Challenge #14 - 'Shabby Chic' - Winner

Thank you to everyone who entered the challenge, as usual, such wonderful creations and we have enjoyed looking at them all, it was a hard choice because they were all brilliant, 

as usual.

The winner of  Challenge #14- 'Shabby Chic', 

is

'Amanda'

with this card

Congratulations 

if you contact me with your details for your prize and for your badge for your blog.

Please visit  site and say hello, such a talented crafter.

http://ajecreations.blogspot.com/

Because we found it soooooo hard to pick a winner this week, we have also picked a Guest DT for challenge #16

Guest DT 

is

'Jane Stillman'

I will get in touch with you with details, congratulations.

Please visit Jane's blog

http://janesplaice.blogspot.com/

Challenge #15 - 'Spring time'

Thanks for all the great projects entered into last weeks challenge, and, as always,  we enjoyed looking at all of them,  it will be hard to choose a winner, but we will and let you know on Wednesday.  Look out on Friday for our the winner of our 'Blog of the Week' that we run on the Face Book group.

The theme for this week's challenge is

'Spring Time'

Here is what our DT came up with, hopefully, to give you some inspiration.

Debbi

Michelle

Marleen 

Emma

NJ

Donna

Angela 

Rachael

Suzee

We hope that we have given you some ideas and we look forward to seeing all your entries and remember, your entry must follow the theme, if it doesn't, it will not be included.

Have fun and good luck everyone xx

Challenge #13 - 'Love is in the Air' - Winner

Thank you to everyone who entered the challenge, as usual, such wonderful creations and we really enjoyed looking at them all, it was a hard choice because they were all brilliant, 

but ...

The winner of  Challenge #13 - 'Love is in the Air', 

is

'Bella'

with this project

Congratulations Bella

if you contact me for your badge for your blog.

Please visit Bella's site and say hello, such a talented crafter.

http://bellasbastelecke.blogspot.com/2012/02/auf-die-liebe.html

Challenge #14 - 'Shabby Chic'

Thanks for all the great projects entered into last weeks challenge, and, as always,  we enjoyed looking at them all,  it will be hard to choose a winner, but we will and let you know on Wednesday.  Look out on Friday for our the winner of our 'Blog of the Week' that we run on the Face Book group.

The theme for this week's challenge is

'Shabby Chic'

Here is what our DT came up with, hopefully, to give you some inspiration.

Debbi

Donna

Marleen

NJ

Emma

Rachael

Angela

Suzee

We hope that we have given you some ideas and we look forward to seeing all your entries and remember, your entry must follow the theme, if it doesn't, it will not be included.

Have fun and good luck everyone xx

The Story Of Marleen Gallagher

My crafty story started 8 years ago in 2003, shortly after I had my eldest baby, Emma. Now Emma was a very good baby, but she was a terrible light sleeper. At the time, my husband, Kevin, was working nightshifts every other week, so needless to say he would sleep during the day. Now, back then, we lived in a very small bedsit in Dublin, so during the day when the 2 of them were snoring their heads off, I had to be quiet. Now I love reading, do puzzles, crosswords ect, but to do this for hours on end every day, well lets say I got pretty bored. When Emma was about 4 month old, my sister came over from my native Denmark for a visit, and she told me she had started to make cards after having gone to a beginners class. She had brought over a few bits to play with when Emma was having a nap, and lets put it this way, it didnt take long before a trip to the shops were needed. We started in the pound shops, but soon found a craftshop, and before the day was over, we had a huge shopping bag full of goodies.

I straight away fell in love with making cards, and over the next 2 years I would slowly build up my stash. Kevin helped me to find more crafts shops, and gladly took me the long drive back and forth.

 

Then in 2005 my little boy, Michael, was born, and crafting became much needed me time. We had moved to the VERY rural Donegal, Kevin's home, but Kevin was still working in Dublin, so I was alone with 2 kids during the week. Once the babies was in bed in the evening, I would pull out my craft stuff and happily work away for a few hours. But mind you, it didnt take long for them to join in..

This is Abbie at 9 month..

Now over the next few years, I crafted when I could, made a few crafty buddies here in our area, but nothing more then just saying "hello" at the few craft events we have. I just enjoyed crafting when I could.
In 2008 I added scrapbooking to my "me-time", after once again, my sister showing me what she had made. The pages just looked so beautiful and much more alive then just looking at a photo. It took me a while to get the hang of it, but once I got going, that was it.

I tried to persuade our local stationary/craftshop to start a crop, but we werent sure the interest would be there. In the end we agreed for me to hold a scrapbooking class in the shop one evening, and it was a huge success. Eveyone really enjoyed it, and I got the taste for teaching. One of my "students" offered me to do a one-off card class for her and some crafting buddies of hers, Also a great success.

 

Kevin and I, together 11years, Married 9 years.

Here I must add that in 2010 we had our last little baby girl, Abbie. She is a wee delight, such a happy baby, and spoilt, not only by Kevin and I, but also by Emma and Michael. Like the 2 bigger ones, Abbie loves colouring, and everytime I sit at my craft table, She will point at her colouring box and want to join me.

Since doing the classes, I  now dream of a career in the craft industry. I would love to become a demonstrator. But for now, while the kids are smaller, I have joined several cardmaking Design Teams. I currently work on 6 teams pr week, so I keep busy. Using facebook and the DoCrafts forum, I have meet so many wonderful crafting buddies all over the world. They all help me try new things, there are always someone to talk to, and to bounce ideas off.

