Friday Sketch Challenge #62

Morning everybody

Survived another week and its Friday all over again, so happy weekend to everyone and I hope you get everything done you wish for before the doldrums of Monday Morning return.

Today over at Friday Sketch Challenge we have another challenge starting and our sponsor for this fortnight is                                                                              


                                                                     Digi Stamp Boutique

And the winning prize is a £5.00 Voucher 

                                                           Sketch by the Lovely Marie

Isn't it a gorgeous Sketch I really enjoyed making my card 

So without further ado 

So why not pop over and join in the fun you never know you might be the lucky one.

Lots of love

Alison x

Morning

Good Morning to everybody

Feeling a bit better again today, although still achy but at least the headache as gone.  I have another candle to showcase today which I made this morning before having breakfast.  

I ordered a lovely stamp from LOTV yesterday so hoping it will arrive soon so I can have a play with it for my DT card with Fantasy Stampers.  The Lovely Annie made me a watermark for my cards and have had a play with it this morning and it is beautiful.  A BIG THANK YOU Annie.  

Well here is my candle had a lot of trouble with this mould as it comes in two halves and when I put it together I noticed that one side does not quite seal and it leaks fixed it for now by putting some blue tac to form a seal and am going to contact the company to see if I can exchange it.

Sorry about the poor picture quality but the light in here is not very good today.

and

Here is a little thank you card for the Soap Kitchen who have helped me sort my recipe out for my soap which went horribly wrong when I bought new moulds, have used the watermark that Annie designed for me I just love it.

Well am off to do a bit of blog hopping then I need to go the shop to get fresh veg for tonight's dinner.

Love Alison 

Afternoon All its not raining yippee

Afternoon all

I tried to get caught up with everybody's post yesterday but just could not sit at the computer long enough to catch up so will do that today as I am feeling slightly better today thank goodness still have a headache though.  I am typing this while on the phone  (holding) trying to get someone out to rod the drain that the shower water goes into as its full of silt, well they have made a tentative appointment for this afternoon so just have to wait and see if they turn up.

I  have been on another candle making spree with another new mould that arrived yesterday and have to say I am delighted with how this candle has turned out.  Used White Musk as a perfume as I love the smell of it and I always keep the first candle I make with each mould as a sample to show people at craft fairs etc.

So what do you think?

Well am off to catch up with everybody's wonderful creations and also do some long awaited DT Work.

Love Alison xxx

Morning All

Hi Everybody

Just a quick post today as I am not feeling too good again, I will not give in to this crazy Fibromyalgia but today I am listening to my body, really tired, headache and very lethargic achy and just generally feeling unwell.  Hate it, Hate it!

Today's make for you is a beaded bookmark, needless to say that this will the only thing beaded I will ever make as my poor fingers and wrists afterwards ached for days, but I did enjoy making it at the time, even though a few curse words were flying around lol.

Am off to do a bit of blog hopping now, to catch up with everyone and then I need to make a thank you card for the staff at the Soap Kitchen who have been so helpful in answering questions regarding the change in my soap as I have bought new moulds.

Bye for now

Alison xxx

Afternoon Everybody

Hello, its been a dry day here today on Dartmoor or at least for the afternoon it has.  Alan had the day off work today as I had to go for a medical for DWP, just waiting for report now.

Sarah put some ice in the freezer last night and I had heard of Ice candles but never tried to make one before so as I was making a candle for a friend I decided to have a play, these candles are very fragile and so will not be travelling any great distances as I could not guarantee that they would arrive in one bit.  But they do look lovely, this one is scented with Heliotrope and smells gorgeous.

Sorry about the picture its a little dark but you can see the holes in the candle this is where the ice was think they look beautiful.  Well I finally caught up with my DT blogs and my own blogging last night and am off in a sec to see all your wonderful creations since I turned the computer off about 11.30pm.

Alan took Bella out for a long run through the woods earlier this afternoon and when they got back they both got in the shower together both full of mud, poor old Bella looked like a drowned rat lol.

Well am off to look at your wonderful creations.  

Bye for now Alison 

Evening all

Hi everybody

Hope you are all in the warmth and staying dry.  It is really windy and pouring with rain here on Dartmoor so much so am having to turn the heater on in my little craft room it's got very cold all of a sudden, I have been busy trying to catch up with some DT work sadly behind really must start catching up.

