Up up and away!

Hello to everyone and I sure hope you all had a fabulous Christmas and Santa was good to you!  It certainly doesn't seem like two minutes since we were all dashing around getting things ready does it?  My son and daughter-in-law and grandson are coming tomorrow for New Year which is so exciting and I am getting ready to do it all again lol!!  As I was having withdrawal symptoms from lack of blogging over the last few weeks I have hidden myself away in my craft room and done some crafting the last few days.  I have done my first two DT cards (gulp) so I can relax about those for a week and then I have done another card using some new stamps I got at Christmas.  They remind me of the old Nimble adverts remember them?  She flies through the air la la la - or something like that.

I have used Kraft card for the base and my new Hero Arts stamps.  The map is from Raspberry Road and they have a 50% sale on now yippee!! The label cut out the map is on is from Spellbinders and I have embossed it with circles but you can't really see that.  I have stamped the Card Candi with the compass stamp and the twine and button are from my stash.  Its just quite plain really because it is meant for a man so I kept it plain and simple.  I would like to enter in the following challenges:

4 Crafty Chicks - Something New (My stamps)
Crafty Creations - Gratitude/Thanks

I hope you all have a fabulous New Year and thanks so much to everyone for their kind comments that they have left over the last few months it does mean a lot and is very encouraging. I'm off to get a mince pie and brandy cream now (someone's gotta eat the beggars!!) Take care xx

Seasons Greetings

I\'d like to wish everyone and their families a very Happy Christmas and all the best for 2012. I\'d also like to thank my followers for their lovely comments and continued support and look forward to sharing our crafty creations in the upcoming year. I hope you all have the perfect holiday, love and best wishes Susan xxx

Fab News

Good morning everyone hope you are all ok and gearing up for the last week of manic preparations! This time next week there will be some luscious smells coming up from the kitchen (that's if I remember to put the turkey in!!) and the carols will be playing - yummy!

Well I've got some more great news I am going to join Lexi's Creations for a stint on their DT I am so thrilled and really looking forward to joining everyone!! Yippee!!

I have another quickie card for you today that I made using my fabulous Tim Holtz dies they are so amazing I just love them!!

I've used the deer die and the pine cone die yummy.  I've also used a Nestie tag for the matting and my gorgeous edgeabilities for the border.  I also used my dotty embossing folder so it might look like snow??  No stamping just a quick card really. 

Hope you all enjoy the rest of your weekend and your final preparations all go to plan.  I'm off to make my tags now for my pressies!! Take care xx

Easy Peasy

I hope everyone is well and avoiding all these nasty bugs that are around at the moment.  Thank you so much for all your kind words when I was not feeling too well.  The backs still a problem but I am just ignoring it lol!  I'd like to welcome my new followers and thanks them for becoming followers, I'll try to be a better blogger but I can't see that happening until after Christmas.  How is everyones preparation coming along?  I have posted all my cards now just need to hand deliver some.  Made the stuffing today and that will go in the freezer later so another few things to tick off yey!!  I had a nice evening last night because Stephen my DS had to come up on business so he stayed the night which was lovely to see him, I won't see him now until they come up for New Year.  I made four very similiar cards yesterday, again very quick ones to send out today:

These were very quick to make I think I did them all in about an hour which is a record for me.  The images are all Pink Petticoat and so is the digital paper.  I just coloured a very small area of each image with my Copic and each one has a little bit of Stickles added for some sparkle.  Used a Nestie for the Mat and some ribbon from my stash - easy peasy.

Well I promise I will definitely catch up with you all later sat down with my feet up and maybe a nice glass of something mmmmmm.  Take care xx

Still living!

Just in case anyone thought I might have disappeared of the face of the earth - I am still here. Last week was a total wipeout because I was ill and so it really throws you this time of year. Now I am in full panic mode lol! I have done some crafting but nothing really to blog about. Yesterday I made eight cards the same for posting oversees, they took less than an hour which you can probably guess by looking at them:

I just wanted a quick card that would be light to post so not much matting and layering.  They still cost £1.10 each to post!!

