Happy New Year's Eve

Monday 31 December 2012
Morning everyone, can you believe we are at the end of 2012 already, I can't believe how this year has flown and so much has happened.

We don't usually celebrate New Year, just a quiet night in really.  Has anyone made any resolutions?  I make them but then forget about them lol !  In 2013 I am determined to become more confident and to follow my crafting dream.....my head is buzzing with ideas but that is nothing new, I'm usually away with the fairies:-)

I've been having a huge sort out of craft stash which I listed to sell on my FB page and I cannot believe it's nearly all gone..I finally have space in my cupboard.  I think Rich is going to have to take control of the bank account though to stop me refilling the space!

Anyhow onto the card.....I have to admit that male cards always fill me with dread and when I was asked to make one with a boxing theme I wanted to bury my head.  I love to scour the internet for the perfect digi image that I feel fits the personality of the person my customer has described, which isn't always easy but that is the perfectionist in me.  I found this great, fun image on I think it was 'Just Inklined' and knew it would fit perfectly.



As you can see from previous cards, I'm a bit of a matting and layering freak and this card is no exception.  I used papers from quite a few different pads to get the look I wanted and I have to say it is one of my favourite cards, despite being a male one!

Looking forward to getting back into the swing of crafting again once the festive period is over, I feel like we have never stopped and I will almost be glad to be back at work to be in some kind of routine again....I said almost !

I hope everyone has a fantastic New Year's Eve and wish you a wonderful 2013

Shelly xx

Happy Belated Christmas!

Thursday 27 December 2012
Hi everyone or should I say hi to my four followers because I just can't seem to get any traffic to my blog:-(  I might add that I think one of the followers is myself, don't know how I managed to do that !

Hope you have had a fantastic Christmas.  We have had a busy but lovely time and it's been great to have some time off together as a family.

Rich spoiled me with lots of crafty goodies, I got some new die-namics, a couple of Paper Smooches Stamp sets and some more CC designs sets which I love.  Tonight I am even making a start on Valentines cards eek!

I have decided to step back a bit from my Facebook Page, Little Megs Cards.  I am not going to be doing custom cards any more as I am starting to lose the love of it and I so want to get it back again.  I am hoping to get some DT work in 2013 and just create because I want to, not because I have to.  I will still be selling cards on there but just on an as and when basis.

I've just created this card for my next Market Night.  I discovered the 'Wee Stamps' site a couple of weeks ago and I just want them all.  These stamps are just so beautiful to colour that I have just loved sitting for the last few nights while Rich has been watching crap on the telly colouring them in, I find it really therapeutic.

For this card I used the new Papermania capsule collection goodies, which combine my love of spots, stripes and pastel colours.  I even got a huge bag of gorgeous pastel buttons for £2.99.  A girl can never have too many buttons :-)


Isn't she just gorgeous!

And here is a selection of images that I have just spent my time colouring....


I also got those big Woodware single stamps for Christmas too, they are great to colour too and are very versatile for different occasions.

Anyway I am off now to do some more colouring and perhaps have a glass of wine (or two)!  Enjoy the rest of your evening.

Hugs
Shelly x

Bringing Christmas Cheer

Tuesday 18 December 2012
Good morning everyone, I hope you have all had a wonderful weekend. I am finally just about organised for my Christmas shopping with a few last minute bits and pieces to do.

I received a lovely message from a customer yesterday which really made my night. A while back I was asked to make a Christmas card for a lady's daughter who is serving in Afghanistan. She wanted a picture that incorporated a little dog as Vicki misses her little dog. This was the card I made for her and her mum sent me a lovely message last night to tell me that Vicki loved her card and attached this fab picture of her holding it.



It's really nice to think that something you have made can bring just a little brightness to what I can only imagine to be an extremely bleak place, particularly at Christmas without your family. It makes me realise how much we take for granted.


Have a great day everyone :-)
Shelly x

A Last Minute Make

Friday 14 December 2012
Finally I can see a light at the end of the tunnel with the Crimbo cards.  My boss asked if I would like to make the company Christmas cards this year, so I've had 50 cards to make which by last weekend I hadn't even started!!  Luckily I have a very good boss so I've been busy making them at work this weekend and hopefully I will get them finished today:-)

I work for a Fostering Agency and my boss has also asked if I would make the birthday cards for the fostered children which is a really nice thing to be asked to do.

One of Little Megs Cards first ever customers contacted me yesterday to say that her cousin is going into hospital next week for a hysterectomy and she is only 30:-(  She asked if I had time to do a get well card for her.  My brief was just bright and cheery and this is what I came up with.

I absolutely love this Sugar and Spice paper pad from Doodlebug.  It's aimed at little girls but some of the papers can be used on other female cards like this.  I didn't really have an idea in mind when I started it which is generally the case and I just play with moving bits of paper around until I like how it looks....very technical lol !