I received my new candle moulds in the post yesterday and just had to have a play with them, really pleased how my new pillar candles have turned out, I am now just waiting for a couple more that I ordered and the wax as I have run out of pillar candle wax.

I promise to try and get to you all and do some commenting just life gets in the way of crafting and blogging sometimes, Sarah helped me make my candles whilst I perched on my stool out in the kitchen as I couldn't stand for very long what would I do without her bless.

I am going to try and make these in different colours so hopefully will get some photo's of them when finished, these have turned out cream.

Well am off to sort dinner out Alan & Sarah Cooking me supervising lol  will catch up with everybody later.

Love for now 

Alison xx

Some Wonderful News + Card for DT Call

Hi All

Hope you are all ok and hugs to those who are not.  I have had some fantastic news, yesterday out of the blue I recieved a telephone call from a lovely lady by the name of Deirdre from the Army/Devon & Dorset's magazine who had been given my name by one of her colleagues and she said she had seen my Facebook page Crafts by Alison and wondered if I would like to advertise my wares in their monthly magazine for a fee of £99.00 a year, the magazine is published monthly and my advert would go in every month for 12 months, of course I jumped at the chance so now all I have to do is update my Facebook page as have not really been putting anything on it.  What a brilliant opportunity am doing a happy jig, sitting in my chair as still having trouble with my back.


As you all know if you have read my previous blog they are having a DT call over at Cuddly Buddly  and I previsously made a card but then realised that I had to use things I had bought from the shop at Cuddly Buddly so had to make another one this is the card/box and bag I made with Kim Macfarlane's template and teddy bear plus papers patchwork blue's, coloured the image with promarkers cut out the pram, safety pin and Baby sentiment from a Marilyn die that had been bought for me previously from Cuddly Buddly by one of my sisters as a present, the ribbon is around the box is also from cuddly buddly, the rest if from stash as I have to use some of my stash before I can think about buying any more as I will get told off my hubby for overspending my monthly craft pennies.

Project underway

this is the start of the box cutting all hard lines and folding on dotted line

the other side of the card has been printed with one of the downloaded patchwork blue papers

Cutting and folding the stepper card again other side of card is decorated with the downloaded patchwork blue papers

Making the box neat

Decorating the box used Ribbon from Cuddly Buddly and pearls from stash 

So here we go with the card, box and gift bag which was a last minute make.

I really enjoyed making this hope you like it.

Alison xxx

New Challenge - For the Girls

Morning Everybody

Hope everybody is well, hugs to those that need it.  We have a New Challenge over at Crafting For All Seasons and the theme is Something for the Girls.

Our sponsor this fortnight is

  Lacy Sunshine 

Winning Prize - 3 images

Boy do they have some fantastic images, they are all so cute.  So why not join in with the challenge and you never know you may be the lucky winner of those beautiful images, I am so jealous.

My card is using Rory Urchin and I really enjoyed making this card it was a treat to work with such a gorgeous digi image how cute is she

I tried to do a bit of frantage on this card first time ever not sure if it turned out well or not but I like it. Flowers and ribbon from stash,  coloured with mixture of Prismacolor pencils and Promarkers.  Pop along and see the rest of the Team's delightful creations they are all much better than mine, lol x

Love Alison x

Evening Everybody

Hi all

Just a quick blog before I go to bed and try and get some sleep, got my painkillers sorted at the Dr's was it only yesterday seems like years ago, took Bella to the vets today for her annual injections and the vet made her bleed poor love.  She's ok though.

We got wet through walking to the village or Bella walking and me shuffling, had to go the post box was on my knees in agony by the time we got back.

Was asked to go back as the Secretary to the Cornwood Agricultural and Horticultural Show and I said yes and last night was the AGM so I took minutes and spent today trying to sort the files out that the secretary who took over from me 18 months ago dumped outside the Chairman's door at 4am yesterday morning, but cannot find any paperwork pertaining to the 18 months that he had been Secretary.    All files are sorted now and in relevant dates and ready for archiving.

I have a card to show you tonight which was part of a commission for my next door neighbours son's birthday.

