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Sunday 30 December 2012

Seeing in the new year

Well hello everyone!

Christmas is finally done and the new year is almost upon us. My doesn't time fly!!

I was sitting here reading other blogs and before I knew it I'd clicked on blogs they follow, and then blogs that they follow and 2 hours had passed me by and I'd added about 10 new blogs to my follow list! Does that happen to you?

So I thought I'd tell you about my plans for 2013. Firstly, lets say that I am only too pleased to see the back of 2012. It has been a very tough year, with hard and dark times. I spent nearly 4 months of the year in hospital. I'm now fully recovered but will always need to be careful and try not to get too stressed! On the plus side, the year has ended really well. We have just moved house and I am starting a new job on 7th January (just so happens to be my birthday too!).

The house and job are going to keep me busy but I was thinking about my spare time and how to make the most of it.

I really want to do more card making this year. I love it with a passion. I've been selling cards and attending gift fairs for a while now, but want to really push it more. Not sure how yet though, so any ideas gratefully received.

Next is baking. I've been well and truly bitten by the baking bug. I find looking at and reading recipes just as therapeutic as making them. I'd like to blog my baking too, so this blog will be more of a card making/baking/cooking/crafting kind of blog. 

Simon bought me a bread maker and a slow cooker so I shall be using those a lot too. I need to go hunting for slow cooker recipes. I'm sure there are lots out there. The trouble is, Si is a very fussy eater, so trying to find recipes that he will eat is a another ball game completely. That is a challenge in itself!

Finally...films. I know this probably sounds odd, but we were never much of a film watching family when I was growing  up. My mum and I watched LOTS of musicals on a Sunday afternoon, but other than that my film viewing is limited. A few years ago, Simon bought me about  10 DVDs, saying that these were some films I needed to see. They included Forrest Gump, Castaway, The Green Mile, Shawshank Redemption, Falling Down, Philadelphia, Hotel Rwanda and a film about Steve Biko that I cannot remember the name of. I've watched all those and we have been to the cinema and seen more recent films but there are still loads and loads that people say are great that I've never seen. For instance I've not seen any of the Star Wars films, Batman, Spiderman or super hero films, Harry Potter etc etc.
Today though, whilst blog surfing I watched The Birds by Alfred Hitchcock. I felt I needed to watch it as it is classed as an 'iconic' film. I have to say though, that whilst I enjoyed it, it just seemed to end. Why were the birds there in the first place? Did they ever go away? 

Anyway, that's about enough rambling. Let's see if I can keep up with my free time plans. Have you made any and what are they?

Speak soon
Ally
xx

Wednesday 12 December 2012

Being away

Hi!!!!!

Hopefully you've all been wondering where I have been. As you know I was moving house. Well this eventually happened and we are settling in nicely.

I have been so busy that I haven't been able to any crafting of any kind. I am hoping to be back either just before, or just after Christmas.

See you soon!

Ally
xx

Friday 2 November 2012

Purple Easel Christmas Card

Hi everyone,
So I said I wanted to really get on and make cards over the half term whilst I could and I think I've done that. At last a reason top feel pleased with myself!

So here is today's card

 Close up of image
 stamped snowflake in silver
 side view
Before you say anything, yes I know the circle on the front that holds the card up is not in the middle. I need to change that! 

This is an image I've used before called Nativity Phoebe from Pink Gem and I have coloured her with promarkers.

I'm entering this card into the following 2 challenges:
crafts 4 eternity - colour recipe
Totally Papercrafts - Twinkle twinkle Christmas star

Hope you like it
Ally
xx















Thursday 1 November 2012

Christmas card

Good morning everyone. I'm so glad Halloween is over. I really don't like it and disagree with it on so many levels. Rant over!

So today I am showing you another Christmas card (I think I will be showing you lots from now on). This one is quite plain and simple.


 Close up of the image
This is another digital image that I found on pinterest and downloaded for free. There are loads and loads out there if you fancy giving it a go. As usual I have coloured the image with promarkers.

I'm going to enter this card into the following challenges:
I love promarkers - cute
Fab n Funky - die cuts/punches

This card will be available in my weebly shop here: http://lovinglyhandcrafted.weebly.com/

Hope you like it
Ally
xx

Wednesday 31 October 2012

Snowman step card

Good morning everyone. I hope you are all good. Hopefully any of my followers from the US are all safe and well. We're thinking of you.

I have a step or stepper (depending what you want to call it) for you today. 


 Here is a close up of the image
 And this a side view
I found the digital image on pinterest and coloured it with promarkers. I added a couple of baubles to the side panels.