Then I have made two more very quick cards this morning:

Both cards were very simple and quick to make and I have just about finished a third just need to glue the pinecones on, hopefully will share that with you all tomorrow. 

Sorry I have been a bad blogger but I guess, like everyone, you just get so busy this time of year.  I have posted all my overseas cards now just need to write and post/deliver my English ones.  Got all my presents (apart from 3 but that is in hand) so I just need to make the tags and then I can wrap them.  I want to make my two mini poundland Christmas tress with the help of the Crafty Elf which I am hoping to start this afternoon when I have rested my back a bit as it is aching now.  I always craft standing up so after a few hours my back starts playing up and then I need to sit down for a while.  We have bought our Christmas tree and that went up on Saturday and I am quite pleased with it, looks lovely me thinks!!  Tidied up my craft room this morning so I am pleased with that but I don't know for how long I can keep it tidy.  I ordered another storage unit from  Storage 4 Crafts yesterday and they promise delivery before Christmas so I am looking forward to getting that, I'm hoping it will save my back as I have a lot of storage under my worktops so I have to bend down a lot and reach under to get stuff.  Hope you are all ok and not too stressed with your Christmas preps!! Take care xx





You can't beat pink!

Having suffered with my back for the past couple weeks I have now come down with a really bad cold so yesterday I was unable to do anything at all because I was aching all over and I have just crawled off the sofa now as I hate not being able to do anything.  I'm only hoping I get everything over at once as I do not make a very good patient and I'm beginning to feel sorry for my husband.  I actually coloured this cutie in the other day so all I had to do was just put everything together which I have been able to do.  The digital image is from Louby Loo at Digital Delights and is the adorable Rodney Reindeer which you can find here and at the moment there is 10% off - who says Christmas can't come early?

I have coloured him with my Copics and Prisma pencils and cut him out with a Nestie and layered him onto another Nestie.  The border punch is a MS. The papers are from Nitwits "Mooey Christmas" and I have embossed the deers with my Cuttlebug using a Cart US embossing folder, here's a close up:

I think it goes with the image so well!  As does the charm from my stash:

And to finish a sideview:

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Sassy Studio - Non-traditional Christmas Colours
Crimbo Crackers - Embossing
Art Impression Stamp - Try Something New (New embossing folder and new image)
Paper Crafting Journey - Christmas
Southern Girls - Ribbon Madness
Inky Impressions - Use Ribbon
Pennys Paper Crafty Challenge - Merry Christmas
The Paper Variety - Inspired by Christmas Song (Rudolph)
Bearly Mine Challenge - Non-Traditional Christmas Colours
Creative Card Crew - Tis the Season
Stamping Boutique - No Traditional Colours
Well I think that's it for me - back to my sick bed!  Take care xx

A big thank you!

Hi there hope you are all ok and enjoyed your weekends!  I received my candy from Janet at Pink Gem today and it is beautiful, thank you so much Janet I am hoping to make a card with it tomorrow - big hug xx

I don't know where the time goes.  We had a lovely time in Manchester on Saturday, went round the markets, got Christmas shopping done and had a nice lunch at The Living Room (or was it in the lounge??).  I've managed to get some white Christmas paper from Paperchase so I am quite pleased with that - yay.  My sister came round for dinner yesterday so that was nice and she has taken all (except for 2 - gulp) of my Christmas cards to sell (or I should say try and sell haha) at her luncheon club.  My husband kept saying I think you shouldn't do that you're putting yourself under too much pressure and I kept saying nah its ok I'll just make more.  I didn't really stop to think that I've been making these since July and its now less than 3 weeks.  Anyway, I don't think she'll manage to sell them all (if any) so I'll be getting them back.  But today he is going to see an old friend tonight so I brightly said oh I'll make a card for you to take.  Hah!  Then I could not think of anything to do at all so it has taken me about 3 hours to do this card and really it looks like it should have taken about 10 minutes!  But to be honest I am not a quick card maker, believe it or not,  I cannot rattle of more than 1 a day on a really good day maybe two but that is rare.  I am in awe of people that can make three or four a day and then you find out they work full time as well - how do they do it?  Anyway I think I have waffled enough so I shall show my card which you have to remember took me all afternoon to make:

