New Year SALE still on...

Oops in all the rush of Christmas I forgot to tell you about the Funky Hand website sale.  Yes, you read it right we have 50% off everything available on the website.  I'm clearing out the stock room for shiny new stock to be added in the new year.

Get along to www.funkyhand.com NOW as the products are selling fast and there are alot of items already out of stock.  Don't miss out!

Oh yes and as it's the 31st December..HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL.

Speak to you next year !
Anice xx

Merry Christmas One and All

We hope you have a wonderful day.
Anice and all at Funky Hand
xxxx

It's nearly time..

Well, Christmas Eve is here again.  It seems to always sneak upon me every year even though for the last few weeks I've had a count down on the Google home page reminding me how many days I had got left!  I hope you are all sorted and ready for the big day.

We were lowering our turkey into a bucket last night with the aid of Nigella Lawson, she wasn't actually in the kitchen with us unfortunately, We were following her Christmas turkey recipe.  Oh well if it goes all wrong we have plenty of eggs and baked beans for an alternative Christmas dinner!!

I thought I'd share a card that I finally made for Ians parents..they have it now so I can put up the picture.

I used the holly paper from the download collection Trad Ole Christmas  the image is from the Funky Hand CD Twelve Crafters Crafting.  I coloured the image with Promarkers.  The ribbon and pearls are from my stash.  I hope they liked it.

Right I imagine you have a lot to still do..I know I do.  I have to wrap Ians presents and get ready for my parents arrival.  Why am I all nervous? Well this is the first time in all my 44 years I have hosted a Christmas dinner!  Terrible I know but we've always gone to other more capable members of the families!!

Wish us luck and have a wonderful Christmas Eve
Anice xx

Do you buy yourself Christmas presents?

Before I get started I have to say sorry for not posting here for so long.  We popped off for a little 4 day break to Düsseldorf to see the Christmas markets and drink the gluvien, mulled red wine and a touch of something else..usually Amaretto! Bad Anice!  We had a great time but it was cold..snow really does fall fast over there but in the end it just added to the Christmas feel.  I'll post some really BAD photos of me in my 'Snow' get up in the future..they are on Ians phone. And then I've been upto my neck in getting ready for Christmas.  Like you all are I'm sure.

Any way back to the title of this blog post.  Do you treat yourself around this time of year?  Usually I would say No but this year I decided that I had no choice when I saw these amazing Pantone coloured mugs from Cowling and Wilcox

They are bone china mugs, good for drinking my Earl Grey out of, and they are a decent size..as Ian commented when I produced them!
I love them as they feed my designers love of colour, you know how I like that. But also that they are Pantone so they feed my Designer knowledge of colour as well.

Anyway, that was my gift to myself this year, tell me what yours has been..or if you just haven't had anything :(

I'll be back very soon with some cards I made for the family..but have to give them out first so tomorrow maybe!

Speak again very soon
Anice xx

Mega Tuesday. Go on you can have another day!

We've decided to let the 50% off SALE run for another day..I really need the space in the stock room for the New Year and I've had alot of you contacting me saying you missed yesterdays sale.  So, enjoy another day of 50% OFF ALL FUNKY HAND PRODUCTS on the website www.funkyhand.com

See you over there!
Anice xx

50% OFF SALE just for today

Just for today as it's MEGA MONDAY I've decided to have a massive 50% off sale of all the Funky Hand products on the website www.funkyhand.com.  Come on help me clear out the stock room for all the fab new products we have planned for the new year!
Speak again soon
Anice xx

Are you ready to get Blog Hopping?

Today our Funky Hand Design Team are honoured, and very excited, to be getting together for a giant Blog Hop with the amazing Design Team from Tiddly Inks.  Each member of both Design Teams are mixing it up today and creating cards using the wonderful Digital stamps from Tiddly Inks and using Funky Hand backing papers and extras.

Now, if this is your first Blog Hop don't worry it's really easy and FUN.  Each post will have a link to the next Blog you need to 'hop' to but, if you get lost, at the bottom of this post are all the links to each of the Blogs included in the hop. You will also find this list on the Tiddly Inks DT Blog.( It might be a good idea to keep this post open as you hop just incase you get lost and you can find the links again)

Then take a look at the wonderful creations the Design Team members have created. On each Blog you visit leave a comment so we all know you have visited.  It's that simple...you will have fun, get lots of inspiration and leaving comments means you will be in with a chance to win some great prizes.

What are the prizes? I hear you ask
Christy from Tiddly Inks is offering a voucher for $20.00 worth of download images from her website Tiddly Inks.  That's an amazing prize to win.  I'm offering £20.00 of vouchers (about $32.00) to spend on the Funky Hand website.