I'm going to enter this card into the following challenges:

Twisted Tuesday - Anything goes
ABC Christmas - vibrant colours
Divas by Design - Festive
My mums craft shop - Bold and bright

Sothere we have it.
Hope you like it
Ally
xx














Tuesday 30 October 2012

Christmas card for a girl

Hi everyone,

Following on from yesterday's post, today I'm showing you a Christmas card for a girl. I have used exactly the same card blank and layout as yesterday's card but changed the image and papers to suit a girl.

 Close up of the image
 Inside the card
The image again is from Pink Gem and is called Jodie With Gift and I have coloured her with promarkers.

This card is available in my weebly shop here: http://lovinglyhandcrafted.weebly.com/

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:
Totally stampalicious - anything goes
Party Time Tuesday - anything goes

Hope you like it

Ally
xx









Monday 29 October 2012

Christmas card for a boy

Hi everyone,
It's not quite so cold here this morning and it was lovely taking the dog out.

Today I have a Christmas card to show you.

 Inside of the card
 Close up of the image.
The image is from Pink Gem and is called Winter Philip. I have coloured him with promarkers.

This card will be entered into the following challenges:
Paper Pretties - masculine card
I love promarkers - Christmas is coming
Charisma Cardz - Don't be square
Crafty Catz - male card
Whoopsidaisy Challenge - Punch it out


I shall be putting it in my shop http://lovinglyhandcrafted.weebly.com/


I hope you like it. 
Ally
xx













Sunday 28 October 2012

Baby girl

Happy Sunday morning to you all,

Here is a cute baby girl card. I just love it.



This is a digital image from Pink Gem and I have coloured it with promarkers. 

I'm going to enter this card into the following challenges:
Stampin' for the Weekend - Anything Goes
Pink Gem Challenge  - Polka dots or Spots

I hope you like it
Ally
xx









Saturday 27 October 2012

Halloween

Well I can happily say that half term is finally here. My goodness that was a long one. I would get home from work with every intention of making cards, but always found I was far too tired. Hopefully I am going to really get cracking this week as I have loads and loads to do./

So onto today's card.



I have used an image from Pink Gem (I really like her cute digi stamps) called Cute Witch and coloured her with promarkers.

I am going to enter this card into the following challenges:

The pink elephant - Halloween
Party Time Tuesday - Trick O Treat
Crafty Creations - Halloween spooks
The Paper Shelter - Halloween
Divas By Design - Use Some Orange
My Mums Craft Shop - So Spooky
Moving Along With The Times - Too Cute To Spook
Cute Card Thursday - Something Scary
Crafts 4 Eternity - Ghouls, ghosts and goblins
Totally Papercrafts - Spooky halloween
One Stop Craft Challenge - Halloween

So there we have it. I hope you like the card. Thank you for all your comments. I read them all and appreciate the time you spend writing them.

See you soon
Ally
xx











Sunday 21 October 2012

Exciting news!

Hi everyone,

Lots of new followers to say hi to. I really appreciate it and love reading your comments.

It's time for Handmade Monday 89 (gosh don't the weeks fly by?)

So, I've some really exciting news. I've taken the plunge and started my own website to sell my cards. Now I've got to work out how to promote it. I use twitter but am worried that people will think I'm spamming if I do it too much. I have facebook too, so am looking for new ideas. 

Of course the other major thing I have to do is add more stock (and lots of it!). Doing that, along with getting ready for Christmas craft fairs (no I haven't done that either), a possibility of moving house and needing to look for a new job, I'm rather busy. Thank goodness it's half term next week.

Anyway, you can view my site here.

Ally
xx



Digital Stamps

Hi everyone. I hope you are all well.

As I said before, my work seems to go in 'phases.' It may be using promarkers or ribbons or whatever. At the moment I am having a digital stamp phase! Why haven't I done this before I ask myself. It's so quick and easy.!

On to today's card. This is another digital stamp that I came across on pinterest and I just love it! (Yet again I apologise for the poor quality of the photograph. I really must do something about that). I've coloured the stamp with promarkers and used Tim Holtz distressing ink around the edge, finishing off with 4 buttons, one in each corner.

I'm going to enter this card into the following challenges:
I love promarkers - anything goes
Patties creations - autumn colours
Crafts 4 eternity - pumpkin spice
Allsorts challenge - Autumn colours
One Stop Craft Challenge - Anything goes

Look out for more exciting news tomorrow!

Hope you like the card
Ally
xx


Thursday 18 October 2012

ATC's

Hello everyone,

It's been a long time since I made some ATC's, years in fact. An opportunity came about to swap some with a fellow crafter and I made 3 to swap. Unfortunately, work and crafting commitments meant that I was not very efficient about making them and posting them out :(

But they got there eventually. 





These are what I sent.

Hope you like them.

Ally
xx

Sunday 14 October 2012

Christmas card

Hi everyone,

Today is Handmade Monday, so I am joining in with the link. Please pop over and have a look too.

