I'm gettin married in the morning....

........well I'm not really (don't think hubs would be too pleased if I did LOL)

The card I'm showing today is a wedding card which was ordered by a friend. It is for the daughter of another friend who gets married on Saturday. Her colours are cream and brown and this is what I came up with.

Ivory card was punched using the X-Cut border punch. The ribbon, bow and heart shaped ribbon slide were all from the first kit I bought from Ribbon Oasis I also finished an exploding box which was collected this morning. I shall save that one for when I don't know what to write about. LOL

The rest of my day has been tidying my craft room, I have brought all my book work up to date, parcelled up some combs which had been ordered from the web site and made a wedding invitation sample which had also been ordered through the web site. I now have to go and place a card order with PDA so I can get some invitations started.

Take care

Check this out!!

Sorry about the pun, I couldn't resist it LOL This is the card I made for another challenge on the JB forum

August Challenge 17
Your challenge should you choose to accept it is to produce a card incorporating gingham this can be card, paper or ribbon...it`s up to you

Backing paper used is K & Co baby pad and Making Memories Kids Kate pad. Gingham ribbon is Anita's self adhesive ribbon, pram is cut with an Accucut die and I think the 'Baby' word is Bosskut but it was in a RAK ages ago.

Right, back to work, I will hopefully be back later.

Toodle pip.

Ribbit ribbit

Just a quick blog from me today as I have been gardening all day and my poor body doesn't belong to me!

We went to see my mum and dad yesterday and brought home two huge plastic boxes full of photos. We sat outside yesterday having a really good laugh at fashion, hair styles etc. so I am going to have a ball when I get around to scrapping them.

I received an order last night for a notebook and card for a little girl who likes frogs. I was scouting round the Just Bex forum and lo and behold, Nicky had posted this challenge

August Challenge 20 - Fun With Felt

Felt is a big trend in papercrafting at the moment, and felt flowers are very popular - so this challenge is to make a card using felt for something other than flowers! and away I went!!

Backing card embossed with the Cuttlebug Happy Birthday folder, 'ric rac' is Paper Frills by Doodlebug and the frog etc were cut from felt using the Sizzix die. I also did a matching notebook as requested and covered the notebook in felt before I added the die cuts.

Felt covered notebook and die cuts as before.

Off to bed now.

Take care. xx

Isn't she lovely......

.....and you will soon see what I mean if you can stay awake till the end of this post.

I spent most of yesterday outside so only got round to making my card for Keryn's challenge over at the DCM blog and I only realised about an hour ago that I hadn't blogged it. Better late than never.

I know you've all got buttons stashed away somewhere, whether they've been purchased at a cardmaking store or you thriftily snipped them off DH's old shirt. I'd like you to find those buttons and use them somewhere on a card. They can be real buttons, craft shop buttons, die cut buttons, faux buttons or another type of button, surprise us all.

Papers are by K & Co, 'ric rac' is from the Paper Frills sets by Doodlebug, flowers are from a kit I bought from the Scrummy Stash Cafe, the button is by Papermania and the ribbon is from stash.

Ok so now to today's work. I am still playing catch up but think I must be almost there. The following card is on I made for DH to give to the couple whose wedding he is DJing at tonight.

The colours of their wedding was black, white and cerise and this is what I came up with.

So, onto more challenges from Just Bex

Friday Night Challenge 24th August -Monogram Madness

Your challenge is to make a card and include a monogram of any size. Remember 1 point will be awarded and team challengers are always on the lookout to award bonus points too Remember new work only ladies

Paper is from Pink Petticoat and K & Co, H is embossed using one of my new Cuttlebug embossing folders from Top Topper Shop ribbon is from Ribbon Oasis flowers are an assortment of Primas and Aunt Sarah's and gretting is rub ons by Doodlebug.

Challenge 15 - All Stitched Up

Your Challenge should you chose to accept it is to create a card or a layout using stitching...this can either be hand or machine but NO doodles!

This is a first for me. I have never ever machine stitched on a card before and it is only the second time I've used my sewing machine!
Paper is Swirly Doodle Pink by Kelly Panacci for Sandylion, It's a Girl and baby dress were cut on the Cricut and were an RAK from my friend Andrea and the little silver feet charm was from Crafts By Carolyn.
Challenge 12 - Easy as 1, 2, 3
we need you to make a CARD or a LO with BIG NUMBERS

Papers are Doodlebug and K & Co. I think there is a definite trend here :)

And my final one tonight is a challenge from Last month. I really wanted to do this one before we went away and printed the photo in readiness. It laid on my desk until this afternoon. I can't find the challenge it was from but I will post the page anyway!