Right less talk lets see what I have created for you to look at!

At this time of the year I couldn't miss having a Christmas card now could I? The image used as the topper is the Tiddly Inks digital stamp Best Friends.  The backing papers all come from the Funky Hand download collection Trad Ole Christmas.  With this wonderful image I couldn't resist making a second card..

Now, this is a little more grungy..It's the same Best Friends image but the backing papers and letters are from the Funky Hand Steam Funk download collection.  I like an image that can be used for more than one type of card and this one really fits the bill perfectly.

So, now is time for you to get 'hopping'. The next persons Blog you need to visit is Asa

Have Fun!
Anice xx

If you get lost at any time here is a list of all the Blogs for you to visit on this hop:
Anice
Asa
Allison
Aylce
Amanda
Dilyana
Debbie
Emmy
Jackie
Jodi
Kathy
Karen
Lou
Larissa
Ni
Leah
Ruth
Lou Mac
Sam
Maria
Marlena
Melissa
Tabbatha
Christy


 

Woohoo! Who's ready for a Blog Hop?

But not just any old Blog hop..For the very first time we are having a Blog hop with another digital craft company and we are very excited about it.

Yes, we are joining together with the fabulous Tiddly Inks for a hop around all of the Design Team members of both companies.  We have all been working hard on our Blog hop cards.  Each card will be made up of a wonderful digital stamp from Tiddly Inks, and if you haven't seen Christys digital stamps before you are in for a treat, and Funky Hand downloads and CD backing papers.  I can't wait to see what everyone has created..but from what I've already peeked at they are going to be well worth hopping around the Blogs to see.

Just seeing great card creations is of course not the only reason to join in..there will be some fab prizes available from both companies. All you have to do is hop around the Blogs, leave a comment on each post and after all that fun sit back and wait to see if you have won a prize!! If you have never taken part in a Blog Hop before don't worry.  You will see just what to do right here tomorrow, along with the cards that I have made !

See you here tomorrow for some hopping fun !
Anice xx

Get Funky & Craft Blog is launched.

I'm really pleased to let you know that we have made changes to the old Get Funky Challenge Blog.  It's not only had a face lift but it is no longer a Challenge Blog.

The Funky Hand Design Team decided that there were enough Challenge Blogs out there and we wanted to offer you something a little different.  So, as of today the Get Funky And Craft Blog has been launch. We will be sharing inspiration papercraft creations and offering you technique information so you can learn new things as well as seeing great crafty creations.

Today I have opened the posts with a video about how to make the Christmas Clipboard that I showed you a while ago.  Even though the video shows me making the clipboard I'm also showing you how to cover chipboard and prepare it for using on a card or other craft projects.  Maybe you already know to do this or maybe you don't.  That's the great thing we are planning for Get Funky And Craft that all crafters are welcome.  If you are a beginner or a seasoned crafter you should hopefully find something to interest you.

There will be a new post on the blog every Wednesday and at the weekend.  So keep popping back to see what we have for you over the coming weeks.  Please leave a comment and let us know what you think about the blog as well as the post you are reading.  We love to hear from you.

You may notice that we have kept the linky on each of the posts.  This in't for any sort of challenge it's an opportunity for you to share any creation that you have worked on using Funky Hand products or the technique that you have learned.  We know other crafters will love seeing what you are creating and then you are inspiring them as well!  We are really looking forward to seeing your creations and visiting your blogs.

OK so, that is the first of the new things going on with Funky Hand this week.  I'll be back tomorrow with the next one..and it's really exciting!  Well, I'm excited about it anyway!!

Speak tomorrow.
Anice xx

The Sale is over but there's still fun to come!

Thank you to everyone who visited www.funkyhand.com during my birthday sale.  You did a good job of clearing out some of the stock ready for fab new items to be added.  If you missed out..sorry!

As I said in the title of this post we have some fun to come..in fact a couple of really great things.  I'm not going to tell you about either of them today..what a tease but, I'll be back tomorrow with more details.  See you then.
Anice xx

It's my Birthday lets have a SALE !

Yes, it's my birthday and I feel like spreading the love and giving you all a bit of a present.
Go over to my website www.funkyhand.com now and you will see that there is a big 25% off EVERYTHING for sale on there.

The sale will be on from now until 10pm Monday 26th November so don't leave it too late, grab a bargain for a crafty Christmas present or even an early one for yourself! 

Well that's it from me today, short and sweet I know but, it's my birthday and I have cake to eat for my breakfast!!

Speak again very soon
Anice xx

The final Christmas card..

I've finally got on to the last card that I made for the Creative Cardmaking magazine.  I saved this one until last as it is my favourite, if you are allowed to say things like that about your own cards!

