Happy Valentines Day

Happy Valentines Day everyone, I hope you can spend it with the ones you love. I'll be settling down soon with my other half and enjoying our dinner of homemade fried rice with pork and peppers in black bean sauce. I'm sure we will follow that with a glass or 2 of wine as we get cosy in front of the wood burner. It has been icey cold here today, even in the house, and Storm Dennis is blowing a hoolie out there!

I've been away from my blog for a couple of years now, but thought it was time I maybe came back to it. I'm looking at it and thinking about some changes, but we'll see how things go.

My new website and online shop has been up and running now and so far I'm happy with it. I'm still on Etsy as Deborah Dey and Ainjewelz Printables, but I much prefer my own website. I've always loved to share so I added a freebie page to my website, where every now and the I have been popping on a freebie.

Todays FREEBIE is a Colour Me Heart Mandala in honour of Valentines Day. If you would like this free printable just click here and the download page will open in a new browser window.

I always love to see how creative you get with my freebies, you can share your coloured image in the comments or if sharing on social media feel free to use the hashtags #DeborahDeyDesigns and #ddeydesigns. I look forward to seeing the colours you use :)

Kraft Paper Downloads and Digital Washi Tape

Something new from me is Digital Washi Tape and this set uses the same designs as my new Kraft paper and Tags downloads. I love how the white designs pop on the natural looking soft texture of the Kraft background

These are all available in my shop .

There will be more Digital Washi Tape coming soon.

If you use any of my downloads in your craft projects, please share what you have created with me and I will share your images on my blog for all to see :)

CRAFTfest & Swallows

CRAFTfest is now officially open and will be open from 10th - 12th June pop over and view all the virtual stalls, you can find me in the Artwork section.

There's so many clever creative people selling their lovely creations this weekend so it is well worth popping over for a wee browse, you never know you might discover that little something that you just really need to have in your life :) or that special gift for someone close to you. There's far too many virtual stalls to list here, but there is everything from jewellery, wood crafts, artwork, greeting cards, crochet & knitting, bathroom & soaps, weddings, bags, craft supplies and so much more. Get yourself settled down with a cuppa or glass of wine (depending on time of day lol) and take a look.

I hope all my fellow CRAFTfesters have a fun and rewarding weekend :)

My digital art has taken a bit of a back seat for a while due to some technical issues but everything is sorted now so watch this space for a new digital creation coming soon. While the sun has been shining I, with much help from my OH, have been working on the big garden makeover and my new creative space. I will post more about that with pics when it is all finished though.

I found an old piece of wood in the barn and was totally inspired to get my paints out and create a wee mixed media artwork (aprox 23" x 5 3/4"). This was a painting that appeared intuitively and naturally, there was no plan apart from I wanted a swallow in it, as there are so many flying around the croft and nesting in the outbuildings

Well I ended up with 3 and then I had to think of a title. 

This is when I discovered that the swallow is a very symbolic wee bird.......It is said that if a sailor drowns the swallows will carry their soul to heaven. the swallow also represents love, care and affection towards family and friends, showing the loyalty of the person always returning to them. The bird also represents freedom and hope.

So I've called it Arise My Soul

Here's a wee video of one of the many pairs of swallows nesting in our outbuildings, it won't be long now till we have lots of young flying around too

Hope to see you all at CRAFTfest and enjoy your weekend :)

#CRAFTfest & new in shop

well its been a busy weekend as I've had 2 virtual stalls at CRAFTfest, (an online craft fair) one for my art and the other for my craft downloads. Craftfest is still open today so click the image below to pop over and take a look at all the fabulous virtual stalls. You can find me at Deborah Dey Designs and Ainjewelz 

Theres been a lot of promotion for the event on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Google+ in the week leading upto and over the weekend.
I'd like to say a big HELLO and THANK YOU to all my new followers, likers, re-tweeters, friends and customers that have popped over to both my virtual stalls :)

I'm told today we've to use the hashtag #SSPS (Shameless Self Promotion Sunday) so have created the image below to use today when networking.