I also decided to start a blog (http://www.marleens-crafty-space.blogspot.com/). I found blogging hard to start of with, as I still doubt if anyone would really bother to read it, but I have found the joy of showing of my creations. Even days when I only get few comments, they really make my day. Just knowing that someone took the time to appriciate what I have made, is really special.

I have recently been invited to do a demonstration at our local  stationary/craftshop. Our usual demonstrator could not make it up, so the girls asked me to step in. I have gotten a load of goodies to play with so I am currently working on samples for that. We are also in the prosses of starting our own crop. I will tell you all more about that, once we get up and running.

I still scrapbook, its a real passion of mine, more personal, but I mostly make cards. With Kevin still working away from home, being alone with 3 kids, crafting is still my "me-time", but it has slowly turned into a way of life. I ttook me down a path I never expected, But I love every moment of it.

Hugs to all, Marleen xxx

Challenge #12 - 'Pink and Blue' Winner

First of all thank you to everyone who entered the challenge, we really enjoyed looking at them all, as usual, it was a hard choice because they were all brilliant.

The winner of Challenge #12 - 'Pink and Blue',

is

Cabio

with this card

Congratulations Cabio

if you contact me for your badge for your blog.

Please visit Cabio's site and say hello.

http://cabioscraftcorner.blogspot.com/

Challenge #13 - 'Love is in the Air'

Great challenge last week,  thanks for all the great projects entered,and, as always,  we enjoyed looking at them all,  it will be hard to choose a winner, but we will and let you know on Wednesday.  Look out on Friday for our the winner of our 'Blog of the Week' that we run on the 'Face Book group'.

Right, onto this weeks challenge, 

The theme for this week's challenge is

'Love is in the Air'

Your project must be all about love.

Here is what our DT came up with, hopefully, to give you some inspiration.

Debbi

Michelle

Marleen

Emma

Nicola

Donna

Angela

Rachael

Suzee

We hope that we have given you some ideas and we look forward to seeing all your entries and remember, your entry must follow the theme.

Have fun and good luck everyone xx

Challenge #11 - 'Oriental' - WINNER

First of all, sorry it's late this week, my future father in law got taken ill and was taken to hospital, he is ok and thank you for all the best wishes, I have passed them on. The winner of last week's challenge - 'Oriental' is ....

Tina

http://toniscraft.blogspot.com/

with this card

***************CONGRATULATIONS***************

If you contact me to collect your winner's badge for for blog.

Please check out Tina's blog, she is a talented crafter and does some lovely work.

Challenge #12 - 'Pink and Blue'

Great challenge last week, some really great projects and we enjoyed looking at them and, again, its going to be hard to choose a winner, but we will and let you know on Wednesday.  

Right, onto this weeks challenge, we think you'll enjoy this one.

The theme for this week's challenge is

'Pink and Blue'

Your project must be made using shades of blue and pink.

Here is what our DT came up with, hopefully, to give you some inspiration.

Debbi

Nicola

Michelle

Emma

Marleen

Suzee

We hope that we have given you some ideas and we look forward to seeing all your entries and remember, your entry must follow the theme, if it doesn't, it will not be included.

Have fun and good luck everyone xx

'Blog of the Week' winner

We would like to introduce you to our guest blogger this week, the lovely Jackie Wiseman, who was the winner of our 'Blog of the Week' that we run on our Facebook Group.  Jackie is another talented crafter and Jackie has kindly answered some questions for us to help you get to know her, thank you Jackie. I've been married to Graham for 30 years ( I was of course a child bride!) and we have 4 grown children and 2 grandchildren which are our pride and joy.' When did you start crafting and why?  I started crafting as soon as I was old enough for my mum to teach me how to knit, and then I started sewing and used to make my own clothes for years. From sewing I progressed into cross stitch and I used to make up samples for a craft shop for a number of years. I started card making about 10 years ago and have been collecting my 'stash' ever since much to Graham's disgust. It has spread itself over the whole house, even though I have a craft room!! What made you decide to set up a blog? I decided to set up my blog after seeing all of the lovely blogs that are out there, and to show off some of my work. I really enjoy entering the challenges and seeing the different ways we interpret the themes. Whats your favourite technique, and why? My favourite technique at the moment is stamping, I really enjoy the colouring. But I also enjoy decoupage and using my very large collection of CDs. What are your top 5 crafty products and why? My top 5 crafty products are: 1. Hougie Board - I use it every time I make a card, a box. I also use it under my cutting mat if I want to craft on my lap. 2. See through metal edged ruler, I couldn't be without it as I prefer to use a craft knife rather than a guillotine. 3. Promarkers and Spectrum Noir markers, they make colouring easy. 4. Ribbon - I collect ribbon, and I'm training myself to use it and not just look at it! 5. Craft Robo - I can spend hours playing with it and trying to make my own designs. 5. I'm inspired by of the many beautiful cards I see on the blogs I look at.  Thank  for sharing this with us Jackie and good luck with your blog and everything you do. Please visit Jackie's blog and say hi. http://jacqueline941.blogspot.com/

Winner of Challenge #10 - 'Distressing'

Once again, It was a hard choice for the winner of Challenge #10 - 'Distressing', thank you so much everyone who entered, we really enjoyed looking at all of them, as always.

The winner is

Melly

http://melscraftroom.blogspot.com/2012/01/gone-beady-xxx.html

with this card

Congratulations Melly.

Contact me to get your badge for your blog.

Please visit Pauline's site and say hello.