Electronic cutters ... Help!!

Hi there ...

I really need your help and advice here ...

I had for the longest time been contemplating buying an electronic cutting machine ... not least of all because of the stunning projects I see you guys sharing ... but preparing a project each week for a large group of special needs adults - men and women ... it is very time consuming cutting out 30 of this 30 of that etc.,  after seeing my friend's Cricut Expression in action ... I relented. These machines are not cheap here in the UK ... and the model I finally decided on was £440 ... about $695 ... Sure it came with a couple of cartridges as they are about £40 each ... that was a bonus ... But one of these did not work .. no worries ... a phone call confirmed that I could return it for a replacement ... 

Now, over the years I have bought many PDF files and digitals images ... from many of you ... So I thought I now could buy (very inexpensively) SVG files instead ... after all when I want 60 pieces of holly for example ... I'm not going to buy a £40 cartridge for one item ... so reading up till late last night ... watching your brilliant tutorials and tuition ... I then realised  I needed SCAL ... no problem I could buy that too ... 

Imagine my disappointment when I learnt after several hours of searching ... that Provo Craft in their "wisdom??" have put an end to SCAL for Cricut  machines ... I guess they want us to buy just their cartridges ... 

Well that decided me ... and now my Cricut Expressions is all packed up and ready to be collected for a full refund ... But it still leaves me with with a dilemma of what I should now go for ...

That's where I need your help ... I have watched videos, tutorials read up on articles and reviews  till my head aches! Silhoutte, Eclips, ECraft ... what do I do?

Please ... if you own a die cutting machine that is supported by SCAL ... that allows me to use SVG flies from my Imac ... that you find efficient and easy (ish) to use ... can you let me know?

In the meantime I have a lot of cutting to do ...

Thanks so much

~ Ros ~

First Christmas card!

Hello ... I hope you are well

 The sun is shining here and the temperature is expected to be 14deg C ... so not bad for November in the UK ...

I got my first Christmas card yesterday ... from my lovely friend Terrie Bailey ... if you haven't seen her unique style .. where have you been? ...  

Thanks so much Terrie ... I love it!

I have made lots of cards ... but when it comes to writing in them and organising the posting ... oooh ... that's where I fall down ... I dither about which one to send to who etc ... I really should make them all the same ...

I also got a sweet little tag ornament this week all the way from New Orleans from my lovely friend Cindy Adkins ...

It's so delicate ... many thanks Cindy

I'm getting into the Christmas mood now and this year I have seen some lovely little ornaments in the stores ... here are some I picked out 

I couldn't resist this ... 

Nor this ...

... it's so shabby and gorgeous ... and what about this ...

... How's that for a chandelier! But in miniature ...

I'm in the midst of preparing 30 Christmas pocket cards for my group ... next week is our last week for crafting ... so they are going to 'make' these cards plus I have a large candle for each of them to decorate ... hopefully we will have time to decorate a lunch bag to put their goodies into ... then I can relax until the New Year where the club is concerned ... boy they are soooo excited about Christmas 

Well I must get on ... thanks so much for taking the time to visit

have a lovely weekend

~ Ros ~

Deck the halls Christmas House

Hello ... 

I hope you are well ... 

For the first time this week the sun is shining but it is cold and wintery here in the UK ... Christmas is definitely coming ... and today I have a few Christmas creations to share with you ... 

I love the new Deck the Halls range  from Melissa Frances - you've seen some of the papers on my Christmas cards over the weeks ... and  I made this little frosty house gift box using the same papers 

I used Mica flakes ... glitter and diamond twinklets on this and some white acrylic paint too 

The template is from PTI created by Lauren Meader so I have had it for years ... I just love it!

That big glittered wooden snowflake is a Christmas ornament ... and to just show you that it is a box

here are a couple more pocket cards using the same papers and some of the lovely stickers ... can't stop making these!

I'll be back tomorrow to share a couple more Christmas things with you ...

Have a wonderful day

Till soon

~ Ros ~

Papercraft Star

A few weeks ago Tracy from Papercraft Star contacted me and asked if I would like to Guest Design for them ... Would I!!! 

I am thrilled and honoured to join this team of wonderfully talented ladies this week ... 

Take a look at this inspirational photo ...

Isn't that something? 

The challenge is to make a Thank You card ... Well, this picture so inspired me I made a card and a little something to go with it ...

... a little "Pumpkin" pin cushion ... 

I love working with neutral earthy colours and the pumpkin just evolved ... using burlap glued to CS which I hand cut to shape and added twine to give it more 'shape' ... I'm not sure if you can see but it is all glittery too ...

For the pumpkin I used a styrofoam ball ... I cut the bottom off so it would stand ... then covered it in the same burlap, twine and glitter and a stem made from corrugated cardboard

I loved doing this ... Thank you so much ladies from Papercraft Star ...

I hope you will pay a visit to the blog and check out the fabulous DT work and why not join in this week's challenge? 

There is always a prize on offer and every week you can get a freebie on the blog from a fabulous digital shop The House across The Bay

Thanks ever so much for visiting and leaving your lovely comments 

Have a lovely day

~ Ros ~

City Crafter ... Four Legged Friends

Hello ...

 I'm hosting this weeks' challenge at City Crafter and I am challenging you to incorporate an animal in your projects this week ... So pull out your stamps, stickers or maybe even chipboard that you have lurking around ... it can be anything from a mouse to a moose ... just as long as it has four legs

Our sponsor this week is Stretch N' Bubbles and the DT got to work with one of their digital stamps ... I chose Stripes the cat and made a really simple card  as I wanted this cutie to be my focal point ...

so I printed him straight onto DP ... painted his stripes ... his nose and his ears and glued him to CS then just cut him out ... 

All I added was the paper rose ... and just for some dimension I adhered him with foam pads 

The winner this week will get 5 digital stamps from Stretch N' Bubbles

So if you are looking for more inspiration ... check out the DT projects  and that of our Guest Designer

Tesa B... 

I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with ...

Thanks for stopping by ... have a good day

~ Ros ~

Happy Anniversary

Hi there ...

Yesterday was my brother Rick's birthday ... today another of my brothers celebrates their wedding Anniversary ... 

 Happy Anniversary Ron and Pauline

This is the card I made for them

Actually it's more for my SIL ... she loves soft pretty colours and guys don't really bother that much do they?

 Prima papers and flower...  a stamp from WaltzingMouse and some trims from my stash

That's all for today ... I'm off to see my Chiropractor but I'll be back tomorrow with a new challenge at City Crafter ... hope you'll join me

Have a lovely day 

~ Ros ~