I added new greeting cards to my shop, just in time for the weekend. These are mini prints of 

A Fox Tale of Mothers Love

Buy me Here

Seafood Dinner

Buy me Here

Happy Landings

Buy me Here

These are also available as keyings from this section in my shop

I even managed to find some time to create another Craft Paper Pack Download and add it to my download shop and I have started working on a few other ideas. My head is just overlowing with ideas at the moment.

Well it's time to do a little networking and use #SSPS and then as the sun is shining here in Aberdeenshire I think I need to get outside and enjoy it for a while. This was the view from my bedroom window this morning, theres still snow on the far off hills/mountains but I think Spring is on its way.

What have you been upto this week?

Who wants a FREEBIE?

I've been busy today creating a new Craft Paper Pack Download Scribbles and Circles, which has been added to my download shop

I also created a few tags as a FREEBIE which you can DOWNLOAD HERE these will let you see how the colours print on your printer. **colours may vary slightly depending on printer, ink, paper or cardstock you use**

I'm hoping to get some more creations added to both my shops in time for #Craftfest starting on Friday, so I better get my finger out and get busy :)

Have you got a stall at Craftfest?

Are you going to pop by and see the stalls and make a purchase or 2?

Have a wee read of the Craftfest brochure

Hope to see you all at #CRAFTfest

New Prints & CRAFTfest

It's been quite a while since I last blogged......am I slipping into my old lazy ways? Well not really, I've just been so busy............but it's time for a quick catch up.

I finally finished the Fox Heart Art that I have been working on, it took my ages to decide on a background colour, but I got there in the end. This is now available to purchase from my online shop and I will be getting some greeting cards printed very soon.

A fox Tale of Mothers Love

 I also created another Puffin print and was totally surprised when I sold the first one only a couple of hours after adding it to my online shop, this will also be getting printed on greeting cards. I've also started on another Puffin idea, so there will be 3 Puffin prints to choose from or you could buy all 3.

Seafood Dinner

The latest creation to be added to my online shop a photographic art print, digitally created from my own photographs. 

Homeward Bound

 I've taken the plunge and have a vitual stall at CRAFTfest on 26th - 28th February, I've never done anything like this before but thought it would be good to give it a go. I'm really looking forward to this event and I will be adding more crafty creations to my shop in time for this, so I'm going to be even busier....I love being busy though.
If you're a crafter why don't you join in....... theres still time to book a stall. Just pop over to www.craftfest-events.com. You can find lots of us who are taking part in CRAFTfest on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest and using #CRAFTfest on our posts.

Before I go I've just remembered I created a watercolour name doodle for one of my granddaughters, I found this so relaxing to do and enjoyed getting away from my computer to create :)

bye till next time...... I'll try not to leave it so long :)

Did I say summer was on it's way?

In my post on 21st April I did end it thinking that summer was on its way, but boy was I wrong. The 24th was a scorcher of a day and I was out gardening wearing a vest top and thinking 'yes this is great I will get the garden sorted over the weekend'.................unfortunately this was not to be, Saturday was cold and wet so we lazed about the house in front of a fire and watched a few episodes of Game of Thrones.

On Sunday it was still cold but we decided to drive to Lochty Adventure Centre to see if we could see the Osprey.

The osprey were both there and I think the female is sitting on eggs, to get a better view of them we went into the cafe for a coffee and a heat where we could watch the osprey on a big screen.

We had our cameras with us and had planned to just go for a drive and take photos, but because it was so cold..... and we are turning into wimps..... we decided just to head home.

As we drove the sky got darker and it began to rain

Then .....is that snow?

Yes! thats snow starting to lay in the feilds!

So glad we got home in the warm and got the kettle on because the snow just kept falling. Has Mother Nature forgot this is suposed to be Spring?

Then on Monday the sun came out and there wasn't a cloud in the big beautiful blue sky. By late afternoon all the snow had melted and the road surface was bone dry again.

