Blog candy alert!!!

Take a look at Denise's blog and help her celebrate her blogaversary. She is one very generous lady and has the most amazing gift up for grabs. Happy blogaversary Denise!

2 Sketches 4 You

I suddenly realised at about 9.30 this evening that it was an aunt and uncles wedding anniversary tomorrow and I haven't sent them a card so I used the bonus sketch from 2 Sketches and the autumn shades again from DCM.

This is the sketch

The papers were again from my scrap box (the paper mountain still isn't diminishing and I haven't cut into any new paper for ages!) and I do know that the script paper is by K & Co. The brown paper was cut on the curve with my Fiskars circle cutter and then edges with scalloped scissors. The hearts are cut from the Sizzix Primitive hearts die using the most beautiful copper coloured pearlescent card and finished off with a sticky backed pearl and the ribbon is by Making Memories. I must get it posted in the morning!

TFL.

Daring Card Makers.............

It was Sue's turn to set the challenge this week on the DCM blog and here is her brief

Forever Autumn. I decided on this one after hearing the Justin Haywood song of the same name playing on the radio. I couldn’t get it out of my mind and kept singing it as I was working.So now I’m daring you to make a card that depicts Autumn.It can be an Autumn scene or it can be something completely different but using a palette of Autumn colours……the choice is yours!I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if a few of you are singing along by the time you’ve finished either, I know some of the DT were!

It's DS's 20th birthday tomorrow and in true crafter's tradition I made his cards this evening and thought I would tie them in with the DCM dare for this week, wellllllllllllllllllllllllll I got carried away ever so slightly as you will see ;)

Yet again, the papers were all from my scrap box and I've cut the name strip off so apart from the top of the first card which is Crate Paper Avenue (embossed with the Happy Birthday Cuttlebug folder) I don't know what any of them are!! The spotty wording on the first one was cut on the Robo, the rub on is Doodlebug and the happy was highlighted with a copper ink pad. The lettering on the second card was cut by hand (as if you can't really tell! :)) The sentiments are Papermania rub ons and the guitarist was cut on the Robo but I don't know where the file was from. It certainly isn't one that I've done as I'm not that clever LOL If it is your template please let me know then I can thank you properly! I finished the card with a couple of guitar charms. They definitely have an autumn feel to them.

Secret Crafter.......

Challenge #4.

I didn't realise how late it was when I decided I would make one more card before bed and I chose to do the Secret Crafter's challenge.

Papers are again from Debbi Moore's cd, image is one of Sally-Ann's downloads coloured with Sakura glitter pens and glittered to within an inch of it's life :), ribbon is from Ribbon Oasis and I also used a couple of Cuttlebug embossing folders.

Off to bed now, back soon :)

Doubling up!

I've decided to double up on challenges this week as life is getting a little busy again at the mo (I'm writing this while watching Strictly - I've never thought of taking my lap top into the lounge before duh!) My friend went on holiday today and I am running her hair and nail salon while she's away! (That sounds so impressive but I just answer the phones and make jewellery :))

Anyway, the challenge I combined were Friday Sketchers , which is the sketch below (which I rotated) and Stamp Something We have a new challenge for you today, it's called Something For the Birds. Make a project using bird images; any types, sizes, shapes, and colors.

The holly backing paper is from one of Debbi Moore's new cds and it is just gorgeous and the greeting stamp is one of Debbi's too (from my new design kit which is full of the most adorable acrylic Christmas stamps!) :) The patterned paper is Season of Joy from Scrapworks and the little bird is by Imaginisce........I just stamped it three times and paper pieced it together.

Well as I mentioned above, here's where life gets busy again...........we are out for lunch tomorrow, Monday is DS's birthday and as well as not having made his cards yet we are going out for tea too, I'm at the shop from Tuesday till Saturday, I got my new DT kit from Debbi yesterday and I still have about 50 gazillion Christmas cards to make as well as a couple of personal planners (but not weddingy) and eldest DD's wedding invitations to make too:) It's a good job I work best like this LOL

On a weddingy note, we bought her dress today and it is just absolutely beautiful........it's ivory with a burgundy trim and I love it!

I hope you all enjoy what's left of the weekend.

Take care and TFL.

