Where's my table?

I gave up smoking, women & drinking last night.....

2012-02-17T16:27:00.000Z

Old habits die hard don't they...mind you, I think I have a good excuse for getting in to 52CCT's challenge this week with less 2 hours to spare!!! It's not every week you celebrate your baby girl's 18th birthday is it?!

So short & sweet from me on account of having soooo much to catch up on, the challenge was red, green & gold & I raided my stash to find this beautiful Penny Black stickaroo & Craftwork Cards sentiment which have both been languishing for a while in the box....

Yep, that's all you're getting from me right now, gotta go help little drama queen make a thank you card, then dinner & oh it never ends does it! Maybe I can talk OH into take away tonight.......

Wouldn't that be the life....

2012-02-08T11:09:00.000Z

For my younger daughter's birthday card, I headed over to Sketch n Stash knowing they had a free choice week, the only problem is choosing! Eventually I went for #12 & this super cute horse image from LOTV because she loves horses. So my stamp qualifies as my neglected stash, it being only the second time it's seen ink (hangs head in shame!), also my paper is neglected (Papermania hugenormous stack!) and the sparkly ribbon! New stash is the butterfly stamp, which I brought last year & only just used, & of course all coloured in with my trusty Pro & Flex markers

She's at that age of growing out of pink, but not quite sure where to go next....she's had a bit of a purple phase, then blue & mere hours before I made this card she announced her favourite colour was ...Green! Hmm, not my favourite colour lol! Anyway I went with it, she was absolutely delighted thank goodness.

It was a wonderful day & we topped it off by having friends round for cake....of course I'm now paying the price for the late night she had, but it was all worth it!

So 2 down, 1 to go & it's a big one!! Goodness only knows what I'm going to put on this card?! Watch out next week to find out!! Here's a few challenges I'd love to enter, including love is in the air because I don't think this has to mean partners & hubbies....after all there is no one in the world I love more than my girls ♥♥♥.

~~I Love Promarkers~~ - Love is in the air
Lili's Little Fairies - Spring Colours
~~Papertake Weekly~~ - Anything Goes
~~Passion for Promarkers~~ - Grey & Purple (hope there's enough of both girls?)
~~Simon Says Stamp~~ - Love is in the air
~~Sketch n Stash~~ - Sketch 12

That's it, that's me done for today, now i'm off to carry on planning the treasure hunt party for the next birthday.....whose idea was it to have 2 children born 8 days apart lol!! Oh & then a hubby 8 days before that....duh!!

Have a great day xx

A pair of jeans that fit just right & the radio up...

2012-02-07T14:24:00.000Z

I know Christmas is a distant memory but this card is perfect for the weather at the mo. I'm looking out at snow, snow & more snow! It has delighted my younger daughter who was wishing for snow on her birthday & she got it!! Not so the elder one, her birthday is next week & she has planned to be out for the day so is wishing for it all to disappear!

Me? I'm just looking forward to half term lol!

Anyway this week's Christmas card is courtesy of the fabulous sketch at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown, I LOVE this! I used my new Christmas Critters digi image from Tiddly Inks...but brought with a gift certificate from winning a challenge so no spending!

I've a few challenges to enter too please:

~~52 Christmas Card Throwdown~~ - Sketch (love, love, love!)
~~Christmas Inspirations~~ - Anything Goes
~~Crafty Hazelnut's~~ - Use a die cut
Paper Sundaes - CAS (hope it's CAS enough, if not just disqualify me!)
~~Papertake Weekly~~ - Anything Goes

Thanks for popping (do you know how many times I nearly write pooping here?!) by & I will be catching up with you all as soon as my birthday children allow! Have a great day xx

UIU Update week 4 & 5

2012-02-07T12:43:00.001Z

Week 4 was a bit quieter in terms of creativity as I came down with a stinker of a cold, it really hit me hard but thankfully I'm pretty much better now, just need to get my hearing back! I made hubby's birthday card & cut into some scrapbook paper that i've had for ages & been stroking....

One very positive thing I did do was to admit defeat with several packs of charms I brought some time ago! I parcelled them up & offered them to my Sweet Stampin' friends & now I'm looking forward to the wonderful things they will make with them. I have to say it felt good to 'own up' & pack them off to a better home. Also on a non making level, I kept my personal SU spend down this month by using the majority to buy a gift (yes...for someone else!)

Week 5 hasn't really been any more productive than week 4 as i've continued my run of birthdays & fighting off this evil cold! After hubby's birthday comes my little cherub, & then my big girl....all within 2 weeks & 2 days of each other. So I've made my little drama queen's birthday card, kept up with my Christmas card efforts now I'm on to thinking about the big drama queen's card.

So that's it for me at the mo, when the big girl's birthday is over & I have recovered hopefully creativity will return! Thanks to all of you who keep visiting & leaving such lovely comments, I do apologise for not getting by your blog, my life is full of cards, balloons, banners, streamers & cake! As my post is distinctly short on craft makes, here's a sweet little something:

Marbled Vanilla & Chocolate Brownie cake with fudge topping!

Keep up the good work UIU-ing folks, be catching up with you soon. Hugs xx

How much smoke can one stove make, the kids won't eat my charcoal cake....

2012-02-04T08:00:00.000Z

Happy Saturday all! Well I hope it's going to be a happy Saturday here, I'm waiting on a delivery & we all know what that can be like!

Aside from that, the fact it's Saturday again means I'm here with a new Sweet Stampin' challenge for you! As it's coming up to Valentines Day & many people's thoughts are turning to the one they love, that's what we're looking for: make something for the one you love as long as it has stamping on. I personally don't do Valentines at all so I've made an Anniversary card. (It's not that I'm anti-Valentine or anything but the day is about other things in our house.)

Isn't he just adorable! I've an idea that he'd look cool paper pieced too but haven't had time yet to try! The kangaroo is from a retired Stampin' Up set & one I just had to have. I've also used Real Red DSP & some Basic Grey which doesn't see the light of day too often, grey makes me think school uniforms so it stays in the box a lot lol! Anyway teamed with a fabulous sketch from Papertake Weekly (love it girls!) I really love this card. I couldn't find a nice sentiment I liked so I created this on my pc. Now if I could work out how to make it into a digi stamp I could keep it easily for next time.

Enough waffle, I know you want to hear all about our sponsors:

Yep, a $20 voucher from Stamp & Create this week;

And a £10 voucher from Joanna Sheen for February!!

We know how to spoil you hey!

I'd also like to enter the following challenges

Fussy & Fancy - Polka Dots
Joanna Sheen - Love is in the air
~~Papertake Weekly~~ - Wonderful sketch
St Lukes Charity Card Challenge - Love & Lace

So glad you popped by, hope my little kangaroo made you smile. Have a great day xx

Hello world, are you listening?

2012-01-31T13:58:00.001Z

After the success of following a Christmas challenge last year, I vowed to carry on, this year & what happens? Last week I totally forgot to post my entry!! I realised late Friday evening I hadn't done it by which time it was too late to enter. I wouldn't have minded but the card was finished & waiting.

So not to be outdone I'm displaying it with this weeks entry. I want to get to the end of the year knowing I participated in every week.

So this is Christmas flowers from last week...This uses papers from Making cards magazine 3 or 4 years ago.

And this one is this week's use at lease 3 rhinestones. See the backing paper....I'm so proud I managed to use some of this, it's one of those Papermania huge stacks of paper that you thought was a good idea at the time......Oh and more woodware daisies too! The image is a Penny Black sticker & the sentiment is craftwork cards, both of which I've had for years!

And best of all......

The aqua card I made using Willow Sketchie's fab sketch this week & I'd also like to enter in a few fab challenges please:

~~52CCT~~ - Rhinestones
~~Crazy Challenges~~ - Flowers
~~Truly Madly Crafty~~ - Anything Goes (entry 2)
~~Unstampabelles~~ - Anything Goes
~~Willow Sketchie~~ - Sketch

I promise I tried to read all the rules but if I've got it wrong anywhere don't feel bad at dis-counting me! Thanks so much for visiting me & have a great day xx

Lover. you don't treat me no good no more...

2012-01-31T12:42:00.000Z

Hello friends! I hope this today finds you well even if the weather is downright awful!! All the more reason to smile.....

I have OH's birthday card to share with you today, in fact I had it to share with you 2 days ago but I struggled getting a picture with all this grey weather, I'm sure you know the feeling! OH has a big thing about clocks (typed carefully!), cogs, bikes and general vintage stuff & whilst making this card, I discovered just how extensive our collection of clock stamps is lol! Then I chose not to use any of them. I went for this fab digi from Carmen at Beyond the Fringe. This lady does the most amazing freebies & I've snagged a few like this with someone in mind they'd be perfect for.

I went for the Sketch Saturday sketch to create the card & I'm showing you some arty angles this time as I just couldn't capture everything looking good in one photo! It's an 8 x 8 card & it contains about 5 different brands of paper so well in the UIU spirit lol!

I was a bit naughty as I 'borrowed' OH's Steampunk edge die which I brought him for Christmas & he hasn't used yet! Think he's forgiven me though...

The 3 strips of paper & the inner diamond are Stampin' Up papers from the newest catalogue. Bloke papers that I knew I must have as soon as I saw them (last year's purchase). The paper on the rectangle layer is Bo Bunny & ooh cutting into that was painful! It's beautiful paper.

This last picture I've added in because it's the only one that shows off the cogs inside the bike wheel clock. After I crackle glazed & inked it, it was hard to get them shown off well.

Right I 'clocked' a few challenges to enter so here goes

~~Craft your Days away~~ - Distressing
~~Crop Stop~~ - Time
Lily Pad Cards - Patterned Paper
~~Simon says Stamp~~ - Anything Goes
~~Sketch Saturday~~ - Sketch
~~Speedy Fox & Friends~~ - 4 or more layers

Back soon with my Christmas card post (yes really!) & my week 4 UIU update. Not so much to tell you this week.

Have a great day, thanks for visiting xx

UIU - Week 3 Update.

2012-01-24T16:09:00.001Z

This week I spent money...don't panic, it was on essentials! I brought some cello bags & envelopes, not exciting but it was the quickest on-line shop I have ever done lol! I but my cello bags in big quantities so it looks like I've spent a lot but they will last me for ages! I'm keeping track of my UIU spending on a tab below the blog title so feel free to keep a check on me & leave comments.

Serious UIU this week....I have a habit of saving the tiniest little paper scraps with a view that even if I can't do anything else with it I will always be able to punch these Woodware daisies with the result that I've ended up with an amazing stash of pre punched daisies!

So my mission this week: Use up some daisies!

1. Serious overdose of blue flowers so this came first, teamed with a PB sticker, simple but sweet.

2. I sorted them out into colours & realised a rainbow 'something' would be a good idea.

3. Well we all know things look better in 3's right?! Teamed with SU's Bliss stamp for the background.

4. I even added one in white for my Sweet Stampin' DT card this week

My little drama queen also added 3 flowers to a current card but that's for her to show another day :-) Then I thought hmmm, you can have too much of a good thing. So I decided to put them away happy that I'd made a dent in my flower stash......Until that is I popped over to the lovely Jules' blog & saw this. Which inspired me to make another 2 cards in the following form.

5. Inspired by Jules & using some of those Papermania shapes you brought in boxes of around 7 million pieces (ok it might only have been 1500/2000 but it feels like 7 million when you're trying to use them up lol!)

6. A different colourway & more Papermania shapes gone (yay!).

So there you have it, my concerted effort for UIU this week. I hope all my fellow participants are doing well, using up the stash & thank you to those of you that come & leave comments for me, I really appreciate it. Have a good week all xx

Could you, would you, ain't you gonna, if I asked you

2012-01-21T08:00:00.000Z

Morning, morning, morning!! How are you all today? I'm good, looking forward to my weekend, well most of it, this morning we are school shoe shopping for my daughter. Always an interesting experience especially when OH happens to be there. I try & send him on an errand so he doesn't see the prices! Then later on we are out for a friends birthday tea. Sunday will be much quieter & involve house type jobs, maybe a card or 2 if I can sneak them in ;-)

However before all that & even more importantly, the new Sweet Stampin' challenge....well we've had a few frosty mornings here recently so we thought we'd set you a White on White theme. If you're unsure what WOW involves exactly, check the Sweet Stampin' blog for guidelines.

The image (which I love!) is from Willow Designs & coloured with Pro & Flex markers (Joanna Sheen bargain!), all the white card for layering & die cutting was from my 'scrap' box. Dies are a Marianne swirl & spellbinders flowers (not forgetting my Woodware daisy punch flowers!), a bit of sticky ribbon that's been languishing in my stash for several years, sentiment, couple of pearls & hey presto!

We're sponsored by the wonderful Joanna Sheen:

and the fabulous Bunny Zoe's:

So...some challenges I'd love to enter:

~~Chocolate, Coffee & Cards~~ - Glitter
~~I ♥ Promarkers~~ - Anything goes, (bit more colouring in this one!)
~~Joanna Sheen~~ - Celebrations
~~Southern Girls~~ - White on White
~~Totally Papercrafts~~ - Make your own flowers
~~Willow Sketchie~~ - Fab sketch girls!

Thanks for popping by, your visit is much appreciated. I hope you have a great day!

I might find out what it's like to ride a drop of rain

2012-01-20T16:48:00.001Z

Hi all, just a quickie from me as I suddenly realised I haven't posted my Christmas card this week! Over at 52cct the theme for the week has been (& still is for a short while lol!) black & white with a splash of red. So I whizzed through my files of digis to see what grabbed me & this did. It's a Meljens digi & totally cute!

The lettering is coloured with my Promarkers & a little glitter for the stars finished that off. I teamed it with some Stampin' Up spotty paper & even braved adding some stitching effect mirroring the style on the image but I'm not totally convinced. I don't do stitching!

Not using any really old stash today but it's still a UIU project.

A couple of challenges for my card:

~~ABC Christmas challenge~~ - Anything Goes
~~I ♥ Promarkers~~ - Anything Goes (I know there's only a little Promarker there so hope that's ok folks!)

