January Challenge - Pink and Yellow

Happy New Year!

I would like to challenge you to create a card using the colours pink and yellow. The design can be anything you like, so you can choose your favourite stamp or sentiment, it's entirely up to you!

I made the following card, which is what inspired me to create this months challenge.

To join in the fun and be in with a chance of winning a distress ink pad and ink in Spun Sugar (to stay in keeping with this months colour scheme!!), please either post your entry on your blog and link it to this challenge, or email pinkpigcrafts@aol.com with a picture of your creation.

The closing date is Friday 27th January and the winner will be announced on Monday 30th January along with February's Challenge.

Happy Crafting!

Win a Prize for clicking the 'like' button!

From now until 31st January, I am running a competition for 1 lucky person to win a Stampin Up! taster pack. All you need to do is click the 'like' button on my Pink Pig Crafts Facebook page and your name will be entered into the draw. If you share the link and your friend/family 'like' me, post on the wall or send a message to let me know and you will be entered in for every recommendation.

Good Luck and thank you for your support! X

P.s. Check out www.pinkpigcrafts.co.uk for your crafting supplies.

Pink Pig is alive!

What a very busy few weeks I've had! Pink Pig Crafts opened on 1st December. The website is almost live and everything seems to be going well.

If you're a facebook user, please have a look for the pinkpigcrafts page. I will be keeping it updated with projects from the workshops conducted on site.

This week I have been making many Christmas cards to fulfil the orders I have received. Here are a few:-

This card has been made using Stampin Up! Stamps and papers. You will need:

Serene Snowflakes and Season of Joy Stamp Set
Old Olive Card
Cherry Cobbler and Old Olive Ink Pad
Striped Paper
Small hole punch
Brights Glitter Brads
Real Red Ribbon
Double sided tape
PVA glue
Stamp-a-ma-jig


*Using one of the snowflake stamps and Old Olive Ink, Stamp a circle of snowflakes to form the wreath. *Once dry, Punch 6 small holes around the wreath and insert the glitter brads to form the berries.
*Tie a bow in the ribbon and attach to the bottom of the wreath using PVA
*Using the Stamp-a-ma-jig, position the Merry Christmas message in the misddle of the wreath. Use the Cherry Cobbler Ink.
*Mount the image onto a piece of Old Olive card.
* Mount the striped paper onto a piece of old olive card, then mount the image on top.
*Attach the assembled work to a 6x6 white card blank

This card has been made using lotv James the Bear and Core'dinations card
You will need:

James the Bear Stamp
Black Memento Ink
Promarkers - Terracotta, Apricot, Saffron, Vanilla, Berry Red, Poppy, Red, Pastel Pink, Aegean, Sky Blue, Cool Aqua
Spellbinders Lacey Square Die
Core'dinations card stock (Choose whichever colours you prefer)
Sandpaper
Craftwork Cards Christmas message
Snowflakes embossing folder
                                          Double sided tape abd 3D foam pads

*Stamp the James Bear image onto a piece of smooth white cardstock. Allow to dry
*Colour the bear's fur using terracotta, apricot, saffron and vanilla promarkers
*Colour the hat using berry red, poppy, red and pastel pink promarkers
*Colour the scarf using Aegean, Sky Blue and Cool Aqua Promarkers
*Die cut a piece of coloured card stock using the Lacey Squares largest Die.
*Cut the image to fit within the die cut card
*Emboss a lighter shade of card stock with the snowflakes folder.
*Sand the raised image to create a distressed effect
*Cut a darker piece of card to mount the embossed card to
*Mount the image to the lacey sqaures card, then the lacey squares to the embossed card.
*Stick the assembled
 work to a card blank.

I am running my first workshop using the James the Bear Stamp. Hopefully the class will love him and the promarker effects as much as I do.

It's all go!

I don't know where the days are going! Besides constant visits to the hospital to try and diagnose my ongoing vision issues, The shop is nearly complete and I have just seen the preview to my website! How exciting!

I don't know who is the most excited for this new venture, me or my best mate Peppa. She has been very supportive, from listening to me moan about not being able to focus properly, to helping create new papercrafty items ready for the shop!