Well that's it from me tonight am all up to date with my blogging to my lovely bloggy friends and all my DT blogging caught up with as well.  Need to make some more DT cards and also make some Soap Boxes for packaging the 80 bars of soap that are sitting on my chest of drawers in the bedroom so that I can make room for more soap when I get around to making it.

Night Night

Alison x

Oldie but a Goodie - Recycle

Morning Everybody

If all works well this post will be scheduled.  Hope you are all well and keeping warm.  It is my second outing as part of the Design Team at Oldie but a Goodie and this fortnight's theme is Recycle.

I decided I would recycle a Christmas Card which had a lovely sentiment on it and this is what I came up with

Very simple card, used pearlised black card then mounted the sentiment and used an oval die to cut out added a few gems and a card was reborn.

Why not pop over and join in with the challenge, and see all my teammate's creations can't wait to see your creations and of course it doesn't have to be a card as long as its recycled.

Bye for Now 

Alison xxx

Morning Everybody

Hi everyone

Hope the weather is as gorgeous for you as it is here on Dartmoor, the sun is shining so much so I just had to get up early so I wouldn't waste the day.

Today's card was for the DT Call over at Cuddly Buddly but just read the rules and you have to use all their goodies so am going to post this and then off to buy stuff from them to make another card.

Am waiting for the doctor to call as my back is really bad again and I have run out of painkillers so need an urgent prescription but can't have it until I have spoken with the GP.

Well here is my card, I will probably be back soon with another card for the DT Call.

Will be back later to do some blog hopping.

Love Alison xxx

Afternoon everybody

Hello everybody beautiful crisp day today, makes such a change to have the sun shining as well as doing more soap, the couple of batches I re-batched yesterday have not worked think I have added too much water so am having to do this all over again, but without added water.  This does not harm the soap in any way so at least I am not having to throw them all out.  I am now cutting boxes out on the Silhouette, thank god for this lovely machine don't fancy having to cut nearly two hundred boxes, its bad enough just sitting here feeding the card and pressing cut lol.   I have had a commission in for six  cards so got cracking on them and the first is for a Baby Girl card from her Great Grandparents, not too sure about the image, Sarah seems to think its a bit weird lol.

The second card is for a lady who is a teacher and loves to swim but I could not find on Google any images that I liked wanted a Victorian Bathing Belle on her own but this image kept popping up and I quite liked it so used that.

So that is two of the cards out of the way have started on another one which I will get to after I have cut out the first 20 boxes and the ribbons to go around the box.

Alan and Sarah have taken Bella out down to Saltram House (National Trust)  for a lovely long walk and are going to the shop to get some fresh veg on the way back.  I decided to stay home and have five minutes to myself.

Well am off to do a bit of blog hopping now and to do some DT blogging so hope to see you all again soon.

Love Alison xx

New Challenge at Open-Minded Crafting Fun Blog

Morning all

Our second challenge over at Open Minded Crafting Fun and our challenge for you this fortnight is Warmth- Food or Clothing.  We have some fabulous sponsors and we would love for you to join in with us 

Sponsors 

Digital Delights 

Digi Stamps 4 Joy

Digi Darla Designs

QKR Stampede

www.zibbet.com/SentimentalSusan

The Design Team were able to choose a digi to work with and I chose Cutie Pie - The Secret Ingredient

and I thoroughly enjoyed colouring this image and designing my layout.

Why not pop along and see the other wonderful cards the Design Team have created and join in with the fun we have some fantastic prizes.  Look forward to seeing your creations.

Love Alison 

Fantasy Stampers 2nd Challenge - Anything with Wings

Morning Everybody

Hope you are all well.  Today is the start of our second challenge over at Fantasy Stampers and the theme is Anything with Wings, well what else could I use but my gorgeous LOTV stamp and without further ado here is my card.  The backing papers were from a freebie, flowers are from The Ribbon Girl, Doily was from a pack I bought a couple of years ago and still have a few left.  Sentiment is also from LOTV.

Why not pop along and join in with the challenge, we would love to see your creations, you never know it might be your turn to win. Good Luck to all those that enter. 

Will be back blog hopping a bit later today.  

