Meet the Team - Geraldine M

It's time to meet another member of the Design Team and it's Geraldine M's turn:

If you have a blog, what's the blog address..? 
http://www.cards-n-chocs.blogspot.ie/


How did you start crafting?
I've always enjoyed having a go at crafts, especially baking and jewellery, but about 4 years ago I asked a card maker to make a card for my Godson's 1st birthday.  It was gorgeous and I thought .... I could do that!

What is your favorite product line?
That changes with the weather!  Enduring favourites are Hero Arts and Ranger

What do you watch/listen to when you're creating?
I get very absorbed but if I remember to put music on it's usually The Killers or Coldplay.

What do you snack on while crafting?
Chocolate! Far too much!

Any paper crafting pet peeves?
Glues that don't survive in a warm room and bits of card and embellishments start sliding off when the card is displayed. Grrr.


Do you distress everything, not at all or somewhere in between?
In between, it depends on the type of card.

What is your favorite tool in your scrappy space?
My Cuttlebug

What is your favorite item in your scrappy space?
Currently, a tin of Inktense watercolour pencils.

When creating a project, do you plan it out or go with the flow?
I plan it out but it almost always ends up far from the plan.

What type of adhesive do you use?
My fave tape runner at the moment is Tombow - it has passed the warm room test.  For embellishments I've started using a hot glue gun.

What is your favorite kind of cardstock?
Love Neenah solar white for stamping and colouring.

Do you enjoy stepping out of your zone when creating new projects?
I don't like to be stuck with just one crafting style, I love to try other styles I admire but they don't always work out.

About how many projects do you create in a month?
Around 10 - I'd love to have time for more.

When is the best time for you to create?
School mornings!

What quality do you like and admire in others?
I love how crafty people are so generous with their ideas on the blogs.

Here are a couple of recent cards:

Inspiration Monday 11th February

Some inspiration from our DT

Doreen

Supplies used

Image - Elisabeth Bell

Backing Paper-Aimee Asher

Co-ordinations

Sentiment -Crafters Companion

Butterfly-Joy Crafts

Twine and Buttons my stash

Ang

 Supplies:

Image from Elisabeth Bell

Backing Paper from Hunkydory and Papermania

Blue card stock

Ribbon

Seam Binding

Distress Ink

Spellbinders Dies

Post it Notes

Sylvia

Supplies:

Image from Elisabeth Bell

White linen cardstock

Promarker pens

Computer generated sentiments

Challenge #8 Sponsored by Elizabeth Bell

Welcome to another challenge here at CBN,

We have decided that it is fairer to pick the overall winner by Random .org so without further ado the winner this month is:

 and that is Katie G

Well done Katie, please could you contact us to claim your prize (craftybn @ gmail.com - take out the spaces)

Top 3

Once again it was a tough job to decide, but we managed in the end and they are:

59. Alyce

123. Debbie S

191. Suzanne J Dean 

Well done girls, please feel free to grab the top 3 image to display on your blogs.

 February Challenge

This month we are sponsored by Elisabeth Bell

Elisabeth Bells Digital Collection features enchanting, whimsical, Digital stamps for all of your paper-crafting projects!
Although Elisabeth illustrates for several stamp companies, no one except Elisabeth Bell herself has a collection of sweet digital stamps, this is a perfect way to get your instant gratification.
With a growing catalog of high-quality digi stamps, Elisabeth offers a multitude of themes. Such as holidays, special occasions, children's adorable characters, and just the everyday cuteness that Elisabeth is famous for producing.
These Digi Stamps are available in standard black and white line art, and are great for resizing, and rotating to suite your needs.
Inspiration, by her very own Design Team, is posted, and shared daily,
on Elisabeth’s “Digi Bells Blog” using Elisabeth Bell’s digital art.



The theme for this month is Anything Goes and the prize is the 2 stamps below:

Barbara

Supplies used.

Image from Elisabeth Bell

White cardstock from Papermill

Dies from Marianne and Spellbinders

Papers, pearls and ribbon from stash.

Doreen

Supplies used

Image - Elisabeth Bell

Backing Paper-Nitwits

Sentiment -Whimsy Stamps

Ribbon and Buttons my stash

Ang

Supplies:
Elisabeth Bell Image
Indigo Blu Stamp onto shrink plastic
Cheery Lynn die
Dylusions sprays

Geraldine M

Supplies:
Image - Elisabeth Bell
Spectrum Noirs and Distress Inks
Papers, die cut background, tags - Papermania Vintage Notes
Ribbon, button - Papermania Capsule
Die Cuts - Spellbinders scalloped circles, Marianne Die LR0150

Sylvia

Supplies used
Image - Elisabeth Bell
Promarker Pens
Ranger Distress Inks
Papers and Ribbon Papermania Capsule
Starfish/Shells from stash

Ger

Supplies:

Image- Elisabeth Bell Digi

Copic Pens

Papers & Embellishments Docrafts Spots & Stripes Collection

Claire

Supplies:

