Alex's Invogue Stamping Blog

New forever home

2015-11-15T18:09:00.001+00:00

Thank you to you all for bearing with me, it's been a hell of a year, moving house, getting married and a new baby but I have built a forever home for my blog over at www.hedgehoghollow.co.uk, I hope you will join me there as I post the daily crafting of our prickle

Thanks

Mummy, Minnie and the new Tilly

Broken resolutions and new space

2014-03-16T19:13:00.001+00:00

Hello!

Ok so the resolution of posting regularly hasn't exactly worked out...I missed the whole of February! That doesn't mean I haven't been productive there are a quite a few rooms to I need to blog about and I have been applying for some per enact jobs at work as well as shipping over 40,000 parts to China...I mean who knew that airbags had to be in bomb proof containers in case they explode in the middle of the ocean and that screws are the hardest thing to import into china? Anyway, I digress!

The big news in the sewing room is my new space.....

Some of you may remember my lovely lounge that was an old library, here is a picture when I moved in

This is an amazing room that we had been using as a formal lounge if you like, my craft room has slowly been becoming a family room with Greg moving in his work laptop, Maddison all her homework things, which added to all my crafty stuff and workspace we were bursting at the seams!

We took the decisions to have a mega trip to IKEA (which involves a very funny story about getting the wrong size van and taking up an entire row of parking at IKEA Coventry!) we then had some fab friends over who helped us build said IKEA mega trip and move everything upstairs (thanks guys) they were graciously paid in ales, curry, a bed for the night and a big English fry up breakfast.

So here is the fruits of their labour, I couldn't be more thrilled and feel a very lucky girl to have such an amazing sewing space.....

The new cutting and basting area...

The new working space including Greg laptop area....

Behind the desk is a wall of shelving for frequently used items...

The library shelves now hold fabric, card making items and some whisky, I am starting yo see how the DSLR urgently needs fixing as some of the amazing colours are lost...

Finally, Maddi's little sewing and homework station, she is soooo pleased and eecially loves having mummy's old machine.....

I'm not quite sure how the amazing sunshine we had today has come out so dark but I think my iPhone did its best, hope you enjoyed looking around and I plan on being back soon with some more pics on the detail and the projects I have been delinquent in blogging

Happy stitching

Alex

Too long

2013-06-05T15:25:00.001+01:00

Hello Everyone,

Well between doing two degrees a full time job and three boys plus Maddi I have been a little busy!!

Just a quickie to let you know Maddi and I have taken up sewing over the summer as well as getting back into card making!

We have our own shared blog at SewMummyAndMinnie.blogspot.com

We would love you stop by and promise to get better at posting!

She is now such a big girl!

Alex

I've been busy!!

2012-09-02T19:03:00.001+01:00

Hi All

I haven't posted in a few weeks as we are back to school tomorrow and been preparing....however, I have been busy!!

I have a few cards to share with you.......

This was made for a birthday party Maddi went to last weekend, the letter is from a foam set by Tim Holtz, the silhotte is hero arts set and the alphabet is a penny black set that I use all the time:

This one is the final birthday card, as I car nut I thought is was very apt; and he did love it! I'd like to think it is me sitting so stylishly on the car!!!!! :-)

All stamps except the sentiment are magnolia; the setiment is an old stampin up set. The paper is from the stash!!

Inside is the same papers, I used kraft card with the Martha Stewart XO border punch

Next is a congratulations card for a good friend at work (Hi Trace!), she got a fab promotion and there is a very funny story about her trying her DH's motorbike so thought of her with this stamp, again all coloured with Copics, penny black alphabet and an EK Success Buckle Punch, SU Ribbon.

I'd like to enter the above in these challenges:

http://7kidschallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/

http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/

http://scrap-creations1.blogspot.co.uk/

I just love Riley sitting in the bath and thought she deserved the bubbly to celebrate! There is some sitckles on the bubbles, the rest is all copics......