It's crazy how the weather can change so much in Scotland........... I forgot to mention the hail stones we had too.

My daughter's birthday was this week and as she love giraffes I quickly made her a giraffe pop-up card, which she said made her laugh

 Hand drew a cartoon giraffe and coloured it in with my Pro Markers

I've also found time to have a wee sort out of my craft stash and as usual have found things I forgot I had and really must use soon.

Happy Mothers Day.....

....... to all the mums out there

As usual I left creating my Mothers Day cards to the last minute.  I haven't used my Silhouette Cameo much and I have an enormous craft stash which I must start using more, so there were no excuses for making a few quick cards.

I went to the Silhouette Store to download some files to cut. The first file I bought was Butterfly Cut Out A2 Card by Jamie Cripps. I liked the background and the idea of a cut out butterfly, but I wanted a more delicate looking butterfly for my Mothers Day cards so I bought Pop-Up Butterfly by Sweet Afton. I merged and resized these files to get what I was imagining in my head.

I wanted my cards to be bright and cheerful, so into the craft stash I ventured in search of materials to use.
WOW! I have some amount of stuff, paper, card, embellisments, ribbons etc. etc. I found things I forgot I even had! I nearly got lost in amongst it all. I eventually emerged with what I was needing and raring to get creating.

Cards were made using cream hammered card
Background layer was from DCWV Pocket Full of Possies Stack .....the time had come to start cutting into this and not just looking and stroking it :)
Solid butterfly was red velum (I'd forgot I even had this in my stash)
Cut out Butterfly was shimmery ivory card (bought this years ago for wedding invitations)
and red raffia was wrapped and tied around the top.

To finish the cards off I created inserts in Photoshop, because I always feel, no card is complete unless it has an insert. 

I was really pleased with how they turned out and made an extra one for my daughter just because I love her.

*note to self - I really should use my Silhouette Cameo more and I need to use up my craft stash, just so I can buy some new crafty materials :)

A wee Freebie

Today my Mint Little Pastels Paper Pack is featured in an Etsy Treasury, so I thought I would create a little freebie using some of the paper designs from my Little Pastels Range. Click the image below to enlarge and then 'save image as' to save to your computer to print.

PRINT-CUT-CREATE

This image is only 72dpi, but all Instant Downloads from my shop are hi res 300dpi files. Downloading and printing the freebie tag file can give you an idea of how the colours will look when printed from your computer on different cards etc. before purchasing the paper packs. If you would like a hi res file of the Tag Freebie, please contact me and I will email this to you.

**colours may vary slightly depending on printer, ink, paper or cardstock you use.**

Paper packs are available from following links

Mint Little Pastels Paper Pack

Pink Little Pastels Paper Pack

Blue Little Pastels Paper Pack

Have fun creating and I always love to see what my customers create :)

I made some....

....Christmas decorations today as I thought I better start making this house look a little festive. I started by printing off my Christmas designs onto card, plain colour on one side and a christmas tree pattern on the other side, these are available at Ainjewelz shop on Etsy.


I then cut circles using various size punches, sewed them in a strip on my sewing machine. I left enough thread to make a loop at the top and enough thread at the bottom to thread on a couple of beads and tie in a knot. I've hung these at the end of my curtain rails where they spin in the rising heat or is it the draughts in the house :)

I also made some bunting from the same designs to hang along the front of my dresser. I punched small holes in the card triangles and threaded them onto string. As I had a few circle leftover from my other decorations I stuck these on to a couple of the triangle flags.
I'm quite pleased with how these have turned out and I have a few more ideas that I'm going to try out later, but I really must get the rest of my Christmas cards made and sent out.

Winter is most.....