Once again I made it using the Christmas Tree  backing paper download available on my website www.funkyhand.com and the Festive Fun digital stamp collection.

I hear from my customers sometimes that they are a little nervous about using the bold stripes that I usually add to my collections but, I say give it ago.  They can be great cut up into small highlight sections or used as the whole background like on this card. The great thing about striped papers is that you have two options with them, they can be used horizontally or vertically.  This backing paper when printed out is a vertical stripe but I decided to use it horizontally on this card. So, you could create the same card and it could look really different if you put the backing paper the other way around.

Here's a closer look at the topper..

 

I coloured the image first before cutting it up into three sections.  It's an interesting way to create a topper and I definitely think you should give it a go.  

Well, that's the end of my Christmas cards for a while.  I plan to share other things with you next time..and tell you some fun things that are going to be going on here with Funky Hand that you can join in with.

Speak again soon

Anice xx

 

...and another Christmas card.

You would think with all the cards I have made for the Creative Cardmaking Magazine recently I would have really got on with my own Christmas card making..you would be wrong.  I always leave my card making to the last minute.  My birthday is at the end of November and I just can't make myself think about the design I'm going to make until after then.  Though, that usual means that I have a mammoth task over a few days to decide, actually make them, let them dry and get them in the post in time. I promise myself every year I wont do it again..but here I am, no cards made that haven't been sent off for something else!!

Anyway less of my Christmas card making woes!  Here is the 4th card I created for the Creative Cardmaking magazine that is on your shelves now with all the details of how I made each one...

This card was made using papers from the Christmas Tree backing paper download on my website www.funkyhand.com along with an image from the Oh Come All Ye Crafters digital stamp collection and a couple of buttons from the Funky Hand Remember December Button set.

You might be wondering how I made the backing paper look a little like wood panelling. I used a plain paper from the backing paper collection printed it on to card and then using my Hougie board I scored on the back so the score marks stuck out through the card.  Then I used my trusty black dried up ink pad to run over the score marks to highlight them a little.

Here is a closer look at the Christmas Tree digital image..

I'm sad to say I am still working on my Promarker colouring but I thought I'd share it with you anyway.

I'll be back again very soon, with the last of the Christmas card creations for the magazine.
Anice xx 

Another day another card !

Here I am again with one of the cards that I created for this months Creative Cardmaking Magazine challenge to be able to make as many cards as possible for £10.00 or under. This months challenge was to make Christmas themed cards..no surprise there really !

This time it's a card rather than a wordbook that I shared last time.  It's a pretty plain card but you could add a nice sentiment or glitter it up and make it all your own.

Here's a closer look at the snow flake that is one of the digital stamps from the Festive Fun Digital stamp collection printed onto a backing paper from the Christmas Tree download.  The spotty backing paper is also from the Christmas Tree download collection. You can find all these downloads and many more on my website www.funkyhand.com

I hope you are enjoying seeing my crafty creations. I'll be back with the final one very soon.
Anice xx

Another Creative Cardmaking mag card..

So, much for me blogging every day eh?  Oh well, I will try to get back on the blogging horse again today..wish me luck!!

I told you a while ago about the cards that I had made for the Creative Cards magazine, I showed you a sneaky picture of my Santa card before the magazine was on the shelves . The magazine have a section each month about being able to make as many cards as possible by only spending £10.00 or less.  I made five cards for the magazine using my Christmas Download multi-buy special (Backing paper collection and wordbook download) Christmas Tree, the Oh Come All Ye Crafters digital stamp download, the Festive Fun digital stamp download and a packet of the Funky Hand Remember December Buttons.

I only had time to make five cards but you could make loads more than that with the downloads and buttons.  Anyway I've already shown you the Santa card, so here is the wordbook that I made..

If you have never seen how to create a Wordbook take a look at the technique video on my website www.funkyhand.com . How to make a wordbook

I'll share the other cards over the next few days so you can have a look and then I have some really exciting news about a very special blog hop at the end of the month.  Can't wait to tell you all about it!

Speak again very soon.
Anice xx 

Get Funky, Christmas is for kids..

Amanda set us a great challenge this month over on the Get Funky Challenge Blog to create anything we liked that evoked Christmas for children. I actually really had to think hard about this as I'd decided that I didn't want to make a card so.. I made a Christmas list clipboard..

It's a clipboard for children to make a list of the things that they would like to ask Father Christmas for and then when they have added everything it could be put up the chimney to him or put in an envelope to send to him in the North Pole. I used papers from one of my latest Christmas backing paper download collections Trad Ole Christmas.