Thanks so much for popping by,

UIU Update for January & Confession!

2012-01-17T11:06:00.000Z

Well my Use It Up in 2012 fellow participants & lovely supporters, I'm touched by your comments so far & one thing that struck me was that many of you seemed shocked that I am cutting back so drastically!. Fran's vision for UIU was still to be able to treat yourself as long as you are using it! I wanted to go 1 step further & only buy what is going to otherwise prevent production. Like so many people, we too are looking for ways to cut spending & not to mention the fact that I'm just plain running out of room! So I thought I'd clear up exactly why it is I don't need to buy any more craft stash, for the year at least....

Now I know I have lots of stuff but I never truly stopped to realise just how much. I brought the stuff & when I ran out of room, I brought another box lol! It's(nearly) all in various plastic boxes so after signing up to UIU I decided to count them......1...2....3....4....5...6..........11.....12.......19......surely there can't be many more........27........28.......29......35........I'm sure these things are multiplying when I turn away.........41......42.....43. Yep, I counted 43 individual plastic boxes, some full size, some little that hold small embellies & brads etc.

43 storage boxes full of stash.....I don't know whether to be embarrassed/ashamed or proud that I've got them organised enough that I didn't notice lol!!

Anyway, here I was 2 days later crafting away & looking for something particular when what did I notice.....my plastic boxes had been breeding again...... so I carried on counting......44.....45.......50 (surely no one has 50 plastic boxes right???)....51.....52...53......54. I think that's it. 54 plastic storage boxes full of my crafty stash. Oh my goodness, I thought 43 was bad enough!

I'm kind of in shock now but it does make me even more determined to go through with this for the entire year. How can I have so much stuff? It's shameful! Here' a view of under my dining table......the boxes are literally mm's away from the table top! 4 full of 12 x 12 CS, 3 full of A4 CS & 1 is full of my 'spare' card blanks!

No chance of stretching your legs out either!!

I've explained the whole concept of UIU to hubby & asked him how much he thought we could decrease the stash by....he said 1 box, not very ambitious! I'm aiming for more. I've already started, I've made around 20 cards all from my scrappy bit box & I can get the lid on it now!!

So now you understand my need to stop buying, I will let you digest the extent of my overindulgence & next time I will reveal what I have that doesn't fit into these 54 boxes. Make sure you're sitting down for part 2 lol!!

Here's a little montage of some of my scrap box cards so far, there are things used on these cards that I've had for 3 or 4 years.

And I've made my first purchases this year.....have no fear, it is an absolute essential....3 rolls of double sided tape!

Well thank you for reading all that, what an essay! Those that know me, I hope you're not too shocked & those that are just getting to know me through UIU (let me know in your comment if you've found me on Fran's blog & I'll pop by you too) or elsewhere, I sincerely hope you will keep popping by with support....as you can see, I need it....

Enjoy your day, if anyone (Sarah!) feels they'd like to share how many boxes of stash they have, I'd love to hear it, can you beat my 54??

No complicated meaning..

2012-01-08T14:41:00.000Z

It''s week 2 of the 52 Christmas Card Throwdown & this week they've got a great sketch for us. I used this fab image from Tiddly Inks & as I started colouring it brought to mind the Red Hatters organisation (for any of you that don't know, their colours are red & purple). So with that in mind I came up with this sentiment (not too much a of a stretch I know but it was late!) & carried on the theme with papers.

See that little pointsettia in the corner there....well that's my effort for UIU on this card!! Yeah I know it's a small one but it's still something.....this was part of a pack that I must have had for at least 4 years.

I'm not totally happy with the composition of this card, I wanted the sentiment a bit different but after my printer nearly chewing up the paper twice, I decided to just work with it!

A few challenges for my red hat Christmas card:

~~CES Challenges~~ - Anything Goes
~~Cupcake Craftroom~~ - Anything Goes
~~Dream Valley~~ - AnythingGoes
~~Jingle Belles Rock~~ - No time like the present(s)
~~Tiddly Inks~~ - A Celebration.

I could also have used this one for the Sweet Stampin' challenge this week, we've got Spots & Dots so why not head over & join in?

Quick giggle: Cooked cottage pie for lunch today, 8yr old asks 'Mum there are some oniony looking bits in the bottom of my cottage pie, what are they' Says I 'Onion!' Go figure lol!

Thanks for looking, enjoy your day!

It all makes perfect sense.

2012-01-07T08:00:00.000Z

Goooooood Morning! Well am I feeling good?! It must be catching up on my sleep that's done it, those windy nights had me up at all hours & I found myself card making at 4am! Managed 3 before anyone got up.

Of course the real reason you're here is to find out about this week's Sweet Stampin' challenge...this week we want you to go spotty & dotty.

We've got some fabulous sponsors for you, Joanna Sheen, the Stamp Fairy & Crafty Ribbons . Get yourself over to Sweet Stampin' for all the details & to see the gorgeously amazing inspiration from Team Abi (including out January GD) & 2 special guest from Stamp Fairy!! You are so being spoiled this week!

So here's my piece of inspiration for you & can I just say thanks to Gerda at the Stamp Fairy for letting us choose a digi to work with, we were spoilt for choice, they are all so gorgeous! I've paper pieced his hat & scarf here with some fab spotty paper from Stampin' Up. The gold stars have been in my stash for oh way too long to think about as has the Season's Greetings sticker which I cut in half to make work. I coloured him in Flex Markers which I treated myself to from Joanna Sheen's shop last year (before the buying ban & UIU!)

I used the sketch from Totally Papercrafts, recommended by the lovely Fi!

Here's a few challenges I'd like to enter:

~~Paper Shelter~~ - Anything Goes
~~Papertake Weekly~~ - Anything Goes
~~Pink Elephant~~ - Anything Goes
~~Stamps R Us~~ - (I'm going with) Anything Goes
~~Truly Madly Crafty~~ - Anything Goes

Have a great weekend everyone & let's see your spots!

What do you say we just get lost......

2012-01-06T10:06:00.000Z

Here's my first Christmas card for this year, yep I'm starting again! I was so pleased with how it worked out last year following the Bah Humbug challenges that I thought I'd do it all again. Sadly for us but not for Ann & Max, Bah Humbug is having a well deserved spring clean & some much needed R & R.

So I've been finding myself some other challenges & noticed this new one called 52 Christmas card throwdown. This week is the first challenge & it's a very easy Anything Goes!!

There's my entry, in keeping with my commitment to UIU this year, these are all bits I've had hanging around for ages. The sentiment panel must be 3 years old!! It's been languishing at the bottom of my scrap box which I have now sorted & separated the sentiments so they're easier to find. The green & red papers both come from a kit that I brought way back in the early days so am thinking maybe 5 years old. I think the image itself is one that I colored 2 years ago now! Not bad for 1 card although it's nothing compared to what I have to get through....

After joining UIU, I decided to count up my plastic boxes of craft stash......Fi is daring me to publish the figure, not sure I should!

I would like to enter at theses challenges:

~~Aud Sentiments~~ - Any sentiment but must use scraps! (Definitely got that one lol!)
~~Crafts & Me~~ - Anything Goes
~~Divas by Design~~ - Christmas

Thanks for popping by,

Use It Up in 2012!!

2012-01-02T14:55:00.001Z

Hey bloggers! Time to let you in on my New Year crafting resolutions..... I suspect it's much the same as many of you!

I want to use my stash & stop buying new stuff just because.

I did drastically cut down in 2011 but I'm taking it a step further this year as I still have way too much for the amount of space I have available, I no longer have a craft, area, more like a craft house lol!

My plan is this: I will allow myself to buy only essentials such as sticky tape, glue, cards/envelopes/cello bags, in short any thing that cannot be substituted & would otherwise halt production.

I am allowed to ask for stash as gifts, so I shouldn't now have anything new until at least Mother's Day!! The only exception being my Stampin' Up techniques club as I am committed to the next 4 months, oh it sounds like I am giving myself a load of get out clauses already lol!

When I popped over to my blog friend Susan recently, I noticed she has joined Use It Up 2012.

UIU has been started by Fran & as soon as I read Fran's post I knew this was a challenge for me! So I'm joining up, I hope you'll check back to see how I'm getting on & give me some much needed encouragement....craft spending for me is a vice so giving it up will be tough but I have to try. Also there may be a bit of a change on the card for our family with OH's job so we are probably going to have to be more careful than we already are.

So now I'm committed to this (well as soon as I hit publish!), to using my stash, to not spending & to having extra money in my bank woohoo and not forgetting making some great cards in the process!!

Here goes........

Oh baby, you can find me.....

2011-12-31T14:00:00.000Z

Good morning! Yes it's been a while hasn't it?! But no fear I am back to share a card with you for this weeks Sweet Stampin' challenge. We want to see your New Beginnings. Whether it be a New Year, new baby, new home, new job or any other new beginning we'd love to see it.

We're sponsored by the wonderful Angel Crafts who are a Scottish based online shop offering an amazing array of goodies including a selection of promarkers which I used to colour in my image.

Now as luck would have it I had been asked to make a new baby card for twin girls which fitted in beautifully with this challenge.

I used some pretty gingham from Craft Creations, a little bit of Pretty in Pink from Stampin' Up & a fabulous image from Bugaboo which I turned into twins by using 2 images & flipping 1 of them. I love that I can do that!!

Now life is getting back to normal, I'd love to enter the following challenges:

~~Allsorts~~ - New Beginnings

~~If the Shoe Fits~~ - Use your Stash! This chipboard word has been in my stash since the early days, so well over 4 years!!

~~Lily Pad~~ - Use Chipboard

There we are, I feel like I'm back in the saddle now lol!

I wish all my blog visitors a very Happy New Year & thank you so much for visiting me!

She's a yellow pair of running shoes, a holey pair of jeans....

2011-12-10T08:00:00.000Z

Good Morning,

Well I am a lucky-ish girl today, my girls have gone Christmas shopping together. I say lucky-ish as I'm not at home all the time that they are out to enjoy it lol! Ain't that just the way.....

Something I enjoyed immensely this week was working with this fabulous digi image from Bugaboo who are sponsoring our Sweet Stampin' challenge this week with the theme of Things with Wings. We all got to chose a image to play with & I had a hard time choosing (well who wouldn't!) but I could see so much potential for this one I had to go for it. As you can see I went for 2 very different cards to show it's versatility & I really enjoyed the Birthday one, so different from the stacks of Christmas cards I've been making!!

First up, the background for this was made with the baby wipe technique & then the butterfly was printed straight on to that. That gorgeous pink panel is stamped with an LOTV background that I've been hanging on to waiting for the perfect project & this was it!

This next one was all digitally tweaked, I twiddled around with the RGB & transparency to get the graduated colours & held my breath while I stamped the sentiment straight on to the card. 3 little pearls & a nice simple sympathy card.....is it wrong to say I enjoyed making this? It always feels wrong knowing what it's going to be used for.

I'd also like to enter in the following challenges:

Back in a while to list my challenges as I'm rapidly running out of time!

We hope to see you come join in at Sweet Stampin', we do so love to see what you do with our themes! Have a great weekend & for anyone who I usually visit in blog land, do forgive me....it's been busier than ever. I will come over soon, I promise!

I only wanted to get your attention...

2011-12-08T11:08:00.001Z

Yes my blog is still active lol! You know how it is, it hits a certain time of year & everything happens at once....

Anyway I'm back to show you my last 2 Bah Humbug entries for this year. I vowed way back in January I would do the whole year & I think I have albeit some weeks I've been a little (ahem!) behind but I have made a card for every challenge so I'm feeling quite proud!

Huge thanks to Ann & Max for giving us the fab themes to challenge us and keeping us going with their inimitable brand of humour!

So first up is last week's fabric challenge, now I do hope you'll let me away with this one, it is ribbon & only a small piece at that but I'm time challenged!

Secondly we have this week's entry for Cute Christmas Critters & this bear is undeniably cute having decided to decorate himself, not the tree!

Finally here's a little 'lost in translation' moment that occurred yesterday in the school playground & really had me laughing.....

I was stood waiting with a friend for the children to come out of school. Her 6 year old son came out first & ran across the playground shouting excitedly ' Mum, you're going on the game tonight aren't you!!!' Bless him, he meant that she'd promised to go on the playstation with him, you got to love 'em!!

Feelin' good & everything is fine!

2011-11-24T10:05:00.001Z

If you're looking to leave a comment on my Sweet Stampin' post to enter for the candy, you'll find it here.

Does anyone else have houses that perform magic?? By this I mean you put something down & it disappears....no one has seen it, no one has moved it, it's just disappeared all by itself lol!

It happened to my memory card several days ago. Thankfully it came to light again this morning so I can get my Bah Humbug entry in for this week & last week (It didn't occur to me until this morning I could have scanned the card in last week!).

Last week's theme was Baby's first Christmas & I've made this card quite bold. You might think it's an odd colour choice for a new baby but I remember reading somewhere that for very young babies black & white is a good colour combo as they can't easily distinguish pastels/light colours & they're apparently drawn to strong contrasts such as black & white. Well, red is a strong colour too!

This week's theme was gift boxes or bags, Christmas packaging in other words. I forgot how quick these little boxes can be to put together, so a timely reminder for me!

Ok, I'm not waffling today, I'm not on swimming duties so I should really spend my time doing something constructive......

Have a wonderful day everyone, the sun is shining here whooo!

The trouble you'll get into......

2011-11-19T08:00:00.000Z

Happy Birthday to Sweet Stampin'!! We're 2 today & we have some fabby celebrations planned. First up you'll need to know what the challenge theme is - BIRTHDAYS! Yes it's that simple, make a birthday card & enter the challenge to win prizes from the following wonderful companies:

Crafty Sentiments

My Creative Classroom

Prairie Fairy

Saturated Canary

The Craft Room

Tiddly Inks

Please check out the Sweet Stampin' blog for full details.

Thank you to all companies hugely for your sponsorship!