Okay that's all from me today, better get these cards finished off.  Hope you all have a fantastic weekend whatever you are doing :-)

Shelly xx

My First Ever Scrapbook Layout

Tuesday 11 December 2012
Hi there everyone, I'm feeling a bit gutted today, I applied to be on the Doodlebug Design DT for next year but I didn't get on:-(  I know you can't win them all but I wanted it so much!

Anyway some good came out of my application because I created something I have never done before and that was a scrapbook page.  It was great fun to do and it won't be the last one I do....it was just like making a huge card and all the little details suited my style of working.

I used one of my favourite photos of Megan with the rabbit she has had since she was born called Ra Ra.  He is a shadow of his former self now as he has been chewed to bits and only has one ear left.  He has been sewn up that many times is like patchwork and his leg was even sewn back on the wrong way round.  He now wears a jumper that grandma knitted for him because his body is so worn away! 

I have used all Doodlebug papers and stickers, I think the main papers were from the Ladybug Garden collection and I've just gone mad with the details.  I love the bright colours of it and for my first layout I don't think it's bad:-)





I'm at work at the moment so I had better do some 'real' work I suppose lol !

Have a good day

Shelly x

A Change from Christmas

Monday 10 December 2012
Hi everyone (well the small few who read my blog :-) ) Hope you have all had a fab weekend, I can't believe it is Monday already.

Just popping by with a quick post showing a card I made yesterday.  It was so good to make this card after all the Christmas cards I've made lately and I'm really happy with how it has turned out.

My brief was just to use a pink glittery dinosaur so this is my trusty digi stamp from Pink Cat Studio.  I used the Doodlebug Sugar and Spice papers and lots of little embellishment here there and everywhere.



I'm really up against it today so I am going to love you and leave you and try and motivate myself to be productive lol !

Have a great day.

Shelly x

A Day Off

Saturday 8 December 2012
Morning everyone

Well I am up and raring to go with the whole day to myself stretching ahead of me....mmmm what could I do with myself.  The ironing is calling me but I'm getting very good at ignoring it and as someone pointed out yesterday, the piles actually hold the roof of the house up so if I attempted to move them the house would fall down...best to leave it I think!

It's now what the 8th December and I have 50 Christmas cards to make for work that I haven't even started aaaargh!  When my boss asked me if I would like to make the company Christmas cards it seemed like a really good idea....back in October.  Now the reality of it is here and we have got to this point and I havent even started makes me a little panicky.

So I'm guessing that's my task for the day sorted.  So that just leaves me to show you a card I made which went all the way to Australia.  A lovely lady contacted me through my FB page to ask if I would make a card for her friend's wedding.  It still amazes me that someone from the other side of the world wanted me to make a card.




This next card uses the same image and was for a customer whose friend was having a Barbados themed wedding as her husband-to-be originated from there.  I was terrified when I heard of the colour scheme involved but I was so pleased with how this one turned out.



I LOVE this image and I've used it so many times.  Its from The Greeting Farm and it's so great to colour.

The flowers I made myself using dies and I added a few pearl accents to make it feel a bit more 'weddingy'

Anyway 50 cards won't make themselves so I'm off now.  Have a great weekend everyone :-)

Shelly x



Back in the Zone!

Friday 7 December 2012
Good morning everyone, well I was fooled into thinking it was warmer this morning when I didn't see any ice on the car....how wrong can you be....it's blooming freezing and I can only just feel my feet after the drive into work.

Megs is staying with her grandma tonight and Rich is working tomorrow so I have a whole day to myself, what luxury...I can't wait!  I will probably end up doing something exciting like the ironing or something.

Anyway onto the card...I was right back in my comfort zone with this one, lots of pink and general girliness, the perfect card for me.  I was asked to make this for a friend of my mum's for her grand-daughter's 21st birthday.  My brief was pink, girly and she loves handbags and shoes.  I thought that this Pink Petticoat Lola image was perfect and this is her first outing as I have never used her before.

The papers are from American Crafts and have been in my stash for about four years now lol.  I've gone mad with the matting and layering as usual....the card actually weighs about 4lb!



Okie dokie I had better go and do some 'real' work now.  Hopefully back tomorrow with something else to show you .

Shelly x

Busy Busy!

Thursday 6 December 2012
Good morning everyone, I can't believe how cold it is today, I can hardly feel my right hand as I'm typing this lol !

I haven't been around much the last couple of weeks, I've been really busy doing a Christmas market night on my facebook page...I ended up making over 100 cards and they sold out in over half an hour.  It never ceases to amaze me and make me feel proud at how quickly they always sell. 

It's also been Megan's birthday so we have been busy sorting out for that.  16 Children at the local soft play centre and they were absolutely fantastic, we all had a lovely day:-)

Just wanted to show you a card made using one of my favourite Digi stamps from Tickled Pink Stamps.  I think it is the same lady who does the CC designs stamps which I just love colouring. 

The papers are Basic Grey (marjolaine I think !) and I love the masculine colours with the feminine image.  I usually always reach for pink when I use this stamp but I fancied a change and I love the way this turned out:-)

Right now I'm off to put my hands on the radiator !!

Have a good day everyone:-)

Shelly xx