more of my cards on Craftwork Cards blog!!

The lovely Julie from Craftwork Cards has featured some more of my cards on their blog today, it really is such a great confidence boost for me!

Here's what Julie said..........

"More gorgeous cards from Marie Chillmaid using her Recipe Cards for inspiration


Love how you have used one of the Technique cards to create the Candi petal for the centres of the flowers on Sweet Meadow papers.

Lovely card for Valentines, Wedding Anniversary or the birth of a new baby

I'm off to find my Kraft foiled papers, this colour combination is fabulous with those flowers.
Thank you Marie for sharing your fabulous ideas with us.

Julie "

Thanks Julie, and I'm still making!

Some of my cards on Craftwork Cards Blog!!

Just had a look at Craftwork Cards Blog and discovered that there are some of my cards on there today with a little blurb - its nice to see your work som ewhere other than your own laptop or craftroom, nice little confidence boost!!

 

This is what it looks like.............

 

"Inspiration by Marie Chillmaid

 

 

 

 

This is what Marie had to say ...

The inspiration from your fab TSV and economics has really made me go through all my piles of craftroom 'stash'.

Have found lots of lovely CWC treasures so have been making like mad, attaching a few pics for you!  Some just have candy flowers and have been using candi on hatpins too, makes a lovely addition with some pearls etc.Marie so glad you were inspired by the card designs from the Recipe Cards and that you could look through your crafting stash and use some of the bits and pieces you already have to create these beautiful cards.

 

More ideas from Marie coming soon!

 

 

Day 355 card Challenge

My Mum has been fantastic since I had a serious car accident 3 yeas ago so Mother's day is always a good time to make her a special card to show her how much I love and care for her.  She loves flowers and handbags, so I'll have to choose!  Mars xx

Embossed flowers using a stencil and embossing gel and then cut out when dry to use on this card.

easel card covered in lovely papers in shads of turquoise and pinks, with hand embossed flowers using a stencil and high glitter & mica embossing gel. The 'easel' sits against a layered flower with a gem centre. Ideal card for Mother's Day or a lovely lady with something special to celebrate.

card cut using template and then embossed with stencil and high glitter embossing gel.  Roses made using Craftwork Cards Candi and centre set with pearls.

Purple handbag card made from deep purple pearlised card. I have hand embossed with white diamond embossing gel with high fine glitter and mica content, and decorated with handmade roses with glass pearl centres, lilac organza and satin trimmed ribbon and hatpins which I have embellished with glass pearls and paper candi. The little catch has a tiny strip of faux marquise diamonds! A stylish and glitzy card that's ideal for Mother's Day or a lovely lady with something special to celebrate

flowers cut from 12 x 12 paper and glazed using glossy accents, roses made using Craftwork Cards Candi with pearl for centre.

Was so busy last week doing some pieces for Craft company exhibiting in US this week so cards have taken a back seat.  Have done a few yesterday so here goes ......... enjoy

lots of Martha Stewart fine silver glitter, flowers made from Cradtwork Cards 'candi' with a glass pearl for the centre.

just realised that I haven't uploaded pics from camera so will post some more tomorrow

Mars x

all u need is love x!

have been making valentine cards today, not entirely happy that I have crafted 'the one' yet, that's the trouble with being so fussy and persnickety about things!  I'm rarely 100% happy with anything I do! Anyway off to stamp inside message now.  Have discovered lovely stamps from US called 'my favourite things', I'm not a stamper but think I could get into it using these stamps, they are easy to use and the outline is lovely and crisp and clean which makes cards look so professional.  The inside reads "you hold the key to my heart"  ah!!

Mars x

A few pics!

made a few cards this afternoon - v random

this one is from last week

for Uncle John's 70th Birthday, not v good at doing cards for men but he loves nature so thought little birds might make him smile - they did, he loved it!! x

a very simple birthday

baby boy xx

for a sweet baby girl xx

                                 elements from my favourite Craftwork Cards with glossed up candi xx

                                                    simply best wishes for any occassion xx

Love is in the air xxx

Hello again!

have been asked to make some cards for a magazine spread/feature for valentines day.  Its's one of the big multinationals so if they decide to go with what I make it could help towards making a loved hobby more of a job which I need.  I really  miss work since the accident and even though crafting is so far removed from what I did before it would be so great to make a living from something that I am so passionate about.  Have done a few cards but haven't found the few yet to send so am still making.  I'm so fussy about detail, sometimes its not a good thing but I want everything to be more than perfect so I have to keep going until I'm happy!