We have so far created our Xmas Wreaths and a string of bunting to hopefully give people ideas...... what do you think? :-

 This has been made using craftwork cards papers, candi and warren die cut images

















Xmas Bunting : We have used a mixture of products for this one.

The bunting, Candi and Warren die cuts and flowers are from Craftwork Cards

The gingerbread men stamp is from Molly Bloom and coloured in using Promarkers.

The Snowman stamp is from Crafter's Companion and again coloured using promarkers.

The holly leaves have been punched from coloured card stock and it has all been strung together with satin edged organza ribbon.

We have always stuck to Card Making, so this was a nice change and I hope you agree, very pretty.

This Sunday I am attending a LOTV colouring masterclass in Leeds to learn how to use the Promarkers effectively. I absolutely adore all the LOTV stamps and the effects they achieve, so fingers crossed I can master this too!

Hopefully the shop and website will be up and running by 1st November, so if I don't get a chance to blog before, Happy Halloween and Safe Bonfire Night!

Decoration Preparation

I have been to Manchester, Birmingham and Harrogate to various craft shows over the last 2 weeks, collating ideas from the many many talented people out there.

Next week I will be making a paper wreath and Xmas bunting with my crafty buddy Peppa.
The plan is to use them in the shop to inspire others, so watch this space.....

Christmas preparations have started!

Work on Pink Pig continues, but in between the building, painting and general destruction, I have made a start on my Christmas cards!!

I have used a Penny Black Slapstick stamp and Copic Pens for the image which I am really loving. I think I may use this image on quite a few cards this year!!

This image is another Penny Black Slapstick card and again I have used Copics to colour it in.

The last christmas card this week is the Snowman from Crafters Companion. A very simple image, but a much loved character from childhood.....loving it!









Its going to be a busy few months with renovating, hospital appointments, card making and website planning, but I have a list of about 7 cards I need to make in the next week or so.

As well as the Christmas cards this week, I have made a Ruby Anniversary and a Wedding Card....busy busy busy!

 Using Wild Rose Stamps and Spectrum Noir Pens. (I have used the pens for the first time and am finding the blending great)

I wanted to keep this simple and elegant. I have used the cricut imagine calligraphy cartridge for the lettering.










Pink Pig pictures will be posted soon......hopefully!

what a busy month

It's hard to believe that it's been nearly a month since I started work on the pink pig premises. The building is very old and hasn't seen any tlc in a very long time. I am currently trying to strip wallpaper that has been vanished, glossed and emulsioned....stunning and a real pain to remove.

The workshops room is almost there, I have had the ceiling lowered to provide better lighting, the walls have been plastered and painted and a new laminate floor installed for easy clean up. My lovely husband is currently creating an area to place items to dry and a coat cupboard, as well as installing brand new electrics.

I haven't got a finished pic yet, but below you can see what I have been contending with!! :- random sink uncovered behind some hardboard!

To this:-

New walls and ceiling

I will take pics with the finished floor and walls as soon as the room is clean and tidy!

My website development has also begun, so any feedback on how you would like a craft website to look and navigate would be most helpful. My initial thoughts are to ensure it is very user friendly with only a few clicks to get what you want, but let me have your thoughts.

As well as practically living at the shop, I've had a wedding, christening and birthday card to make. The wedding and birthday card seemed to come easily, but the christening card has been tough.....

 I made this for my best friend's wedding day. Her wedding colours were pink and green, so I decided to incorporate them into the card. I have used the lili of the valley wedding stamps for the main picture.

This is the birthday card for my mum. I have used crafters companion's swalk range for the picture and Stampin Up's! #2 daisies sizzix die for the flowers. (both can be purchased from me!, just ask for details)

And finally the christening card! This was my first attempt at a shaker card, but I'm loving the effect. The picture is crafters companion's baby Humprey and the glitter is Stampin Up's! Baja Breeze glitter ( again available through me!! )

Although this one took a long time to decide on, I am very happy with the end result....hopefully my work colleague who requested it will agree. The last card I made for her made her cry, so this is now the measure for all future cards!!





Phew!.....a long update I know...apologies.....I will try and log on more frequently, but I am just so excited about getting the shop open that it is taking over my life (for the better I might add)