I have decided to do another vintage type card and printed out a cute picture from my Tuscan Rose CD which I then cut out with shaped scissors to make it look like the old photos we used to get.  The doily is a Cheery Lynn die and the numbers are made with a Die-namics die using glitter paper. The papers are Raspberry Road and I have used seam binding and a charm from my stash. I have added stickles to the picture and distressed the papers, numbers, pictures, doily and seam binding with Distress Ink Antique Linen. I have decorated the inside to match:

Thanks so much for looking.  I hope the weather is not affecting you too much,  please take care xx

Lots of News!

Hi there hope everyone is well and excited about the weekend looming up!!  I have just found out that I have won Janet's Christmas Candy on her blog Pink Gem - thank you so much Janet!!  My next bit of exciting news (well for me that is) is that I have been asked to join the DT for Delightful Challenges for 6 months starting in January - whoppee!!  It is the first time I have ever done anything like this and I am so excited at the same time as being a wee bit nervous and apprehensive but I am sure they will all look after me and the other "newies" that will be starting!!  Who'd have thought 6 months ago??  I only started my blog at the end of July after I had retired.  It was a way to develop my love of crafting and also to help me as my husband has been undergoing surgery and then radiotherapy for cancer.  So, although the year has been quite fraught emotionally, I have met so many nice people in the blogging community and it is a great way of learning about your crafts and developing and learning new skills.  Anyway on a lighter note my husband has now finished his treatment and just needs 3 - 6 monthly checkups (due on the 22nd this month) so we can put it all behind us now and look to the future.

I have made a card for Christmas for my sister.  She loves antiques and her house is full of all sorts of treasures so I am hoping she will like this card:

This must be about the 15th picture I have taken!!  I did stop at 10 and cropped it and everything and then loaded into my blog and realised I hadn't put the pin in so I had to start all over again grrrrr!!  The image is from my Tuscan Rose CD and I have added some Liquid Pearls to the image where it is snowing to accent it.  The lace is from Wild Orchid and I have made the pin.  I have sanded the edges of the coredinations card stock to distress it a bit.  The Clock Die is by Tim Holtz and I have put some True Snow and Art Institute Glitter on it to make it look a bit frosty.  The pine cones, leaves and rose are made from my new (I'm in love) Tim Holtz pine cone die - wowzer that thing is brilliant!  I have added some True Snow and Art Institute Glitter to those as well so they look frosty - brrrrrr!!  It is difficult to get the colouring right in this light, there is either too much shadow but the paper colour looks right or no shadow and everything is a bit wishy washy.  IRL there is a bit more colour to it however it is quite a softly coloured image and so is the paper so I have done the best I can!!  I would like to enter the following challenges:

By the Cute and Girly - Let it Snow
Charisma Cardz - Spots (I've put spots of snow on)
Crafty Purple Frog - For Someone Special (the card is for my Sister)
Digital Delights - Let it Snow
Craft your Passion - Tis The Season
Kaboodle Doodle - Bundle up for Winter
Sparkles - Vintage Christmas

We're off to Manchester tomorrow to look round the markets and a bit of Christmas shopping if my back holds up and then a spot of lunch - yummy.  Hope you all have a nice weekend I will come round everyone's blogs and catch up later as I haven't had chance the last couple of days.  Enjoy your weekends whatever you are doing, take care xx

Eeek there's a mouse in the house!!!

