A weekend catch up...

Hope you're having a lovely weekend.
I know many friends have been to Ally Pally craft show and spent way too much! Lol
We've been catching up on all the news, its one of my favourite venues especially when the the sun shines.
Work commitments meant I was not able to attend but maybe next time...
I've been busy finishing design projects for classes and events, I don't know where the time goes...
The next retail show I'll be at will be in May at Create It, Kent, with the lovely Angela at Polly Allsorts with all things Whimsical, projects and all sorts of makings...
I'll also be sharing lots of inspiration at The Range stores for Docrafts during May and crafting with lovely ladies at the craft classes, so it will be another busy month.

Now it's all change...
I am concentrating on the launch of Minnie Muse which will also incorporate a blog and that is where everything will continue, all in one place.
Minnie Mews...the home of musing...a place to meander for a while...
Relax...enjoy creativity and feel inspired...
Minnie Muse is the culmination a life long love of crafting...
Follow the journey and history so far as it unravels over the coming weeks...
I have lots to share with you...

Thank you for following my journey so far, I look forward to seeing those who continue to follow my passion when the new site goes live...

Hugs xKx 

Warm and Cosy Love Place

It's so cold, I wanted to create a comforting, cosy looking card with a Valentine theme.
I used a piece of wood effect paper on a kraft card blank and layered with the pink embossed card.
The embossing folder I used for this is from a set of 2, Sizzix Texture Fade set "Holiday Knit"
These have been in my stash a long time I recently used them again for some of my Christmas cards.
I had a lot of interest in these cards and contact about the folders used.
The knitted look is fab and needn't just be for Christmas.

I the die cut the red and pink felt hearts and used 

Polly Allsorts Whimsical Street Sign stamp set to create the 

Love Place sign, adding wire and foam pads to mount on to the hearts.

The wood effect paper for the sign board was mounted on to a piece of card for strength and stamped with Versafine Clair Fallen Leaves ink, Love Place is stamped in the Pincone colour.

Once cut out, red wire was formed to shape and attached through holes made with a pokey tool.

Red ribbon has been threaded through a length of rustic ribbon and a bow tied to finish.

Polly Allsorts Whimsical products can be purchased here

I'm working from home today so I think a warming hot chocolate will be on the menu for this afternoon, keeping snug and warm.
If you have the awful flu that's is prevalent I hope you soon feel better and can avoid it if you haven't had it already.
Crafty Hugs xKx

A Whimsical World

New Year, New Home...

Today I have a Whimsical make to share, a mixed media card using stamps and stencils from Angela, designer, creator and owner of
Polly Allsorts

A new home card called The Mouse Box
I've used fussy cutting for this and incorporated my love of creating miniature scenes and displays.

Using the individual stamps from the A5 Street Signs stamp set, 22 individual stamps on a red rubber sheet.

I stamped the Ivy leaf and branch with Versafine Clair inks and sponge coloured with distress oxides, I also heat embossed some of the leaves for variation and used second and third generation stamping.
These elements were stamped and fussy cut to create the branches and leaf layout.

 The main coloured background was created blending distress oxides and adding water for the bleaching effect, this formed the main centre square and was mounted on to a Kraft card blank.
The Mouse Box was stamped onto the main street sign board using a stamp press tool to align.

I added hessian and string along the top of the card along with the ladybird and butterfly embellishments and layered punched hearts.
The New Home wording was stamped from the set.

Using the 6 x 6 Whimsical texture stencil I created a cobbled path, I love the fine detail it shows when used with texture paste. The mini toadstools are created using the same stencil and coloured with distress oxides. I've also used flower soft in green for a mossy/grass effect and for flower blossom on the side panel along with some flower stamens.

Corrugated card sits behind the branches either side.
I cut the triangle mouse from felt and added string for the tail.
A perfect new home for this cute little chap.

Angela and her creations feature in the current edition of
Making Cards Magazine and her Whimsical houses, stamps and stencils can be purchased here at her Etsy store.
New designs and creations are on the way...

Thanks for reading today, crafty hugs xKx

Polly Allsorts debut on Hochanda

The lovely and talented Angela (Polly Allsorts) made her debut on Hochanda just a week ago.
These whimsical houses that she designed are just fabulous, in 3 sizes, the possibilities are endless!
I decorated the medium size Topsy Toadstool using wood effect papers and various dies to create a Gingerbread Christmas theme style. it was such great fun to do.
The small Tiptoe Palace was painted with acrylic paints and I used Halloween dies to create a Trick or Treat sweetie box, ideal for lolly's and all those sweet treats.
The next new design is awaiting my attention and I look forward to getting creative with it.