Breast cancer fund raiser

Tomorrow they are having a fund raising 'dress down' pink day where DH works to raise money for the breast cancer campaign. I made the pink phone charm the other day and decided last night that I would do something else for them to use as a raffle prize too so came up with the idea of making five cards, with a pink theme, and boxing them. In theory it was a brilliant idea, in practise it wasn't so good as I finally got to photograph them at 1.40 this morning!!! I am pleased with the way they turned out though (apart from the pants photos LOL)

The box is stood up in the middle at the back

and here you can see the cards in the box! All the images used are from Pink Petticoat, papers are assorted pieces from my 'left overs' box along with various pieces of ribbon, flowers etc. I had to get them finished last night so he could take them into work today.

My last piece of work to show tonight is a gift card wallet which was commissioned by my friend's son. He's got his girlfriend tickets to go and see the Mighty Boosh (she thought they were all sold out!)

I'm quite pleased with my little self too as it turns out that her favourite colour is blue! I never thought to ask when the card was ordered although I usually do.
Right, it's past my bedtime now :) I shall be back tomorrow with more challenges.
Sleep tight and thanks for looking.

Page Plans ..........

This week it was Chris' turn for the sketch and she came up with another fab one.........right up my street ;) so much so that I made two.

Papers are DCWV, first image is an Avec stamp as mentioned previously, the second image is a download from Sally-Ann at Loves To Doodle gems are Papermania, sentiment on second card is a Cuttlebug embossed label and bows are from my stash.

DCM Little Extra

Kathy set the challenge this morning and posted a sketch for a change and a yummy one it was too, nice one Mrs B :) In fact, in true New York tradition, I liked it so much I made two!! LOLBlue paper is from the Anita's Blue Christmas 6x6 paper pad (I can see me having to get another one of these), pink paper is another magazine freebie (thanks for the tip Helena :)), ribbons are from the Baby Girl and Baby Boy kits from Ribbon Oasis, the snowman/girl were coloured with Sakura Glaze Startdust pens and the snowflakes were cut from glitter card using a Quickutz die. Sentiments were generated on the computer.
I hope you like :)

Papertake challenge

"This weeks challenge is a halloween one! Anything you like - cards, bags boxes tins etc etc as long as it's Frightful but delightful!!"

I don't usually do anything for Halloween but decided to have a go at this one. The bag template was a freebie downloaded from Funky Fairys blog and was very easy to make, I just added the orange ribbon and the tag!

The alphabet used was the Extended Cuts Small Stuff-perfect size for tags and the tags were cut with scallop punches.

Better late than never!

I finally managed to do the Di Hickman's Card Sketch October #3 and was really pleased with this card. I think I might be making quite a few cards in this style :)

The paper is again from the Anita's Red Christmas 6x6 pad, snowman and cracker were in my Christmas RAK, the large snowflake is Quickutz and the small trees and snowflakes are Cuttlebug.

Thanks for looking.

Sketch Saturday

......is a great blog with fab sketches and lots of inspiration. Why not take a look for yourself and join in with the challenges

Backing paper is a freebie from a magazine (not something I use very often!) however I thought I would give it a try :) White card was embossed with the Cuttlebug Floral Fantasy folder, the tree is from Craftwork Cards with added silver brads and a bit of bling :)

Got to go and clean up now...........it really shouldn't be allowed, but I will be back and crafting in a wee while.

TFL

O Christmas tree

Another two challenges off the list ready for two more to replace them! This time it was another lovely sketch from Stamp Something

Week 6-Rosie's Challenge-A nice easy one this week. With Christmas approaching far too quickly for my liking, we'd like you to make a Christmas card using Christmas patterned paper. Easy peasy!
And here is my card

Papers are Anita's Blue Christmas pad, Pink Petticoat and Scrapworks, hand cut tree and star, ribbon as usual from Ribbon Oasis and stamped greeting.


I also made a phone charm this afternoon for DH to take to work as they are having a 'pink' day at work on Friday for breast cancer. I thought they could use it as a little raffle prize or something.
I love these little organza bags with the fluffy top. I had forgotten I'd got them until I went in search of a pink bag :)...Perfect!


Thanks for looking.

Two challenges, one card!

I've managed to double up with this card as it fits both Friday Sketchers which is a sketch and Rosie-Dee's challenge which says simply

A card, but not just any card, I would like to see the following incorporated into it square, circle, pink and glitter!