Lots of love

Alison  

Friday Sketch Challenge #61

Morning everybody hope you are all keeping well and warm.

Today is Friday Sketch Challenge Time and we would love for you to come over and join in the fun.  Today's sketch is by the lovely Kelly and this certainly got the old juices going as I wanted to do this beautiful sketch justice.  

Today's sponsor is 

and the Prize for the winning entry is

$5 Gift Certificate

Here is my card, hope you like it

Shades of Purple 

Why not pop over to Friday Sketch Challenge

and join in the fun 

Off to do a bit of blog hopping now

Love Alison xxx

Evening All

I am so sorry not to have been checking your blogs out over the last couple of days but have been busy sorting my soap out, I decided I would rebatch all my soap (had to grate it all into small bits) and use my new moulds so that all my soaps are all the same size, so far I have rebatched the following

Lavender & Patchouli
Honey and Oats
Rose Geranium
Marjoram, Fennel and Avocado
Coconut
Orange and Lemon
Non-Perfumed

Picture of my Honey & Oats below these little bars weigh in at 90g and I am selling them boxed for £3.00 think that should be ok, don't want to undersell myself nor do I wish to overprice my goodies

These just need to cure now for around 4-6 weeks 

Back to making my normal soap first no grating thank goodness my hands are quite sore.  

I have been asked to make three cards so I must get on with them, have just finished all my DT blogging so am off to look at all your wonderful creations just now.  Got my car back yesterday from the garage they have done a wonderful repair to my boot where I backed into a wall, only trouble is Sarah's car is in the garage so Alan is using mine and Sarah is using her Dad's so I am left without transport and as the bus is very few and far between from here to anywhere am staying home where its dry and warm.

Off to do some blog hopping now

Love Alison xx

Such a Naughty Blogger

Hi Everybody

Not caught up with you for a few days as I have been trying to sort my soap out which thankfully all done, I phoned The Soap Kitchen, where I buy all my stuff from to make soap and candles as their customer service is first rate and the staff all fall over themselves to help you fantastic service.  I spoke with Richard who is the founder of the company and explained that I had changed my soap moulds to loaf mould to tray mould and explained that my soap was the same texture of goats cheese.

He took my recipe that I use to make my soap and went away for a short while, within the hour I had a call from him telling me my recipe was wrong for tray moulds and gave me the correct format using my ingredients well chuffed will have a go tomorrow and see.

In the meantime I have rebatched the soap that went wrong added some colourant to make swirls in the soap and they have turned out perfect, only have to let them cure now for 4-6 weeks and all ready for the next market I attend.

Below is Lavender & Patchouli Soap 

This is re-batched soap (or French Milled) depends where you are from

Now just have to cure them and box them 

Will be back later on to do some blog hopping.

Love Alison xx

Morning Everybody

Hope you all had a good weekend, mine was certainly productive two DT cards finished and a card for me to post, I also made some lavender soap but have a problem have cured it overnight and I should be able just to tip it out of the mould (my new one) but for some reason the soap is very crumbly and is breaking when I try to take it out, think it may be too much water as I got Alan to measure it for me and think he may of put too much in.  Have popped it in the freezer for a couple of hours and will try again if not will have to throw this away and make a new batch.

The card I want to share with you today is an anniversary card, the image is from Dr Digi which I think has some fab fun images of which I now own a few of, can you tell I could not sleep last night was up until 3.30am and then had to take Sarah to work so was up at 7am, am tired now but will have to keep myself going otherwise I will be up all night again.

The silicone Glue is showing through on the photo but does not on the card thank goodness.  Am off to have some breakfast now and then as all the housework is done, Alan and Sarah set too yesterday, I can sit and relax and make another card yippee

Will be back blog hopping later 

Love Alison xxx

Had A Great Time

Hi All

Had a lovely afternoon at Rachel's doing a bit of crafting - colouring images in ready to make cards with.  We also discussed my website and the fact that some of my cards because I have made them with Crafter's Companion images I am not allowed to put them online, also the bag I made for my soap is also due to copyright laws not suitable for me to use commercially and a couple of other things came to light so I have decided to close the website for now and just concentrate on a few more markets which when looking we have found one that is only held 4 times a year so Rachel and I are thinking of doing that together and I can concentrate on getting my soap stocks built again and making some more candles.    In a way it's a relief knowing that I don't have to keep the pace up in making soap etc.