If you would like a closer look at what is written on it then pop over to the Get Funky Challenge Blog where I've added more photographs. In the very near future there will be a video available here and on my website www.funkyhand.com showing you just how to create this clipboard and a free download  for the list, so keep your eyes peeled.

You still have time to join in with this months Get Funky Challenge and have a chance of winning a FREE download collection of your choice.  The only rule we have over there is that you use at least ONE Funky Hand product on your creation.  I give you a Funky Freebie backing paper download on my website each month to help you out so you don't have any excuse..get over there now and take a closer look at my clipboard and then join in!

Speak again soon,
Anice xx

Dads Birthday

Well, we are into the month of November and that means the month of birthdays in my family.  My Dad is the first so I thought I would share the card I made for him this year..

My Dad is always hard to make a card for as he doesn't have any hobbies I could use as a basis for a card. He's not really a craft interested sort of chap so putting buttons and twine etc on his card would basically be just wasting my stash!!

I made this card for him using my Papercraft Factory CD Colour Me Happy, the Jovial Man collection.  I layered up the letters for DAD in the work space putting the dark blue letters over the green and printing them straight out to cut out.  It was really easy, just sizing the green letters to what size I wanted for the card and then layered the blue ones over the top resizing them until they all matched.  The guide lines that appear (pink lines) when the letters were lined up exactly the same made it really easy.  The backing paper is from the same collection and I used the writer on the CD using the Impact Label font to write Happy Birthday.  Once I had everything printed out it was a simple card to put together. 

I cut off the bottom right hand corner of the backing paper just to try to make it a bit more interesting, doodled a line around the backing paper and then stuck on the sentiment and the DAD letters.  At the last moment I decided to add staples to the sentiment just to give it a little handmade feel!

I just used my office stapler so no flashy expensive tool.  I was happy how it turned out as it was just perfect for my Dad..and for sending out in the post using just a first class stamp!!

It's my turn for an inspiration post over on the Get Funky Challenge Blog tomorrow so I'll see you again there and here with that.

Speak again very soon.
Anice xx

Lock all your doors...

Yes it's that time of the year again.. Halloween!  When I was a kid we didn't do anything for Halloween, that was more an American thing.  We were focusing on Bonfire Night the 5th November. Firework displays and baked potatoes cooked in the bonfire.

But these days kids and adults have really got into Halloween.  I have to admit that I'm not that bothered.  Last year, there was a stream of little children at our door and I was handing out sweeties left right and centre!  This year it's going to be a little more difficult as there will be more children (We live on new estate that is still being built so, there will be more families that have moved in since last year) and we have Travis, a rather excitable Lab cross who runs up and down the stairs barking everytime the doorbell rings. Not much fun to be had tonight in this house I think.  He is going off on a nice long walk to hopefully miss most of the visitors.  Lets hope he doesn't meet too many scary monsters on the streets!

Saying all of this I have made a Halloween card for my card of the day, couldn't really miss it could I?!

Please forgive the picture. I made it late this afternoon and the light is really bad, really early suddenly :( The paper is actually a scrap that I had left over from the Christmas card I made earlier in the week.  It's from the Oh Come All Ye Crafters Is It Xmas download collection.  The spider and web and the Boo! sentiment are digital stamps from my craft CD ROM Craft The Year Away. 

I just used plenty of black ink pad all of the card and paper and scuffed up the edges of the orange paper with one of my files.

It took a while to cut out the spider web but I like the way you can see the patterned paper through it.

I attached the spider and the Boo! sentiment to the card using 2mm foam pads so they stand off the card really nicely.

Well, that's me for today.  Whatever you are up to this evening I hope you have a great time.  Just think of me trying to calm an over excited dog and smile sweetly at children dressed as Harry Potter at my front door.

Speak again soon.
Anice xx

Modern Wedding

Recently a couple of friends got married but they kept everything very quiet from everyone..even their own families. So I was very pleased that they shared the news with us before it all happened and we had a chance to buy them a little gift and for me to be able to make them a card.

As you must have already realised this couple are not into the white wedding, going down the aisle, honeymoon sort of people.  They are the most 'cool' without really trying young couple I know so I tried to reflect that in the card I made for them.  It has a bit of tradition on it..the cake but that's about it!!

The card base is 6" x 6" white and the striped backing paper (printed onto white card) is from my craft CD Craft The Year Away, the My July Collection.  The layer for under the image come from the same collection.  It's one of the 'plain' papers, which of course are never completely plain they always have a pattern or effect on them to make them much more interesting..well I think so anyway!

The topper is made with a digital stamp from the choice on the last Papercraft Factory CD Wishes & Kisses. Actually the cake is one of the stamps and the 'I Do' section is a sentiment on there that I messed about with in the workspace on the CD to resize it and position it right over the little Bride and Groom.  I used Promarkers to colour the image and I followed the colours as closely as I could on the backing paper. I added a little glossy accent to the heart on the top tier but you can't really see it that well on the picture. 

