Who dares wins!!

Sorry about the pun but it's that time of the week again............challenge day on Daring Cardmakers blog. It's Jo's challenge this week and here is what she is looking for "I seem to like butterflies at the mo. This week therefore I would like you to put some butterflies on cards. Stitched, felt, shiny, bright, plain, paper pieced, stamped, drawn... you get the idea :) any theme of card but it must have a butterfly somewhere on the card!"

My butterflies are punched layers. The bottom layer is brown and is stuck flat onto the card and as you can see, the top layer is pink. These are just glued in the middle so I could lift the wings. The flower is Cuttlebug fastened together with a Doodlebug sugar coated brad (I just love these), the ribbon is from my PIF from Jennifer to which I have added a Papermania rub on. I'm not sure what the spotty paper is as just had an L shaped piece in my 'bit' box...............enough for 2 cards and a small piece left over. I love the pretty coloured dots on it :)

My second card is for Di Hickman's template challenge this week..........that lady is just brilliant. I don't get much time to do challenges lately but I do try to do the DCM one and Di's. Here is the templateand this is mine :)

Notice the similarities? I cut too many butterflies then decided that I liked the card, so made this lol. Ingredients as before (obviously, duh!) but without the rub on as I'm not sure what occasion to use it for yet. I have a man's card to make and an idea for it using this template but will try to do that tomorrow.

And I've got another award from my blogging bud, Jo, thank you so much and thanks too for the help with the signature too. I'm cool now like everyone else LOL.

Right, back to finish my PIFs. Till next time, thanks for looking.

Two tags and an award!

by two Jos!!

So firstly we have the tag by Jo K (I think I'm only a couple of weeks late with this one - sorry Jo. I've done it before and it has been really difficult thinking of seven more facts.)

Rules: Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules to your blog; share seven random and/or weird facts about yourself on your blog, we all want to know them; Tag seven random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs; Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

1. I'm scared of heights!

2. I have a real difficulty when it comes to walking over a bridge with any form of transport running under it, especially foot bridges at railway stations.

3. I absolutely love Mark Radcliffe and Stuart Maconi. I listen to them most nights and they make me laugh.

4. I have a sister and a brother, both younger than me.

5. I watch very little television.

6. I am very emotional and cry easily.

7. I just love email!!

now for this lovely award.

The award and the second tag are from Jo A

What I was doing 10 years ago: As well as running my own business I was doing a 'Helping in Schools' course which led to me being a Teaching Assistant for 7 years.

On my to-do list today: Making wedding invitations which involves punching 186 daisies (which I did!)

Snacks I enjoy: Chocolate, but I'm not really a snacky person

Things I would do if I was a billionaire: Look after my family and buy Cornwall (my passion)

Three of my bad habits: Not being able to say no x three!!!

Five places I have lived: Kirkintilloch, Scotland, Cyprus, France, Belgium, Germany

Five jobs I have had: Barmaid, selection box packer (!), housewife :), teaching assistant and best of all.............designer.

Thanks Jos LOL If you would like to play with the tags, please feel free.

I shall nominate Jo, Andrea, Jennifer, Sheila and Kathy

Right, back to work for a bit. Take care.

Pass it Forward

I hope you are sitting comfortably cos this post has the makings of a long one. :) Keep going and eventually you will find my PIF

I really loved my postie this morning cos he brought me nice parcels!!! Firstly, I got this fabby parcel and wonderful card from my new friend Jennifer

Lots of lovely Grosgrain ribbon in pink, brown and white and some pewter bookplates, buckles and clips with brads. Thank you so much Jennifer.

My next parcel was from Emma at Sassycraft (sorry Kathy and Sheila, I've fallen off the wagon!) I'm still using up my leftovers, see below but Emma has loads of lovely stuff and I couldn't resist placing an order.............not to use of course. LOL

and finally I got a new corner punch from the Glitter Pot. Mine fell to pieces in my hand and they have been gracious enough to replace it for me, excellent service :)

Now for the evidence that I've been using my bits and pieces. This is the 'before I started' picture

and this is what it looks like now, after 40 cards :)

Once I've emptied the basket, I can start on the drawer!!