I'd like to enter the above for:

http://7kidschallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/

http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/

http://www.craftdoormagazine.com/

Finally I needed a card to send some photos of Minnie in.......

All coloured in copics......

I didn't really want to put anything inside so I thought this was a nice way to decorate the inside....from SU with the matching framelets set.

I love this stamp been waiting to use it for sooooooo long, I have glossy accented her wellies although this doesnt show up and glitter on the rain drops.

The paper is all SU, the shapes are spellbinders, the sentiment is SU, the butterfly is from the EK Success three step punch and all glittered.

I'd like to enter this last card in the Just Magnolia Pretty In Pink http://justmagnolia.blogspot.co.uk/

7 Kids Anything Goes http://7kidschallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/

http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/

http://scrap-creations1.blogspot.co.uk/

http://www.craftdoormagazine.com/

Thanks for stopping by....

Birthday Bonanza & Totally Tilda DT Call

2012-08-12T16:48:00.003+01:00

Afternoon All!!

**NEWSFLASH**
Can't believe I passed my first year of my Mechancial Engineering Batchelors!! Sooooo happy!!

Well its birthday time around here again and I started making a manly card with some meaning, we have both recently taken up cycling (except im on rest with my broken ankle!!) anyway it turned out a bit igrly for my liking so I have started another....however, he loved it and wished I'd kept it!

Anyway....I though I would share and enter ti for some challenges. I have been practicing with the familys digital SLR and my trial of photoship, think it makes a difference :-)

Here is the outside:

Paper: Stampin Up Mini Catalog
Stamps: Alota Well and Tilda from Magnolia
Die: Stampin Up Framelets
Colouring:Copics
Ribbon: Stampin Up
Flowers: Made from SU Paper

Here is a close up of Tilda:

And inside all SU Paper:

I had an order fromSU come in this week in case you hadn't guessed - I also used spellbinders for the black and white scalloped circles and the flower is a new SU punch.

I would like to enter the following challenges:

http://justmagnolia.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/week-167-pearls-and-swirls.html
http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/august-challenge.html
http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/simon-says-lets-play-bingo.html
http://totallytilda.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/totally-tilda-dt-call.html
http://totallytilda.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/challenge-53-tilda-using-kraft-card.html
http://scrap-creations1.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/going-grey-with-scrap-creations.html

Thanks for stopping by

Sorry April.....Got sidetracked!!

2012-08-05T16:40:00.001+01:00

Hi Everyone,

I saw this frame on my shelf that I bought from IKEA ages ago with very good intentions of making something for Maddi's bedroom; well now I have.......

It is to go in Maddi's bedroom which is due to be decorated soon, here are some close ups:
I used the Tim Holtz Alterations for the concertina flowers and the other hand made flower is using the Paper Artsy Dies; all other are flowers from my stash:

I coloured Tilda with Copics, but th sky and grass I used distress inks.....the sky went very wrong and the more I coloured the worse it got :-)

The frame is blended with distress inks and I used masks to layer up swirls, butterflies, dragonflies and clouds.

I have to say overall im quite pleased with it, I dont think the pictures show it the way I see it but some of that might be rose tinted glases ;-)

Thanks for stopping by,

I would like to enter it for the following challenges:

7 Kids - http://7kidschallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/
Anything Goes - http://scrap-creations1.blogspot.com.au/2012/07/going-grey-with-scrap-creations_30.html
Handmade Flowers - http://justmagnolia.blogspot.co.uk/
Fly away August - http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/
Inspiration - http://magnolia-liciouschallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/magnolia-licious-challenge-inspiration.html
Simon Says Stamp - http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/

Hugs

Long Time.....No Post!

2012-08-03T16:51:00.003+01:00

Afternoon All!!
A sneak peak of Baby Evie's Album:

I have been terrible recently, I started a new job at Jaguar Land Rover, absolutely fantastic - I get to drive all the very fast cars :-)

Anyway.....I have been working on a porject which I will share soon but it needs some finishing touches and I think the recipient should she it first-she has waited quite a while for it, I think Evie is at least two months old now (Sorry April!!).