Image - Elisabeth Bell Digi

Papers - Basic Grey (What's Up collection)

Promarkers

Kaz

Supplies:

Image - Elisabeth Bell

Promarker

Papers, Papermania Vintage Notes

Sizziz Accordion fold flower die & Flourish set/

 Spellbinders Dies

Celebrity Guest Blogger with Ali Reeve

Today our guest blogger is the wonderful Ali Reeve, here is how she answered the questions we put to her:

If you have a blog, what's the blog address..?
clevercrafter.blogspot.co.uk

How long have you been crafting?
Since I could hold a pair of scissors!! But stamping and papercraft became a main passion in 2003

How did you start crafting?
I am an early years teacher by profession so it stemmed from doing projects with the kids, and then in 2003 I wanted to make my own wedding invitations so kind of got hooked then!

What is your favorite product line?
That special touch of mica masks!

What do you watch/listen to when you're creating?
Dan Gibson Solitude albums, Les Miserables or current favourite Lady Gaga Fame Monster (bit of a random one for me there, as I normally prefer more classical music when crafting!!)

What do you snack on while crafting?
I try and avoid snacking while crafting because I would end up crafting with my snack!!

Any paper crafting pet peeves?
Waste...

Share your favorite tip/trick with the readers.
Oh there is so much but I suppose it has to be don't be afraid to experiment...every day should contain the question I wonder what will happen if...? Oh and for tying tiny bows use a fork!!

What is your favorite color combination to use on your cards?
Browns, Creams and what I call natural greens.

Do you distress everything, not at all or somewhere in between?
Generally distress everything, I struggle with clean lines (hey I struggle with clean!!) but do occasionally do white on white cards and love the effect, but at the end of the day distressing hides a multitude of sins!!

What is your favorite tool in your scrappy space?
Big Shot

What is your favorite item in your scrappy space?
My dogs!!

When creating a project, do you plan it out or go with the flow?
Definitely go with the flow, I very rarely have a plan of what I want to do, and if I ever do they turn out to be my least favourite projects!!

What is your favorite kind of cardstock?
Kraft card and plain white coated that I can ink to however I like.

Do you enjoy stepping out of your zone when creating new projects?
I try to avoid having a zone, but I do love to experiment so yes I love to push my boundaries.

About how many projects do you create in a month?
I generally have to produce many samples and demo pieces so anything up to 100 cards is normal, unfortunately personal pieces never really happen.

When is the best time for you to create?
I will craft at any moment I can, so I have been crafting through the night, while making breakfast and often get ideas in bed, so really when the mood hits me I go!!

What quality do you like and admire in others?
Uniqueness and imagination, 

Here are 3 recent cards Ali has made:

Inspiration Monday 28th Jan

Just a few more days left to enter this month's challenge to win the great prize from Mulberry Crafts, please remember though only 3 entries per person.

Here are some more inspiration cards for you if you need them:

Linda

Mulberry flowers and leaves

Card Candy

Wooden butterfly

Paper from First Edition Summer Breeze

Geraldine M

Supplies:

Image: Waltzingmouse Stamps

Inktense Pencils

Papers: Echo Park Country Drive

Ribbon, trim from stash


Claire

Supplies;

8x8 Craftwork cards card blank

Craftwork cards sentiment

Hero Arts stem stamps (as backdrop stamped in black momento ink)

Flowers & puffed hearts from out Sponser Mulberry Crafts

Ang

Supplies:

Flowers from Mulberry Crafts
Co'ordinations card

Anita's 3d glaze

Technique Focus

Hello to you all Doreen here with Technique Focus.I have decided to show you how I make a 

Centre fold card....

You will need a piece of card 5.5 inches x 11 inches

A paper trimmer

Something to score with I used my paper trimmer

Patterned paper

Image

1. Line up your card in your trimmer 1inch across and 1inch down and cut from 1”to 6.5”…flip the card over and repeat down the other side

2. You are now going to score across these cut lines along the 1” strips from the

 Edge to the cut line at 1” 2” and 6.5”on both sides

3. Score across the centre at 5.5”

4. Now fold all the score lines  as pictured 

You can now finish off with paper and an image...

Here is my finished card

Well I hope you could follow this little tutorial.xxx

Inspiration Monday 21st Jan

Time for some more inspiration from the Design Team:

Doreen

Supplies used

Tulip Die-Marianne Creatables

Butterfly Die-Marianne Creatables

Backing Paper-Pink Petticoat

Lace and Buttons-my stash

Kaz

Supplies:

Flowers from Mulberry crafts

Cube Calender template from card making downloads

Papers Fancypants

Stamp Little Claire's

Promarkers

Geraldine M

Supplies:

Flowers, ribbon - Mulberry Crafts

Image: Flowersoft Moments in Time

Worn Lipstick distress ink

Spellbinders Labels 18

Bazzill cardstock

Papers: Pink Paislee

Claire

Supplies used;

Craftwork Cards 6x6 kraft card blank

Hero Arts Stamps (script, & 4 individual wild flowers)

Distress Inks

Roase Buds from our sponser Mulberry Crafts

Meet the Team Ger

Here is your chance to meet another member of our team, this month it is Ger turn to introduce herself.

