A Crafty Afternoon!

I have spent a lovely few hours this afternoon playing and making a good old mess!
First up the very talented Sue over at the JB Forum challenged us to make something "clear". Her samples were stunning - a card, a LO and a mini album which can all be seen HERE.
I have acetate here but never made a card using it - a very simple one from me, I may try again and be a bit more adventurous!
Second up there is a challenge to use "Polka Dots" over at Caardvarks. Quite pleased with myself as I have used up some scraps of really old paper - the mountain is gradually reducing ........ should be gone by 2012 :)

Third up I found a really lovely new challenge blog that I would definately recommend a visit to! Right up my street as it is (a) Template based and (b) all designed to get you using your stash - old and new! So for the Sketch and Stash challenge I have made this card. Old - Blooms and paper, New - The rubber stamp coloured in wth my new promarkers!

Off to have a bit of a tidy up and may play again!

Love n Hugs

Bex x

A couple of challenges completed

Well a busy last week at work, but I am heading into a weekend off and plan to play catch up with all the fab challenges I am missing out on - and I have loads of cards to make, and loads of stash to use up!
So moving on, firstly for Grace - a Pic of Maisie this evening trying to help me craft. Instead with her head on my craft desk staring at me I feel "watched"! I should never have moved my room round and given her access via the bed!
So what have me and my helper made today?

This is for a challenge set by Sue to use Bright Colours over at the JB Forum - access has been changed now so you should be able to view all entries in this link. And of course if you would like to join and play we would love to see you!

Second up a challenge for the Penny Black Challenge blog - to "go dotty!"

Well I had to buy a new stamp for the occassion - it is SUCH a hard life!

Pic is very wonky - but that is my naff photography - honest :)

Right off to cook dinner now then will play again,

See you all soon

Love Bex x

CPS Sketch

I really am not sure how long this crafting will last! I have probably beaten my own expectations by crafting up to day 12 of the New year ........ but I do plan to continue!

A very busy week ahead at work so a quick challenge from me tonight as I am up at stupid o clock tomorrow x

So over at CPS there is a nice little sketch which I enjoyed playing with :)

Have a good Tuesday all

Love Bex x

Penny Black Challenge

Over at the Penny Black Challenge blog the task this week is to use pink and brown.
I absolutely love PB Stamps and have decided that as I only have a few I obviously need to go shopping and buy some more!
It's a hard life :)
Thanks for the challenge girls and I hope to join in more often - once I have been shopping of course :)

Love Bex x

A couple of challenges!

First up Lisa over at Just Bex Forum challenged us to make spmething "Old and Haggered". I cracked up laughing as I am feeling old and haggered but decided not to cheat by uploading a pic of myself ...... instead I made the above card and had fun playing with glimmer mists which have been unloved for quite some time!

Second up a sketch from Di Hickman - a very simple little card from me as I was using up some scraps of plain card.

Off to do a food shop and then I will hopefully be back to play a bit more before I return to a very hectic week at work tomorrow.

Love n Hugs

bex x

Quick card!

Ooh I played a little bit!
I spotted a FAB sketch over at Caardvarks
The sketch is from the very talented Becky Fleck - I just love her sketches, they always work out unlike the ones I attempt to create!
As for an update in Bex Land ........ let me see..........
Work - I had the Annual Directors store visit yesterday, really loved the fact the Store Manager was off so it was down to me to give the right answers! Lets say I tried my best and I am still alive and no screaming phone calls today over anything so hopefully work is still OK!!

I am off this weekend and plan to play in PJS all weekend - so far I am doing quite good at this crafting as opposed to just working in 2009 if I do say so myself!

Love n Hugs
Bex

Daylight ..........

Well OK it is dark outside but I have a daylight lamp now in my craft space so technically I am meant to feel like it is day time? Hmmm Light is brighter but it is not fooling me I am crackered still after a busy weekend at work!
But I am still on my crafting mission to play in the evenings rather than do work stuff ......... not sure how long it will last, my brain is still ticking with a long list of stuff to get done!
Anyway, first up I found a challenge blog called Stamp Something which hopefully I will be able to play along with as I like my stamps :) The challenge this week is to use something new - so new stamp bought yesterday! It looks very much like the leaning tower though, I think it may be me cutting it out slightly wonky rather than the design of the stamp itself!