Ok, so the template is definitely there and the Rosie-Dee is there too, the card blank and the card across the middle form the squares, the circle is definitely there (don't know where the paper is from but the circle was cut by hand and edged with pink ink), the snowflakes-top left are cut from glitter card and there is glitter on her hat and pom poms. The image is from Pink Cat Studio.

Secret Crafters Saturday Challenge

Challenge 3
This week there is no sketch but a theme, set by the lovely KIM which is "Blue, White and a little bit of snowflake!". Again any project can be made as long as it fits with the theme.
I made a very quick card for this challenge

I used the Winter House embossing folder by Cuttlebug, sprinkled the rooftops with Debbi Moore's fine glitter and added the snowflakes and snowman which were cut with Cuttlebug dies from white glitter card. The image is mounted onto navy card, the ribbon is from Ribbon Oasis and the rub on at the bottom actually says Winter Wonderland but you can't read it properly (and I don't know how to make my piccies big by clicking on them!) Rub on is by Imaginisce which I ordered yesterday from Crafts U Love and they arrived this morning! Brilliant service :) and they have free P & P until Monday night.

DCM and others!

This dare is Dare 52 of Year 2 for the DCM so we hope you'll help us celebrate our 2nd birthday and join in with our new dare! Team member Rhi has decided to have a little break from cardmaking (we do hope she'll be back soon though!) , but she's come up with the idea for this dare and it's a great one for a Birthday Celebration, She'd like us all to
Paint the Town........ red, green, sky blue pink with yellow dots on, or any colour you fancy, with acrylics, H2Os or watercolours, with brushes, sponges or splatters. We don't mind, as long as you use paint on your cards. So have some fun with the DCM and get Painty this week.
My purple Christmas! The image is from Pink Petticoat and was coloured with Twinkling H2Os, paper is from Debbi Moore and the flowers are Prima.
This card is a using a sketch from Page Plans blog

I bought these gorgeous little Praying and Peeping Angel stamps by Judikins for our personal Christmas cards the first year I was making cards and still love them now. I simply coloured the wings and halos with Sakura glitter pens in gold and mounted them onto burgundy and gold stamps. The paper strip is from last years Christmas papers by Scrapworks and is gorgeous!

This card is the last one I made last night from the bits that were on my desk (well actually I couldn't get all the bits from my desk onto just one card I could fill a wheelbarrow thought LOL)

Paper is again from Scrapworks and the stamp is from Cornish Heritage Farms.

I have already found my quota of challenges for today so I shall be busy yet again......don't you just love it!

Sassy Crafts DT call

Emma at Sassy Crafts is looking to set up a new design team so I thought I would give it a try in light of my happy news yesterday! Here is the challenge she set:
Okay........... Here's the first search for a DT challenge.I would like to see 3 projects:

1 - A Stamped project, this doesn't have to be coloured in image, it could just be accent stamps such as swirls, sentiments etc (this can be previous work)

2 - Your favourite piece of work you have made to date (previous work)

3 - A project that contains 4 squares, 3 small and 1 large ( I was going to give you a sketch which contained these elements but decided to leave the layout to you!) (new work only).
and here is my work
My favourite piece (at the moment-tomorrow it may change as most of my LOs are my faves!:))

I used Suet Dumpling paper from Blonde Moments and I think the other one is from one of the Crate Paper collections, it might be Avenue. Flowers are Papermania and I think everything else was from a Doodlebug kit.

I love this image and use the stamp quite a bit. So.... Penny Black Uplifting Occasions stamp, Prima flowers, Papermania pearl brad, the pink card has been Cuttlebugged using the Divine Swirls folder and the ribbon is from my stash.

And finally, my card using 3 small squares and 1 large square.

This card looks a really strange colour combination now I've uploaded it but it is actually pale green, burgundy and gold! The green card was 'bugged using the Swiss Dots folder and the small burgundy square were cut from a piece which I embossed using the new Christmas Ornaments folder. The trees were cut out using an XCut punch and the ribbon is again from my stash.

Wish me luck please!