My new soap moulds turned up today so am going to have a go at making some more soap tomorrow think it is the turn of unscented and also lavender, and if I have enough lavender and patchouli which always sells well.

On another positive note I have found a course that offers a more in-depth knowledge of soap making so am going to book myself onto that.  I am also going to start using my poor neglected sewing machine and will post my make when I have completed it, have started cutting material already lol.  I have ordered myself a pattern for a couple of bags that I would like to make but before that I need to make a nice cover for my sewing machine.

Well that's it from me for now have no card to post as I did not get around to making one but will try and sort something out for tomorrow.

Night Night

Love Alison 

Am off Crafting at Rachel's this afternoon

Morning all

How are you today, keeping warm and well I hope.   Had a lovely night's sleep last night the first in ages although very tired just not been able to sleep.

Alan passed his 17th Edition Exam although he reckons it was touch and go as nothing sunk in, but he is just a born worrier I had no qualms about him not passing.

I am off to Rachel's today for a crafty afternoon am going to work on some DT cards so will not be able to post them until the date set, so sorry for being a tease.

But I do have something to show you, what do you reckon to this little favor bag have done it this color so that it shows better than the white.

I have also redesigned my soap packet again, I decided the box I showed you in a previous post would be too much like hard work especially when the orders start coming in, it would of meant my making the blue label for each box and then sticking it down so I thought I would go for something a bit simpler and also could use the labels I already have in stock and are by Avery so already sticky, just a bit of magic worked on publisher and away we go.

This is just a template as I am awaiting card stock to arrive so had to use a pearlised card and it doesn't like the folds I want it to do keep splitting but at least I know what it looks like when put together.

Right am off to have a shower and get my bits and bobs ready to take with me to Rachel's.

Will blog hop later.

Love To All

Ali xx

Up Early Today

Morning all

How is everybody, this weather is certainly affecting my bones, arthritis playing up badly today but hey ho there are people out there worse off than me.   My car has gone to the garage to have the boot door replaced after I backed into a wall before Christmas, the courtesy car looks nice hope it's ok to drive, never driven a Citroen before.

I decided I wanted to make a card for the hell of it today although I have loads to sell I wanted to make some wedding invitations to put onto my website.

Alan has been on a course all week, something about 17th Edition (Electrics) and he has his exam today think he is slightly worried as he says his brain doesn't seem to want to take it in but I think he is just a worrier and he'll be fine, I mean he has been an Electrician for around 45 years, omg just realised how old he is, I never seem to think of him as getting older to me he is still that 25 year old I met all those years ago.

Well here is my card I have used a tattered lace bow which I bought ages ago and made 250 wedding invitations using it but then put it away sick of the sight of it, but wanted to bring it out and give it some love again.

Well am off to add more stuff to my website will be back later to do a bit of blog hopping.

Love to All

Alison x

New Challenge #68 All things bright and beautiful at Crafting for All Seasons

Hi All

Its a New Year and a New Fortnight over at Crafting for All Seasons so why not pop over and see the wonderful prizes that are going to the lucky winner of this challenge, #68 All Things Bright and Beautiful.

Our sponsor is The Paper Shelter

And the prize is $20.00 Gift Certificate


Here is my card I used Follow me on Fairy Book which I think is so cute, just love all the digital images at the Paper Shelter and now I have discovered them will certainly be buying more.

I added some glamour dust to this to make it look like fairy glitter, also added the unicorn, bunny and flowers and some butterflies.  Why not pop over and see what the rest of the team have come up with such a talented group of ladies, not sure why I am in it lol but love taking part in bringing you these wonderful images.

Will be back blog hopping later.

Loads of love

Alison xxxx

Morning All

Well if you have been following me over the couple of months you will know that I have been wanting to get on to Design Teams for ages and now I am full, shortly before Christmas the lovely Francesca of  oldie but a goodie challenge blog contacted me to ask if I would like to be on their Design Team and of course how could I say no, I was delighted to have been asked.  Thank you Janice for putting my name forward.