If you have a blog, whats the address?

www.gers-blog.blogspot.com

How long have you been crafting?

I’ve always crafted thanx to having a crafty family but found boys & music as a teen and came back to it by chance looking for something to do while on maternity with my second and that was 11yrs ago.

What do you watch/listen to when crafting?

Rock girl at heart so there is a lot of Red Hot Chili Peppers and the Foo Flighters but I can go into classical mode just depend on my mood, I love catching up with american tv dramas while crafting and that means hubby doesn’t have to suffer them :D

What do you snack on while crafting?

Nothing much other than a cappuccino

What is your Favorited colour  combination to use on your cards?

Don’t really have a fav combo I just love colour

Do you distress everything,not at all or somewhere in between?

I’m a inbetweeni

What is you favorite thing in your scrappy space.

My Pug handbag with reindeer antlers, it was a Chrimbo present from my folks as I’m not allowed a real one and my original Gorjuss Girl drawing, Suzanne and my wonderful hubby conspired together to surprise me for my birthday a few years ago :D 

   What is your favorite tool in your srappy space?

My Cuttlebug, well it was till I killed it during the week 

What type of adhesive do you use?

At the moment i love the Scotch tape glider and Pinflair it’s the best

About how many projects do you create in a month?

A lot maybe 40+ demending on how many Docrafts demos and many shop orders I have.

When is the best time for you to create?

At night but my craft room is at my craft shop so I have to create during the day so 11-5 is when I get to play :D

Happy crafting Ger x

Inspiration Monday 14th Jan

Here are some great cards by our design team for your inspiration

Linda 

Mulberry flowers and ribbon

Spellbinder Labels 1 Die

Gems and stamp from Kanban

Doreen

Supplies used

Core'dinations card

Image - Penny Black

Backing Paper-Pink Petticoat

Ribbon and flowers my stash

Ang

Supplies:

Flowers from Mulberry Crafts

Distress Ink

Stampendous Frantage Embossing Enamel
Clock from Gina's Designs

Barbara

Supplies

White card - PapermillDirect

Flowers - Mulberry Crafts

Pink card, pearls, and extra flowers from my own stash

Birthday stamp from -  Stamp It

Leaves - MS Punch

Challenge # 7 Sponsored by Mulberry Crafts

Well it's time for our 5th challenge  Thank you to everyone who entered last month once again it has been a tough job to decide but the winner is:


65. Scrappellen

Congratulations Scrapellen, please email Sara at Sassy Studio (luvs2stamp71@att.net) to claim your prize

and the top 3 are:

 18. Donna BMC 

99. Michaela

  222. Made By Mandy

Well done girls, feel free to grab the top 3 badge to display on your blogs.

Challenge Number 7

Our challenge for this month is sponsored by  Mulberry Crafts who are offering
A Large bag of Goodies.

MulberryCraftsUK online shop is a Home-Based business jointly run by Bev and Fun. We are both juggling between caring for our families and running this business from home. All despatch is handled by Bev and Fun manages the stock and listing.

At the moment we are focussing on providing miniature flowers made from genuine mulberry paper for crafts use - although we have a small selection of non -paper crafts too. Why mulberry paper? Because they are robust, realistic looking and last longer than ordinary paper and it provides a sustainable income for people in the cottage industry. In due course we will be introducing more of  other craft materials which is not related to mulberry paper.

The theme this month is ...Flowers

Here is some inspiration for you from our design team

Kaz.

Supplies:

Flowers from Mulberry crafts

Stamp LOTV

Promarkers 

Spellbinders Dies

Backing Papers Summer breeze by First Edition.

Doreen

Supplies used

Image - Floppy Latte

Colouring Medium- Promarkers

Backing Paper-Papermania

Core'dinations card

Ribbon- Mulberry Crafts

Flowers-Mulberry Crafts

Gems-my stash

Claire

Flower Bouquet - Mulberry Craft

Image - Stamp from Imaginesce

Sentiment - From Craftwork Cards

Design Paper - from stash

Linda

Flowers from Mulberry Craft

Stamped Image from Stash (I think it came free with a Magazine)

Sentiment - Stash

Design paper from First Edition

Ang

Flowers from Mulberry Craft

Die cuts from Gina's Designs

Barbara

White 'Linen' cardstock from Papermill
Spellbinder window die
Flowers & leaves from Mulberry Crafts
Computer generated sentiment.

Geraldine M

Supplies:

Flowers, ribbon, leaves: Mulberry Crafts

Papers, card: Papermania, Core'dinations

Image: Wee Stamps

Inktense Pencils

Ger

Supplies:

Flowers and Ribbon from Mulberry Crafts

Docrafts Lucy Cromwell double sided papers, 

Docrafts vintage topper