Box clever! and great news

I can now show you the other 'make' from yesterday!I wanted the approval on this one from Nikki at DewDrop Craftz as it is her stamp of the month and she loved it so much she has asked me to be her 'permanent guest' designer! Cool or what :) Cooeeeeee Jo LOL

The petal box was made following the instructions on the Christmas Cards All Year Round blog. I thought I would go with a red/gold and tartan colour scheme and use the little man but give him a Santa hat. The hat was cut using the Quickutz Santa die.
My next card was ordered through my web site, it's very simple but is one of the most popular still and it suits all colour schemes. I'm still very fond of this stamp!.

The image was stamped with Versamark and embossed with silver EP.

Next came the invitations and reply cards which have been collected

I can also show the seating plan which was collected for shipment yesterday.

I have made some Christmas cards too but haven't got round to taking piccies yet. I have more to do this evening so will probably share tomorrow.
Take care and tfl.

And a partridge...........

.....in a pear, oh no sorry, wrong song :) Frosty the snowman la la la

I won't sing any more, it can be very painful on the ears LOL I've just made a couple of very quick cards today. I've done another one using Kazan's sketch from 2 Sketches 4 You (see the sketch below)Snow flake paper is from the Anita's Blue Christmas pad again, the spotty paper and the greeting stamp are from Debbi Moore and were part of one of my design kits and the image is from the same Avec stamp set as mentioned below which has been mounted onto two punched ovals.

The second card was a quick 10 minute one as I had forgotten about this one and remembered at 11.45 when my friend was due to collect it at 12!!!

Paint can and brush are Thin Cuts (which I haven't used like........forever!), the sentiment is from Craftwork Cards and the screw brads are from Crafts By Carolyn

I have made something else but won't be showing that until tomorrow as someone else needs to see it first!

I've had another 'one of those days' where I seem to have been busy all day and achieved very little. I got the seating plan all parcelled and sent this morning, I made the cards and 'other thing' and have had people in and out all day. I also have a blooming great big stye which has appeared on my right eye and is hampering my vision slightly. I have never had one in my life before and it is horrid!!

So tomorrow I have 5 wedding invitations (to supplement an order) and a wedding card to make, more Christmas cards, mum and dad are coming over and I have a large pile of i***ing to do...........guess what won't get done :))

Take care, thanks for looking

Run, run as fast as you can....

......you can't catch me I'm the gingerbread man!This card was made using the sketch from 2 Sketches 4 You again. The papers are from DCWV again (I will use thes pads up! LOL), the brads are from my stash and the gingerbread men were again from my RAK. The greeting is one of the little Hampton Art stamps.

I'm not really sure about the next card which wasn't made to a sketch, template or challenge. It just shows that I can't manage without them :)

The background vellum is from Debbi Moore and is just the most gorgeous shade of mauve/purple. The image and sentiment stamps are from a set by Avec which I bought at the beginning of the year in a sale, I think they cost me about £2 :)

More Christmas cards in the making today but I need to tidy my craft room a bit (well ok then, a lot :)) first and parcel my seating plan ready for collection by the courier.
Right, off to get dressed etc and ready to face the day ahead. Thanks for stopping by.

Papertake Weekly #13

This weeks challenge is a sketch by Katharina for the Papertake Weekly blog

Love this sketch! Lots of Cuttlebug on this one................the rest of the embossed snowman/sledding embossing folder, left over from my Friday Sketchers card, and the little snowman and flakes. The backing paper is another sheet from last years DCWV Christmas pad and the pale blueribbon is wrapped around a pice of pale blue pearlescent card. The sentiment was done (not very well) using a set of Hampton Arts mini alpha stamps.

I do have two other cards to show but they can wait until tomorrow (today) as it is way past my bed time and my head is a shed :))

Take care. xx

Coloured Christmas Challenge

"Today's challenge is to think about Non-Traditional Colour Combinations for Christmas.Lime Green and PinkBlack and RedPink and Brown...the list is endless, just get your thinking caps on and see what you can come up with" was the brief from CCAYR I absolutely love this paper, it is called Winter Wonderland from Craftwork Cards I love all the shades of pink, turquoise and brown, totally not what you would expect for Christmas but gorgeous all the same. They have a lovely pearly sheen to them too. I mounted the paper onto dark brown cardstock and tied it with pink and turquoise organza ribbon from Ribbon Oasis The image is again from Pink Petticoat coloured with H2Os.
Well folks, that's me done for this evening. I shall quickly leave my comments on the relevant parts of the CCAYR blog and head on up to bed.
Night.