A few samples of my designs and also some using great new stamp from US by company called 'my favourite things', I'm not really a stamper but these are so crisp and professional that I've loved using.

Holly Cottage update

Those of you who know us know that our little holiday hideaway in Kent is what keeps us sane, especially since our accident nearly 4 years ago which changed life totally.  We have been doing some work (not us, just the organising and project managing!) to make it a comfortable as possible and as disabled friendly as possible and we are now getting towards the end of the road and we are soooooo pleased and excited.  Our new bed (the old leg needs a bit more room now) arrives early in Feb and then it will all be complete and ready for lots of good times, laughter and happy meals shared with family and good friends.

A couple of pics of the near finished article!

NOT QUITE THERE!

Roll on the sunshine and Summer xxxx

Good Luck Julie & Amy!

Good Luck Julie xx

Good Luck Amy xxx

Hi to my fav crafting experts Julie & Amy who will be presenting QVC's TSV on lots of shows from 12 midnight tonight. Two ladies who I always enjoy watching, make the shows so entertaining, provide fantastic tips and remain sooo professional throughout.   Have made a couple of cards which should have been sent to QVC in time for tonight but unfortunately life took over and last week didn't happen as hoped, c'est la vie!!

Anyway my diary is cleared (don't worry Julie, your work won't be forgotten!!) and I will be watching every show and trying desprately not to spend what I can't afford!!

Good luck & big hugs, Mars xxx

Christmas Crazy Rush!

Maybe I'm just getting old but I seem to be constantly chasing my tail!  Its been an unbelievably hectic 7 days and still another 24 hrs to the big, planned for event. 

All the months of planning and preparing and choosing little gifts for everyone that mean something to them and just when I'm about to cross the finish line the unthinkable happens.   I was so looking forward to a visit from my good friend and her lovely 5 year old twin girls, thinking we'll relax and catch up, eat mince pies and have a little drop of gin, paint the girls nails and help them make cards for 'mummy', the unthinkable was a nasty dose of tonsillitis which really knocked me out.  No sniffles, no cough just the most awful sore throat and swollen glands and a temp of 40c. 

The visit was quieter than planned but a nice relax and two days on, the antibiotics are doing the trick and even though talking is still really painful I'm feeling more human and hope to be back in the swing of things tomorrow (miracles do happen).  The only bonus was that lovely hubby, Frank, made all the Christmas phone calls to family and friends tonight so that tomorrow night is total relax and unwind before the big day.  This was a first! but he felt so sorry for me he offered and I very quickly croaked 'yes please'!

Some food prep (quite a lot actually) tomorrow, a couple more bits to wrap and that's it all done and dusted!  lots of baking this week for other people but tomorrow is for us, mince pies and a tiramisu for Christmas day, some sausage rolls for tomorrow night and also cooking a large piece of gammon tomorrow which will be finished with a muscovado & mustard glaze. Also going to prep all the veg for Christmas day, sprouts (we love them!), I cook them with chorizzo and chestnuts, parsnips which will be roasted in goose fat with the potatoes and carrot & squash mashed with butter, cream and lots of black pepper.  The Christmas pudding and cake are made and our lovely friend Lisa provided a fab hamper of home made goodies including lovely chutney's, jams and my favourite chilly jam.  A lot for one day but its always a lovely day, we are sharing it with friends who are coming for the day with their beautiful little girl and another good friend and good neighbour are popping in so all in all it will be lovely.  We'll be skyping all the family in Ireland in the morning and thrn speaking to our grand sons to see what Santa brought, so exciting for thr little ones!

Hope everyone has a really lovely time and a great relax.  Happy & peaceful holidays!  Mars xxx

Here's a couple of pics of what I've been doing.............