Xmas is on its way (in October!)

Hello Bloggers...
Well things are going to begin to ease off soon at the day job making way for some serious card making.
I already have stacks of Christmas orders waiting in the wings (people are very organised arnt they!)
I'm really excited about getting stuck into some new designs and getting in the mood for Christmas! I have ordered some lovely new stamps today from etsy including a really cute Scandinavian reindeer that will be great for Xmas cards (look at his fab curly antlers!)

So Watch this space for Christmas cards and gift tags a plenty!

I miss you Dad

I can hardly believe that 1 year ago today my Dad passed away after battling Cancer- he was so brave.
It has been the hardest year of my life and there have been some very sad times.

My dad was such a great man, fun loving, funny, adventurous and kind.
I never knew you could miss someone so much that it actually hurts, I will never take for granted time spent with my loved ones ever again.

I thought it would be nice to end this post with the poem I read out at Dads funeral by the sea.

Do not stand at my grave and weep,

I am not there; I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow,

I am the diamond glints on snow,

I am the sun on ripened grain,

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you awaken in the morning’s hush

I am the swift uplifting rush

Of quiet birds in circling flight.

I am the soft starlight at night.

Do not stand at my grave and cry,

I am not there; I did not die.

For a dad that it so loved and missed everyday xx

I heart cox and cox

Yesterday the shiny new Autumn 2011 Cox and Cox brochure came through my letter box! I love receiving there brochures as there is always so much lovely eye candy inside and the styling is very inspiring. I made sure I had some post its to hand to pop next to all the best bits, just incase my husband needs a little helping hand with ideas for Xmas prezzies (cheeky I know)

Here's a few of my favorite picks below!

 Lovely tissue tape-perfect for card making!

Lovely butterfly stamps

More lovely stamps!

Lovely birdie...(i think it may antagonize Marley if i get one of these though)

http://www.coxandcox.co.uk/

Lovely sunny day x

What a lovely sunny day its been!
I know it has actually been sunny for most of the week but I have been locked away at work from early morning to late night every day so i haven't seen proper daylight or sun all week!

The sun was clearly to hot for Mr Moo as he spent the whole day laying around the house huffing and puffing. I spent the day making card supplies for a little local organic shop...exciting!

Heres a few photos I took today of Marley.

Hope you are all having a lovely sunny weekend to xx

I heart Hello Kitty for Liberty!

You have got to love these lovely new fabrics by Liberty who have collaborated with Hello Kitty!

I think I feel a purchase coming on!

http://www.liberty.co.uk/fcp/categorylist/dept/fabrics_hello-kitty?resetFilters=true

its all about the bling

Today I have spent the day making cards, see above a new design for a wedding card.

(copyright button box cards 2011)

Nanna table cloths....

For ages now I have been on the look out for some old fashioned embroidered table cloths/napkins to make into badges. The search has been long, I tried Ebay but it seems there is alot of love for nanna cloths, so they are a little pricey. However this afternoon I did a tour of the local charity shops and hooray I found one covered in lovely hand cross stitch. It did seem abit of a shame to be cutting up someones once handy work, but I figured I'm recycling and will give it a new lease of life. So here's the first few little beauties, I'm going to use some for badges others for my cards.

Happy 30th Nic-Noo

Heres a card I made for my good friend Nics birthday. I stamped the bird onto linen and added a tiny bit dried rose petal for his belly.

(copyright button box cards 2011)

wedding card...

Thought I would pop this pic on of a card I made a few days ago, thought "and they danced by the light of the moon" would be so fitting for a wedding. (please excuse the pinky lighting its actually a grey spot background)

( copyright button box cards 2011 )

wedding placenames

At the moment its busy busy at the day job but Im still finding little pockets of time to do my wedding stationary-been working on place names at the weekend.

(copyright Button Box Cards 2011)

Marleys modeling debut!

Quite a while ago I may have mentioned that our little Marley cat did some modeling for M&S, and this weekend my mum stumbled across the calendar while out shopping! So heres a little sneak peak at Marley-Mr April, I'm such a proud cat parent........."he's not just a cat, he's an M&S cat"!

(Marley is available for book signings, weddings (as ring bearer) and party's)

(all rights belong to Marks and Spencers)

Happy Birthday Auntie Julie

A birthday Card I made for my lovely Auntie x

(copy right button box cards 2011)

Mums beautiful garden

Hi All,
I wanted to post some photos I took in my mums garden a while back! She has totally transformed the garden from a run down, lumpy mess, to a beautiful floral space complete with veggy patch! Well done mum!

My poor neglected blog

Feeling very naughty that I have been neglecting blog land and Pinterest recently!

Its that time again at work when we are starting to get manic with designing the new season, late nights are worked and bags under my eyes are the order of the day (not a good look)
However I have set up my Etsy shop (really need to get my goodies on there)
This week my cards also launched in a local shop and within a day half the stock was sold, so I'm very chuffed about that, need to get them restocked again!

I have also been working on selection of more 2d cards scanning in my textures-here's one below.
Think they will be very cute as mini notelets but must admit I am a 3d addict I love my bows and diamante so will be back to my crafty cards after these.

(copyright button box cards 2011)

Right I'm going to go off now and relax in front of a film, I hope you all have a lovely bank holiday break, fingers crossed for sunshine. xxx

Etsy Shop

I have finally set up my Etsy shop!! Wahooo! Nothing in there yet though as i'm still getting to grips with how to sell on there and need to make some goodies.
Does anyone have any advise or for me? How have you got on selling on there?
Any feedback would be great!!

Thanks x

New 18th birthday card

(copyright button box cards 2011)

Heres a new card I made last night for an 18th birthday card, I have used a printed little feather on here-bit obsessed with feathers at the moment!xx

Recent cards

I havent uploaded many new designs recently so here are two I have been working on.
The first was a commission for a client who wanted her friends nick-names on the card-hense wolf and storm!
The second I made for a friends birthday card using the old letters I bought from ebay scanned in as a backdrop and stitching, washi and dried rose petal (for the birds belly!) for detail.

( copyright of button box cards 2011)

Also I have been making use of all the beautiful flowers growing in my garden to brush up on my flower arranging skills!

My jar at a wedding

Arrr the jar gift I made for a friend to give as a gift to a bride! The bride took it along on her wedding day and put it in the display! Looks great!

(copyright belongs to Button Box Cards 2011)

Craft Fair Success

Today was the day of the craft fair and it went very well indeed-sold the majority of my cards-all the feather gift tags went to!  10% of all the proceeds raised went to Sands, a stillbirth and neonatal death charity so it was a great day all round!
Thanks to everyone that came along and supported us and well done to those who took part xxx

Stamping all over the place....

Hi everyone,

Sorry I haven't blogged in a while I have been busy making things for the craft fair on Friday (very exciting!)
I have made a large selection of Button Box Cards, gift tags, and badges.

See above my badges and gift tags. I thought the stamped feather tags could be sent to people as keepsakes for luck, weddings etc.