And second up I have just played making a few cards using up paper .... I really am drowning in so much of the stuff. And yes one of my New Years resolutions is to gradually work through all the 6 x 6 pads and loose sheets of paper I have mounting up here. So I thought I would ask the girls over at the forum to join in and see if they could use some old stuff up!

Apologies for such bad pics but it is so hard this time of year to get good ones when you are out of the house 12 hours a day!

And now I am off to have a wee blog hop, and then off to bed as I am in work early tomorrow ........ no rest for the wicked and all that :)

Love Bex

2 Sketches 4 U

A Fab sketch as always this week from 2S4U - I have struggled to do it justice and cut up far too many bits of paper in failed attempts! So a fairly simple take on it from me.
Happy New Year to all at 2S4U. I hope to join in more often this year!
Love n Hugs
Bex

End of 2008 - And a Happy New Year!

Another Year nearly over.
Time really does go by so quickly - it is kind of frightening!
So I thought I would end 2008 with a blog and a bit of a Bex ramble.
First up some crafting from today.
First up a Template challenge for the forum. Very simple for all of those who may have a sore head tomorrow :) Second up a challenge I completed earlier in the week for Papertake Weekly

Third up a clipboard for Katie at work to go with the planner featured below.

And now onto the Bex ramble .........

So much has happened in the last few years that has knocked me sideways.

I have finally found a career that I really love and that is a good starting point - although in 2009 I plan to focus on other things a bit more to get the balance right!

2009 for me - well I have made quite a diary of things I need to address and deal with. I won't bore you all with my personal life but suffice to say that I have a really clear head right now of what I want to acheive this year and where my priorities should be placed.

I am going to make this a really good year for me. (And of course Maisie!)

So I will leave you all with many good wishes for the year ahead, I hope it brings you everything you want from life right now.

I do plan to be around more this year in blogland ........... but as usual we shall see :)

Love n Hugs for the best things that 2009 can bring you all

Love Bex xxxxxx

A Little bit achieved

Well I cannot believe that it is Christmas next week. I really do need to get a wriggle on if I am going to get everything done in time. I guess I wouldn't be Bex if I was organised though :)
So this is what I made at the weekend for one of my team at work. I have a second almost finished and then I want to make one for me as well!
Using the trusty Bind It All I have made a planner to get us all organised.
I haven't over embellished it as it has to survive in a manic environment for a year. Thanks to Outlook I have printed out a full year Diary section.

And the ever important weekly planner section. We have crazy reporting dates at work as our Financial Year starts Mid / End of Feb and we never get to grips with what week / Period we are in. So handy little section with each week detailed for us to keep up to date and know where we are when we go into meetings etc! And only 2 pages a week of things to do - yeah right!

And then a blank Notes section for all the other things like doodling and playing Hangman

I have printed all the sections off ready to bind and decorate for Sarah, so off I go to get the second one finished.

And then I may get round to Christmas Cards ........ I think I only need about another 20.

As I said earlier - Christmas is ages away yet ...........

Love n Hugs

Bex

A few more Christmas cards done.

Lots more to go though if I am to achieve cards for all my team at work. Hence why only very striaghtforward cards from me for now :)I am also trying to work through various challenges whilst I craft - although it is quite slow as I am cheating and making a few of each. Needs must!

The one above is for a challenge set by Lisa over at JB forum. The challenge is to use old papers and add some bling. Well Figgy Pudding are still gorgeous to work with but in the current market at over a year old they are almost prehistoric. Oh and the bling is stickles glitter glue.

The next is combining another JB Challenge to include a tree! I have based it on a sketch I found over at Papertake Weekly Challenge Blog. A lovely sketch - thanks girls!