I just love little House Mouse stamps they are so cute and cuddly.  I have three cats and the middle one, Harry Potter, is always bringing mice in.  More often than not they are alive and he just has them by the tail which then results in a mad dash with DH and me chasing him around the house - I'm sure he thinks its some kind of game.  He usually drops them in the hall and they make a mad dash for the little table we have there and DH manages to get them and take them out.  I often get up in the morning and two of the cats - Harry P and Louie- are just sat by the table staring intently at it which is a sign that there is a little mouse hiding there waiting to be rescued!!  So today I have a card made with an adorable little House Mouse stamp from Joanna Sheen (actually I bought it with my gift voucher I one - thank you!):

I have followed the sketch from Seems a Little Sketchy and used papers from the pad I bought when I was on holiday from Michaels, its their own make, and I must admit it is gorgeous!!  I have coloured it with Copics and Prisma pencils.  The sentiment is a stamp from Cuddly Buddy and I have added some petals from Papermania and Baker's Twine with just a bit of Stickles for some sparkle. I would like to enter the following challenges:

Seems a Little Sketchy - Sketch
Joanna Sheen - Christmas Wishes
Sisterhood of Crafters - Polka Dots
Whimsical Designs - Layer it Up
Deep Ocean Challenge - 'C' is for : Christmas Cookies
Scrap Creations - Christmas
Cheerful Stamp Pad - Who's Wearing Santa's Hat
Craft Your Passion - Tis the Season
House Mouse - Fuzzy and Warm
I did it Creations - Eat, Drink and be Merry

I am going out for dinner tonight with my old friends from work so that will be nice to catch up on all the gossip!  See you tomorrow, take care xx

What's on Your Worktop Wednesday No. 130

Well what's on my worktop is my marathon that I have finally finished.  I think it is the reason I now have a bad back as I was so scrunched up doing it and fiddling around with it.  Has it been worth the effort and pain, well I think so, I am quietly pleased with it and did enjoy making it.  All in all it didn't take too long - about 2 1/2 days work.  It is not an original I have completely copied it from someone else.  I saw it on "Always about Colour" blog and it was done by Chris and I really liked it so I have copied it.  As it is not an original idea of my own I won't be entering any challenges with it but I can hardly wait to fill it with goodies which will be today as it is December first tomorrow - OMG!!  I did manage to have a tidy up in my craft room yesterday but you can't really it and I think its got a bit messy again, why do I bother?  Its obviously not meant to be tidy.  If you head over to the Leader of the Pack's blog, Julia you can check out the other worktops from around the world - I can guarantee its very addictive (my family always said I was a nosey parker!!).  Anyway here it is:

Right I'm off now to join in all the fun over at Julia's - see you tomorrow, take care xx

Tri-fold!

Hope you are all enjoying your week. My back is still troubling me so I am hoping it will be ok by weekend because Dave and I have planned to go into Manchester first thing for our annual Christmas trip round the Christmas markets etc. - fingers crossed. I am trying to be organised for Christmas so I made my cranberry sauce yesterday which was a bargain, I got two bags of fresh cranberries for £1 at the market in Poulton yesterday. They were a bit on the ripe side but I gave them a good wash and picked the really over ripe ones out and it made a big pan of sauce!! I shall make my stuffing next week that will be two things crossed off the list!!

I have made a tri fold card today which is a first for me so you will have to bear with me. Looked up how to do it on You Tube which is great for any little craft how do you do it questions you have. Its a bit difficult to photograph so, unfortunately, there are a few pictures!

Here\'s a picture of the tag:

And the sentiment on the tag:

I certainly enjoyed doing it and will do one again. The image is a digi which I have coloured with Copics. I have added a bell to her hat tied with Bakers Twine. The papers are a pad I bought in Las Vegas and are very scrummy they have glitter on but you can\'t see it in these pictures. The snowflakes are a mixture of Spellbinders and Whimsy, the tree and tag are Marianne and the snowflake border I have tucked the tag in is a Spellbinder. The brad is from Las Vegas and the pearls are from my stash. The Seasons Greeting ribbon you can just see is from my stash by American Crafts (had it years it must be vintage by now!). I would like to enter the following challenges:

Bunny Zoe\'s Crafts - Anything Christmas with Pearls
Craft Your Passion - Tis The Season
Lexi\'s Creations - One for the Boys
Victorine Stamps - Use Ribbon
Little Clair\'s - Shaped Card
Just Some Lines - Tic Tac Toe (Ribbon, digi, brad)
Totally Papercrafts - Christmas
Crimbo Crackers - Santa
Delightful Sketches Challenge - Red and Green
Southern Girls - Bingo (Diecuts, Gems and Ribbon)
Purple Butterfly Crafts - Baby its Cold Out
Well I'm going to finish my vintage card I started the other day, thanks for looking, please leave a comment its always lovely to read them and take care xx

Pretty in Pink!

