What a day!!

What makes insignificant little geeks sit in their lonely abodes and spend the days writing viruses? I picked one up, on my lap top, this afternoon and my poor son has been sat for nine hours so far trying to sort it all out for me!

I was having a mooch around the internet this afternoon trying to look for wedding stationery colour trends for  and all of a sudden my lap top went stupid. However, the virus showed itself as a system checker and it was only when I couldn't get rid of it by running task manager and shut down that I realised something was wrong.

I'm up to my eyes in stationery orders at the mo and have the first in a series of wedding fayres starting on Thursday evening and am having to redesign my invitation album all at the same time, so this I can definitely live without, you little grot!!

Of course it goes without saying that I haven't backed up any files and both my C and D drives appear to have been trashed :( Luckily though, hubby did my accounts for me at the end of October and he still has a copy on his machine and when we had my old lap top fixed just before Christmas I never wiped any of the files off it so it is still how it was on the day I knocked it off the arm of the settee and DD2 hasn't wiped anything from it either. DS appears to have managed to save my Party Nights folder which has all of my wedding work, photos etc in it so I think I should be ok once he can sort it for me. He is busy clearing everything off it now ready to reinstall Windows in the morning. I shall make do with working on this one until after Friday and then start sorting out my folders etc.
....and after all that it hasn't worked :( He has run spyware, malaware, and heaven knows what other 'aware and is no further forward than he was when he started. The newest report is that the files appear to be hiding behind whatever the virus has dumped onto my machine. It looks as though it might have to go into the poorly lap top hospital which isn't good really as I have three wedding orders on the go and the files are on that machine.

I think I might just go and sit in a corner, bury my head in my hands and cry *sob*

Anyway, I did manage a couple of quick challenges this morning

These stamps are from the same Seedee set I used the other day for the dress card I made. I don't know what any of the papers are today as they are all from my pink snippet file. The gems, button and ribbon are all from my stock. The challenges I'm entering the card into are as follows
Pollycraft - Warm It Up (as in teapot ;))

DCM - Kitchenalia

Colour Create - pink, green and a handmade flower

Secret Crafter - food and drink

Passion For Promarkers- recycle (the ribbon on the flower is from a blouse)

Delightful Challenges - distress / vintage

Thanks for looking, see you tomorrow :)

Coming soon

Je suis un Rock Star! For those of you old enough to remember it was a single by Bill Wyman back in the 80s LOL.

I made this card for last weeks music DCM dare which was "The Sound of Music" Now on to this weeks dare; Tra-Laa! I want you to design a card which is 'Musically inspired'. Anything goes, whether you use musical paper, or an image of instrument - or even song lyrics.

Don't you think he looks like a young David Bowie? Keep a look out on the DewDrop Craftz web site as the stamp is going to be released shortly.

Two in one!

Challenges and card that is LOL I decided to combine challenges again as time is against me once more. I have weddings coming out of my ears at the mo, which is fab, but I also need to fill my card box as I've got about a dozen left to sell 8-) Every time I get in front of myself one of my shops pinches them lol

Anyway, I have a couple of cards to show. This one is for the DCM challenge, set by Jo, from last Friday which states "I would like this week to see cards with a chick, a bunny or both!Of course you may add anything else to your cards"
and The Secret Crafter's challenges which is STITCHING
As usual any project as long as there is stitching on your card faux or real - it's up to you!

I even used another of my own sketches :)) (which I will upload as soon as I have tidied it up)

The yellow striped paper is an off cut, the zig zag was punched using one of my new MS punches from New York, sparkly floral ribbon is from Michaels ($1 a roll!) and the flowers are a mix including Prima and Dunelm. The image is another beauty from Sally-Ann at Grab-a Doodle-Do which I coloured with Promarkers, the faux stitching was done with a Sakura metallic pen and the sentiment was printed.