Papers again are K & Co, ribbon is from Ribbon Oasis flowers are a mixture of Primas and Papermania and the pink pearl brad is by Papermania.

It is now past my bed time and I still need to upload my piccies onto the forum. I'm going to my mum and dad's tomorrow so please don't expect too much work wise.

Till next time xx

Headless chicken

Why is it at this time of year mums seem to run around and acheive very little?

I took DD to town today for her new school uniform and all I can say is thank heavens I only have her at school now. She insisted we go today because there was a new shop opening snd she 'needed' to have a look, yeah right! We managed to get a shirt instead of five, two pairs of trousers which have to go back because they are too small - 'it's ok mum, they will be fine. I always get a 12 from here and they fit me no problem.' - a pair of shoes, a cardigan and a sleeveless jacket/waistcoat thingy with a fur trimmed hood (which she bought herself). We were against the clock too as the repair man was coming to fix the dishwasher (he came on Tuesday too and thought he had fixed it but he hadn't) anytime between 1pm and 6pm (British Gas) so I had to be home for one just in case. We were just coming through the gate when my phone rang and he said that he wasn't coming because he had to order the part and wouldn't be able to come till Tuesday with Monday being a bank holiday! On the way round for the bus I was stung by a wasp on my arm. I have a mild allergy to the stings so my arm has just swollen more and more as the day went on. I've faffed about all afternoon as I've felt even more dopey than usual.

Took DD up to the retail park tonight and came back with two pairs of trousers which fit and a pair of PE shorts which she didn't need this afternoon. I've just sat and made another card for a challenge on the JB forum and this was it

August Challenge 13 - Carry on Corrugating
Gosh !!!! Haven't used corrugated card for yonks. Your challenge is to make a card using...............corrugated card. New creations only please.
Papers are from the Amy Butler mat pad by K & Co, flower is a Splat with the rest of the flower cut from corrugated card (and I had to search for it :)) Brad is by Doodlebug and the greeting is stamped with a Debbi Moore stamp.

Off to bed in a mo, night night.

another one off the list

I thought it would take me longer to catch up with the challenges on JB than it has as my week is passing in a whirlwind.

I have caught up with the phone calls and emails from when we were away, I have been asked to exhibit at 6 wedding fayres between now and the end of October, I have two large orders in at the moment and another one came in last night and I have a meeting tonight with one of the local hotels about supplying their seating plans and I love it.

So today I have made the grand total of...........................two cards! (I must still be in holiday mode as I am bitting and bobbing all over the place. I also saw a house down there which I would love but can't afford :( )

Anyway...........the challenge

August 10th Friday Night Challenge - Nice and Simple!

OK folks I think you deserve something REALLY simple. A little open play time! OK maybe it is because I am simple! SO I am challenging you to use something that you have not used before on a card! EASY PEASY! It can be a technique, new papers, Die Cuts that are gathering dust, a Stamp that has never been used .......... Ribbons that have only ever been stroked and not cut ........ You really have free license with this one Figured it is a Friday night, hot, sticky - and well we can for once let you almost play with whatever you like x

I've had this stamp for over a year now and didn't quite know what to do with it until today (thanks Bex ) It is a WS Designs stamp which was given to me by a friend last year when she sold her internet craft shop. I stamped the image twice onto cream card using a black Versafine pad and coloured the image with Glimmer Chalks. The second image was cut out and layered on top of the first using sticky foam pads to give it a 3D effect. The image was layered up using lovely papers from the Lily Kate pad by Basic Grey. Charm and ribbon are from stash.

The second card I made today was using a flower inspired by the lovely Mrs B's blog. You've got nothing to worry about though Kathy, mine aren't nearly as yummy as yours (and I forgot to ink the edges and realised after I'd stuck it down!) Here is my effort (as in 'f' for.......)

Papers are again from the Lily Kate range, paper frills are by Doodlebug as is the ink used to stamp the greeting and the large gem in the middle of the flower.