Well hope you are all enjoying your weekends whatever you are doing.  I'm about to go and get the Sunday dinner on the go!  That's if I can stand up, after years in nursing my back has a tendancy to "go" every now and then and for the last few days it has been niggling on and off but today its quite painful.  Its a real pain in the neck (or should that be back??) but when I started nursing you had nothing like hoists and slides you just got stuck in!!  So I shall be hobbling down to the kitchen like Old Mother Hubbard! The lucky thing is that it doesn't usually last too long - lol. 

The card I have today is not all pink but pink and green, just for a change:

I must have taken about 10 pictures and fiddled with them all and this is the best I can get!!  The image is by Gayle Cook for Fairydoodles and I have coloured it with Prisma pencils.  The papers are a variety of Prima "Madeline", Memory Box "Pixie" (which i have only just realised is not a Christmas pad, Pink Petticoat Gingham and the card stock is Anna Griffin which I have had years and years.  I have cut out the heart with a Nellie Snellen die, embossed it and distressed with some acrylic paint and added glitter.  All the other shapes are Shapeabilities.  The sentiment is Anna Griffin and I have added some pearls. I will enter the following challenges:

So Artful - Sew Pretty (Dressmaker's form)
Sweet n Sassy - Favourite Things (Pink and Shapeabilities)
Paper Crafting Journey - Anything Goes
Papercraft Star - Anything Goes
Sassy Cheryls - Anything Goes
Thanks for stopping by and please leave a comment it is always nice to read what you say, take care x

Candy Card

I'd like to start by welcoming my new followers and thank them so much.

Well I finally finished my advent calender on Thursday what a relief!  Today I have made a card with some of the luscious candy I won on Debbie's blog - thank youx

Its so bright today but the winter sun is always low down so its really difficult to photograph.  The stamp is from Debbie - Santa Edwin and I have coloured him with Copics.  The papers are from My Minds Eye - 12 Days of Christmas, they are double sided so I always find it difficult to use these!!  The ribbon was from Debbie and the brad I have used is from my stash (very old).  I have used my Edgeabilities on the Kraft Paper and distressed it, the sentiment and the snowflakes with Fired Brick Distress Ink.  The sentiment is from Cuddly Buddy and I have cut it out with Nestabilities, I also did the same with the image and mat.  The snowflakes are Spellbinders and I have cut them out from an old cardboard box.  I would like to enter the following challenges:

Totally Papercrafts - Christmas
4 Crafty Chicks - Snowflakes
Charisma Cardz - Snowflakes
Crimbo Crackers - Santa
The House that Stamps Built - Christmas Challenge with Snowflake
Scrapbook Sisters - Christmas Time

Hope you all enjoy your weekend, my DH and I are off out for brunch.  Take care xx

Thank you Debbie!!

Just a quick post to thank Debbie for her delicious candy which I received yesterday.  Here it is in all its glory:

It really is sooooooooooo good I am going to enjoy playing with it this weekend - a big THANK YOU to Debbiexxxxxxxxxxxx

Back to Pink

Morning bloggers.  I am going to post early this morning because I really need to finish my Advent Calender today!!  I am quite pleased with my progress yesterday and am hoping I can finish it today!  So I have a card to show that I made a few weeks ago, in beautiful pink!!

The image is a Sarah Kay by Stampavie and I coloured it with my Copics, the sentiment is from Hero Arts.  I have used some True Snow and added glitter to the snow around her feet, not sure is you can see the glitter in this picture though! The paper is Magnolia and also Pink Petticoat and I have used my Nesties to cut the frames out.  The doily is also a die but I can't remember who by I have distressed the edges with TH spun sugar DI.  I also used my edgies for the heart border.  I made the flower and distressed that with spun sugar DI. The corner has been embossed with pink embossing powder and is from Wild Orchid Crafts as are the pins.  Finished off with some white ribbon.