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

It's a patchy one

Right, on to this week's dare, and its a 'patchy' one.Yes, that's right - I want you to be inspired by patchwork and make a patchwork looking card. Great chance to use up scraps of off cuts - or buy some new papers if needs be! Any theme as long as it is patchwork inspired

As well as my patchwork squares I've used a patchwork ribbon. The image is a Snag Em stamp from Imaginisce (I love these little stamps :)) coloured with Promarkers.

DCM x 12

Firstly I must apologise to all the girls on the DCM blog............I wrote in my DCM post below that this was Kathy's dare. Well, I have since had a slap and was told that it's a joint effort. I don't know where I got the idea from that it was Kathy's. ;))

I liked my little robin card so much I've made another 11 using the same download sheets as there are multiple images on each sheet, some with sentiments and some without. I still have more to make but I'm going to use one of Sally-Ann's other downloads for those.

It took me two hours altogether but that was from cutting and embossing the green card up to and including the drying time so I didn't think that was bad. I just need to write in them then I can get them in the post.

BFN xx

DCM day

It's Kathy's turn to set the dare on the Daring Cardmaker blog today and this is her brief

10 Minute Christmas Card
Just in case you hadn't noticed, Christmas is just around the corner - less than two weeks to go now! So as we hurtle headlong towards the big day we thought we'd help you out just a little bit with those last minute cards. Every year we find ourselves needing a few extra cards, even when we thought we'd got plenty, so this dare is all about super-quick Christmas crafting.We want to see cards that take only a few minutes, but of course don't look it!Make just one, or see how many you can make in an hour ot's up to you. On your marks.... get set......Go Go Go

The image is a ready coloured download from Loves To Doodle , mounted onto red card then onto dark green which has been embossed using a Cuttlebug folder. I added a piece of red ribbon and a Cuttlebug flower with a 'Jingle Bell' centre. Thanks Kathy for helping me to come up with a quick card to send out to my customers!

All things bright..............

.....and I'll let you make up your own minds as to whether it's beautiful or not! LOL The DCM Dare this week want us to make a bright card (it sure made a change from making Christmas card toppers :)) Bright! Clashy is good, hot colours are good, anything super duper bright is good too. I had to make a leaving card so decided to make this my bright card. I will apologise in advance for the 'dull' image but the lady in question is in hotel management so I decided to put the image in a business suit!
The image is Pink Petticoat New Job which has been coloured with Prisma pencils and Sakura Jelly Roll Stardust pens. I've used assorted papers from my 'left overs' box (and still haven't made a dent in the pile!) the ribbon is from my 'end of roll tub' and the sentiment was done on the laptop.

The next four cards were really quick makes. DH was dj'ing last night at a 50th birthday party and has a 60th birthday party tonight but the hotel didn't know whether the party 'persons' were male or female so I made two of each.

I used assorted bits from my left overs box and ribbon tub. Numbers are cut using Curlie Wurlie alphabet, sentiments are computer generated and MSE rub ons and the flowers used are all Prima.
My last card is for my mum and dad's 51st wedding anniversary tomorrow.

I used a rub on from a quote pad but can't remember who made it as I've lost the front cover! The hearts are Sizzix and everything has been mounted onto silver mirror card and the white satin ribbon is from Ribbon Oasis and I just finished it off with a couple of clear diamantes.

It was my brother's 40th yesterday and he loved his album he said it was "the best present ever" :)

Today I have a seating plan to make and tomorrow we are going to York to meet up with MIL. She is up this weekend on a coach trip so as we don't see her all that often (she lives in Somerset and DH works most weekends which makes visiting a problem) we said we would go through for a couple of hours for lunch.

I hope you have a good weekend whatever you are up to and would love to have you comment on my blog. :)

Take care.

Baby cards and more!

I'm back and challenging!!! I've done the baby cards and started the thank you cards and I have really enjoyed being able to incorporate templates and challenges into my work, so here goes.......the first one up is a Page Plans sketchand here is the first of my baby cards

I think that the striped paper is Papermania but not 100% sure. I do know though that the green paper is from a Funky Hand cd. The charms are from my stash and the nappy (diaper) is hand cut.