However, I had some duplicate maggies that I sent to a very good friend to boost her maggie collection.....I made her this card to go with it- hope you enjoy the stamps and card Denise!

The stamp is an inkadinkadoo, with some papers I found at Sir Stampalot, and the bottom right is the flipped side just to be different :-)

It is coloured with copics and topped with stickles.

Here is the inside:

I used the new Tim Holtz inspirations die to make the paper rosette........

Finally I used the new maggie stamp on the back:

Also, Maddi had her birthday party last weeekend, she is now a big 5 year old...who doesnt cry!! I have put a pic below, we had Princess Lucy come and paint their faces and do party games, my little Princess had sooooo much fun:

Thanks for stopping by

On a roll....

2012-01-19T19:06:00.000+00:00

Hi Everyone,

I manged to find some time to create again today, I have mounted the Tilda I did a few weeks ago as I need a card for a man, not sure if its right for the recipient but I like how it came out, I have used all my "grunge" products. Behind the nib the oval I "aged" with distress inks and covered with Crackle Accents, you cant really see this in the picture.

Stamps: Magnolia Tilda and Books, Tag stamped with Invoke Arts Time Flies Set

Accessories: Nib (Tim Holtz), Corner (from my stash), Hinges (Grungeboard pre-cuts)

Die Cuts: Pre Cut Tag, Spellbinders Tag, Stampin Up Oval and Ornate Square Punches

For Once I also decided to do the inside

I have used the same stamps I used on the tag but shadow stamping, I used an Art Impressions "happy birthday" stamp and used this phrase from the same invoke arts set:

I used distress inks to stamp throughout and used stippling and grunging techniques to get the aged effects.

I would like to enter into the following challenges:

1) Anything Goes at Anything Challenge

2) Out with the old

Hugs to all

It's been a challenge

2012-01-18T21:46:00.001+00:00

Hi Everyone

As part of my making time to create my aim is to get on a design team this year and enter at least a challenge a month, well I can't work for the next few days as i'm having some tests done so i have been creating. I had a bit of a shopping spree last weekend and "my boys" also spent his weekend assisting me change around and install my new furniture into my room (well more supervising whilst doing Lego and playing Forza)....

At least my room is being put to good use (Vodka Martini and all!!)...don't tell them I managed to sneak a photo of the hive of industry!

I have also trusted the cat into my room, the dog still has to wait outside far too many goodies for him to chew and he's not quite housetrained. But Piston loves to sit on the sofa by the fire and watch my creations.....

Diesel (the puppy) may be allowed in soon, and one day he will sit still long enough to have his picture taken!! Anyway onto my creating I have been playing about with some new techniques and stencils....

I will keep this in my stash until I find the right project for it. I have also made my first challenge card and would like to enter it for the following:

1) The Magnolia-licious Challenge (Red, Pink and White)

2) Sir Stampalot Monochrome Challenge

3) Simon Says Stamp Sketch
4) Black and white Magnolia

Stamp:Angel with heart from Magnolia

Papers: SU Cardstock (black and white), matting papers from my stash

Coloured with Copics (Warm and Toner Grays)

Ribbon: Stampin' Up

Dies: Nesties and Paper Artsy flowers

Accessories: Magnolia Flowers and Stickles

I have coloured a monochrome Tilda with Copics which took a couple of attempts to get her how I wanted her but I am now really pleased with it. The mounting took a while and its not how I imagined it to come out but I think the result is nice with just picking out red from the black/white/monochrome theme just to give it some interest.

Here she is up close:

I'd love to know what you think.

Hugs

What to do next?

2012-01-08T18:08:00.000+00:00

Hi Everyone!

Well we've had a lovely chilled out weekend; we've played monopoly and Maddi of course won! The adults have played poker and the boys sulked and stopped playing when I won! I have been practising my colouring; I have made this Tilda but not sure how to mount her yet but pleased with her look even Greg and Alex said it looked good, so there must be something in it:

I really don't know how to mount her, I want to enter some challenges so will have a browse around for ideas. I have a wish to be on a design team (especially something with Maggies) so I think this will end up as an entry. She is coloured with Copics but I wanted a watercolour effect so I can add her to something distressed.

