Had fun today making some ATCs. The theme was witchcraft, wiccan and spells, so was enjoyable to do. I did a bit of reading on the net to get me in the mood and give some ideas. The photos show what I came up with. I made four. The first was a blue card which I then embossed using a Moonglow embossing powder to give a beautiful high gloss finish in a stunning blue colour. Over this I layered a lovely picture I found on the internet of two dragons entwined round a pentagram in blue and green. This was printed, glazed using a Sakura Glaze pen and the edges were coloured using ablue ink pad. It was attached to the card and each corner was fastened by a small blue brad. Finally on each side I affixed three green gems (to represent the Rule of Three, an important principle in Wiccanism). I am very pleased with this one.

Secondly, I used a brown base card which I then painted with a brown Twinkling H2O, to give a slight sheen. An adhesive ribbon was attached, coloured brown with a Celtic knot design. I wrote the words "Wiccan Magick" across the card with an embossing pen, and powdered these with a holographic embossing powder. A circular piece of card was coloured gold using an ink pad, and then I drew a pentagram with a Sakura pen. Iwent over this with the embossing pen and used a wine embossing powder. This stuck to some of the gold ink but I was pleased with the effect. Finally, went over the lines again with a black glitter glue and fixed the circle to the card.

Thirdly, I used a pinky lilac card, and double embossed it. This is where you pour embossing powder on to the molten surface of a heated card being embossed - it gives a lovely effect. Two corner die cuts were applied, and then two chipboard pieces from the recent set I bought from QVC. The picture is of spells and potions, and the text reads "Magic". The colours all work together very well.

The final card is a deep rose pink base with gold peel offs forming an inner border. I found an attractive Secessionist picture on the net of pagan maidens dancing so printed it out and applied Sakura Glaze to it. After attaching to the card, I fixed the corners with small deep rose brads. A simple card, but effective. Working on these themes today has also been very fruitful for the maze book I want to make for Sarah. I will post more on this as it develops.

Have been making some cards for the greyhound stash. I recently bought a copy of Simply Cards and Papercraft, and there was a free paper section, using lots of summery citrus shades of lime, orange and hot pink. The four cards I made are illustrated. Two are stamped using my new Laura Ashley butterfly stamp and a pink embossing powder. Two have diecut embellishments instead. I like them - nothing fancy, but I hope they will sell.

Some ATCs to update on. A lady called Cazro on Do Crafts does a colour themed swop every month and I've taken part in it previously e.g. recent peaches and cream cards. This month, the May theme is Lemon and Lime. Two cards to send off.

The lime one was first inked over with a green ink pad, then I used a clear ink to stamp the image (using a fairly new Laura Ashley stamp) - this was then embossed with one of my Moonglow embossing powders. Very pretty and quite subtle. I then added thin green peel offs to form a right angled border and in the top corner, I added a mini tag, attached with a green brad, decorated with a green butterfly sticker and a small adhesive crystal. In total, quite understated, with a fresh, springlike feel.

The lemon one was embossed all over with a Moonglow yellow embossing powder. An adhesive ribbon was placed across the middle and a green mini tag added with a green brad. Yellow diecut flowers were placed on the tag, topped with an adhesive crystal. Each diecut had been painted with a Twinkling H2O in yellow to add a little shimmer. Finally, I added K & Co daisy corner pieces. Both cards are now ready for posting tomorrow.

Also today, I received two parcels from QVC, following last week's papercraft show and craft day on Thursday. Firstly, I ordered some ATC blanks in a wonderful assortment of rainbow colours and metallics (I think there are 600) and they also make excellent card tops for greeting cards.

Secondly, I succumbed to a DCWV kit from the Craft day - this includes a scrapbook (12 x 12), 48 beautiful papers, ribbons, chipboard shapes, and pretty embellished card diecuts, all in the Once upon a Time range, which is wonderfully romantic and quite gothic in feel, with lots of castles, medieval imagery and gorgeous dark colours. Lots to play with and enjoy.

Since I last posted, much to write about. I have been cutting out the purple quilt, having decided on my design. When I had a rough idea of what I wanted, I actually drew it out and coloured it in using Twinkling H2Os and found this very helpful in calculating what to cut and where to put things. Making up the quilt will continue in the next few days, as operations were suspended on Thursday for a lunch we hosted for a family friend. Unlike cross stitch which can easily be put down and picked up, my quilting takes place in the dining room, and when tidied away, takes a little while to re-assemble. Photos will follow when assembly restarts.

ATCs - I completed a further three on the theme of "Handbags and Glad Rags". I made three very different ones. Firstly, Victorian Finery. A background of a typical Victorian print with a silhouette of a lady wearing a fantastically ornate hat and hair arrangement. Two ribbons vertically and horizontally, with diamante gems in the corner. Just before posting, I added a gold organza bow. Lovely. Second, Monochrome Magic. A strip of patterned paper down the middle, with borders of silver holographic stars. Silver peel offs of handbags and dresses, with a black and white checked bow in the corner. Less happy with this one. Third, turquoise fantasy. Blue holographic backing paper, with turquoise corner embellishments. A glitter blue dress sticker and a 3D handbag in blue. A sticker saying "Celebrations" and a small picture of an elegant shoe. Finally, three adhesive pearls in blue down one side. This was great fun to make. Pictures of all attached.

Lastly I've been having fun today making a maze book. Much easier than I expected, again fun to do, and now I've done one, am thinking about doing one as a small gift for friends. Will update further on this. Might also show some photos of how it's made, which is one of those things that looks horrendous on a page but is actually very easy.