We also have some random prizes for commenters too, planted on mystery DT blogs, so if you don't get to making a card (don't know why you wouldn't with such an easy theme!) then you can pop around to our DT's blogs & leave them some comments....you just never know where that candy could be hidden!

Right, so I had the absolute pleasure of working with a Tiddly Inks image & chose Lily Bean Big Wishes. Isn't she just fabulous?! Although I have to tell you my OH doesn't get it.......Some things girls, just need no explanation do they?

I've coloured her with Promarkers & kind of like it, my colouring is an ongoing piece of practice which I hope will make, if not perfect at least pretty good lol! I've mixed her with some Bravo Burgundy card & the dusky pink one is just dusky pink from goodness only knows where! A smattering of Tim Holtz paper, a bit of faux stitching & a Marianne Creatable swirl too then Bob's your uncle as they say! Although I do wonder if it's missing something.....

So there you have it, my card to celebrate our 2nd Birthday at Sweet Stampin'. We'd love for your to come join in, you don't have to make a card; a scrapbook, altered anything, wall hangings & anything else you can think of so long as it has something stamped on it & fits in the birthday theme.

Please enter me in the following challenges:

A Gem of a Challenge - Fabulous Sketch!
Dream Valley - Stitching
Tiddly Inks - Anything Goes

I got my whole life to change the world...

2011-11-12T20:48:00.001Z

Making this card I've realised how marvellous this paper lace is that you see across it. It came from Lakeland in the days when they had a craft section, I'm sure you could find it elsewhere but that's where mine came from. Anyway...I ended up with 2 packs & it sat in my stash for an age (we're talking years here!) before I did much with it. It comes plain sort of off white & you can colour it to match, so today it got sponged with Elegant Eggplant from SU to match the mount of the image.

Which ramble brings me to the whole point of my card. Do you know I have great difficulty condensing my long stories into short ones?! I did it this morning at a coffee morning & said to cut a long story short....several minutes later I'm still in full flow!! So the point (I'm getting there!) of my card was to inspire you to join the new Sweet Stampin' challenge this week, we want to see anything with Gingham on. Now oddly enough, I didn't have much gingham in my stash, which is strange because I do think it's lovely, but you'll be happy to know I remedied this situation & I now have gingham in multiple shades!!

So there you have it, that's my lilac gingham proudly showing off this gorgeous young lady from Sugar Nellie. I've used the lovely sketch from Sketch n Stash & I'd also like to enter in the following challenges:

Bunny Zoe's - Lace it Up!
Crafts & Me - Birthdays
Fresh Brewed Designs - Anything Goes

There, I'm done. Except to say have a great weekend all & happy crafting! See you over at Sweet Stampin' with your Gorgeous Gingham!

Do you like to drink a cold one on the weekend?

2011-11-10T11:34:00.001Z

Clearly I am not doing my swimming duties this morning, myself & another lady alternate it so it's my week off. Hence I managed to get finished (with almost an hour to spare!) my Bah Humbug card. The theme this week was snowmen & I had this fabulous little chap from Tiddly Inks printed off ready to go!

I used the colours from our Sweet Stampin' challenge this week just to challenge myself & prove that a gorgeous summery picture like this can still inspire a Christmas card! I think I did ok huh? I'm actually really liking this one.

I've used the sketch from over at Willow Sketchie also but I have changed the oval shape for a square so hope that's ok girls?

I'm popping out now for a girly boozy lunch. There are 4 of us that try & meet up on a reasonably regular basis to lunch, chat & consume the odd glass of alcohol, just a small one to be sociable you understand lol! Can't have us all staggering in the school gates at 3pm!

I'd love to be entered for the following challenges:

Crimbo Crackers - Make it Sparkle
There's Magic in the Air - White on White
Tiddly Inks - Anything goes
Willow Sketchie - Sketch

I'm stuck in colder weather....

2011-11-03T12:24:00.001Z

Good to see some things never change, I'm back to my usual last minute self this week for my Bah Humbug Die Cuts entry. As you can see I've used my circular nestablities for this one, I'd been asked for some cards with robins on & these papers from an old edition of Making Cards were just the thing! I've glitzed up the snow for this one, you gotta have sparkling snow!! I love clean fresh snow, it's when it gets compacted, re-frozen & turns into sheet ice it gets on my nerves....

I'm getting ready for my morning dose of swimming with 7/8 year olds (well I don't swim, I supervise!) but that's my morning spoken for & I think maybe grocery shopping this afternoon......Oooh I know how to live the high life me!!!

Right that's it from me for today, I may be back later to link up to a couple of challenges. Enjoy your Thursday, I hope you have a great day xx

I could have danced all night...

2011-10-29T16:21:00.000+01:00

Really I should be saying Good Morning but as it's now mid afternoon (and what a beautiful one too!) I shall refrain on the grounds it will make me look silly aside from anything else!!

Despite getting by on roughly 5 hours sleep last night, I had no time to schedule my post to tell you about this week's challenge over at Sweet Stampin'. We've an ANYTHING GOES for you this week, we know you love it!!

Here's what I created with a fabulous digi from The Stamping Boutique who are sponsoring us this week, he's called Frankenstein & when I showed him to my teenage daughter uncoloured, she went 'Aww!' It's not very often Frankie gets that reaction I suppose lol! Still I know where she's coming from as I think he's pretty darn fab myself. I used the sketch from Willow Sketchie, I must admit I thought it was a bit intimidating at first but it turned out to be a really easy sketch to work with & I ended up really lovin' it. I've tweaked it to fit a rectangular card rather than square as it fitted my image so hope this is ok.

So I had a craft fair to attend earlier today & I'm happy to report it was a successful event. Lots of lovely people, lots of talented stall holders & the time just flew. I need to get on with making some more cards now for my next event in a couple of weeks....just need a few more hours in the day!

I'd love to enter this in the following challenges:

Delightful Challenges - Purple, Orange, Green & Black
Moving Along With The Times - No Girls Allowed
Party Time Tuesdays - Anything Goes
Passion for Promarkers - For a Child
Secret Crafter - Spooky or Whimsical
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
The Paper Shelter - Anything Goes
The Poodles Parlour - Let's Hear it For the Boys
Willow Sketchie - Fabulous Sketch!

Thanks to all the above for your fab challenges & inspiration from the hard working DT's.

Have you been outside, it sure is a nice night....

2011-10-23T17:25:00.001+01:00

You will not believe how happy this card makes me..... In January I promised myself I was going to follow along with the Bah Humbug challenges so come Christmas I had a fab stock of cards to gloat over lol!!

Anyway I got way behind in August after my holiday & this card means I have finally caught up woohoo!! The theme this week is Christmas cards for men, which let's face it, any card for men has that instant added difficulty factor!

I've used this awesome snowman again, he's so simple but so effective. I've used copics to colour in his scarf & found these a perfect match with a couple of retired Stampin' Up colours: Brilliant Blue & Green Galore. I love Green Galore, such a shame it went!

I'd also love to enter the following challenges please:

Bah Humbug - Christmas for men
Christmas Stampin' all year long - Sparkly Christmas.
Crafting when we Can - Christmas
Little Claire's - Christmas
PanPastel UK - Glitter & Glitz.

Thanks so much for popping by, I hope you're having a great day :-)

I'm a wildflower growing in the sunshine....

2011-10-23T14:43:00.000+01:00

I cannot believe how long it has taken me to catch up on my Bah Humbug Christmas cards!! I was determined to keep up the one a week card with Bah Humbug & with these few I can now say I've got there. Woohoo!

This one is for Paper Weaving: 9th September

This one is for Rudolph/Reindeer: 23rd September

This one for Nativity: 30th September

This one for Glitter & Glitz: 7th October

This one for Christmas Food 14th October

Now all I have to do is this week's for the men card & that's me totally up to date!!

Sometimes I feel I've got to...run away!

2011-10-15T11:23:00.000+01:00

Wow, what a beautiful sunny Saturday we have here!! I got up & put the washing machine on first thing to take advantage of it. Got to keep up with those school uniforms & work shirts.....I'm really looking forward to half term! I know the Scottish contingent are ahead of us on this one already!

So on to this week's challenge at Sweet Stampin'.....we want you to go masculine. Create anything you wish for the men in your lives, whether they're the cute little ones or the bigger (& usually less cute!) ones. We're sponsored by Di's digi Downloads & I'm a big fan of Di's images so I thought this was the perfect image for the challenge.

I neglected my PM's for this one & got out my water colour pencils. No perfect but I did enjoy them! Papers are a mix from 2 different Making Memories stacks, 1 of which I picked up as a terrific bargain from Crafty Emma's last week when I had my little shopping spree...well sometimes a girl just needs retail therapy again & again!!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

CES Challenges - Forever Autumn
Crafts & Me - Orange
Dutch Dare - Fabulous Sketch
My Mum's Craft Shop - Remind You of a Song (Pretty good at drinking beer by Billy Currington!)
Sisterhood of Crafters - Birthdays
Southern Girls - Boys or Men

Well get working on those masculine cards & link 'em up at Sweet Stampin', I'm really looking forward to seeing what you do xxx

You lift me up......

2011-10-01T19:43:00.000+01:00

You know how you get inspired by the oddest of things....I did whilst making my DT card for the LILAC & LACE challenge over at Sweet Stampin'.....Given that I ended up with this card I'm not sure you want to know what inspired me!!

On a serious note, let's not forget that October is Breast Cancer Awareness month so this is a fun way to remind you to be aware. I'm entering this in the Link up for Pink party over at Just Yolie's! Just create your pink projects & link them up here. They have some amazing prizes & it's all promoting a good cause....what could be better? AND...if you're in the US there is also an address to send your cards to so they can be distributed to newly diagnosed breast cancer patients.

Now there is obviously huge potential for embellishing & making a great deal more of this card but I've kept it fairly sweet & simple. I have actually made this card before & included a pair of handcuffs........ I didn't ask lol!!!

I've had the template for this for an age & must admit it tends to get packed away to keep it flat then forgotten about for a while. It's just lots of cutting out & I sponged the colour on the undies & over stamped with Stampin' Up's Polka Dots background stamp. Hubby looked at me like I was bonkers when I brought a polka dot stamp but it's so amazingly useful. I just wish it had been a bit bigger as I messed up joining the dots! Hey ho, I'll never get a job in hosiery now!

Anyway I'm sure this will create a bit of interest when it's on display at the Christmas fayre in a few weeks!!

I'd love to enter in the following challenges:

CES Challenges - Totally Gorjuss/Pretty Girls
Inspire me Fridays - Anything Goes
Mark's Finest Papers - Polka Dots.
More than Favours - Breast Cancer Awareness
One Stop Craft - Just for Men (!)
Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes & they're trying to reach 1000 entries so go join in!
The Paper Shelter - For the Girls
The Stamp Man - Pears or Pairs

As always, I've tried to read the rules but accept my apologies if I've got it wrong or you feel it doesn't fit your challenge. Thanks for popping by x

P.S. Ok I admit it, I switched the song on on purpose just to use that line from it!! I couldn't resist.....Any more suitable song lyrics, feel free to add them!

Feline Thankful Blog Hop Winners

2011-09-30T18:52:00.001+01:00

Wow, thank you so much to all those who visited for the Feline Thankful blog hop. It's lovely to know that so many of you appreciate the work that goes into keeping up all the info on Feline Playful.

I'm sure you've been waiting to hear who the winners of my fabulous prizes are......

So the winner of the guest DT spot at Poodles Parlour is.......Craftykitten!

The winner of 3 digi images from Kelley's Kids is......Roberta!

Congratulations girls, please contact Feline Playful on felineplayful@gmail.com to claim your prizes. If they are not claimed in 7 days (so by 7pm GMT next Friday) you will forfeit your prize & another winner will be drawn.

Again, huge thanks to all who popped by, I hope you enjoyed the hop & don't forget to keep leaving the Feline girls comments on an everyday basis......They love to know they're appreciated anytime!

Feline Thankful Blog Hop Party!!!!

2011-09-27T22:00:00.000+01:00

Hello everyone and welcome to our FELINE THANKFUL BLOG HOP!! We are SO THRILLED you have chosen to hop along with us. We have organized this hop to thank all of those who have joined us as followers - over 1800 of you and counting!! We want to say "THANK YOU" to all of you who have been so supportive of this wonderful blog that tracks over 500 challenges!

We want to say a very SPECIAL THANK YOU to KAREN HOWARD, who started this blog on her own and maintained it by herself at the beginning tracking challenges and then winners, DT Calls, blog hops and more. Now 14 ladies make up the team for Feline Playful, lead by the AMAZING SHELLEY and we continue to add NEW CHALLENGES almost daily including winners for those challenges, DT calls, blog candy and more.

We decided to host a BLOG HOP to say "THANKS!!" to all our followers for their continuing support. We've joined forces with a very long list of FANTASTIC SPONSORS who have donated images, store credit/$ vouchers and Guest DT Spots to our HOP WINNERS. Our hop will last from Sept. 21 until Sept. 27 so that hopefully everyone will have enough time to complete the hop.

The hop order will be as follows:
ABI - You are here!
AUDREY
BERENICE R.
CG
CHRISTI
DAWN
ERUM aka E.T.
GEMMA
JENNIE
KAREN HOWARD
LEESA aka THE NAVY WIFE
LIN
NANCY
NATALI
SHELLEY
SHELLY
ZOE

Each DT member (we have both past and present DT members playing along) also has a letter on their blog. Once you have collected all the letters & found the sentence, please e-mail your answer to felineplayful@gmail.com and you'll be put into a drawing for the grand prizes over on Feline Playful. If you get lost along the way, please return to FELINE PLAYFUL to find the hop order.

There are 3 easy ways to be a winner:

1. To be a winner of one of the daily prizes offered at Feline Playful, you must be a follower of Feline Playful and leave a link with Mr Linky on the applicable day ... and that's it! Winners will be announced every day.

2. To be a winner of one of the prizes offered by the team on the blog hop, you need to leave a comment on the applicable blog stop ... and that's it! It's great if you follow Feline Playful and the team is always thrilled to get followers on our individual blogs but this isn't necessary to win. After all, this party is all about thanking YOU! Blog hop prizes will be announced after September 28th.