Meanwhile Maddi has made me a present which is now a monitor guard:

I am told this is a mouse and a cat is on the way!!

Thanks all for stopping by.

Hugs

More Spots!!

2012-01-05T12:29:00.000+00:00

Morning!

Well we had a severe lack of sleep after an upset tummy from her medicine and we have woken up with more spots! How can she have the vaccine twice and STILL get chicken pox!! 1 in over 200million i'm told!! Unfortunately chcicken pox is serious in Minnie as she has a surpressed immune system...please keep us in your prayers!

Still my little trooper keeps on going and she has coloured her first Tilda, a very proud moment! I promised I would post alongside my Copic practise; may I add she was NOT allowed to touch Mummy's Copics!!

Stamp: Tilda Holding a Heart
Colouring: Pencils

I'm sure there is more to come, and today she wants to cut it our with my Grand Calibur. Will keep you posted!

I have been getting some Copic practise I have a very important card I am working on, but I cannot post until later as I believe the person in question does peek in on my blog! But to get my eye back into colouring I made this, not sure about the mountings, not quite what I wanted but Minnie made me these flowers and I thought I should use them, but quite pleased with the colouring.

Finally, thanky ou everyone for all your kind emails and comments. We treasure them all and it really makes our day to hear from you all. I'd love to know what you think of my first attempt of colouring in years and my little apprentice would love to know what you think of her first Tilda...oh and her fuzzy felt house!

Hugs

Unexpected Bump In The Road

2012-01-03T16:39:00.000+00:00

Afternoon!

Well despite two vaccines against Chickenpox Maddi has managed to get them anyway which is not good news with her JIA, so we are confined to home and not allowed to leave for a week with lots of rest and some rather potent tablets. She is resting in Mummys stamp room (thank goodness I did buy a new TV for the family room and Mummy bought herself a playstation to play DVD's). So we thought we would fix our tech issues and post some pictures of our new girls room.......

Here is my partner in crime:

She loves to make cards and is supposed to be resting, well she is now asleep behind me, but I had promised to share one of her pictures as she is a budding photographer and loves going out with her camera.....

She loves cars and she is so proud of this one, she took at silverstone classics in the summer.

Anyway back to the subject, here is my space roughly unpacked so its useable, lots more to come....

This is my stamp rack, need about 10 of these though! The CD case currently has my unmounted and Sizzix, I have a second one which needs bringing down that is full of maggies off to buy number three I think!!

This is my punch rack, Ikea drawers which are my namesake (Alex) and a eutiful Chinese cabinet his Grandma gave us, its all inlaid with Jade and it contains.....

All my Stampi Up! Sets from when I was a demo, and misc bits n bobs, plus the bottom perfectly holds my uni books.

On top is any punches that dont fit on my rails, flowers, ribbons, buttons etc....

On top of the Alex's is my ribbon, SU Pads, few bits n bobs.....

These are a few of my drawers, I love the printers drawers to organise my brads and eyelets.

My fab shelving next to the all important workspace....

Doesnt she look like an angel asleep??

Nemo is her absolute favourite! Now for my favourite my vintage haberdashery shop display, paper pidgeon holes for A4 paper and my vintage printers draw for all my goodies.......

Thats eat for my room for now, I have that large tub of Magnolia to label with my new Dymo printer I bought so off to do that, and hopefully tomorrow some crafting time

Hugs

Scrap girl candy

2012-01-02T20:48:00.000+00:00

Sorry, I have no idea how to postin my side bar, but there is some fantastic candy to be had here

Hugs x

Happy New Year!!

2012-01-02T15:41:00.000+00:00

Hi Everyone!