I am showing you a Christmas card. It is quite a traditional one in style and no coloured images for a change. 





I have used a stamp from Stampin' Up! called Contempo Christmas with Cherry Cobbler and Chocolate chip inks.

Hope you like it
Ally
xx




Cute Christmas card

Hello everyone,

OK so I am on a roll. 3 posts in one day! This time I am showing you this cute Christmas card.




The super cute digital image is from Pink Gem and is called Nativity Phoebe and I have coloured her with promarkers. The flowers are from Wild Orchid crafts.

I am going to enter this card into 8 challenges:
Divas By Design - anything goes
Simon Says Stamp - Dies and/or punches
Paperplay Challenges - simply cute
Christmas Stampin' all year long - anything goes
A gem of a challenge - flowers
Christmas Card Challenge - sketch
Papertake Weekly - All creatures great or small
Addicted-to-stamps - animal friends

Hope you like it
Ally
xx

Halloween card

How organised am I?? 2 posts in one day. Get me!!

So here is my offering for a halloween card

I've used a digital image which I found as a free download on the internet (I'm going to be saying that a lot lately. I've 'found' digital images and there are so many free ones out there to download) and coloured her with promarkers.

I'm going to enter it into 7 challenges:

Dream Valley - Halloween
Stamptacular Sunday Challenge - Boo-tacular!
My Sheri Crafts - Anything halloween related
Stampin for the weekend - Something spooky
I love promarkers - halloween
Sweet sketch Wednesday - sketch














Paper pretties - Halloween card

Hope you like it
Ally
xx


Ribbon!

Hello to you all and also to my new followers. Thank you so much!

Today I'm going to talk ribbon. All of us crafters love it and I have loads of it. Now, in Harlow we have a scrap store. Basically, this is where end of line of discontinued 'stuff' is taken rather than go to landfill. There is a large warehouse and playgroups, schools, charities can go along, pay a fee and take away loads and loads (and I MEAN loads ) to use. Myself and a couple of colleagues went along and we managed to fill  2 large shopping trollies full of things for school that could be used in art, DT and play construction. Fab times. We were so happy! Then they have a resource side, where you can pay for items. 

Look what I found (excuse the poor quality photos)



It's difficult to see how large these spools are, although you get a better idea in the last photo, but one of those spools has 100m on it! I paid £4.50 for the middle spool and £4 each for the other 2!!!!

OMG - Talk about bargains!!!!!

Catch up with you soon
Ally
xx

Wednesday 3 October 2012

UK Handmade

Hello again!

Well today is usually UK Handmade Thursday. This is a blog link that was kindly hosted by Caroline over at Carolee Crafts. Those of us that blogged about crafts, linked to Caroline's blog and we all viewed each others blogs. Unfortunately, Caroline has decided that not enough people were joining in and has decided to stop running this each Thursday. This is a real shame as it's such a good way to get others to see your work. 

So I sadly need to take this opportunity to thank Caroline for all the work she has done. I really have appreciated it.

I having been playing with notebooks lately. After a few false starts, I eventually got the hang of it. 


Not bad huh? I shall make some more Christmassy ones to take to the fayres I'm doing in December. In fact, as you all know I have LOADS to make or I shall have nothing to take!

Anyway, that's all I have for you today.

Have fun
Ally
xx

Sunday 30 September 2012

Handmade Monday 86

Hello and welcome. 

It's time for Handmade Monday. Please pop over and have a look. 

Another week starts and for us crafters, the big C word is looming. I said last week that I needed to get my backside in gear. Have I? Well that's a big fat NO! Grrrr. Well Simon is going away next Saturday afternoon and coming back Sunday so I am going to take advantage of that and really get cracking ... hopefully!

So onto this week. Well, do you get Craftseller magazine? I know a lot of us crafters who sell do. Inside they have an article on tips for Christmas. I am tip 18!!!!!!!! First time I have ever been published and I am totally stoked. OK so it's a couple of lines, but there is a photo of some of my cards and links to my Folksy shop. But what is your tip I hear you say. I am always posting pictures of the thank you cards I make on here. I love making them (I make other cards too) because I love sending them! It doesn't just have to be for a gift. It can be for anything. A good night out, thanks for being a good friend etc etc. 

My tip as a seller, is to stock thank you cards as well as seasonal cards. People see them and tend to buy them at the same time as buying other cards.

 My cards are small notelets that are 3" x 3" and I sell them in packs of 4. Each card comes with a matching envelope. I'm going to make some larger ones as well so watch this space. 
 Whilst I sell in packs of four, I also make make custom orders. Some people see a design they like and ask for lots more. I have other customers who have liked the deigns but have preferred a different colour. All of these things I can do.