Off now to finish off a CJ which arrived this morning! Impressed? Nah, didn't think so :)

BFN. xx

Midweek extra

Yet again I have managed to combine the dare with a challenge on the JB forum. I like it when this happens as I often find I have to justify my personal crafting time with being so busy work wise. I suppose this is a bug bear of working at home! So here we go.................
August Challenge 11 - Labelz
I love Labels, you can find some really nice ones attached to clothes these days. Bright colours, fabric ones, ones with ribbons, some with mini safety pins, buttons.......I collect mine and thought it would be a fun challenge to see what labels we can all find and use. This challenge can be LO's or cards. I've used a label of a pair off next jeans for mine...Yours doesn't have to be off an item of clothing, but it's not to be a handmade tag or label.

The DCM instruction for this week is Now then, maybe you need a little extra challenge in the middle of the week - well, if so, as usual we have something to amuse you....
Dot Dot Dot Dash Dash Dash
We'd like you to make a card featuring dots and dashes, spots and stripes - that's it, a nice easy and fun little theme for you to play with - just make sure you get both spots AND stripes on your card. We'd love to see your dotty, spotty, stripey creations so please come back and leave a message when you're ready to share.....
I'm quite chuffed with this card! The stripey paper is from the Wedding Collection mat pad by K & Co, the spotty paper is Green Apple by Sassafraslass from a scrapbook kit bought from the Scrummy Stash Cafe the image is stamped using an unmounted stamp from Pixiedust on ebay, the ribbon from Ribbon Oasis (where else!) and the tag with hearts I snaffled off my mum while we were in Cornwall. It was in a new skirt she had brought with her. The other side of the tag just says Per Una. I just knew I would find a use for it, just not how quickly :)
My second challenge today from the forum is
August 17th Friday Night Challenge -Not a Square
we want you to create a LO with a shaped photo - NOT a square or a rectangle

The paper is from the new glitter pad by K & Co and the flowers are a mixture of Papermania and Prima. The brads are by Doodlebug.

These are the first photos I've scrapped from our holiday this year (shock) We went to the World in Miniature near Perranporth last Wednesday. Goodness, it seems ages ago!! It has become a tradition while we are in Cornwall that we have to visit the place, even though every time we have been it has rained :) We first took my eldest daughter about 20 years ago and I've seen it become shabbier over the years. We were pleasantly surprised this year though as it has changed ownership and is in the process of being renovated. I plan to turn this into a DLO as I printed off more photos than I needed.

Till later.

Wow......

........my 100th post. I would like to thank all the lovely people who have left me kind comments and words of encouragement during the last few months. You are definitely good for a girl's confidence :))

I started the blog ages ago then sort of forgot about it. I started again this year and so far I am quite pleased with the way I've kept it up. I sort of made a pact with myself to blog on a regular basis which I have done. Daily would be nice but the volume of work I've this year just hasn't permitted it.

Anyway............I have finished two more challenges on the Just Bex forum.

August Challenge 3 - Way To Go

for this we want you do use somethng that helps you find your way for example maps. signs. compass.....................we are SURE you can think of LOADS more once you have decided we need a LO or a CARD

The images are stamped and mounted onto black card.

August Challenge 2 - A Family Affair

A nice challenge with no rules except for you need the word 'Family'...any colours, any size, card, layout or whatever you want.......

The central stamp on this card is by Hero Arts and it is actually the first time I've used it..............but I've only had it for about 2 years so I don't suppose it's too bad ;) The papers are by K and Co and Crate Paper and the flowers are Prima.

I only have a couple of challenges left to do now and I have caught up. I hope to keep up now although work is rather busy at the moment. I really must design some new wedding stationery too as I have been contacted and asked to stand at five different wedding fayres between the 11th September and the end of October.........Yay (I need a leap in the air clicking heels icon!)

Take care. x

Challenges galore

As promised, more challenges are done. I actually did some of them yesterday but didn't get done as many as I liked. Anyway, here goes:

Challenge 5-Sugar & Spice...and all things nice Anything edible for this challenge please. LO'S and cards welcome Image by Pink Petticoat coloured and doodled with a pink Sakura glitter pen and mounted onto two shades of pink card. The greeting is stamped using a Seedee stamp and bright pink ink.

August template 1-3 squares

and a template for the card makers you know you can do WHAT YOU LIKE!!

Backing paper is from Pink Petticoat (see above), flowers are from Craftwork Cards and the buttons and sticky ribbon are Anita's/Papermania. The bow is tied using a satin ribbon from Ribbon Oasis.