3. To be a winner of one of the grand prizes, you need to visit each stop on the blog hop and collect the letters that are shared. Then email the secret message to FelinePlayful@gmail.com. Grand prizes will be announced after September 28th.

If you leave a comment on my blog throughout the week you can win one of these fabulous prizes:

A guest design spot at Poodles Parlour

3 Digi images from Kelly's Kids

Finally, my letter in case you hadn't worked it out is......A! Now go and have fun, your next stop is AUDREY!!

Head first, Fearless....

2011-09-24T23:31:00.000+01:00

Well I'm at it again, sneaking into team Fi's week over at Sweet Stampin!! I adore playing with sketches & Heather Ellis images so what could be better than combining the two.....And catching up with my backlog of Bah Humbug (this one's for the swirls & flourishes challenge on 16th September) cards. Sometimes my efficiency is frightening, all the more so because it doesn't happen too often lol!!

Now I have to admit I was puzzling over the colours for this little lady, there seemed to be nothing that took my fancy...While I sat debating, I started feeling chilly & decided to throw on an extra layer rather than switch the heating on (I mean it's not even October yet!). I just happened to be wearing a lime green top & the first thing I grabbed from the ironing pile was a purple vest. The rest as they say is history........

So now you have this lovely mental vision of my attire last night, I'm going to leave you with that & I'd love to enter in the following challenges please folks:

Anything Goes - Anything Goes
Bows n Berries - Glitter (it's there honest it is, just not showing up on my photo very well)
Crafty Hazelnuts - For a child
Crafty Ribbons - Anything Goes
Get Hippity with Ippity - Buttons, Bows or Bling
Hanna & Friends - Anything Goes
Lexi's Creations - For a Child
Nettie G's - Anything Goes
Ooh La La - Punches/Dies (Merry Christmas panel)
Paper Creations Ink - Buttons or Bows
Simon Says Stamp - Dies/Punches (Merry Christmas panel)
Stamp, Scrap & Doodle - Favourite Colour (new favourite this one, so cool!!)
The Paper Shelter - Anything Goes
Top Tip Tuesday - 1 for the Kids

As always I've tried to be read all the rules so apologies if I've got it wrong anywhere (given that I think a Santa looks like a snowman, anything is possible!!) just discount me if necessary!

Hope you're all having a wonderful weekend, back soon xxx

She said Yes, I said Why?

2011-09-24T09:28:00.001+01:00

So i'm still working on my Bah Humbug cards, I'm determined to have made a card for every week of the challenge as I have a Christmas Fayre coming up & I know I will be so glad I did.....

So this first one is for the Something New challenge on 19th August. My bargain hunting hubby picked up these cute little snowmen from somewhere! (As Fi rightly points out, this is indeed a Santa - not a snowman!!! However in my defence there is also a snowman in the packet & I am sleep deprived so that's my excuse lol!! I'll leave it in for you to laugh at....)

This next one is for Here come the Girls from 26th August. This one makes me smile!

This third one is for the Text/Sentiments challenge of 2nd September. This one is much more subdued as I know several people that like to keep their Christmases low key perhaps due to having lost loved ones so this is where my mind was with this one......

There now I'm only 3 behind so a little bit more effort & I'll be caught up!! I'll be back a bit later with a new Sweet Stampin card, we've got an anything goes challenge this week so we're expecting to have our fingers flying across the keyboard!!

Have a great weekend!

Learn to love and learn to try.....

2011-09-20T21:52:00.000+01:00

The last couple of weeks as I've been visiting my blog buddy Claire who is a DT member for Willow Sketchie challenge, I've seen the lovely sketches they have & wanted to join in. This week, I had some time to play around with the sketch & here's what I came up with:

What do you think? It took me ages to get it all together (doesn't look like it right!!). The lovely LOTV (Maisie with balloons) image was a birthday gift from the even lovelier Fi, isn't it so sweet! I sat & made this on Sunday morning, got all excited about posting it only to realise my daughter had taken the camera with her out for the whole day!!! So 2 days later, here I am!!

Anything Goes - Anything Goes!
Card Makin Mamas - Punchy
Celebrate the Occasion - Birthday, must use Balloons
Crafty Sentiments - Happy Birthday
Ellephantastic - Here come the Girls
Lexi's Creations - Card for a Child
One Stop Craft - Girlie
Pattie's Creations - Girlie Things
Stamp, Scrap & Doodle - Birthday
The Squirrel & the Fox - Anything goes

Phew, in the words of bugs bunny: That's all folks!! Thanks so much for popping by & taking the time to leave a comment, it's very much appreciated! And as always if i've made any errors in entering, feel free to discount me & accept my apologies x

FYI, if you're in need of a few Promarkers, you might want to check out Willow Sketchie challenge next week ;-) Looks like a fab prize....

Who did you call Darling to last night?

2011-09-17T09:58:00.000+01:00

You know how some cards just come together without any real effort from you....This was one of them! Obviously it was helped tremendously by the fact that I used a pre coloured LOTV image, but even so it can take ages to decide on my papers & these were just instant, so nice!

As it's Saturday, this must be my card for Sweet Stampin' & this week we want to see your creations with FLOWERS on them! You'll notice there aren't loads of flowers on my card but you can add as many or as few as you wish....as long as they're there!

Aside from the LOTV panel, I used Stampin' Up papers & ribbon. The fabulous little circle sentiment is one of Netty's who is forgiven for her dodgy housekeeping habits because she makes these wonderful sentiments & gives them away for free on her blog. If you've never visited, I recommend you do & see what she does (her cards are lovely too!).

If you're in need of some inspiration, pop over to Sweet Stampin' & see the fab floral creations from the rest of Team Abi & then get to work, we love seeing what you make!

I'd be delighted to enter in the following challenges:

Crafty Boots - Anything Goes
Crafty Ribbons - Anything Goes
Crazy Amigo's - Together
Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes
Dutch Dare - Monochromatic
Fab n Funky - Bingo (Flower, Sentiment & Die Cuts
More than Favours - Anniversary
Simon Says Stamp -Inspired by a song (All you really need is love by Brad Paisley!)

I've tried so hard to read all the rules, but if i've got it wrong anywhere, I apologize! Thanks for your wonderful challenges x

Since 1952 I've been...waiting on a woman.

2011-09-13T14:02:00.000+01:00

At the beginning of this year I started taking part in the Bah Humbug challenge determined to participate every week. Last year I was woefully under prepared with my Christmas cards & I wanted to do better this year! I've done brilliantly until about a month ago when I got seriously sidetracked by a cute & amazingly talented guy!!!!

So now I'm playing catch up. The first card cannot be blamed on BP though as this was way back in April (29th aha, must be the fault of the Flower Festival!) when the challenge was Pleats & Ruffles. Owing to the fact I've only just got round to making it, I was able to use our fab sketch at Sweet Stampin this week. Sadly the card itself doesn't work for the challenge as it's teenagers, although having said that my teenager really loved it, she actually voluntarily commented on it, so I know she was genuinely impressed!!

The DSP is Stampin' Up in Soft Suede & the stamp set is Serene Snowflakes also SU. I have to say I really love it & I might just give it to my hubby so I can have it on display again!!!

Crafty Hazelnut is asking for Swirls on your Christmas cards this week so as there are swirls on the stamp design I hope that counts? If not Hazel, just send me away with a slapped wrist! Christmas Cards all year round want a card where everything on it is at least a year old & amazingly enough this qualified!! It just shows how quick time goes though & initially I didn't think it would but it does wow!

This next one is for the August 12th challenge of kiss-mas, meaning a card for someone special & who's more special than a little Grandson? No stamping on this card, oh that takes me back, when I first started card making I didn't hardly stamp on anything... Anyway it uses some so sweet papers from Making cards about 5 years ago & the base card was a hubby purchase, thinking he was getting a bargain but the cards were so thin & flimsy I couldn't use them...until I tried Easel cards & now by the time i've stuck 2 of these flimsies together & added layers they are just about acceptable!

This one qualifies for the Christmas Cards all year round challenge too.....5 times over lol! Over at Charisma Cards they have Inspired by a song...Frosty the Snowman.

Well that's 2 of my catch up cards done, 4 more to go ladies. Hopefully it won't take me too long......

I only slept for a couple of hours...

2011-09-12T18:57:00.001+01:00

Well what's going on? It's not my week over at Sweet Stampin..... I meant to post this on Saturday but my little daughter organised a craft fundraiser in the morning (she did brilliantly!) & in the evening we were at an 18th birthday party so time was in short supply!

It's those teenagers you see, being the Mother of one I fully appreciate how hard it is making cards for them especially the male variety! So I thought I'd help my stock of these cards along & join in the fun this week.

The image is a Woodware stamp & the sentiment & DSP are both Stampin' Up.

If you want to get ahead on your teen cards, whether it be Birthday, Christmas or anything else come & join in the fun. There are great prizes up for grabs so head on over to Sweet Stampin for all the details.

Also I'd like to enter in the following challenges:
Challenge up your life - Paper Piecing (the bean bag)
Charisma Cards - Inspired by a Song (The Lazy Song!)
Fairy Fun Fridays - Anything Masculine
Phindy's Place - Stripes Somewhere
Secret Crafter - Inspired by a Song (The Lazy Song!)
Totally Gorjuss - A Man Thing

I'd like to see the other half....of your butterfly tattoo

2011-09-06T23:44:00.000+01:00

Oh how lovely is it to have the children back at school..... I grabbed a little time for myself, the Sketch & Stash sketch (so fab!) and got creating. My old stash...well this super cute Heather Ellis image has been sat on my desk for nearly a year (she was coloured when I was a new Promarker owner & only had 6 of them!). My new stash....the pretty pink flowers I won in a candy from Audrey. Also new but not technically stash is this fabulous twirly 3 tiered gadget to hold all my Stickles upside down so they are ready for instant use....how fab is that??? I just had to show it off, I love it!

My 2 favourite drama queens got together & brought me that for my birthday. Mind you a few heavy hints had gone before!!

All paper & CS is Stampin Up as is the sentiment. I'd love to join in with the following challenges too. I've tried to read all the rules as there are some challenges I'm unfamiliar with so apologies if I've got it wrong anywhere:

Aly's Sunday Challenge - Bows
By the Cute & Girly - All things Bright & Beautiful (Definitely Flowers!)
Charisma- Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion - Flowers
Creative Card Crew - Anything Goes
Cupcake Craft Room - Pink & Green
Make it Monday - Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Pile It On - Anything Beginning with B (Bow)
Ribbon Carousel - Anything Goes

Phew, that's a lot of challenges for me!! Thought I'd pop out of my comfort zone for a while.... Now I must be popping to bed as 6:30 comes round all too quickly.

I will be back soon with the recycled trainer packaging card I promise!

P.S. Today's post title comes courtesy of Brad Paisley's 'Ticks'.

American Saturday Night on Sunday

2011-09-03T08:00:00.007+01:00

Well what a lot of catching up I have to do!! I'll give you a very brief summary: Had a wonderful family holiday in Ireland & watched this amazing guy!!! For the uninitiated (which isn't many i'm sure given how much I've talked about this!) this is Brad Paisley.

All round talented guy & fairly cute too although his fiddle player/violinist also caught my eye!! He had the most gorgeous smile.....anyway!!

It was an amazing concert & I was so lucky to be, as you see, right at the front. These pics were taken on a disposable camera so no zoom at all! I still get all floaty thinking about it.....

Anyway coming back to earth just for a little while, it's a new challenge over at Sweet Stampin'. This week the lovely Zoe has picked the theme of Anything but Birthdays & Team Abi along with our GD Wendy have made some fabulous cards to inspire so zip over & see.....We're sponsored this week by Tiffany Doodles & for September by Heather Ellis so get linking those cards up for your chance to win & we'll be over to check them out!

I made this little cutie with a Heather Ellis digi from the Pure Innocence range & coloured with Promarkers. The papers are from a Christmas pack called Pepper & Friends but just felt like a perfect match to me...innovation you see, I've done a bit of recycling on this card too...See that stripy blue card backing the image? It's actually part of the envelope my travel money came in! Now if you want to see how I reused the packaging from my new trainers stay tuned!!! I'd also like to enter her in the following challenges:

Charizma Cardz - Anything Goes
Creative Card Crew - Anything Goes
Deep Ocean - Hearts (I know mine is a little one but it's big really!)
I ♥ Promarkers - Anything Goes
Passion for Promarkers - Anything Goes
Stamp Something - Digi Day (we'll miss you guys)

Right i'm off to sing-a-long-a Brad Paisley just to keep me smiling until your entries come rolling in! Back soon with my recycled trainer packaging card!

Hugs xx

For all you ladies who thought it was going quiet.....

2011-08-21T20:30:00.001+01:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqPPo1jaQxA&feature=relmfu

Welcome to the Future...

2011-08-20T08:00:00.002+01:00

Morning!

By the magic of technology, I'm not here!! Currently I'm on my way to see my first live concert & sooooooo super excited. I just had enough time to tell you about the new challenge over at Sweet Stampin.....we want to see Baby cards or little ones birthdays. Check over to the challenge blog for details. We're sponsored by the fabulous Bugaboo, whose images I love!!

Get yourself over to the blog & join in, we love to see your creations. Back Soon xxx

Quick Sketch & Stash

2011-08-14T11:32:00.003+01:00

A very very quick one this morning as I'm just heading out for a picnic in the park with friends... Had this card made since the early days of the Sketch & Stash challenge but keep forgetting to link it up!!! Too much to think about lol! My new stash is the digi stamp from Bugaboo, he literally dropped in my inbox a day before I made this!!as soon as I got him I knew I had to do something with him!

Anyway I'll pop back & link up to some other challenges I found too but wanted to get this in quick before the SnS deadline because I loved the sketch, great one girls!

Back soon xx

Silent Night.