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Cooking It Up with Katie - Recipe (Punch, ink and embossing)
Crafts and Me - Shabby Chic/Vintage
Inky Impressions - Make your own Embellishment (I made the flower)
Papercraft Star - Anything Goes
City Crafter - Pink Christmas
Crafts Sentiments Design - Use Metal
Party Time Tuesday - Snow
Shopping our Stash - Winter or Christmas related
Forever Friends - Christmas is Coming must also have an animal on project
Kaboodle Doodles - Baby its Cold Outside

Thank you so much for looking and any comments you may leave, they are  greatly appreciated, take care xx

What's on Your Worktop Wednesday No. 129

Well I feel I have been a bit remiss lately in revealing the splendour of my worktop to one and sundry.  I don't know if that's because I've been too busy or because I can't actually find my worktop underneath all the different things on the go and the remains of things past (mmm reminiscent of A Christmas Carol methinks!!)  Anyway, I have decided to bite the bullet today and just go for it and reveal all - tada:

This is an Advent Box which I have had to do for months and months and of course not touched it until I realised the 1st of December is actually next week so the panic is on now! I have painted all the insides of the little boxes and stamped most of them, the green ones on the desk are waiting to be stamped.  The ones on my desk with bands round have been glued and are drying out and the ones in the actual Advent Box are glued, painted and waiting to be decorated. My husband just has to file the little pieces of wood to make the shelves and then I can complete the picture for the middle.  I have painted the outside in the green and blue and I'm going to stamp it the same as the inside of the boxes.  All the little boxes have paper to cover them and that needs to be done.  I am hoping if I get a move on I will just about get it done!! 

To see what other worktops are like around the nation and world pop over to Julia's place and you can have a peek around, if you are feeling particularly foolhardy brave you can join in the fun - it is addictive I guarantee.  Thanks for looking, please leave a comment and take care xx

p.s. Bev is giving away a £25 voucher which will be drawn Friday nights:

The Holly and the Ivy - well there's some holly!!

Oh My Goodness I have just seen that I have won Debbie's candy whoppe thank you so much Debbie xxx
Happy Tuesday everyone hope your week is going ok!  Welcome to my new followers and a big Thank You to themxx I don't know about you but I keep making Christmas cards and have no idea of how many I've got or need, I think I need to do a quick tally when I get chance.  It doesn't really matter if I have too many because I really enjoy making them and that's what its all about I guess.  So on to today's card which I have made with traditional colours.  I was a bit pushed for time with one thing and another so I have used a picture to make it to save on colouring time!!

I think the image was a download from Twisted Papers Vintage Images, I've had it a while!  The DP is Marianne as is the die I have made the vellum poinsetta with.  The sentiment is from Pink Petticoat and I have distressed it with Fired Brick DI.  The corner is from Wild Orchid Crafts and I have embossed it with red embossing powder and added some gems to that and the sentiment.  The nesties are all Spellbinders.  The Holly ribbon is from a local haberdashery store.  I would like to enter the following challenges:

Sketch n Stash - Sketch and Stash (my image)
Sparkles Forum - Vintage Christmas
Just Some Lines - Tic Tac Toe
Thanks so much for looking and any comments you may leave it is always nice to read them, take care xx

Hark the Herald Angel (s)

Happy Monday to you all and hope you all had a great weekend and are all refreshed for the week ahead.  I would like to welcome my new followers and thank you so much for becoming followers!

How's your Christmas shopping going?  Not long to go now - gulp! I have another Christmas card today which I made to enter the LOTV challenge which is to make a card for someone special.  I have used one of their stamps and tried to keep the colouring to a minimum so it would be monochromatic really as I quite like that look at the moment. 