Right I better crack on as LOADS more to make before the 25th. :)

Love n Hugs

Bex x

I'm Back!

Crikey it is a long time since I blogged! Busy Busy Busy this end with work and work and erm work! Still loving it though :)

OK so I am off this weekend and it is time I got organised for Christmas as i have done NOTHING yet.

So today I am doing a few cards to get me in the mood for some altering later maybe.

First up is a card for a challenge over at the JB Forum. A nice simple challenge which suits me - to use a stamped image.

Next one is a challenge just set which is to make a Christmas card using traditional red and green. Hav to say I am loving the BG Wassail papers - not loving that Dad has gone away with the decent camera though :( Hey Ho my photography is so naff that I doubt there would be much improvement anyway .

Right off to make some more as I am having fun
Love N Hugs to all
Bex xx

Slow Progress!!

Crikey I am really struggling with the wooden bits I bought home from work I can tell you.

I am sure a five year old would do far better than I am doing!

Anyway, just in case anyone is reading and can't wait to see what I am achieving then here you go :)

Please don't judge me on this work (It is done to market to kids if that is any excuse - PMSL - I am about to get some new Bex stash out and make something in my own style!!

Oh and I am still staring vacantly at the fun foam - I really think you need to be under the age of 10 to "get it" :)

Love N Hugs.

Bex (No reputation left - that is if I had one to start with!)

Lovely Weekend - and look what I have to make! :)

Well I have had a really lovely few days ........ bliss in fact.

I had a nice couple of days really deep cleaning and sorting out my room ready for organised crafting rather than crafting in chaos.

My Aunt and Uncle have taken quite a bit of stuff for their Grandchildren to use - fabby.

Yesterday I had a nice day out in France with friends - and OMG did I eat (and drink!).

7 courses later and I officially have a pot belly - GREAT!

Today I popped into work (Hobbycraft for anyone who doesn't know) and I need to start thinking about some new displays.

Lets say that the following stuff is all fabulous in its own right for kids etc but I am not sure I will enjoy working with it! I am such a crafting snob :)

SO firstly the wooden stuff ready to decorate - quite cute, but not sure I am a painter and will do it justice!

Then the make your own mache decorations ............

The dreaded Fun Foam :)And these are actually REALLY cute and I am loving them lots! Totally sweet FF stamps - lets see if I can turn these babies into cute Xmas cards!With the matching papers ...............And then of course it wouldn't be Christmas without a few ready made embellishments! :)

I will report ack with progress............. and any ideas anyone has for fab displays with any of the above do feel free to share - I have plans mapped out but you may be on a better wavelength than me!

Right off to get the acrylic paint out.

Love n Hugs

Bex

On Holiday - Take 2!

Well if anyone is wondering what happened to creative Bex last week - I got called back into work and holiday was postponed.
Good news though - I am now off until Wednesday next week - YAY!!!!
So instead of crafting I thought I would start with crafty shopping - it would be rude not to I am sure you will all agree :)
So yesterday I went to Scrapgenie as I needed to bulk buy some papers etc for the charity crop / class day I am doing soon.
It made me feel quite sad in a way going to the warehouse and seeing so much stock being sold at silly prices. The good thing is I got LOADS of Daisy D Papers to put into packs and sell at the craft day and the money will all go to charity, so a positive.
And of course I got a few bits and pieces for myself - some lovely collection packs cos a girl can never have too many!
Today I have been having a major sort out of my room. We have guests all weekend and there is no way my room is fit for them so having a nice time sorting and cleaning!
Nearly done and then I will be crafting - well crafting trying to keep it tidy still which will be a test for me!
Right I will stop rambling and get on with it.


I'll leave you with a very simple card (Photographed nice and wonky as usual).

It is another challenge ticked of from the JB Forum - to use Ric Rac.
Cute snowman stamp though (a whole 85p it was!) and I am loving the matching glittery papers - all imaginisce.
Love Bex x

2 posts in 1 Day!