Next I wrapped white satin ribbon around the printed card, attached the topper at an angle and then added a couple of light brown heart brads from my vast brad stash through the ribbon.  I mounted the whole thing onto the base card with 2mm deep foam pads.

I hope they liked it, I know they had a wonderful day with just a few of their closest friends around them.  Actually thinking about it all really, they had a wedding day that was all about them, not all the wedding stuff we are really used to having, I think that is really great.  They love each other, they plan to be together for ever, they got married. Nice and simple.

Before I go I have to mention the Get Funky Blog Challenge for this month. Amanda has set us a perfect challenge for this time of the year 'Christmas is for the Kids' so you can create anything you like it doesn't have to be a card, just something with children and Christmas in mind.  All your entry needs to have is one Funky Hand product on it somewhere. I even help you out with that and offer a, what I call Funky Freebie, backing paper to download for free on my website www.funkyhand.com  Get over to the Get Funky Blog and take a look at the great inspiration cards that the Funky Hand Design Team have been posting every few days. You still have plenty of time to join in, the challenge doesn't end until the 14th November and you could win your choice of a Funky Hand download collection as a prize.

OK that's it for me today, speak again very soon.
Anice xx

Naughty peek at Santa..

I'm am being naughty today..but not in that sort of way!

Recently I was commissioned to create five handmade cards that could be made for under £10 from products available from Funky Hand on my website www.funkyhand.com by Creative Cardmaking Magazine.

Hopefully no one from there reads my Blog as the two page spread is in the next magazine issue available in the shops on 9th November.

Anyway I'm going to be naughty and share one of the cards I created with you today..

The Father Christmas Digital stamp is from my new download Oh Come All Ye Crafters Digital Stamps and the paper and digital ribbon along the bottom of the card are from the 'Oh Come All Ye Crafters'     Christmas Tree craft backing paper download collection.

I coloured Father Christmas using Promarkers and the lovely green buttons are from the Funky Hand button collection Remember December.

I had better not stay on too long today as I don't want to get into trouble sharing this card before it has been in the magazine.  In the mag article I go into alot of detail about how I created each card so I'll let you read that if you buy the mag.  Once they are all in the shops I'll share the other four cards with you.

Speak again soon
Anice xx 

Christmas Downloads released...

I have finally had to give in and get those Christmas craft downloads finished and up on my website www.funkyhand.com.  There are eight new collections available for Christmas 2012.  You can choose from the backing paper collections on their own, matching wordbook collections on their own or, take advantage of the multi buy offers and download both the backing papers and the wordbooks for a reduced price.  It's completely up to you!

My DT gals have been working their magic again and you can take a look at the galleries of the cards that they have created to get a better bit of inspiration and a better idea of what you will be downloading.

With my new downloads in mind I thought I'd share a card that I made using the Is It Xmas backing paper collection.  It's not a traditional Christmas colour scheme. But for those of you that like to mix it up a bit when you make your cards it might be just what you have been looking for.

As always with my craft downloads for specific occasions I like to include a number of papers that can be easily used all year around for other crafting occasions so they can be as versatile as possible.  On this card I have used two of those sorts of papers but on a Christmas card..

Yes..orange and purple on a Christmas card. I know it's not that traditional.  Please accept my apologies for the photographs.  I must remember to take photos first thing in the morning now as my lighting abilities as soon as it gets dark do need to be improved!!

The image on the card is a digital stamp from the Festive Fun digital stamp set you can find on my website.  I roughly water coloured it using Letraset Aquamarkers Set 1. All the edges of the image and the two backing papers have been inked with my trusty dried up black ink pad. Then stuck down onto the white 6" x 6" base card with wet glue.

The ribbon and buttons in the corner of the card is my move into trying to adding more to my cards.  Whether it has worked I'll leave for you to decide but I'll tell you how I created it anyway!

The ribbon is from my stash and I knotted it to make it easier to sew the large purple vintage button on to it using plain bakers twine.  It was interesting trying to thread the needle with the twine but I was pleased that I persevered with it.  Once that was sewn together I stuck it onto the card with double sided tape.  Then I added the purple striped and orange buttons both from the Funky Hand April Fool Button collection using 1mm thick double sided foam pads.  The flat backed pearls are from a couple of scoops of pearls that I bought at a local craft show last weekend.  It's the first time I've had a chance to use them and they were a great buy!

So, there is my none traditional Christmas card to get my makes to send out to friends and family started.  I usually leave it until after my birthday at the end of November but after last years mad rush..I'm going to get started a little earlier this time.