Just one card today and I've made a couple of wedding invitation samples, oh and done a stock take at the shop.

Papers are Pink Petticoat and the image is by Stamps Away. I keep finding stamped images so the cards are almost making themselves!

Now for my PIF.............I made this bag charm on Monday for a birthday present and if you are one of the first three people to comment on my blog and tell me what your favourite colour is, I will make you one too. *Disclaimer* the charm won't be the same as this one. I am happy to post world wide.

Good luck.

Blog Candy

Have a peep at Samm's blog. She is celebrating her blogaversary and giving away some yummy blog candy.

I will be back later with a PIF and some yummy piccies as well as a couple of cards :)

BFN xx

A template and a Dare!

My first challenge today is one of Sue's fabby templates on the Just Bex forum.

....and for this fab snowy day something to keep you busy a template you know what to do!! flip it shrink it etc etc The catch is that you must use something SHARP and some LACE.

The dress image was stamped for me about three years ago by a friend. I used so many of the images and promptly lost them and found four when I was sorting my drawers (!) the other week. The image has been mounted onto burgundy and silver pearlescent card. The paper is by Fancy Pants. My 'lace' is the broderie anglais round the greeting and my 'something sharp' is the silver brad in the middle of the Cuttlebug flower.

My next card is for the DCM Little Extra This is today's remit Now this weeks mid week dare is inspired by Rachel and is called 'Folded' ! This is not folds in the card blank itself, but rather folds ON the card- whether it be some kind of paper folding technique or folded embellishments or even just a folded over message of some type.
So here is my card

Ta Da!!! My very first waterfall card :) so lots of folds. Papers are Pink Petticoat again and the stamp was a freebie a couple of years ago from Anita's with a bit of added bling.

Back soon, thanks for visiting.

Number 10

Here you go, as promised.


Kate Hadfield's papers and chicks can be bought from here and the elusive tenth card :) Another one which was influenced by this weeks dare over on the DCM blog

I think the green paper is from an old SA kit (and I mean old cos my membership lapsed about this time last year), the bag is by Sizzix. It is on the large red dress and accessories die. The flower is Prima and I'm not sure where the flower brad is from.

Back soon. x

And then there were 10

......more cards made with left overs on my desk. The pile doesn't seem to have dwindled much but I managed 10 more cards today. I will only be sharing nine this evening as I forgot to scan one so will do it tomorrow. I've run out of the large (Dunelm) blooms, but only on my desk, I have loads in boxes! :)
Just look what the DCM challenge on Friday has started!The floral paper is Basic Grey, they yellow card is Bazzill Bling and the greeting is a minute peel off!

Paper is K & Co, car is Quickutz and greeting is a rub on by Papermania.

I think the paper on this one is another by Pink Petticoat but not 100% sure *blush* (I will check tomorrow), flowers are Prima, brads are Doodlebug with added bling and ribbon.

The daisy was hand embossed and coloured with glimmer chalk. The backing paper is from a mini scrapbook kit that I bought when I first started making cards, the rub on is Papermania again and the cord was wrapped around the neck of a bottle of bath crystals until last Thursday!! lol

Wording is computer generated, ribbon is from a wash bag gift set, charm is from stash and greeting is another small peel off.

Another hand embossed card. Blooms are from Dunelm and Prima.

More Pink Petticoat images and paper. The quote is from a pink kit from Craftwork Cards which DH bought me the Christmas before last!

The word 'sister' was cut on the Robo to put on DD1's birthday card at the beginning of March but I temporarily lost ;) a couple of the letters. Flowers are Cuttlebug, as is the tag.

Flowers again are from Dunelm and the chick image is from a downloadable kit by Kate Hadfield. I will post the link to the kit tomorrow as well.

Another Dunelm fabric flower layered with one by Bazzill, one from Brianna by Prima and a flower brad which I bought when I first started card making. The greeting is another Papermania rub on.

Well, that's the lot for this evening. I shall be back tomorrow as promised. Thanks for looking.

Dancing On Ice

We spent a fabulous evening yesterday at Sheffield Arena watching the opening night of the Dancing on Ice tour so I thought rather than share any cards today, I would share some photos. They aren't brilliant as we weren't allowed to use a flash while the show was on for obvious reasons and DD2 took the pictures.