..... definitely here! It's been cold frosty damp wet and windy, so far the snow has decided not to make an appearance just yet, but I'm sure it's on it's way. Something that is on it's way is Christmas, I can't believe how quick the days are passing and how disorganised I am this year. I haven't bought any presents yet or even wrote out my Christmas card list. I think I better get a move on and make a start.
I had been hoping to have the whole house decorated by Christmas, but I can't see that happening now. We have been putting off decorating as there was a chance we would be moving, but it looks like we are staying here for now so I need to get the paint and brushes out and get this place brightened and freshened up. Thanks to Gumtree, 2 men and a van I now have a very nice storage solution for a lot of my art and craft supplies, which won't look out of place when I need to use this room as a dining room.

I haven't been feeling very creative over the last few days, but yesterday I made a small felt Christmas tree decoration. I think I will pop this in with the next wee letter I write to my grandsons.Hopefully this coming week will be more of a creative one, I have so many ideas that I want to get making. I did make a start on another Christmas decoration yesterday, which I am going to put up a small tutorial about. This has had to be put on hold for now as I was using my laminator and it's broke so got to get a new one. So tutorial will be up as soon as new laminator is settled into my craft room :)

I was out feeding the chickens this morning and noticed these fungi growing on the log pile that's waiting to be sawn up for the winter fires. They are just calling for a fairy to appear, so I might have to have a wee play in Photoshop later :)

The one and only....

Christmas card that I got round to making this year was for the tennants of Calum McDonald court, where I used to work.
I had a brilliant day with them, when we went for our Christmas Dinner at Garvock House Hotel and then back to Calum MacDonald Court for the Christmas Party. Santa and Mrs Clause even turned up with pressies for everyone.

I managed to get all my college work handed in a wee bit early, so this gave me a few extra days holiday, I just hope I pass. This was great as it meant I could go and see my grandson Kian play a shepherd in his nursery nativity.

Then we had loads of snow and it has been freezing................ bbbbbbbrrrrrrrrrrr my dogs and chickens are not too keen on the snow......come to think of it neither am I....it looks nice for the first day but after that I just wish it would go away and warm up.........bring on summer!!!

The snow is still here but it is frozen solid and is as slippery as a bumpy ice rink.

Christmas was great this year with a big family dinner at my mums, 15 of us. It's been a while since we were all together. I have ate and drunk to excess and my waistline is telliing me to stop, but there are too many goodies left in the fridge that I must finish off. When the fridge is empty then I will maybe start to think about losing some pounds. :-)

Some of my college work can be seen here

Oh and how could I forget, I am going to be a gran again. This time it is my youngest son Sean and his partner Katie who are having a baby. I'm so excited, just look at their 15 week scan.

I wonder if it will be a wee girl this time or another wee boy?

It doesn't matter what it is, I'm just so looking forward to another grandchild arriving.

I've not been well but....

.......woo hoo look what got delivered today (a wee stop feeling sorry for yourself 'cause your not well pressie). Well it came in a box bigger than expected

But then there was another box inside with lots of white 'wotsits'


Then inside the second box even more white 'wotsits' (have to make some kind of crimbo decoration with all the white 'wotsits')

But then there it was, in all it's glory.......................my screen printing starter kit :-)

I had a wee taster of screen printing in a class at college, but just not enough for me......I want to do more screen printing and try out different techniques and designs.
Well of course even though I'm still feeling ill, I had to have a wee play in between coughing fits. So now that lovely new screen looks like this.....

..... and this is the result of my playing today~~~~~~~my beautiful daughter hanging up to dry

I still need a lot of practise with this, just can't get it totally right yet.....not enough ink than too much, not lining up right etc. But I'm not one for giving up............tomorrow is another day

This year we have got a real Christmas tree, not had a real one for years. It is all decorated now and I'm starting to get a wee bit excited about the festive season. Might need to buy some new decoration next year, some of my glass balls are over 20 years old now and starting to look their age

Good old St. Nick has come out of his box for yet another year of standing on my fireplace, with the fir cones that my children glittered years ago........

Oh and before I forget, I did a wee bit of crafting 2 weekends ago......... I made personalised christening gifts. A keepsake box and a guestbook/photo album/journal in it's own wee box. Sorry photos are not very good

I now have a thumping head ache with coughin' so much :-(