Well I never - Bex posting twice in one day! Tis usually once in two months recently!
Anyway, as I have been off work today I thought I would join in with the most fantastic sketch site - 2Sketches4U. Of course I didn't realise that after wanting to join in for weeks that the sketch would be so flippin hard! Trust me you need to visit this site and see the huge amount of talent that is just bursting at the seams.
So here is my little entry. I hope to join in with the extra sketch at some point as it really does look easier!
Then back to the JB Forum and we have been talking about the new Papermania Papers so I thought I would give them a road test. Yep I do like them! (Shame about my photography skills but it is very loudy and grey here!)
So thumbs up for the Xmas paper pack from Papermania from me (Did I really just say that?!)
Love n Hugs
Bex xxxxx

On Holiday!

I am now off work for a week and home alone which is fabby - Hopefully I can get lots of jobs done and enjoy some me time crafting.

Didn't start off too well as I ended up in work all day Saturday tying off some loose ends.
Then yesterday I slept till 1.30! What a lazy Bex. I obviously needed it but I did set my alarm for nice and early this morning in case the trend continued :)

So what first then? I have SO many challenges on the forum I can play with and there are loads of other challenges on line so once the craft room is tidied I intend on really getting lots done.

I have completed a few and will share a couple now - more later when camera is charged up!

Both are challenges from the JB Forum

Nicky set a recipe challenge to use 1 Ribbon, 2 Circles and 3 buttons. So a simple effort from me to get me back into the swing of things!

Sue set a challenge to use circles and whilst my nestabilities were out I thought I would sort of cheat and do a very similar card for that challenge. (And my personal challenge of using up some of the 6x6 pads that have been untouched in ages! So BG Figgy Pudding was first out of the drawer!)I posted recently on the forum about the amount of stuff I have here and this week i really plan on having a good clear out and seeing how much stash I can actually use. Do not fear though, I have enough to craft full time for a year at least so I am not in danger of running out!

Will report back laters with more x

Love Bex

Crikey!

I cannot believe it has been SO long since I last blogged.
Time really does fly past so quickly at the moment.
So Summer has come and gone - or did it ever come?
I have been busy with work and still loving every minute of it.
Little Maisie has been having lots of fun with walks along the beach and eating far too many sausages at all the BBQs we have had.
Crafting has taken a back seat the last couple of months but I am determined to get back to it on a regular basis - I have missed it!

So next week I am off work, home alone and going to have a lovely week crafting with Maisie.
I will hopefully check back very soon, but having seen how long I have been missing I thought I should say Hi!

Love n Hugs to all
Bex

Been Playing ........

Well a little bit anyway!

It is so hard without my PC as I can't access any photos to print - and I had them all saved in a folder ready to play with as well. Oh well, it will be fixed and back soon.

So in the meantime I am faffing around doing what I can.

Nicky challenged us to cardlift the following card over at Just Bex Forum

And here is my rather simple effort! But I is simple :)

I did start out with 6 squares but not sure what happened really!

And a very simple Layout using the K&Co Range for work. I don't often use ready made embellishments and tbh I was bored using them so gave up and left it "Minimal".

I am now going to see what pictures I can find on Dads PC to print - and whether I can get his nasty inkjet printer to actually print them!

Love N Hugs

Bex

Father's Day

Well here in old Blighty it is Father's Day so I thought I should at least dust off some new papers that are actually old now as they have been unloved and abandoned for so many weeks.

So here is a card for Dad - not wonky as it looks - no camera and scanner doesn't like 3D!

As for me, I am planning on a couple of days of crafting ahead to make up for a very slack few months.

I have so many projects and challenges to do, along with loads of stuff I need to make to put up displays in store - so if all goes to plan there will be more creations ahead.

Oh, there will be a break though when Dad returns from his camping trip as it is such a glorius day here it would be rude not to take him for a beer down in Old Leigh as a Father's Day treat.

Hope you all have a happy Sunny Sunday.

I'm off to get out the new purchases made the last couple of months ......... Cosmo Cricket, BG, Lace Tapes ....... OOHHHH YUMMY!

Love Bex x