Kyran Bracken

Gareth Gates and Maria
Fred & Mel

Kristina, Frankie, Daniel & Matt

Jayne Torville & Christopher Dean

Everyone

It was an absolutely amazing evening and I would definitely say that if you get the chance to see the tour, do so because you won't be disappointed.

Oh, I almost forgot

The Winner (and well deserved too!) Chris Fountain

Challenge Me!

Two challenges from me today, so two more cards for the stock box and a tiny dent in the left over mountain.

My first challenge was the DCM one which has been set by Kathy this week.

So without further ado, here's my tiny little challenge for this week
Shrink to Fit
I used to be able to make cards with lots of "white space" around the designs, but lately when I've tried to do this my cards just look sooooo naked!
So this week I'd like you to think small - not small cards, but small spaces of embellishment on regular sized cards.
You are allowed to cover no more than a 5x5cms area of your card with paper or embellishment - the rest of the card must be left plain.

My simple card consists of a square of card embossed with baby feet (which I bought a couple of years ago from a craft shop in Cornwall!), a square of blue paper from Doodlebug and a silver charm tied to the card with pale blue ribbon. I don't usually use peel offs but I do quite like these tiny ones.

My second challenge is for Di Hickman's template challenge This is Di's template for this week

and this is my card

The card is gatefold covered with yet another Pink Petticoat paper. The flowers are Prima and the rest is off my desk.

Right, that's it from me today. I am still in h*******k mode for some strange reason, not like me at all, and we are going to see Dancing on Ice this evening. I am so looking forward to it.

Take care and have a lovely weekend whatever you are up to.

xx

Award Ceremony

I've been given this award, Arte Y Pico by Jennifer (who actually googled it but didn't find out what it meant). If you haven't visited her blog then make sure you do, she certainly brightens my day! Thanks Jennifer. XI now have to nominate five more to accept the award. I always find this difficult as I love all the blogs I visit and love finding new ones through other people's blogging buddies list. Right, here goes in no particular order (as in Dancing on Ice format). Jo King - (I haven't forgotten your tag, I'm still thinking!) I know you've had it several times, it shows how popular you are :) Sue H - because you're lovely! Sheila (aka Manic Stamper)- because you never fail to make me smile with your wonderful comments! Kathy - thank you for letting me be your blogging buddy LOL Andrea - cos you're my friend :)

And now to work. I was so pleased with myself last night, i made seven cards. I took 21 cards round to the shop on Tuesday to give the lady the choice to replace sold stock (14 cards) and she snaffled them all so I had to start again to fill up the box DH has at work :)

The papers are assorted pieces from my desk, the Lola and Hettie images were in amongst a load of paper and must have been there for ages because I deleted my Hettie folder not long after I bought it and had only printed off a couple of sheets! I did buy it again though. :)

I'm still using the left overs from my desk so you can imagine what it looked like. So far I've made 22 cards without getting anything (apart from the odd brad) out of any drawers or cupboards. I've still got enough on there for a load more cards! LOL

Housework *spit* beckons now but I will be back later with more offerings and Jo's tag.

Blog Candy

Just have a quick hop over chez Nikki She is offering some rather lovely candy in celebration of receiving 15000 blog hits. Just how fab is that!

And there's more!

Crikey, I've blogged two days on the trot. I've made a couple more cards this morning and managed the Little extra over at the DCM blog.

The theme is Pretty Pastels, I think Jane was feeling all springlike and summery when she came up with this one!!! And you know what she was right - they do look scrummy all lined up on the blog don't they.

Here is my card

Papers are Making Memories and image is another Lola Rose one from Pink Petticoat
And the rest

Papers are Pink Petticoat again and the hearts are Quickutz.

Paper is PP again, flowers are Prima and the gorgeous aqua and brown spotty ribbon is from Ribbon Oasis

Papers this time are by Little Yellow Bicycle and Hello Ladies by Kate Teague. The little cars are Quickutz.

Right I'm off to the shop to fill up my stock basket.

BFN