Taking of Christmas that's sort of the theme on this months Get Funky Challenge.  Amanda has set us the task of creating anything we like with 'Christmas is all about the kids' in mind.  We have already had some great inspiration creations from the DT members and there will be more over the next few weeks.  Why not join in? The only rule we have over there is to use at least one Funky Hand product. Don't have any Funky Hand stuff yet? Don't worry every month I give away a Funky Freebie download on my website www.funkyhand.com Basically you can download that and join in.  The winner of the challenge wins their choice of any Funky Hand download.  It could be you and I've just release a load of new ones for you to choose from!.

Speak again very soon.
Anice xx

Birthdays, birthdays everywhere..

I am rapidly heading to the busiest crafting time of my year. Everyone I know seems to have been born in November.  Even me! 

So, earlier this month I had a chance to practice my birthday card making and make a card for my friend Lisa to get me limbered up for November.

I have to admit it is not one of the most complicated cards I have ever created but I think this picture doesn't  show it in it's best light!!  Blame my poor camera work for that.

To make this pretty simple birthday card I used the workspace on my Papercraft Factory CD ROMs.  I opened up the flower backing paper design from my CD Craft The Year Away (My July Collection)  in the workspace and then changed the Papercraft Factory edition that I had open to Happy Happy Birthday.  When you do this, on opening the workspace again the backing paper is carried over.  I reduced the size of the paper and over laid the coloured bow digital stamp image resizing it until it fitted onto the backing paper just as I wanted.  I then printed it out onto to white card.  Before printing I added the Happy Birthday sentiment banner to the workspace which meant I only had to use one piece of card for all of the printed elements.

I decided to make the card a little more interesting, as the design was pretty simple, I had created the image smaller than the 6" x 6" base card I was going to stick it onto.  I glued the printed card closer to one side of the base card front and once it was attached I cut the front of the base card shorter. This showed the inside of the base card.  If you used this idea you could add a complimentary paper to the inside of the card and it would be seen.  I decided to leave it blank as I intended to bling up the front.

I covered the bow with Glossy Accents and before it started to dry sprinkled extra fine glitter over it.  The hard part was then leaving it to dry.  It's so easy to get your fingerprints on the Glossy Accents and mess it up.  Take it from me who has done that many, many times!! 

Once the Glossy Accents was completely dry, I left it over night, I added the Happy Birthday banner using foam pads.  I positioned it so it hung over the short front of the card across to the back of the base card.  I only put foam pads half way down the banner so it wouldn't stick the card together. I know that might sound obvious but I've made stupid mistakes like that in the past..so that's just for dummies like me!!

It's a very simple card but when you don't have tons of time and you're friend isn't really one for loads of flowers etc then I think it turned out to be a good option.

Speak again soon.
Anice xx

How to say..

..I'm thinking about you.  It's always a difficult card to make I find. I don't want to be too down in the dumps with the colours but at the same time I don't want to make a card that is too bright and cheery.  I mean you are letting them know you care and are trying to understand what they are going through.

I made this card recently for a friend who is going through a very tough time..hopefully she thought that it hit the right note when she opened the envelope.

I printed off the flower paper from my craft CD Wishes & Kisses into white card and printed off the 'Thinking of You 'sentiment from the same CD onto white card as well.  I layered the sentiment onto another piece of white card, inking both around the edges with my trusty dried up black ink pad and laid them aside to dry.

I used some left over green satin ribbon I found in my stash and laid it onto the flower printed card and stuck it onto the back of the card with tape. Then I wrapped bakers twine over the top of it and tied it in a simple knot.  Next I tied the same twine through two green buttons and attached them to the card with foam pads. All there was left to do then was to add the sentiment which I did with more foam pads and then stick the whole piece of card onto a 6" x 6" base card.

I have to admit I create cards like this alot, printing onto white card.  Creating everything on there, sticking ribbon rather roughly to the back, adding brads etc through the card and then attaching the printed card to a base card so it looks nice and neat!

Kathy one of my Design Team members has started a Facebook group called 'A card a day blogging' to try to help us terrible bloggers to post something every day..  I'm going to give it a go.  If you are on Facebook why don't you join in with the group? We are all trying to urge each other on to blog and craft more and we are all going to visit each others blogs and leave comments.  So I think it will be a nice group to be part of.

Anyway..here's my first post.  Hopefully I'll be back tomorrow!!
Anice xx

New Get Funky Challenge

Hello again.
Loads of things have been going on here in the Garden Studio which is my excuse this time for my lack of blog posts! But I'm here now so, on with the show!