2011-08-11T11:18:00.001+01:00

I love these white on white cards & I've seen many about blogland lately. This is the first time I've tried to make one though & I always think of them as quiet cards!! Does that make any sense?

It's all thanks to Bah Humbug, whose challenge this week has been white on white cards. I was a guest designer last month at the Bah Humbug challenges & it was an absolute delight, so thanks for having me ladies.

I've been making a few cards this week using up older bits & pieces & this is no exception, Those squares have been in my stash for oooh...a long time!!

Also entering in Fab n Funky who have a Christmas theme & some beautiful DT cards to inspire.

Ok, I'll be back later with a sketch n stash card assuming I haven't missed the deadline!! Got to go make my little one a snack, she was up super early this morning & by 10:15 she was asking me if it was lunch time yet!!

364 days to go...

2011-08-06T08:00:00.007+01:00

Until your next birthday so better make the most of this one lol! Over at Sweet Stampin, Carlyann has chosen the lovely theme of RAINBOWS. We'd love you to create a card with either a rainbow on or using all the colours of the rainbow. I've made mine using all the colours & used up some bits from my scrap box woohoo! Of course my scrap box is still overflowing but you have to start somewhere right?

The gorgeously cute image is from Pollycraft called Cuthbert Party. I really wanted him coloured in a lighter shade but my hand slipped with the orange & my brain wasn't up to the painstaking task of pulling it round, but now I wish I had....I coloured him with my bright copics that I won from Audrey in a superb package of goodies a while ago & she has more candy on offer now so a good time to pop over!

Well I'm hoping for a lie in this morning as I was up early baking yesterday morning. By the time everyone got up the house was smelling of Chocolate Brownie...... My little Drama Queen comes down about 7:45, not 'Good Morning Mum' oh no, her first words of the day........

"Can I lick the spoon?"

Looking forward to seeing your RAINBOW creations peeps, see you soon & for those of you waiting (well not literally! I know you all have lives to lead & don't sit around waiting for my comments, good thing too as you'd be bored & hungry!!!) for visits from me, I'm getting there....

Thanks so much for popping by today, hope you have a great weekend xxx

I'd also like to enter in:

Card Makin Mama's - Birthday
Stamp Something - Use Digi
Dutch Dare Card Challenges - For the kids

Don't forget to check out the amazing creations from the wonderful girls that are Team Abi, I'm so proud of them, they work so hard to inspire you.

Little Moments

2011-07-29T16:30:00.001+01:00

Well I can hardly believe it's time to pack my case & depart from the superb hosts up at Humbug Hall. I've had a fabulous time & even managed to 'tame' the hounds a bit lol! I tell you something though, it's been a bad influence on me...I who partake of an alcoholic beverage approximately twice a year have been coerced into the occasional snifter of an evening!!! And I might add had a jolly good time in the process lol! Thank you so much ladies for letting me come guest design with you. I've loved it, now on to this week's challenge.....We want to see lace on your Christmas creations & I thought I'd attempt something different than a card. This would work well as a wall decoration but actually I think this one might be winging it's way to an amazing friend of mine who will totally appreciate a Christmas 'gift' in August & I will personalise the other side of it just for her. It just might find it's way on to her tree....

I've been saving the hard back board from my watercolour paper pads for a while now with the firm intention of cutting chipboard shapes through my wizard. Well here's the first & of course the beauty is you can just run paper through as well to perfectly cover it. I used this fab paper from Stampin Up & the lace is actually sticky backed paper lace which has been far more useful than I ever imagined, it's even made a Victorian bonnet!!

I'd like to enter this over at:

Crafty Creations - Christmas in July
Paper Creations Ink - Christmas in July
The Sisterhood of Crafters - Simply Handmade
Tuesday Taggers - Alter a gift

Thanks for popping by today, We look forward to seeing your lacy creations for Bah Humbug.

She's her own woman!

2011-07-23T10:25:00.000+01:00

Morning my wonderful blog visitors, so lovely to have you popping in! It's time for a new challenge over at Sweet Stampin & this week the wonderful Wedgie wants to see your fashion creations. We're sponsored by the very talented Tracey of The Stamping Boutique who was super sweet & gave us some images to play with. I've used Emo Alice (obvious choice really!) although apparently I may not have a full grasp of the clothing 'rules' for emo's lol!

Anyway regardless of my ignorance I'm very pleased with her. I paper pieced her hair because quite honestly the thought of colouring all that scared me silly! I did colour the rest of her though & used some retired Only Orange from Stampin Up, a bit of melon Mambo to go with & the grungy sort of effect on the Melon Mambo came from S.U's stamp set Extreme Elements. I love that set, it's definitely one of the most versatile & most used I've ever brought...

So what's your fashion? We're looking forward to seeing all your creations whether it be dressing up or dressing down, chilling out or a night on the town.

I'd also like to enter in the following challenges:

My Mum's Craft Shop - For a Teen
Stamping Boutique Monthly Contest

Thanks for popping by, I hope to be out & visiting many more of your blogs than I have done recently. School has finally finished for the Summer & things have calmed down, no more running here, there & everywhere, waaahey!! Although of course there is an extremely high level of excitement running for the next few weeks with less than 30 days to go.......

It never woulda' worked out anyway!

2011-07-22T19:18:00.000+01:00

This week at Bah Humbug we want to see your bead creations with a Christmas theme. I spent hours trying to put together something really fabulous with beads this week, maybe making a decoration. I had this fabulous idea to pierce holes in the shape of a Christmas tree & stitch the beads on but try as I might,I could not get the right amount of holes on the right lines & ended up with odd holes & bits missed!!! After a few blue(ish) words I gave it up as a bad job & went for this little number instead.

The paper is from my (recently won) Pepper's paper pack & I over printed it with the word Season's many times & used the reverse of the patterned paper to create the scalloped edge panel which just needed a little gold bow to finish it off. I am actually really happy with the finished result, particularly considering how long I've had the beaded words in my stash, probably around 5 years!

Excitement really hit new levels in my house today when my concert tickets arrived....I'm sure the postman's ears are still ringing!!! Less than 30 sleeps to go now....... You just would not believe how excited I am!!!!!

I'd also like to enter this in the Delightful challenge:

Delightful Sketches - Christmas in July

We look forward to seeing your Christmas bead creations this week.

Love is never ending...

2011-07-16T20:51:00.000+01:00

Well not for a girl & her horse anyway!! I made this card few days ago but hadn't got to posting it. As the challenges ends tomorrow I'd best get on with it as it was such a fab sketch from Faye at Sketch n Stash.

I've used new stash on this one as I had a small (ahem!) spending spree over at LOTV recently & this was one of the stamps I brought, then would you believe just a few days after I get asked to make a card with a horse on....Fate!

Paper & card is all Stampin Up & the sentiment is computer generated.

I'd also like to enter this at Fab n Funky whose theme is Baker's Dozen, basically any type of food! And before anyone asks, it's the apple not the horse lol! Thanks for looking & hope you're having a good day xxx

Remind Me.....

2011-07-15T18:09:00.000+01:00

How long it is to Christmas & you haven't started your cards yet?.....fear not, Bah Humbug are here to give you a nudge with this week's theme of shaped cards. Anyway I'm not counting you down to Christmas, I'm counting down to my concert which is only 37 sleeps away, oh my goodness!!!

However back to the card.... I've had these crackers around in my stash for ages, I think OH brought them & I looked at them & thought ...erm!! I don't seem to be very good at working with shapes like this but that's what challenges are all about. I even remembered not to tie the ribbon around the front and back of the card!

Zip on over to check out the fabulous creations from Ann, Max & Kathy too & I look forward to seeing what you all create xxx

You need a man around here.....

2011-07-12T11:35:00.002+01:00

Well, the last 7 days have been very eventful in my household. I've done at least 2 things that I never imagined myself doing!! Any of you that have popped across to Sweet Stampin will know that one is buying tickets to my first ever full scale concert & I'm not sharing the second with you (it's not strictly speaking mine to share anyway)!

So speaking of Sweet Stampin, our challenge this week is Cute & Cuddly & we are sponsored by the lovely Di's Digi Downloads. Di's images are just lovely to colour & she was kind enough to let us choose a digi to work with. Now I know masculine probably isn't the first thing most people would think of for a cute & cuddly challenge but I'm a little bit unique me...

There you have it, my cute & cuddly handy-bear, I could certainly do with one of these on occasions!! I hope you're all having a great week, I'm off to crack on with some housework!! xxx

Also entering in:

Sketch Saturday

There's mice in the Hall......

2011-07-08T12:49:00.000+01:00

Well hello there folks,

This week is my second week as a guest at the salubrious Humbug Hall, where we've been mice chasing all week! Now don't these 3 look just so cute, it's an image from Di's Digis & probably about the only mice image I have!

But I'm quite sure there's a huge variety more out there, & we'd love to see them this week so show us your mice!!

I'm afraid I've been terribly absent in blog land this last week, but I've been sorting out something very special for me & I am beyond excited. I'm going to see my first ever full size live concert & totally, amazingly beyond excited!!!!!!!!! Erm, did I mention I was excited????? So do forgive me, I can't say normal service will resume because quite honestly I'm not sure it will for a while yet but I'll certainly be around more & commenting while being excited!

I was barely able to sit still & make this card, or any other for that matter which is why I find myself having to make at least 2 cards this afternoon as well as everything else, so I'm going to have to dash & leave you all to your mice creations & if you need inspiration, Ann, Max & Kathy have done some fabulous inspiration cards for you.

Take care all xxx

Clearly a Guest Designer

2011-07-01T08:00:00.001+01:00

Good Morning! Well I've been invited somewhere very special for the month of July!! Yes i'm at Humbug Hall to join Ann & Max as a July guest designer for Bah Humbug I've received a lovely warm welcome apart from the cold snouts of the hounds (but we won't go into where they ended up!!). I'm also joined by the lovely Kathy.

Well it was clear that this week was certainly going to be a challenge, in fact it was totally transparent!!! Yes, it's time to fetch out your ACETATE. I brought myself some acetate 2 years ago while on holiday & it stayed happily in it's packet until this week.

So there it is, my first ever acetate offering, a bit of a nightmare to photograph, but I was reasonably pleased with the end result. So get a head start on those Christmas cards & come join in at Bah Humbug. We'd love to see you.

Have a great day & enjoy your weekends too, I'm told it's going to be a nice one here & I've got some time to myself as the Drama Queens are off on a trip.

A sketched & stashed penguin

2011-06-30T14:52:00.001+01:00

On week 25 of Bah Humbug's Christmas challenge & you know what? That means we are about halfway through the year! Where does it go? The challenge this week was Penguins & I've used a super sweet image from Di's Digi's:

The fabulous sketch is from Sketch & Stash & I've used both new & neglected stash here, the papers that I won on Bah Humbug very recently!! These are gorgeous & very versatile! The old stash is the bauble sentiment which I must have had for 3 or 4 years!!

Thanks for popping by. I'll be back tomorrow.......!

Something old, something new, so not a wedding, part 2!!

2011-06-26T22:34:00.001+01:00

As I posted yesterday our new challenge at Sweet Stampin is to use some old stash with some new stash, I showed you my Prairie fairy card yesterday & as Bugaboo are one of my favourite companies I couldn't resist doing another card. Something old here is my scalloped oval, it must have been one of the earliest Stampin' Up purchases I made & the something new is my fabulous border punch from EK Success which jumped into my basket on my most recent shopping spree at the wonderful Sir Stampalot!! Also new are the Copics I used to colour with which I won from the lovely Audrey here along with loads of other fab goodies.

The image is from the Bugaboo red hat Stella collection which I was delighted to find as I have one or 2 red hat friends & I know they'll love these especially as I've gone with the red hatters colours too!

Do pop over to Sweet Stampin, check out the other gorgeous DT creations & why not join in, we love to see what you create.

Hugs xxx

Definitely not a wedding!

2011-06-25T08:29:00.000+01:00

It's time for a new challenge at Sweet Stampin already & this week we are asking for Something Old & Something New which makes me think weddings on account of the rhyme, but we are not talking weddings today, no we simply want to see you team something NEW from your stash with something OLD from your stash. Don't forget to tell us what old & new things you've used.

I've used a wonderful image from Prairie Fairy, which I think is gorgeous & so versatile it can be used for any occasion. I've coloured it with my twinkling H2O's & cut it out using my NEW oval nestabilites, my something old is the sticky backed ribbon which I brought loads of in the early days & the metal edged tag is also old. I won a box of these about 2 months after I started crafting & I'm still working my way through them 5 years later! The papers are Stampin Up.

This week is the last week to get your hands on the 5 digi's from Prairie Fairy & we're also sponsored by Bugaboo this week offering 7 digi images of the winners choice.

I used the sketch over at Cupcake - love it!

I have a Bugaboo card for to show you a little later too.

In the meantime we're really looking forward to seeing your entries.

Diamond Sketch Saturday

2011-06-24T10:18:00.000+01:00

Morning my lovely friends, I hope you're all well this morning? It's a beautiful one here today, the sun is shining, birds are singing & I feeeeeeeeel good!!

So I had this Diamond wedding card on order earlier in the week & I do so love a good sketch to start off with so I tootled over to Sketch Saturday & as always they have a fab one. I have to say the whole idea of a Diamond wedding absolutely astounds me, it's such an amazing achievement!!

Fortuitously, this card also fits a couple of other challenges I like to enter when I can so I'd like to enter it at:

Charisma Cardz - White & 1 other colour
Crafty Creations - Let it Shine (I know you can't see my sparkly gems too well but they are there!)
Southern Girls - Anything Goes

Thank you all so much for dropping by, your comments are appreciated & enjoyed. I'm now off to make some Raisin & Oat cookies, never made them before so will see how they go down with my taste testers later!! Have a great day xxx

LOTV LOVE!!

2011-06-22T22:31:00.000+01:00

This gorgeous little cutie is for Bah Humbug 24 with the theme of Scarves & Mittens. Why you may ask would you need those in June, well hey, this is the English weather we're talking about!!