The next template is from Di Hickman's blog. It is so long since I've had the time to take part in Di's challenge!

and the final challenge for now is the DCM Dare for today (it's ages since I've done this one too) and this is what's required We're having one of our wonderful Lucky Dips this week, because Anice has very generously offered a prize of a free set of "Shabby Saturday" downloads - all you need to do to have a chance of winning this fantastic prize is to join in with this dare, then come back and let us know where we can see your card. Everyone who joins in has an equal chance of winning, all the names go into the DCM "Virtual Hat" and a name is drawn at random - what more incentive do you need? hehehe

The papers are again from The Funky One cd, not sure where the ribbon is from but the flowers are from Papermania and Dunelm and are held together with a Doodlebug Sugar Coated brad.
The rest of the cards are baby cards

The papers on these two cards are from the packaging in the new Sweet Nothings acetates by Papermania, resourceful or what!?! Die cuts are Quickutz and Cuttlebug.

Paper on this one is Under The Boardwalk from Daisy Bucket and the stamp is by Anita's and is one of the first stamp I ever bought and I still love it.

Now for my favourite bit...................adding inserts and packaging the cards *yawn!*

Take care.

DCM plus 2!

I am still wading through the mound of paper cut offs and made another three cards from them last night. I have vowed to myself to be good now and not buy anything else until the paper mountain has diminished slightly.................erm, a lot! LOL I'm not sure whether I should include PB stamps in that comment as I received a fabby folder yesterday from my friend Jo and there are at least six in there that I need!One of the three cards I made last night fits the Dare

Now, on to this weeks dare (can you believe its Friday once again ?!:) Well, its my turn (Jane) to set the dare this week. Its very simple really (prickly maybe but..:) I want you to design a card to any theme- but I want you to include pins or needles of some sort. Sewing needles, safety pins, dressmakers pins- any type of pin goes !:)

My pin is in the middle of the flower holding the charm onto the card. Paper is the new Sugared by Basic Grey, ribbon from Ribbon Oasis, flowers from Tracey at Creative Treasures and the rest is off my desk. :)I seem to have an awful lot of pink bits left over! This was a quick card commission for a little girl who likes ballet. Pale pink paper is from a Papermania kit (and it is only sold in the kit unfortunately) I decided that I would scallop the outside edge of the paper with my corner rounder and it fell to pieces in my hand so it ended up just being mounted onto pink card! The other piece of card has been Cuttlebugged and the number three was cut by hand.

My final card is just to go in the box. Paper and image are from Pink Petticoat and the greeting is a Papermania rub on.
I am now going to drink my coffee while I have a quick blog hop before everyone else gets up. It seems ages since I last had a nosey round everyone's blogs.
Thanks for looking. xx

Dare day!

I hope you all had a good Chistmas and Santa was kind to you.

After having a few days off I've decided that today is a 'me' day! We went to the Range this morning and I bought the new Marie Curie stamp from Docrafts. £2.50 from the sale of each stamp goes to the Marie Curie appeal and I have bought the stamps and punches for the last three years. This is the new one I also bought a couple of paper pads, a pack of 12 x 12 white card, Two packs of O Rings for my Bind it All (not very thrilling really!) and two kilner jars so that I can start sorting my ribbons by colour! I got the Organized and Inspired Scrapbooker for Christmas and it is fab. I don't know if it will make a difference in my life but I hope it will :)So onto my dare cards. I've combined the Daring Cardmakers Challenge with Di Hickman's template. The DCM brief is Hi All. Today we have decided to revisit your most favourite dares of 2007. The four top dares, decided by the number of comments you made on them are (in no particular order): 'buttons', 'ribbons', ...'and cut' and 'frames'. We would like you to use this week as many of those dares as you like to make your card in any theme and any style and this is Di's TemplateThis is what I came up with
I turned the card on it's side for the template and for the DCM, I hope I haven't cheated too much. ;) I've used buttons from stash, vertical and printed (paper) ribbon is the reverse side of the 2008 paper (which is Celebration by Junkitz). The numbers were cut on the Robo (my first ever welded 'word') and the zeros 'frame' the 'ribbon'!