First up I wanted to say a sad goodbye to a member of my Design Team, Debs, she left us earlier in the month and we will miss her alot. Thanks for everything you created over the last few years Debs they were all wonderful.

We have a new Get Funky Challenge on the go at the moment and it is being hosted by our lovely Amanda.  She has set the challenge of 'Christmas is for the kids' which is so true.  Anything goes really for this challenge as long as it has a Christmas feel and is aimed the way of the little ones who still believe in Father Christmas.  I'm really going to have to get my thinking cap on for my inspiration card later in the challenge but here are the first two cards from the Design Team to get your craft mojo going..

First Amanda, our host, with a really clever card/decoration..

and here is Ruth's creation. She has been naughty and made a wordbook with one of the yet to be released 'Oh Come All Ye Crafters' download collections. This one is called Winter Wonderland.  Keep your eyes on here and on my website www.funkyhand.com for the release of it and a few others in the very near future.

So, there's some inspiration for the Get Funky Challenge this month.  Don't forget, to enter you need to have used at least one Funky Hand product..but do not fear if you don't have anything just yet, there is a new Funky Freebie on my website www.funkyhand.com as always to help you.  This free backing paper matches the Christmas Download 'Oh Come All Ye Crafters' Christmas Tree collection.

I've been working hard on some new ideas for products for the New Year which I am very excited about and when you see them I hope you will be as well. But that's all for next year, we still have a quarter of this year left yet!! A busy crafting one I have to admit but it still should be big fun!

Speak again soon.
Anice xx 

It's International Card Making day!

Yes, today all around the world card makers become one and enjoy their hobby together..well that's the idea I think!  There are things going on all over the internet so I plan on having a bit of a look around once I've finished writing this blog post..

This morning I've been getting into the card making groove and created three cards.  All of them have been made using my second Papercraft Factory CD Colour Me Happy.  It's a CD that gets overlooked by me too often I think, and after creating these cards I think I'll be going back to it alot more..I'd completely forgotten the great backing papers and digital stamps that are on it!

First up a cat card in the new vogue colour at the moment 'Orange'

All the papers and the digital image are from Colour Me Happy.  I coloured the cat and his surroundings using Promarkers and the doodling as usual was done with a black Sakura glaze pen.  Take a closer look..my cat paw prints are not amazing but they are my first go!

So, unlike me I was on on a roll so I made another card..well it's a special card making day isn't it. This next card is also all from Colour Me Happy and it was different for me for two reasons..

Firstly it's a card for a man and also I got a bit inky..which if you know me..I'm not one for getting ink on my hands..mad for a crafter I know !  The base card is one of my favourites at the moment made of Kraft card and again the papers and digital image are from the Colour Me Happy CD.  I coloured the Image with Promarkers and then set to work on the the two backing papers. I printed them on white card and got out my file kit.

Not only did I file around the edges to mess them up I stabbed holes in them and then filed the holes..it was great fun.  I folded the card in places back and forth so there were creases and the brown gingham card I cut by hand making sure that it wasn't that straight..not that hard for me as I can't cut by hand to save my life!! To finish it off I added some rough twine and tried to make it look messy to match in with the general feel of the card.  Here's a closer look at the image..

So, you would think that was enough for one morning but not today!!  I made one more card and this again used some techniques that I was trying out for the first time..

As before all the papers and digital image are from the Colour Me Happy CD.  I love green so making a card with my favourite colour is always something I have to try not to do..otherwise everything would be green! The digital image was coloured with Promarkers again. I decided to stitch one end of it with big uneven crosses and then raise the other end a little with double sided foam pads.  Just a little thing I learned whilst doing this..put the foam pads on first it's really had to stick them on and take off the coverings once you've sewn on the other end..what a numpty!!

I said I'd tried a new technique for me on this card well that was of pleating paper along the bottom.  I have admired other craters cards with this technique on so with my brand new Hougie board I had a go.  The outside pleat fronts you can see are 2cm long with a 1/2cm pleat inside.  As I only have one and a half hands to do this it took a little time and few rude words I wont repeat here! But I got it done in the end.  I decided that I didn't want to stick each section down I wanted it a bit free so I only stuck down the ends and added a few double sided pads in a couple of places and I liked the effect in the end.

I didn't add any sentiments to any of the cards as I thought they could go in my box of cards ready for any forgotten occasion so a quick sentiment printed with the writer on any of the Papercraft Factory CDs would make them perfect!

OK, so that's the start of my crafting for today..it's a special international card making day so I couldn't miss out on that could I?  I hope you are able to get to your crafting desk today or sometime this weekend and know that you are joining in with probably millions of people everywhere doing just the same thing.  It's nice to know that we are not alone in our crafty passions!!