Today is my first Challenge with the team and as its a new year our theme is New Beginnings which is very apt.  I have used a Mo Manning image which I have had for quite a while and not used it, and coloured in with promarkers and spectrum noir pens, papers, flowers and gems are from stash.

So why not pop along and play with us and also see the wonderful designs by the rest of the team.  You never know you may just win.

Love Alison xxx

Morning all

It is very early or very late depends on how you look at it really, it is 01.36 am and I am not in the little bit ready for bed, have been like this for the past week, just not able to sleep no matter how tired I am.

I have had a lovely crafty afternoon over at Rachel's managed to make a card  whilst chatting and drinking tea and having a good old catch up, really enjoyed it, can't show you the card as it is part of my DT work which I sorely needed to catch up on.  But don't worry I do have something to show you.

As most of you know I not only make cards but I make soap and candles as well, and as I am starting a new venture with an online shop to sell my goodies thought I better upgrade my packaging on soap from this

old packaging

To this 

It took me nearly two days to sort this box out, no glue is involved its all cutting and folding which was created on the Silhouette Cameo and took me two days to get it exactly as I wanted it, as you can see already has soap inside and the smell is gorgeous.  Only have to make the rest of the soap to go inside these little boxes the next weight is no less than 75g and I will be selling them at around £3.00 a box plus postage what do you reckon was previously selling them for £2.50 but I can only get one box out of one A4 Sheet and it will not fit to make two with a 12 x 12 so the card for the boxes is going to be rather expensive.

Well that's about it from me for now am off to do a little blog hopping before I go to bed.

Love to all

Alison xx

Brand New Challenge

Morning Everybody

I am so excited to bring to you today another brand new challenge blog called

Open Minded Crafting Fun

Our first challenge is New Toys or Techniques 

Mine is learning to use liquid pearls and colouring in hair.  I have used a fantastic image from one of our sponsors

 A day for daisies

This gorgeous image is called Pearls in her hair 

We also have the following sponsors for this challenge

Crafty Sentiments

Eureka Stamps

Milk Coffee

So why not pop along to the blog and see the talented work of the rest of the Design Team

and join in with the fun, you never know you might win a fantastic prize from one of our lovely sponsors

Love Alison xxx

First Ever Challenge for

Morning all


Today we see the first ever challenge over at Fantasy Stampers and our theme this week is Favourite Stamp, so why not pop along and join in with the challenge you never know you may just win.

I decided to use two inkylicious stamps as I could not pick between them which one I wanted to use as I love them both.  I masked off the moon and used distress inks on linen card stock to create the background and then used versa mark ink to stamp the images.

Our Design Team consists of three other very talented ladies:

             Jan - Owner

Sandra

Carole

 so why not pop along to the blog and check out their wonderful creations

Look forward to seeing your wonderful creations

Alison xx 

It's Friday and Challenge #60 at Friday Sketch Challenge Blog

Morning all

Hope you have had a good holiday and eat loads and enjoyed being with family.

Today is the first post for the New Year here at Friday Sketch Challenge and we have a sketch for you from the lovely Claudia

  

Our Sponsor this fortnight is


Meljen Designs


and the prize for the lucky winner is

$5 Gift Certificate

Here is my card which I made for my dear blogging buddy Annie's Dad and should be winging it's way to Australia as I type.

Why not pop over and see what the rest of the design team have designed
and you never know if you enter you might just be picked as a winner

Love Alison xx

Evening all

Hi how is everybody?

I have been fairly busy today, trying to make a box for my soap to go into cut it out on cameo but still not big enough using A4 sheet don't really want to go into a 12 x 12 if I can help it.

So I cut it out by hand and it's perfect will show it to you once a few bits of tweaking has been done.  This is what I have been up to over the last couple of days

Made a couple of pillar candles the red one is apple and the two white ones are White Musk

Middle block is honey and oats this will lighten slightly as it cures this was made in my new mould which I hope will eventually replace the moulds I have been using and which I made the other bars in.  The other bars are two of Marjoram, Fennel and Avocado and then two of Rose Geranium 

I am nearly up and running on my website can't be ordered from yet as I have not linked my paypal account to it yet thought I would wait until everything was on it but if you want to check it out then click here 

Will be back later to do a bit of blog hopping 

Love Alison xx