Not on a crafting note but something I'd like to talk about anyway. Today was the Joe Doble Memorial Petanque competition. This comp is in memory of Simon's dad who sadly passed a few years back. Joe played petanque for many years and Simon has played since he was 8. Most people associate it with France, but it is actually quite popular over here too. There are clubs and competitions all over England. The good thing about it, is that other than the boules, there is very little monetary lay out and is a good social sport. You can climb the ladder too. Simon has played for England and there are World Championships. But I'm rambling yet again. Today's competition is held yearly in Theydon Bois and is always well turned out. A special day for a special man.

So there you are. That's my news for this week. I guess you'll have to watch this space to see if I really do get into Christmas crafting next time.

Ally
xx  

Wednesday 26 September 2012

Falling behind!

Morning everyone,

It's time for UK Handmade week 4 over at Carolee Crafts. Please do pop on over and take a look. You can even join in if you want to!

Well I've been reading lots and lots of blog posts lately and SO many people are talking about making crafts for Christmas. OMG! I have 2 craft fairs coming up in December plus stock to make for my Folksy shop and I have made absolutely nothing! I think I really need to get my backside in gear.

Changing subject, it is the birthday of a lovely friend today and I made her this card.


This is a criss cross card and I really enjoyed making it. I've used a new Tilda image, coloured with promarkers.

I'm going to enter this card into 4 challenges:

Just Magnolia  - What's new
Pattie's creations - anything goes
Stampin for the weekend - feeling floral
Tilda's town - Fussy and fancy

See you soon
Ally
xx

Sunday 23 September 2012

Thank you notelets

Blimey doesn't time fly?!" 

1 minute I'm feeling better and wanting to craft, the next the shopping needs doing and takes hours!!!!  Grrrr .... there's just not enough hours in the day.

I have made a few sets of thank you notelets. I'll show each set in turn. You can buy them in my folksy shop (click the button on the right) or message me from my facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ally-Stamps/209704535743430?ref=hl).



Apologies for the poor quality photos - oops

It's time for Handmade Monday again over at Handmade Harbour. Do pop along and have a look at all the other wonderful handmade products and leave a comment on their blogs. 
There are some fantastic crafters out there!

See you soon 
Ally
xx

Sunday 16 September 2012

more thank you cards

Hello,

I've had a funny old week. Every day I've had good intentions of coming home after work and crafting. Trouble is, after work, I've sat down to get on with things, but haven't really been able to get on with anything. So annoying as I have so much to do!

So, today, for Handmade Monday, I'm showing another set of thank you  cards I've made.



These come in a set of 4, each with a matching envelope. Cute huh?

Ally
xx

Ooh just a quick note about Handmade Monday. I DO look at every one of the blogs and try to leave a comment. My eyesight is rubbish and I find it really hard to read those word verification things. If I haven't left a comment, it is probably because of this. Sorry xx

Saturday 15 September 2012

Thank you notelets

Hi everyone. 

Well the weather is still holding. Long may it continue!

Today I'm showing you a set of 4, 3" x 3" thank you notelets. 

If you are a regular follower, you will know that I love sending thank you cards. I think it's something that is starting to get a little lost what with the digital age and is so much nicer to receive!!

These cards are for sale in my folksy shop (click the button on the right) or you can contact me direct.
Don't forget that I also take commissions, so if you are looking for something a bit more specific, please get in touch.

Ally
xx


Wednesday 12 September 2012

Exciting times!

Hello everyone!

Welcome back. Well there is exciting news. Today I am featured as guest blogger over on Carolee Crafts for UK Handmade. I'd love you to pop over and take a read.

UK Handmade is a blog link where crafters can join and follow or comment on other crafters blogs. It's a great way to see what and who else is out there.

I have another card to show you today. It's another of those 'any occasion' cards. I do like making these as I think it's really nice to send a card just because. In this world of texting and facebook it's easy to just say a quick hello, but I think there is nothing like receiving a card in the post. 

I made this card using some Stampin' Up! butterfly stamps in brown and blue.

Hope you like it.
Ally
xx

Sunday 9 September 2012

Christening card

Gosh it seems like ages since I last posted. My intention of posting every other day seems to have fallen by the wayside already! I'm taking part in Handmade Monday over at http://handmadeharbour.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/handmade-monday-83.html this week. First time for me so quite excited about it!

I've been really busy finishing a commission for a golden wedding scrapbook, so have not been able to make  anything new for a while. However, I finished it today and started making some cards but they are not finished yet.

So today I thought I would share a christening card I made a while ago now. This card was commissioned and I have to say the lady that asked for it to be made had no idea what I was going to do. She left it completely up to me. All she asked for was a christening card for a girl. So this is what I came up with. A christening card shaped as a christening gown.


This is a close up of the ribbon and bow around the middle. You can see that I attached a metal cross charm. 
 This is the card fully open.

I hope you like it as much as my customer did.

Ally
xx

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