He's also the first use of my new LOTV goodies, who I seem to have been the last person on earth to discover. Anyway I now own several stamps & also some of their die cut design sheets of which this is from, so expect to see more from me!

I was trying to keep the backing paper on this quite visible as I just love it. It's from an old Paper Cellar stack that I've had for years. My swirl is my first Marianne die & it runs through the wizard perfectly, my only 'complaint' is that it doesn't have holes to push the die cut out of the die. I discovered I can gently lever this one out with a pin if i'm careful!

That's all from me folks, hope to be back soon. In the meantime thanks so much for popping by xxx

Bah Humbug 23

2011-06-22T22:10:00.001+01:00

oops, I forgot to post this altogether last week but it's for Bah Humbug 23 that had the theme of 'For a teenager'. I consider myself well versed in the ways of teens & oh my goodness...... Those of you who are also familiar with teens will understand, those of you with sweet angelic cherubs, your time will come *insert slightly evil manic laughter here!!*

Seriously, they're not all bad though & truth be told I do have a good one really, she just gets a bit lost on occasion!!

Tim Holtz does pink cupcakes!!

2011-06-16T12:27:00.000+01:00

Right 'fess up, who's stolen my mojo? I've no inspiration to make a card at all so whoever's got it.......give it back!!!!

I hadn't even posted my Sweet Stampin card this week, so here it is albeit a few (ahem!) days late. I definitely had mojo when I made this. The images were such fun to work with & came courtesy of the lovely Roberta at Prairie Fairy, who is our June Sponsor offering 5 digi images from her store. Our weekly sponsor is Nikki from Bunny Zoe's with a fabulous £10 gift voucher I paper pieced them using my fabulous Tim Holtz papers which I've been drooling over since I got them for Christmas. I've inked the papers with aged mahogany distress ink & added a little T.H. love ticket, cos let's face it, who doesn't love cupcakes!!

So there you have it, you've still got time to join in this week's challenge of Food Glorious Food & be in with a chance of winning the fab prizes on offer.

Now I have an extended afternoon as my little cherub is out to a friends house straight from school. I'm gonna have a little look for my mojo......

Bah Humbug 22 - Surprise!!

2011-06-03T14:15:00.001+01:00

See, I told you I was getting in early this week for Bah Humbug!!! The theme this week is Surprise Surprise, we can either make a card with a surprise or surprise the Humbuggers with your own choice of theme. Well in my case the fact I've got my entry in on the first day is probably surprise enough & I'm sure the girls are now sitting down with a small glass of something to get over the shock lol!!

I used the sketch from Sketch Saturday & it's such a beauty it made the card come together very quickly. I've used Old Olive & Cherry Cobbler CS from Stampin Up & the Choc Chip wide ribbon having pulled those colours from the snowman. I've also used my delicious new border punch, I was lucky enough to have a small (ish!), ok not that small, spending spree at the wonderful Sir Stampalot recently. I absolutely love it in there, I can spend hours looking round & I do as it takes me an age to decide what to buy!!

The snowman is actually a rub on, so this is a no stamping card! It's part of a bargain sheet that I've had for years. These are the sort of things my OH keeps telling me to get rid of, but I think I've just proved they're worth hanging on to!! I love it when you combine the old stuff with the new stuff & make something good.

I'm really sorry I haven't managed to visit many of your blogs in the last few days, I'm hoping to get round soon but in the meantime I want to say thanks for popping by & leaving me such lovely comments. It's always appreciated.

I'd also like to enter:

Crafty Hazelnuts - Ribbon
Southern Girls - Christmas
Christmas Cards all year round - Anything Goes
Paper Creations Ink - Ribbon or Lace
Fab n Funky - What'eva

Finally I'd like to leave you with the fine example of role reversal I experienced yesterday: Having put my 8year old to bed, I sat down to make this card & switched internet radio on to keep me company. A few minutes later, this little voice shouts down the stairs " Will you turn that music down?" Erm....isn't that supposed to be my line?

All that ....with bells on

2011-06-02T16:18:00.001+01:00

I seriously think my photography skills are getting worse not better, mind you I am still using hubby's camera since mine broke & I struggle with it. I can't change the settings either else he goes back to it & huffs & puffs a bit well a lot really but I suppose I would be the same!

Here's my weekly offering for Bah Humbug 21 & yes I'm late this week, half term is flying at a phenomenal speed & still so much to do. The theme was bells.

I'm promising myself to get in quicker for the next challenge, honest!! Part of my busy-ness was the new look over at Sweet Stampin, we'd love to have your opinion & if you become a follower & leave us a comment on what you think of the new design, you can enter our candy giveaway.....

Hope your weather is as beautiful as ours is here today!

Ooh La La

2011-05-28T08:13:00.002+01:00

Well Good Morning folks, another sunny Saturday rolls around (unless you're looking out my window then it's grey & miserable) in the middle of this predicted heatwave!!

So we thought we'd raise the temperatures by ourselves this week over at Sweet Stampin & our theme chosen by Tracey is Ooh La La - anything French, cheeky or saucy!

This is what I've come up with this week.

This image is Victoria Case & I kept it quite simple to show off the beautiful image.

We have 2 fabulous sponsors for you, our weekly is Quixotic Paperie who are offering a £10 voucher

and our monthly sponsor is Joanna Sheen also offering a £10 voucher to spend.

See how much we spoil you sweet stampers!! Do pop over to Sweet Stampin as we are saying Goodbye to some of our fab DT. Look out for our new sweeties announcement coming on Wednesday & a super surprise for you......

Looking forward to seeing your creations this week, have a great one xxx

An early Christmas

2011-05-24T11:19:00.001+01:00

I'm shaking things up a bit this week, I'm 2 days early for my Bah Humbug post!! Most weeks I seem to be squeezing in at the last minute but I actually made this card on Saturday or was it Sunday, the days go so fast I can't keep up!

Now this is the first time I've done anything like this, I'm not big on moving cards. They're just not me, I think it's because I can't get them perfect enough. As Fi has found out this week, even the little things that most people wouldn't notice niggle at me!!! Yes I'm a bit of a perfectionist at times lol! All will be revealed next week....

There you have it, complete with extra piccies just to show you it does move! I'm not particularly pleased with this one myself but it's out of my comfort zone so not surprised by that actually. However that is what a good challenge does so BH ladies....Mission accomplished!

Back Soon x

Bah Humbug #19

2011-05-19T09:33:00.000+01:00

Quick Good Morning from me this morning, I'm just on my way out to help with swimming at school this morning but here's my entry for this week's Bah Humbug challenge of snowflakes.

Yes I admit it the centre is a sticker from my old stash but hey, they've got to be used right? See you soon x

A Super Sketch + Spots, Stripes & Sparkle!!

2011-05-14T08:00:00.032+01:00

Oooh we're all about the S's this week! Over at Sweet Stampin we have a Sketch for you or a Spots, Stripes and Sparkle combo. Of course if you're feeling creative you can use them together...

This week's sponsor is Fairydust Crafts and our monthly sponsor is Joanna Sheen.

Here's the sketch and my take on it:

You'll see that I've rotated the sketch & tweaked the sentiment panel a little. You can do this in your creation as long as we can still see the basic sketch layout. I've used this adorable snail, I found him at Doodle Palace some time ago, he's just lovely! I coloured him with my Promarkers but don't consider I've done a great job with him. In my defence I had only just got my PM's when I coloured this (that's my excuse anyway!).

We'd love to see you joining in this week, pop over & check out the other sweeties creations, they are beautiful. Enjoy your weekend, I hope it's a good one for you. I'm off to a coffee morning this morning & then the rest of the weekend is mine (and the children's). I suppose I'll have to do some housework too lol! After my coffee morning I've got a list of challenges I'd also like to enter, so I'll be back to add them x

Bah Humbug

2011-05-13T21:57:00.000+01:00

This is a quick repost of my Bah Humbug card for last week as blogger has disappeared it & although they're saying it will reappear......who knows

Bah Humbug 18

2011-05-12T11:57:00.000+01:00

Morning Folks, another quickie Christmas card from me but I though this one is good for little boys. Bah Humbug had a theme of Going green, either by recycling or using lots of green.

It had to be an easy one as I'm still catching up with the washing & cleaning etc that didn't get done last week while I was getting my halo a bit shinier lol! I plan next week to have caught up & therefore have more time for my Christmas card. Sorry for the appalling pic, my camera has broken & had to borrow one that I don't know how to use. Thanks for popping by x

Wooohoooo, I'm back!!

2011-05-09T10:44:00.001+01:00

Hello peeps, it feels like an absolute age since i've blogged although it's actually only a week but that was my Sweet Stampin post & had to be done or Fi would think I'd resigned! I'm sure you've missed me terribly (ha!) but I've been polishing up my halo in the last few days (it's still hanging round my ankles, but at least it's shinier lol!).

I've been supporting my local church flower festival, where I had my cards out for sale & did very well with them so major restocking is now required as I have another much smaller event on Saturday. It's been pretty manic with very little time to myself. I've also been baking cakes for them to sell & my house has smelt wonderful lately although there have been grumblings from OH about the lack of cakes in our house.....

Last week I was asked to make a flower card & I found this fabulous sketch on the Little Claire blog which instantly spoke to me, & this beautiful basket of flowers on Karen's Doodles. It's a freebie & so gorgeous, how fab of Karen to give it away! I also used another freebie from Netty in the form of the 70th circle. Netty the fabulous lady has done a whole range of these for all ages & I think they're just fantastic. She also has other freebies so well worth a good ol look through her blog (cards are fab too!) The CS is from Stampin Up, Lovely Lilac (retired I think) & So Saffron & I've coloured it with my twinkling (fake) H2O's!

So I would like to enter this in:
Little Claire for the wonderful sketch
Karen's Doodles with a perfect fit of Pastels
Card Cupids - Flowers
CES Challenges - Fave Colour Combo (changes regularly but loving this at the mo!)
Come & Get It - Birthdays
Crafty Sentiments - Flowers
Crazy 4 Challenges - Flowers
Dream Valley - Flowers
Do You Stack Up? - Purple
One Stop Craft - Birthdays
Raise The Bar - Flower Power
Secret Crafter - Dust off Your Stash (backing paper has been in my stash for 4 years!)
Stamp Something - Use a Digi.
Stampin Sisters in Christ - Beautiful

Phew, that's a lot of challenges for me & I have tried to read all the rules for each blog but feel free to leave me a polite note if I've got it wrong :-)

Thanks so much for visiting & for any comments you may leave. I'm off to catch up on some housework, have a wonderful day xxx

Something new

2011-04-30T08:00:00.081+01:00

Morning all, I hope it's as lovely a day with you as it is here, I've a fabby day out planned with my girls & we are meeting up with lots of friends, we do it every year no matter what, so there'll be nothing new going on for me, but you my lovely readers could be starting off on adventure....How? Well over at Sweet Stampin we have opened up our current DT call today. We're looking for several new members of all abilities so pop over to find out all the details & how to apply.

Not only that, we have a sparkling new challenge for this morning chosen by our fabulous competition winner & guest designer Christi Hicks whose blog definitely deserves a visit. Christi chose 'Try something new' so that sent the DT into a headspin, with so many delicious techniques out there, what should we try? You'll have to pop over & see and if you'd like the chance to pick the theme, don't forget to enter your suggestion here.

I tried the 'Retiform Grid Technique' that I found on Splitcoast here. I like it & this being my 3rd attempt, feel I'm kinda getting the hang of it now! If you check out the tutorial, you'll notice I skipped the last layer. I tried this & believe me you do not want to see the end result!! I'm quite happy with this one.

The image is from Tiddly Inks & a definite favourite of mine, there's just something about it that captures a little corner in my heart aaah... We are sponsored by Tiddly Inks this week & they're offering a $10 voucher for their store - yummy! Our monthly sponsor is Bugaboo Stamps who have the fabulous 7 digi images of the winners choice up for grabs & this is your last chance to win them.

I'd also like to enter this card over at the following challenges:

Crafts & Me - Vintage/Distressed
Moving along with the times - Anything Goes
Digi Doodle Shop's best - Anything Goes
Paper Cutz - Anything Goes
Inspire me Fridays - Anything Goes
Delicious Doodles - Teenagers.
Bunny Zoe's - One for the boys.

Some of these are new challenges to me, I have tried to read all the rules but do forgive me if I've got it wrong anywhere, my brain is switching off!

Enjoy your weekend & thanks so much for popping by. It's still a little crazy busy here but I promise I will be visiting again soon. xxx

The man himself....

2011-04-28T10:54:00.001+01:00

Yes it's Father Christmas or Santa Claus or whatever else you like to call him! Here's my weekly entry to the fabulous Bah Humbug!

I have to admit to being quite happy with this one & I think it would be a good card for those most difficult males... Father Christmas is a Pollycraft image, the papers are Stampin Up & the sentiment is an Imaginisce rub on. The white trim on his coat is coated with distress stickles, but try as I might I could not get a decent picture to show you sorry... He's coloured with a mix of Promarkers & Twinkling H2o's.

Apologies to my lovely followers & visitors for not being around to comment on your gorgeous creations. I have a big sale coming up & working my little socks off to be prepared for it! I will be back commenting soon, in the meantime know that I appreciate all your comments & that you are all fabulous with a capital F!!

I've used the delicious sketch from The Sweet Stop but left out the flower element, hope that's ok? I'd like to enter in to following fab challenges please:

Make it Monday
Happileigh Scrappin - Christmas
Cards for men - Circles
Bunny Zoe's - One for the Boys.
The Paper variety - Polka Dots
Amber's Crafts & Stuff - Use a Digi.

Christmas Stockings.

2011-04-21T11:45:00.000+01:00

I may not be early, but I am predictable.....predictably last minute with this week's Bah Humbug card lol! The theme was Stockings & here's my offering.

Thanks for popping by, sorry it's so short & sweet. My little cherub is out for the day & I'm trying to make the most of it by creating some cards.

See ya soon x

Time for Chocolate!!