August Challenge 7-Touchy Feely

We want cards and LO's good enough to touch, feel and stroke. It's all about textures for this challenge.

The backing squares are a linen feel paper from Lakeland (which I've had in a drawer for ages and just found again!) The blue card is embossed with the Happy Birthday plate from Cuttlebug, the Scottie dog is cut from glitter card and the collar is a beautiful soft velvet ribbon from the Limeade Twist mini mix from Ribbon Oasis.

August Challenge 6-A little Gem

we would like you to make a CARD or LO with GEMS use as many or as few as you like

The flowers on this card are two different sized Page Frills by Doodlebug mounted onto black and white card, the sentiment is stamped in white and double mounted and the card is finished off with organza ribbon.

August Challenge 9-Button It!

Cards, LO's or whatever you want for this challenge as long as you use buttons. New work only please xx

The stamp is from the Seedee Vintage set (and has to be one of my favourite stamps) stamped in lilac and mounted first onto lilac paper from an old Papermania pack, then onto lilac Stardream card. Buttons are from Crafts by Carolyn and the greeting is stamped and mounted onto foam pads to give it a 3D effect.

And last but not least (for now)

August Challenge 10 - Pick a Card

any card............ and then make a card with it ooo MAGIC!!!

Mini cards mounted onto red Bazzill and gold card and tied with a pale gold organza ribbon. The greeting was printed on the pc.

Well that's it for now. I have work to do and I want to try to do an hour tidying the garden.

BFN. xx

Catch up

I thought last night that I had better make a start on the challenges from Just Bex which I had missed by going on holiday. The evening started off well and I looked forward to the peace as DH trundled off to work and the kids to their rooms however this wasn't to be! It turned out to be an absolute emotional rollercoaster of an evening and at 10.30pm I realised I hadn't even thought about the challenges let alone done any. I'd printed all the challenges off earlier so I just pulled out a sheet of paper and this is what it was:
August Challenge 4-Tantalising Tangerine
Now Orange is not a colour I tend to craft with but rename it Tantalising Tangerine and it takes on a whole new personna :wink: Your challenge is to create a card using an Orange colour scheme

It isn't a colour I think of using but I do like this card so it could become fairly popular in my 'repetoire'. :)

All paper is Je Taime by Minds Eye, flowers are Papermania, embossing plate is Cuttlebug and brad is Doodlebug.

Back later with some more!

I'm back...........

........and crafting!!

We arrived back from Cornwall last night after having an absolutely fab time (despite leaving DS at home alone for the first time-well he is almost 19!!) The weather was perfect and the apartment was just superb, oh and the company wasn't bad either ;) I went off with all good intentions. I took enough beads and findings to restock Ernest Jones and what did I produce?...... Zilch!! Well that isn't quite true..................I made half a necklace and approximately 1" of a bracelet but they were both made from seed beads. I also knitted 2 baby cardigans, (one on the way down and one on the way back) a pair of bootees and a wooly hat all prem baby size for the local hospital.

I've spent today doing all the usual mundane things which have to be done after a holiday-food shopping, washing, throwing away all my dead hanging baskets and house plants which DS forgot to water! I was supposed to be cleaning the house too but the motivation hasn't been there yet so I thought I would browse the internet, as you do :))

This evening I thought I would have a go at a couple of challenges to break myself in gently and managed to combine the DCM challenge and Di Hickman's template. This is the first time I have tried one of Di's templates. I've been meaning to for ages though. The DCM brief was Hi all *waves* It's my turn (Jo) to dare this week. here is my dare...You must make a card with a frill - it could be some lace, frilly ribbon, a hand cut or decorative scissor edge or a folded paper frill - or what ever you choose to make.... you decide!

This is Di's template

For this card I used paper from the English Paper Company, pink card is from a K & Co mat stacks, flowers are a mix of Prima and other (a wonderful description but I don't know what make they are but I bought them off ebay!) and the fabby Page Frills are by Doodlebug.

The template below is from Beate Johns blog and I have used Beate's templates once before.

Materials used on this card are Bazzil Bling card in yellow, stripey card is from the Twirl collection by Crate Papers, button is Papermania, teddy stamp is from the Stamp Boutique on ebay and the Hello stamp is from a Clear Choice set, ribbon is from stash.

Well I am now going to have a look at the Just Bex forum and see what I've missed and have to catch up on!

BFN