Actually if you are making cards I'd love to see any that you make using Funky Hand stuff..take a picture and post the image on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/funkyhand  I'd really like to see them and probably everyone else who follows the page Maybe there might be a little gift for anyone who does.(wink)  You'll have to pop over now wont you!!


Happy crafting and speak again soon.
Anice xx

Happy Happy Birthday!

As usual I'm here apologising for not blogging often enough..but please forgive me as I have been working on some really cool new stuff for Funky Hand and hopefully you will really like the new things we will be bringing you in the New Year.

I have been able to squeeze in a little card making, not enough to fuel my crafting needs I have to admit :( but 'thems' the breaks when you start a craft business rather than being a crafter.

Vic, my friend and one half of the lovely newly wed couple I told you about a few posts back, had a birthday recently so I grabbed my Papercraft Factory CD Happy Happy Birthday and made this simple but effective birthday card..

I was trying to be clever using her age '28' and adding one of the sentiment digital stamps on the CD that rhymed .. Vic as usual was not that impressed!  It looks as though the number 8 isn't coloured in but here's a close up to show you that it has coloured sprinkles!

Ok, that's the recent 'very quick' card making I have had time to do, but I am planning a new improved card making and blogging schedule right at this moment so you should hear from me and see lots more crafting from me very soon.

Before I go I wanted to fill you in on my crafty companion here in the Garden Studio every day.  A while back you may remember seeing a picture and post about Ian and I getting a black Lab puppy called Hugo.  Well, unfortunately Hugo didn't live with us for very long, it's a long a sad tale which I'm not going to bother you with.

After Hugo, I was rather reluctant to take on another dog but Ian is a country boy and loves the great outdoors.  We have some amazing woodland and wildlife reservations in short walking distances from our house now, and Ian really wanted a dog to go out and enjoy them with..so of course I was persuaded.

This time we decided to find a dog we could rescue from a shelter.  We searched and searched for a couple of months until one day we came upon this sweet faced black lab/border collie cross named 'Chester'  He was so sweet we had to save him and bring him home.  As soon as he was home..Chester as a name went out of the window..he didn't even respond to it and we named him Travis.  That was last March and we haven't looked back a day since then.  He is about 18 months old now, mad as a hatter when he is chasing his favourite toy the frisbee in the fields.  He's very loving and when I have cried he tried to join in with me which in the end stopped me from crying and got me laughing instead.  He is my constant companion here in the Studio but he never touches my craft stash just plays with his toys and sleeps on his bed right by my desk, he's there right now..snoring his head off!  I thought you might like to see my little chap..well he's not that little he weighs in at 24kg, here he is waiting for me to give him his lunchtime Jumbone (you can't see his tail wagging because I'm a rubbish photographer!).. meet the new(ish) Funky Hand Gang member Travis.

Well, that's it for today I'll be back as soon as I have something interesting to say or show you.
Happy crafting!
Anice xx

New download releases

Woohoo! I'm so excited about telling you about the first of our new craft download releases..I almost forgot to blog this post!  Then again any of you that actually ready this blog will know what a disorganised lass I am.

But here I am in the end letting you know all about them.  This year we are releasing Christmas themed downloads instead of a Christmas CD ROM. I have to admit that I like the instant gratification of a download..a couple of clicks and I have got my crafty hearts desire.  No waiting for the postie to arrive! The over all title for the collections is 'Oh Come All Ye Crafters' and then each download has it's own name.

Today is the release of the Santa Baby craft backing paper collection and Wordbook collection and Christmas Tree backing paper collection and wordbook collection.

Lets have a look at Santa Baby first. The colour pallet is pink, blue and green which is not your usual Christmas colours but what do you expect from Funky Hand? One thing I want to add is that even though all these new collections are titled Christmas downloads there are plenty of backing papers that can be used the whole year around.

There are 15 backing papers and a set of digital ribbons in the collection for £2.49

There are 26 letter pages, the & character and 0-9 number pages  for £3.49

But if you want both,  then you're in for a nice surprise..there's a Santa Baby multibuy option to download both collections for just £4.99

Now for a look at the Christmas Tree backing papers and wordbooks which has a much more traditional colour pallet of reds and greens..

The Christmas Tree backing paper collection is also £2.49

The Christmas Tree wordbook collection is also priced at £3.49

But once again if you would like both collections there is a fab Christmas Tree multibuy option for just £4.99

I hope you like the look of the first two releases from our 'Oh Come All Ye Crafters' collection, there will be six more over the next few days/weeks.

I'll be back very soon to share some cards that my wonderful DT members have created and introduce you to more new downloads..hold onto your hats it's going to be a big old download ride!!

Speak soon.
Anice xx