Busy Bee!

Well, I just haven't stopped since I last posted so I thought I had better show a sample of some of the completed work. Life is just so hectic at the moment, I haven't had time to make my own Christmas cards yet. I've decided though, whatever is left in the box will be sent out from us LOL I will make special cards for my parents and DH's mum and that's it. My Christmas stuff has actually been put away twice and got back out again!!

One of my cards fitted in with the Little Extra on the DCM blog last Tuesday. I know it's late but I'm going to show it anyway.

This is what the challenge was

It's Tuesday again so we have a midweek challenge for you to play with. Santa's Little Helper this week is themed "Buttons and Bows"Just in case you're one of those super-efficient types who've made all the cards they need already, you can still join in with a non-Christmas card for this one.

The snowman and snowflake are buttons and the bow is obvious! The image is from Cornish Heritage Farms and he is just so cute. I stamped him onto acetate using a blue Stazon ink pad and glittered him from behind using irridescent glitter. The trees are Cuttlebug and the snowflake is a punch. The ric-rac is Doodlebug.

My second card is for Friday's dare

This week is my turn (Saffa) to set the dare!I love the stripey candy sticks that are around at this time of year so inspired by this I challenge you all to create a card featuring stripes of some kind, the occasion is up to you but you must use some form of stripes on your card. Maybe stamps, or paper, or ribbon...This one was made as part of the same order as the one above. This time using papers by Making Memories, stamp by Papernation. I stamped it once onto card and then onto patterned paper and cut the dress separately. The card was finished off with ribbon from the pink kit at Ribbon Oasis and a 'silver' teddy charm from stash.

Next I made a couple of pieces of jewellery which were also part of the same order!

Sorry about the lousy pictures but the light has been terrible so they were scanned as I needed to record the items and get them delivered. The bracelet below is to match the necklace.Both necklace and bracelet were made from one necklace which my client asked me to alter as she didn't like it. The beads are mostly jet with a few small glass beads added. The clasps on both are sterling silver. I also made her a pair of matching earrings and she was really pleased with the set.

Well, that's about it for now as I have more work in hand. Today I need to make two gift bags and two more exploding boxes! I was going to do them yesterday but we ended up going to the Christmas market in Lincoln. It was absolutely superb but we got sooooooooooooo wet! We had to have hot chocolate and donuts while we were walking round to try to keep warm! LOL

DCM beady challenge

This week it's Saffa's turn to set the dare on the Daring Cardmaker's blog and she said

"Well this week is my dare (Saffa). Its quite a simple challenge really. All I ask is that you make use of beads on your cards. They can be seed beads, big chunky beads or little sequins, whatever takes your fancy."

My one card turned into 3 for some reason :)
This card was embossed with the Big Shot Embossing Plates and after using the Cuttlebug embossing folders, I don't like these. They aren't deep enough. I coloured the background and the tag with chalk and threaded beads onto pale pink organza ribbon. The flower is cut from a sheet of paper from the 6 x 6 Young Girls pad by K & Co.

These letters were hand cut from the Tutti Frutti papers and card from Craftwork Cards. I tied a piece of cream ribbon onto the 'm', the 'l' is wrapped with pink and green seed beads threaded onto silver coloured wire and the 'i' is dotted with a Prima flower finished with a spotty brad from my stash.

and finally the butterfly on this card is again cut from the Young Girl pad (it's actually from the same page as the flower above. The body of the butterfly is made from pink and clear beads threaded onto silver wire. The small butterflies are cut with the new X-Cut border punch.
And now for the exploding boxes. I made one and a half yesterday and have finished the order off today-3 in total but for 2 different people.



Update on the flood is that we are still completely cut off from the rest of the world, no traffic except emergency vehicles is allowed in or out of Bentley. They have been pumping the High Street since last night but the water is still rising. They are pumping from there so that they can start pumping Toll Bar! It looks as though we are going to get it from one side or another. We have our sandbags at the ready and our chins are still up LOL

Take care and stay dry and happy wherever you are.