Website of the Week

I seem to have spent the last couple of weeks reading loads and loads of incredible card-making blogs, all with cards on that make me think, 'That's exactly how I want my cards to look.' Unfortunately I seem to have spent so much time reading blogs I've had very little time left to write my own! Oops.
I was trying to think where it all started, and I think it may be the Lily of the Valley website, which has totally captivated me. I'm sure, if you're remotely into card making, you'll already have visited. I kept seeing adverts for their stamps which I thought were lovely, but didn't really apply to me, but then I saw a card in one of the mags that was very similar to this, and I thought, 'Now I have to have this.'


Finally, after a great deal of what I consider 'make do and mend,' this is my idea of a Christmas card.
One thing leads to another, doesn't it? The above card is made from a stamped image called 'Dropping The Shopping'. While I was browsing, I couldn't resist this set of what they call 'cute squares'. They come as they are, so you don't need to colour them in (you get someone else's much better efforts instead!) The backing papers are also available for download from the website. This was my first attempt at buying downloadable stuff, and it worked really well. And of course, once you've downloaded them, you've got them for ever.

These images are so sweet, I was smitten.

But of course, the advantage to having the stamp is that you can colour it in in any way you wish, to match various backing papers, which is why I did this:



And I have to say, although I am very pleased with some of the Christmas cards I've made this year, this one is definitely my favourite so far. It isn't quite finished, though. I'm waiting for some flowers to arrive which I'm going to use on it. There is one more card to come, which fits my idea of Christmas card perfection, but I'll show you that some time next week.
I just want to add a big thankyou to Margaret of Christian Chick Crafts who heard my cry for help last week and sent me a set of die cut circles with slightly bigger scalloped circles to aid me in my craft making. She also sent me loads of papers and a beautiful set of stamps that I've already used in my scrapbooking (I'll show you soon). Thankyou so much Margaret, they are fabulous.
And so, Lily of the Valley meets all my requirements of a good website because:
1. The stamps and cards are good value for money.
2. They have an excellent, awe inspiring gallery.
3. They have a terrific blog, which I now follow.
4. My goods arrived very quickly (always a good thing when you're dying to play with something new!)
5. They have the best tutorial on using Promarkers I've ever seen. Click here to have a look.

So pop over when you get a moment, I guarantee you'll be inspired.

Well I'm off to ride in the rain. Lately, it's either that or don't ride. Good old British weather, you can't beat it, can you?
Have a great weekend, everyone.
Mrs O.

Website Of The Week

Hello all.
As planned, I thought each week on a Friday I'd showcase a website that I've found really useful in my card making explorations. They're not in any order of preference, just websites that stand out.
So the first one is Card Making Magic. com run by a woman called Christina. She puts on tutorials that are really easy to follow. Because of this website I've successfully made tri-fold cards and off-set gatefold cards because the instructions were really clear. Her video tutorials are really good, too, with an excellent one on making paper bows, which now adorn loads of my cards and one on making acetate flowers, which look fantastic. I'll be dipping into this website regularly from now on. It's certainly earned its spot on my favourites bar. Hop on over when you get a moment, but put the kettle on first, I guarantee you'll be there a while.
Anyway, I haven't been idle this week, and have a few cards to show you.


This is one of the Christmas fairy stamps. I've decided once she stops involving herself in festive activities, she's actually quite nice. There is a story behind these backing papers. I saw them featured in a magazine article and thought they were lovely, so I ordered them from someone on ebay. When they came, I flicked through them and found that not one of them even faintly resembles those used in the magazine article. I was so cross, I felt like ringing the magazine up and asking them what papers they used, as they certainly weren't the Basic Grey Lemonade pack, as stated. Never mind, I am using them here and there, so I suppose it doesn't matter, but I wasn't very impressed at the time, as you can imagine.

This card was made using the Owlgate stamp again, which is very sweet. It occurred to me yesterday that I could print out the name of our farm in small print and put it like a sign on the gate, which I think would look quite cute.

I've put glitter round the owls hats, and what you probably can't tell is that they're looking at each other as if they're thoroughly embarrassed about having to wear silly hats.

I don't know what these backing papers are called, as I bought them last year, when I didn't have a clue what I was doing, and I've lost the cover. What I do know is that they're very frustrating to work with and I'll be glad when they're all gone. I've learned a lot about backing papers recently. I've learned that they should be exactly that, 'backing papers,' items in the background that say, "Hello," not "HELLO!" A lot of papers I've come across this year are far too loud and don't sit back where they belong. Behave yourselves, please, backing papers!

Anyway, I'm off to brace myself against the cold, and go and ride The Boy. He'll be thrilled, I'm sure.

Have a good weekend, everyone.

Mrs O.