2011-04-16T08:00:00.010+01:00

Is it ever too early for chocolate, well not over at Sweet Stampin as we're challenging you to use chocolate on your cards this week. We're sponsored by The stamping Boutique this week & also our monthly sponsor Bugaboo Stamps. Now I'm a long term Bugaboo fan & I must have been hibernating somewhere as this is the first time I've come across the Stamping Boutique images but I love them already!

Both companies were kind enough to give the DT images to use & I couldn't make my mind up what to use, so I splashed out & did one of each lol! Ah well it's all good for the stock levels as I have a major sale coming up in a couple of weeks

You want to see what I created? This one uses the Bugaboo image & what better to go with chocolate than MINT!

For those of you wondering how I made the background, it's really quite simple if a wee bit time consuming.

I stamped the En Francais background stamp from Stampin Up on to Chocolate Chip card stock.
I trimmed it lengthways into 3 equal width pieces & then each strip was cut into equal-ish pieces width ways to give little rectangles.
Here's the time consuming bit, you need to ink around the edges with a dauber (I used Choc Chip ink) of every little rectangle to add definition & give the impression of it being a raised 'chunk'.
All that then remains is to arrange the pieces to your satisfaction & stick down. I recommend you arrange all the pieces before you stick anything down.

There, that's the first time I've really given instructions on anything crafty so if I've left anything unclear or you've any questions, leave me a comment & I'll see if I can clear it up!

I'd also like to enter this into the following challenge:

Moving along with the times - Chocolate!

Inspire me Fridays - Anything Goes

Catch the bug - Four or more layers

And her's my Stamping Boutique card, I absolutely love this cupcake, soooo sweet!!

Yes I know the colours are a little bright but sometimes you just want to go a bit wild & this card was it, I felt it needed something fun & fabulous.

I'd also like to enter this card in the following challenges:

My Time to Craft - On the spot
Moving along with the Times - Chocolate
Do You Stack Up - Scallops
TSB Monthly challenge -

Hop on over to Sweet Stampin & check out the other sweeties scrumptious work, but we can't be held responsible for any drooling on keyboards lol!!

It's Christmas again!

2011-04-14T11:48:00.001+01:00

Here it is, my weekly dose of Christmas courtesy of Bah Humbug who this week had a theme of Candy Canes. Last night I realised it was Wednesday which meant I had to get this done very quickly. I had a lovely candy cane digi which I printed off & lovingly coloured in then left overnight hoping that inspiration would be overflowing this morning....well it was, to the point where I ended up doing something totally different! I used one of those stickers (you know, the ones you don't own up to anymore as you brought them years ago when you first started!) that's been in my stash for at least 3 years & I'm actually really happy with how it's turned out.

I've left my obligatory space for the greeting so I can decide at a later date who will be the lucky recipient of this card.

I'd also like to enter in the following challenges please:

Papertake Weekly - Truly Dimensional (the snowman)
Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas - Going round in circles (Backing paper has tiny spots on, hope that counts)
Fab n Funky - Spots & Dots (on backing paper)

Thanks for popping by. I really appreciate any comments you leave.

Hugs,

Mother's Day & Christmas

2011-04-04T17:40:00.000+01:00

Lookie here at what my 8 year old made me for Mother's Day!!!! Peppermint Creams mmmmhhmmmmhhmmm! And she did it with dairy free chocolate for me, which is a bit of a nightmare to work with as it doesn't melt properly hence the rustic look of the chocolate coating! I have to tell you though the plate looks a smidgen emptier than that now though lol.

It struck me as quite hilarious that I should be posting this with my Bah Humbug card for this week as earlier in the year, the Bah Humbug challenge was doilies. The one you see on this plate is the first pack I brought & couldn't work with so I brought another pack (too big) & then another....Anyway Ann & Max, you'll be delighted to hear I'm now down to only 90 spare doilies! Although I really like this use for them, yummy.

The theme is cards that make you giggle & this card uses an image which definitely makes me chuckle from Ladybug Crafts Ink & DSP from Stampin Up.

I'd also like to enter this into Cupcake Craft Challenge - Comedy Rocks.

Thanks so much for popping by x

Bah Humbug #12

2011-03-31T12:01:00.004+01:00

I must stop making a habit of this last minute business!!! Bah Humbug theme this week was Trees. OH was at home for a while this morning & my morning always goes to pot when that's the case, bless him! Then the bus was late getting us back to school as the road is closed near school & it's very difficult for the bus to get in & out to collect children.

So hopefully Ann & Max I made it in time?

This tree is done in Not Quite Navy from Stampin Up & I was experimenting with the layering using torn paper. I think I like it but as with anything new, I think I can do better. I might change my sentiment panel as I was having trouble getting just the right colour & this is a bit too blue for the rest of the card. Other than that, I like it.

I also must give a big thank you mention to Bizzy Becs, which is where I found this wonderful circle sentiment. as a freebie although she has a whole store crammed with lovely goodies.

Back Soon x

Apple Crumble for Breakfast.

2011-03-24T21:31:00.001Z

Yes you read right, I really have had apple crumble for breakfast recently! You see I have food allergies & recently they changed the ingredients in my corn flakes so I couldn't eat them & I've only just taken delivery of several new ones I found on websites. In the last few weeks though I've had to improvise & breakfast has been wild & wonderful & on more than one occasion has been the leftovers from the previous nights dinner lol! If you've never tried risotto for breakfast, you haven't lived.....

It made me think of my very wonderful friend who this card is for, she was always an absolute star when she lived just up the road (she's now across the world & I miss her sooooo much) & made the most wonderful meals for me taking into account all my problems! She also introduced me to several recipes that now feature regularly in my life. She's a one in a million & I am a very lucky lady to call her my friend.

The Image is a Bugaboo, accompanied by a bit of Tempting Turquoise & Green Galore from Stampin Up & a nameless but perfect fit backing paper!

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:

Mojo Monday - Sketch
Crafty Purple Frog - Green
Digi Doodle Shop's Best - Ribbons & Bows
Crafts and Me - Anything Goes
Penny's Paper Crafty - From the Kitchen
Papertake Weekly - It's a mum thing (or Girlie)
Make it Monday -

Bah Humbug #11

2011-03-24T11:57:00.002Z

Hmm, this has to be my closest one yet, in fact it was so close I had to just post the picture, link it & then return to add words!!

Yes folks it's my weekly Bah Humbug card & this week the theme was metallic.

I've left the sentiment to be added later, I might be determined to make Christmas cards through the year, but to actually decide who they're for is a step too far!

Thanks for popping by, I'm sorry it's so brief xx

How not to age, the secret is revealed!

2011-03-23T13:02:00.003Z

I tell you, I am so into these 8 x 8 cards! I stumbled into them by accident, but I'm fast becoming addicted. It's great to have a bigger area to play on. This latest one here is this week's card for my guest DT spot over at the Sisterhood of Crafters. I've had a ball being a part of the team & enjoyed the challenges, thanks so much for having me ladies!

The challenge this week is "let's hear it for the boys", anything for those always awkward men in our lives! I hope you'll come over & join us, we're sponsored by the fabulous Dude Time Doodles who have amazing guy images covering pretty much every subject & hobby you could wish for. I chose to use this image called Armchair Arnie, & don't we all know one of these huh! I mean, what do you put on a card for a man who has no hobbies & probably spends most of his leisure time in front of the TV? I think this is ideal & paired with some masculine Stampin Up papers, wording courtesy of the Wizard & some random pieces from my stash, I was quite happy with how he turned out. I've coloured with Promarkers.

Do head over to the Sisterhood blog & check out the other designs, totally fabulous & then get your stash out &join in, we'd love to see you.

CES want you to use your favourite song or be inspired by a song this week, I took my inspiration from the Deana Carter song 'Did I shave my legs for this?' If you'd like to hear it/see the video, you will understand my inspiration, click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzWOa8loCDI

Before I go, I'll leave you with my 8year old's thoughts on how not to age!!! She & I were having a conversation about a future event & she said by that time I would be her old Mummy (thanks love lol) I told her that one day she will be as 'old' as me & she insisted she will not because she is not going to get old.... Of course I had to find out her secret so I asked her how you don't age (you'll love this one!).

Without missing a beat, she tells me very seriously that what you have to do is go to your bed, lie down & stay there for a while & say to yourself 'I'm not going to get old, I'm not going to get old" and then you won't get old!

I'm off to bed right now to try it, I'll let you know how it goes!!!

I'd also like to enter this in the following (I forgot to add these when I posted, sorry peeps it's been chaos):

Sketch Saturday - Fabby Sketch!
One Stitch at a Time - Something for the boys.
CESChallenges - Favourite song

Slugs, Snails & Puppy Dog Tails....

2011-03-19T08:00:00.003Z

Yes, that's the theme this week over at Sweet Stampin. We're sponsored by Whimsy Stamps this week who are offering the winner 5 digi images of their choice and with cutie's like this snail....well who can resist? The DT were very kindly given some images to use & this was one of them, I thought he had great potential (and I was right!) as did Claire as she has also used the same image but her card is very different & very fab, in fact I am in awe as she coloured hers so much better than I would have done. I went for the paper piecing route & thought I'd keep him in bright colours ideal for a younger child. There's even space to add a number or name to make it really special.

All the colours are Stampin Up & I love the combo, it's Real Red, Tempting Turquoise, Gable Green & Yoyo Yellow (both retired). I also used the Polka Dot background stamp & the backgrounds from Extreme Elements on the pieced pieces to give a little dimension & notice my special ric rac trick again on this card too. Also the bonus is that as I've cut out really carefully I now have the components to make him again 3 more times!!!

Don't forget we are also sponsored by Pollycraft for the month of March & they are giving a lucky winner a fantastic 7 new releases, woohoo!

I'd also like to enter over at:

Prairie fairy Fridays - It's my party.
C.R.A.F.T. - Paper Piecing
Digi Doodle Shop's Best - Anything Goes

I also used the sketch from Pals Paper Arts where I haven't participated for a while but I'm not sure if I 've taken too many liberties with this one (they did say flip it, flop it, twist & turn it!) so I'm linking it up anyway & sure the lovely DT will tell me if I'm way off the mark!

I'm typing this at very silly o clock (1am!) & can barely keep my eyes open so do forgive me if it doesn't make much sense in the morning lol! Hop on over to the Sweet Stampin blog to see all the other Sweeties creations and get inspired & we'll look forward to seeing you wonderful entries.

Hugs,

Sneaky Peek!

2011-03-18T17:21:00.000Z

Hi Folks, I thought I'd give you a little sneaky peek of tomorrows Sweet Stampin project....

Any ideas? Pop back in the morning for the reveal and see what the challenge is for this week.

Bah Humbug #10

2011-03-16T21:54:00.001Z

Here's this week's Bah Humbug entry.... I made the card on Monday but we had a teen drama in this household which involved me putting my foot down in firm fashion!! Of course I am now in the bad books but hey... I can take it! Thank goodness for card making & friends otherwise I would have not a shred of sanity left lol, anyone that knows me well would most probably say I lost my sanity ages ago!!

Again it's quite a simple one, but I know that I will be posting so many of them. Of course there are a few special ones that will be more dimensional but I will make them later in the year. At the moment I am trying to prepare for my annual Flower Festival sale which is only a few weeks away.

Right, I'm off for an early night now, my little Drama Queen has to be at school half an hour earlier than usual in the morning so I daren't be late to bed!

Hugs,

Who invented words?

2011-03-13T13:34:00.002Z

This is the question I was woken up with yesterday morning at around 6:30am by my 8 year old. Hmmm, not perhaps the easiest question to answer when your brain is awake, let alone early on a Saturday morning. Well where do you go with that one? I started kind of working backwards explaining but then my brain realises there isn't a straightforward answer to this is there, you can go so far back to the beginning of the human race & that makes it really complex! And googling it just opens up a whole new can of worms.... Suggestions for an easy answer on a postcard please.

Anyway, slightly less complex thankfully was the challenge over at Less is more this week. It's OLC (one layer card) time with an off the edge theme & extra criteria of no scored lines. Fortuitously I had just been asked to make a very simple & flat wedding acceptance card and combined the two.

The image is from Stampin Up's Baroque Motifs & the wording is computer printed. Three little pearls just finished it off. Feel free to give honest opinions & suggestions, I may or may not take any notice (lol!) but I have an open enough mind to listen and learn. Huge thanks to all who visit, I will endeavour to pop by yours in return & see your creations.

Also entering in:
Craft your days away - Black & White
One stop craft challenge - Clean & Simple

Hugs xxx

Sweet Stampin at the cinema.

2011-03-12T13:12:00.003Z

Saturday has rolled around again & despite the fact that it's not my week this week I had to join in anyway. This week at Sweet Stampin we want to see cards inspired by your fave films. I'm not a huge film watcher (give me music any day), but this is definitely one of my all time favourites & is a bit of a weepie! The sentiment is computer generated & everything else is Stampin Up bar the lace. The papers are Elegant Soiree, accompanied by some soft suede & very vanilla CS. The butterfly is stamped with French Script & adorned with pearls.

We're sponsored this week by Fairydust crafts who are offering the winner 5 digi images of their choice & we also have our monthly sponsor, Pollycraft who are offering seven of their new releases. Don't forget to pop over & see what the other sweeties have made, definitely inspiring & it's fascinating to hear what you Sweet Stampers favourite films are!

I really love this one, in fact so much so that I had a card sale this morning, (the reason I was late posting) and purposely didn't insert this one so I could keep it at home & look at it for a little bit longer lol! Glad to say sale went well, now to create & replenish the stocks.

Enjoy your weekend all & just in case there is anyone who doesn't know what the film is, I guess I should tell you..... Beaches.

I'd also like to enter this into the following challenges:
Totally Gorjuss - Pearls & Lace
Digi Doodle Shop's Best - Pearls
Rainbow Lady - Best Friends (Hope this is ok,it would certainly be true of any of my best friends)
Crafty Creations - Baby Blue (hope this shade qualifies)
Crafty Purple Frog - Things with Wings
Delightful Sketches - Butterflies

Less is More

2011-03-10T23:57:00.000Z

Evening all (oh I sound like a stereotyped policeman!)