I am so ashamed looking at the date of my last post but soooo much has happened. I have only one new years resolution and that is to create once a fortnight, and blog too. My little minnie has grown up so much, she has been very poorly but we are back on the way up (fingers crossed). We now have a cat (Piston) and a dog (Diesel) - pictures to follow! - we moved house at the beginning of December, which now means my craft things can now be unpacked after nearly 18months in their boxes. I now have a Mummy lounge!! Its getting there slowly, I have a few pictures to share so far and more on the way. I have a new iMac on my birthday wish list. Oh! I have started learning mandarin and am also doing a degree!!

The house is amazing, for those historians amongst you it was built in 1613 and the whole village is owned by the family of Princess Diana, and was their family estate back in the 17th Century until they had to move out in the civil war and they never came back, my new craft space looks out onto what is left of the old manor house; a spectacular view!! For those who hae known me a long time they would never think for me to live on a farm! Wellies, dog n' all!!

So welcome to Church Farm........

Here is the entrance hall leading to my new spectacular space:

And the room before......

The door on the left leads to an old archway and one the right leads to what was the meat smoking room which now houses my wool stash (whilst I couldnt stamp I took up knitting), still complete with the meat hooks which are great for hanging skeins.

We also have a murial room with a pilgrims scene all the way around....

An old dairy as a laundry room......

And a LIBRARY as a family room!!!......

Now for my assistant to guide you around the stamping room...... (using her own camera as mummys is still packed!)......we will have to save this for a later post as Mummy can't find the cable to plug in the camera!! Just gives me more time to tidy it up!!

Hope you are all well and best wishes for 2012....

Magnolia-licious Highlites Sketch Challenge

2010-05-17T20:36:00.000+01:00

Evening!!

Well what a lovely day it has been with the sun shining......I spent my afternoon making this Edwin for the Magnolia-licious challenge. It is the first sketch I have ever followed and am really pleased with how it turned out.

I coloured him with my copics, Warm Grays and E40-50's. The edge of edwin is made using inkdusters with Tim Holtz Tea Dye, Walnut Stain and Antique Linen. I had real fun making this...it ended up getting larger and larger so it became 8x8. I am hoping to make my other half a graduation album for the summer so this may well be my front page.

I'd love to know what you all think, also here is a link to the challenge

Just having some photo shop fun!!

Best Wishes to you all

New Magnolia Easel Birthday Card

2010-05-03T17:04:00.000+01:00

Hi Ladies

Well I finally sat down at my new stamping desk and had a play with my prisma's. I've only used them once before so I was quite pleased with the outcome!! It is my Mum's birthday card. Hope you have all had a lovely bank holiday, we have nice weather and done absolutely nothing which has been fabulous!!

I'd love to know what you all think. I had great fun stamping again, it seems sooooo long!!! Thanks for stopping by.

Blog Redesign

2010-04-24T14:33:00.002+01:00

Hi Everyone,

Spent (quite) a while re-designing my blog today, would love to know what you all think, any hints or tips would be great. Still working on the banner but will upload it soon.

Happy Stamping

Back to Stamping

2010-04-24T13:01:00.002+01:00

Well its been a busy 18months, but finally I have a stamping space again! I have been stocking up on new supplies and can't wait to get creating; I have had my little one all week so bank holiday weekend is stamping time. I can't wait to start creating and posting again. Now I am settled in the UK I hope to start classes again.

Happy Stamping.

Something to Share with you all

2009-01-07T13:11:00.001+00:00

Ladies

I just wanted to let you know that my post will be less frequent for now, I am going back home to England and will on have dial-up and limited access, as soon as I create and have something to share with you all I will be back, I'm sure it won't be too long

Best Wishes for the new year

Alli

Exciting News

2008-12-21T00:49:00.002+00:00

I have partnered with Marie over at Pink Poison Stamps - Splendid Little Company, we have opened a Yahoo Group for all the lovers out there, we will be sharing ideas, tips and tricks, we would love to have you join us, we will talk about every coloring medium from Gamsol magic to Copic markers, they have a new range coming out in January and I can't wait to get my hands on some, I will post when I do, they will be changing there name to "The Greeting Farm" in January, don't you just love their new logo

Here is the link to the group:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/splendidlittlecompanystamps

Hope to see you there

More Magnolia Christmas Cards

2008-12-17T20:06:00.004+00:00

I have two more cards to share with you, one is for my manager at work and the other is for a friends of my Mum's who is lovely and always send Maddi and me such lovely things that she quilts.
Let me know what you think

Happy Holidays

Special Christmas Cards

2008-12-15T01:14:00.004+00:00

I am finally down to just my special cards!! I created four today..not alot I know and they did take nearly 2 hours each!! Still I thought I would share them with you, the recipients don't watch my blog, or even log into the world wide web, so 'm safe sharing them with you, they are all winging there way across the pond,

The first was to my very special great-aunt, who is in England from Germany for the holidays, you will have to excuse the red fingerprints, we have a tradition of putting Maddi's hand print in the cards and the older she gets the messier it gets!!

The second is for my Grandad, who is so special to me, we are very close and I miss so much not being at his house for all our family traditions and can't wait to get to see him next year

The third is for Mum, she is a card maker, but doesn't get much time at the minute to craft so this one took extra time as I wanted it to be perfect and her to feel appreciated for all she does for me and Maddi and all the red cross parcels we get!!

Finally, this is for my Mum's neighbor, she is wonderful to Maddi and has a great-niece only 10days different in age to Maddi.

The first three cards are done with my copics, and the final card is gamsol magic with the CHF Thomas Kinkade collection its the first time i've used it and love the outcome.

Hope you are all enjoying the holiday season

PS. Thanks Debi, Sandy and DeeDee for the images I was so pleased to get to play with them, I hope you like what I did with them

Yummy Blog Candy

2008-12-13T17:39:00.001+00:00

Ladies

Take a look at a very talented designers blog and you could win some amazing things

Alli
http://blog.papermonkey.org/index/2008/12/happy-hauladays-my-biggest-giveaway-ever-.html

Inspired by colour not shapes

2008-12-05T00:40:00.004+00:00

This weeks inspiration challenge over at Utah Divas blog is the beautiful snowflake stamps, I was actually looking at these in the post office and up close you can see beautiful purpley/greeny tones on the snowflakes, so I scrapped the card I was making and wasnt too happy with, instead I started playing with the colour combo, I loved how it all started coming together, hoewever, my snowmen weren't stampin up, so I grabbed the only xmas set I bought this year, snow swirled and started playing with the gamsol technique, I don't have a finished card to share yet as i'm still playing with how to finish it but thought I would show you that the inspiration doesn't have to come from the shapes or objects in the picture it can come from the colours, this is the snow swirled tree, it is a little more "funky colours" than i would normally use on a christmas card, but all the same I quite like it,

I thought it looked like a muted alcohol ink technique.

I also tried an inkadinkadoo stamp that I have had for a long time, I am so pleased with it I have decided to turn it into my christmas card design, I'd love to know what you think, I used my precious copics!!

I also started with the blues on my Judikins, you will love this set i've you've never seen it before, I will work on the other angels and show you they are so cute!!

That's it for this week! I am hoping to stamp at the weekend, but never get around to it!! I have 250 christmas cards to make so I must get going!!

Happy Thanksgiving and Great News!!

2008-11-28T00:25:00.002+00:00

Hi Everyone

Hope you have all had a fabulous thanksgiving, although its a new tradition for us we still had a nice family day and a lovely meal that in true thanksgiving style took 3 hours!! So now for my news, I am now part of the inspiration challenge design team at Utah Divas International's blog, these are a group of talented and wonderful ladies and I have made so many friends through the group, you can go over to there blog to see what this weeks inspiration was, I had a little trouble finding a stamping up set that fitted with what I had in mind be eventually settle on trying my new copic airbrush and came up with this card, I was so pleased with it until I smudged it!! Well it will go in the box!! Hope you all like it

Best Wishes to you all this holiday season