Here's this week's entry for Less is More with a theme of pastel colours. I've used the sketch from over at Clean & Simple Stamping & would like to enter this over at Cupcake with their theme of Pink Polka Dots.

I'm kind of torn on this one, so feel free to give your opinions. Here's a close up pic so you can properly see the ribbon. I think half the problem is my photography skills!

I'd like to say a big thank you to anyone who visited last week from Less is More & humbly apologize for not yet returning the visit. I haven't forgotten you I promise! Your comments are very much appreciated, thank you. xxx

I'm going green!

2011-03-09T12:24:00.001Z

Actually I'm already pretty green, environmentally speaking....my family are so used to me questioning everything they throw away with "Are you sure that won't recycle?" And they think I don't see the roll of the eyes, nor hear those irritated 'tuts'....

Anyway, here it is, my first guest DT project for The Sisterhood of Crafters. The theme this week is St Patricks Day, do pop over & see all the fabulous creations from the team. As you can see I've gone totally green & this was a learning curve for me as I haven't used my green Promarkers this much before! I think it's safe to say I learnt some colours that didn't work together....

The image comes from Digital Delights, he's called Shamrock Pat & he's such a happy looking little fella, I couldn't resist him! The embossed panels are wood grain from Tim Holtz & the sentiment is created on the computer.

In honour of St Patrick's Day, my 8yr old decided to have a go at DIY Irish dancing! Last night she asked to put on you tube & searches for instructions on beginners Irish dances. To be fair, she is great at dancing, has natural rhythm etc so she was picking up basic steps very quickly. Much to my amusement she had to rope Dad in too, who bless him has no sense of rhythm whatsoever. After that she stopped dancing just to giggle at him!!!

So break out the green, the shamrocks, leprechauns etc & come & join in. Don't forget if you need inspiration, you can find it here.

Mmmm, smells like lunch is done, chilli roasted potatoes...lovely! See you soon xx

I'd also like to enter this over at

Crafty Emma's: St Patrick's day/Good Luck
Crafty Ho's - St Patricks' day
Corrosive Challenges - Green.
Karen's Doodles - Go green
Kaboodle Doodles - Go Green

Bah Humbug #9-Embossing & NEWS!!

2011-03-07T19:50:00.001Z

Well I'm pleased to see that Ann & Max over at Bah Humbug are being good to us this week with a challenge theme of embossing, and impressively I'm getting my entry in a whole 3 days before deadline, woohoo! I'm not sure if it's my camera or my screen but the colours look a bit washed out to me, the embossed tree is on a gorgeous rust colour card which has been sanded over to reveal the white layer, so simple but I love it & again it's a flat one so good for posting! Also although not evident in this photograph, it has little dots of copper Stickles all over.

Now for some rather exciting news, which some of you (Fluff) will remember I hinted at not too long ago. I've been chosen to be a guest DT for March over at The Sisterhood of Crafters (check out my new badge) & I'm thrilled to bits! My first project goes up on Wednesday & I'd love for you to pop over, check out all the great projects & join in the fun with us.

Better go, my teen has just started a conversation with the words... You know all about this sort of thing, so can I ask you something? You just wonder what's coming next when they get all serious on you!

I'd also love to enter this into Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge, (thanks very much Hazel) with a theme of embossing.

Take care all,

Sweet Stampin - Sketch

2011-03-05T08:00:00.010Z

Well what a week for Sweet Stampin, we can see you obviously love making those girly cards, Don't forget to check back tomorrow & find out which one of you is basking in the spotlight tomorrow. Now onto this week, we have another of Jo's super sketches for you. This week we are sponsored by My Mum's Craft Shop who are offering a fabulous £10 gift certificate to spend in their shop & as it the beginning of March, we have a new monthly sponsor too, Pollycraft, who are giving away some new releases, check Sweet Stampin for details.

My card uses a so sweet image from Pollycraft called Flo, the simple things! It also uses SU's Bashful Blue & So Saffron which I really loved with the addition of the dark brown from my stash. You may notice some empty spaces on this card, well I've no idea what it will be wanted for so I needed to be able to add the greeting (in the oval) & possibly an age (in the top left corner) and if it doesn't need an age, a swirl will fill up that corner nicely!

Here's the sketch, we're all really looking forward to seeing what you create with it and if anyone has tips for getting brads through ribbon without snagging it & pulling threads, I'd be delighted to hear them. Off now, I need to buy more ribbon!!

Entered Challenges:

Stamp Something: Digi Week (image)
The Sisterhood of Crafters: Ribbon & Brads.
Fab n Funky: Spring into Action

Less is More Scary!

2011-03-03T19:28:00.002Z

I cannot believe I have had this set for 3-4 months & only just got around to using it, just look at those little monsters, how cute are they? The monsters are from an SU set called Make a Monster & it comes as 15 individual stamp so you can mix & match the mouths, eyes, hair & bodies. I'm very excited by these little guys now (Yes, I do realise I need to get out more!). It also uses Stampin Up's Tempting Turquoise & the lovely but retired Green Galore (I think). I've cut the squares with my nesties & the sentiment is computer made.

This is my entry into this week's Less is More challenge which needed 3 squares. I know I'm quite late in the challenge but vastly earlier than last week!

I'd also like to enter this into:

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

For anyone that read my earlier post, you'll be glad to know I have found some suitable cereals online, will be ordering later but it remains to be seen if I will love them as much as my cornflakes. Here's hoping!

Who needs a table when you have no breakfast......

2011-03-03T09:27:00.001Z

Good Morning folks, although I have to tell you this is NOT a good morning in my household!

It started off ok, a little rushed but that's par for the course on a school morning & I can live with that. Didn't have time for breakfast until after the school run today though, & I so look forward to my morning bowl of cornflakes (nothing special in that you might think!). These are no ordinary cornflakes, I have multiple food allergies/intolerances & finding decent replacement food can be a real challenge & these cornflakes were great. Today I had to start a new box & as is my habit, checked the label.... only to find they have added soya (which I can't have) into the cornflakes!!!!!! Why? Why would they do that when it is not necessary? I know it's ridiculous but I'm so upset & to cap it all I'm hungry!!

Anyway I shall have to hunt for a replacement breakfast cereal now, in the meantime here's my card for this week's Bah Humbug challenge.

The theme was 'Things that fly'. I've deliberately kept this one quite simple and flat for easy posting.

Thanks for popping by,

I would like to thank.....

2011-02-25T19:41:00.000Z

The lovely Janet over at 2pdesigns has very kindly given me this award, thank you so much. I think the criteria say that I have to pass it on to 8 other bloggers and tell you 8 things about me. Oh help!

I love music of almost any description. I have to have music on as soon as I get up and it's the last thing to be switched off before bed.
I've had 4 jobs in my life and 1 of those was a paper round!
I would move heaven and earth for my friends.
I met my OH when trying to fix him up with someone else! I think sometimes he wishes I'd succeeded!
The first night club I ever went to was in Welwyn Garden City and no I'm not telling how old I was!
I'm a bit of a perfectionist......I've binned cards for being a millimetre off, that no one else would notice, but I couldn't let it go!
I think Alan Rickman is amazingly sexy & wouldn't kick him out on a cold night!!!!
Apathy & small mindedness are 2 of my pet hates. Get out there, grab life by the wotsits & enjoy it and let everyone else do the same (as long as it's legal and not harmful to others!)
I can't count!

I'd like to pass it on to these lovely ladies, some of whom may have received it already, but that just means you are extra stylish & wonderful! And if any of you don't 'do' awards, that's ok. As long as you know you inspire me & I appreciate that, here goes:

If you're not on the list it doesn't mean you don't inspire me. So many people do and I am ever grateful for all the lovely peeps that share their talent.

Hugs xx

Last minute quickie for Less is More

2011-02-25T17:42:00.001Z

So much for half term being restful & calm!!!

Ah well here's my entry for this weeks Less is More challenge with minutes to spare. The theme this week was Spring.

Next week hopefully I will be earlier with the children being back at school. Phew!

Cutting it!

2011-02-24T11:36:00.000Z

Good Morning (and only just)!

I am cutting it so very fine this week for Bah Humbug so not too much time to waffle on, which is probably a good thing lol! This week's challenge was to use a CD or DVD.

In true style, I had a stack of CD's I'd been saving for about 4 years......I threw them out late last year after using none of them in that time! Ain't that just the way...

Who knew you could chop up CD's with a normal pair of kitchen scissors? That's me learnt something new for the day and my little cherub was watching with interest too (note to self: Remove fave CD's and kitchen scissors to high shelf!)

So I chopped a CD up into mosaic style pieces & used them to create the border on this card. What do you think? I'm kind of surprised how much I like it actually as I didn't think I was going to do very well on this challenge.

Best get this linked up quick, hope you're all having a great day & those on half term are enjoying it!!!

Sweet Stampin-There's treasure ahead me hearties!

2011-02-19T08:00:00.056Z

At least I think that's what this chap is looking for on his travels!!

Over at Sweet Stampin this week we have the fabulous challenge of Red, White & Blue & what better way to showcase those colours than something nautical, so good in fact that Claire & I both had the idea to use this little fella!!! He's from Bugaboo who are our sponsor this week & I am sooooo jealous of whoever wins this one, treasure indeed as there also is at our monthly sponsor Quixotic Paperie.

I've teamed him with some Pacific Point, Tempting Turquoise aaaaand just for Zoe, some Poppy Parade (after telling her I couldn't work with it, I thought I'd challenge myself....It's growing on me!)

I'd like to enter him in the following challenges:

Stamp Challenges-something funky (bright colours & a funky font)
Digi Doodle Shop'sBest-Anything Goes
Crafty Catz-One for the Men/Boys

We're really looking forward to seeing your creations this week & if you need any inspiration to get you started, sail your boat across to Sweet Stampin & see what gorgeous creations the DT have made.

It's been a very busy week for me in blogland, I've joined the team at Feline Playful as a winners co-ordinator & something else but I'm not sure if I can share the info yet, so watch this space! Thank goodness this next week is half term, I'm hoping for life to be a little calmer.

Enjoy your weekend & half term if that applies to you. Don't forget you have the chance to pick a challenge theme over at Sweet Stampin, just head over & leave us a comment here and it could be you!

Keeping the doiley business thriving!!!

2011-02-17T09:21:00.000Z

That is my contribution to economic stability this week!!!! I have brought doilies galore to fit into this week's challenge at Bah Humbug! First of all OH went shopping & brought me back some huge pink spotty doilies. At least half of those ended up in the bin & no card. Yesterday OH & I both brought doilies from different places, in his packet were some lovely small ones which I got quite excited over...until I got them out of the packet & realised they were patterned with rosebuds which just didn't work for me. So I ended up using my slightly bigger ones & making my first ever 8 x 8 card.

I saw lots of all white cards before Christmas & loved the look of them. I was partly inspired by those & also by a lady called Robyn here. If you go look at the card (which I love actually), you'll see it looks nothing like mine at all, but this is where I got the idea to stamp straight on to the doiley, my brain was only thinking background use, some days huh.....

Anyway I shall await your comments with interest.... and your suggestions on what to do with the remaining 91 doilies I still have!

Clean & Simple-y early!

2011-02-12T17:14:00.001Z

Last week I didn't get my Less is More challenge card in until the latter end of the week, so this week I'm going for earlier (plus this week is a little less hectic).

As is frequently the case, the idea was in my head but it didn't look quite like it was meant to on this first card & once I got the image on, it took ages deciding where the sentiment would go best & I'm still not sure it's right! Also I had a nightmare time getting a half decent picture. had to upgrade to OH's camera in the end, don't tell him!

So not being terribly happy, I had another go & I feel these colours work so much better for me, it makes the backing stamp so much clearer. There are just subtle differences which means this card is sneaking it's way to my heart & the first one is...well.. left behind tbh.

The image is from a retired SU set called Oh So Lovely which I think is the first SU set I ever owned, you do not want to know how many I now own & the sentiment is from Thank You Kindly, also an SU set. Stamped in Tempting Turquoise & Black. I'll try & visit as many peeps as I possibly can throughout the week & if you haven't joined in yet, I highly recommend you do!

Enjoy your weekend,

Clean and Simple Friends

2011-02-10T14:53:00.000Z

When I heard about this new challenge blog a few weeks ago, I knew without question I had to join in. It's called Less is More. It's totally dedicated to making Clean & Simple cards which I love & I've been wanting to expand my CAS abilities for a while. Don't get me wrong I love a bit of ink a la Tim Holtz, & I love layers but I also love CAS, it depends what mood i'm in!!!

The theme for this first week is Pink, black & white & this set of stamps from Verve were lying on my table from my last card (yes I know I really should put them away!) & they started calling to me......The sentiment is a rub on from MSE which I thought was very appropriate given that Mandi & Chrissie who have started this new challenge are good friends.

Ladies I've loved joining in with the first challenge & I plan to continue enjoying them. See you next week.

Birthdays & Christmas

2011-02-09T20:42:00.000Z

Life tip: when planning to add children to your life, try & make sure their birthdays are spaced evenly throughout the year!! Days apart is not a good move, particularly when OH's birthday is also only a matter of days away from said offspring. It makes for one slightly harassed & very skint Mother/partner....

So just to break things up, I made a Christmas card. I promised myself I was going to attempt to keep up with the Bah Humbug challenge to make a Christmas card each week & so far I've managed (ok so it is only 6 weeks in but still an achievement!). This week the theme is Buttons & bows & although I had a wobble with this initially, I am pretty happy with the end result.

The image is a Bugaboo who I am loving at the minute, they are fabulous digi images to work with, she's coloured with Promarkers & the purple is SU's Elegant Eggplant.

I started this card meaning to use this weeks Sketch Saturday sketch, but went off so far on a tangent, they would now probably laugh at me if I tried to enter, but nonetheless, they inspired me.

Just got back from the gym, so must shower & eat but not necessarily in that order. Hope you're having a great week xxx