The papers are from Pink Petticoat and the backing card is Coredinations.  I have embossed the piece at the back and sanded it down.  The flowers are from Wild Orchid and I have distressed them with some acrylic paint then dipped them in Twinklets. I found the little heart on my worktop, it was left over from punching out a birdcage out of an old cat food box and was one of the bits left over that you would throw away so I painted it in acrylic and covered it in Twinklets.  I would like to enter the following challenges:

LOTV - Card for Somenone Special
CES Challenge - Snowflakes (I've used snowflake embossing folder)
One Stop Craft Challenge - Blue
Stamp, Scrap and Doodle Saturdays - Embossing
Just Some Lines - Tic Tac Toe (Embossing, Ribbon and die cuts)
Crafty Ann's Challenge - Monochromatic and/or sketch
Crafty Catz Challenge - Snowflakes
Paperworks Co - Photo Inspiration
DYSU - Splash of Blue
Delightful Challenges - Bingo (Pattern Paper, Die cuts and Flowers)
Thanks so much for looking, please take care xx

Birthday Girl

Well that was my little baby yesterday actually, she was 37 OMG only feels like yesterday!!  We had a bit of a family dinner at our house and it was lovely although I did suffer a bit overnight (you know spinning room syndrome).  I have been busy getting ready for her birthday and have not really had much time to craft apart from making my cupcake wrappers for Stacey's birthday which everyone enjoyed:

The black and white one is supposed to have black icing but I don't think I put enough colouring in and it was a bit grey!! They are Red Velvet cupcakes from the yummy Hummingbird Bakery cookbook which is a fab book all the recipes I have done from it turn out as described no flops!!

Anyway I think I will go and curl up on the sofa and snooze read for a while, enjoy the rest of your week-ends and take care xx

Black and White

I've made another Christmas card today - well the final countdown is on, isn't it?  It's one for a man i.e. my DH so I have made it fairly simple with not too much embellishment but I still had to have a bit of sparkle and bling, I think you can get away with it at Christmas can't you?

I have followed a sketch from Sketch N Stash.  The stash I have used is my plain candy which I have not used for ages and almost forgotten about but I wanted something plain for the tag and didn't want to use metal brads as I was trying to keep to just black and white (although in the end I added a little silver star to the tree).  The Little Clair stamp is also from my stash and I have only used it once before although I do really like it I have embossed it with Black Sparkle EP which I really like and don't have much left.  The papers are downloaded from Pink Petticoat which I got ages ago and I think this is the first time I have used them so really I have used loads from my stash!!  The snowflakes are a Whimsy die and Spellbinders.  I have used my Edgeability border and a Spellbinders tag, the sentiment is computer generated.  The black card at the bottom and for the snowflakes is glitter card which you can just about see what you can see plenty of is bits of glitter on the card from it!!!  I would like to enter the following challenges:

Sketch n Stash - Sketch and use stash (see above for what I have used)
Cards for Men - Nearly Christmas
Craft your Passion - Let it Snow
Critter Sketch Challenge - Monochrome
Heart Song Inspiration - Gold or Glitter
The Pink Elephant - Embossing
One Stitch at a Time - Black and White
Moving Along with the Times - Let it Snow
Divas by Design - Monochromatic
Paper Pretties - Colour Challenge - non-traditional colours
The Paper Shelter - Snowflakes

Thanks so much for looking, take care xx

Craft Barn Candy

Just a quick post to tell you that the Craft Barn have this fab candy up for grabs until 25th November:

OMG isn't it fab?  Pop over there and enter - remember you've gotta be in it to win it!!

Home again

Good morning everyone.  I returned from my week in Las Vegas on Friday and had a great time.  I'm still trying to catch up on everything and have not been a very good blogger.  It is my daughter's birthday on Saturday so I am also trying to get ready for that!  What with Christmas shopping, washing and unpacking and cleaning I don't know where the time has gone.  I have done some crafting but not cards,  I am making some cupcake wrappers for my daughter's birthday as I was going to buy some on line and couldn't find any I really liked plus they were 4.75 plus postage and I thought I may as well make some so that is what I have been doing as well as toppers to go on them.  I have also been making an advent box which is still not finished and doing a Christmas tree from the Poundshop as per The Crafty Elf's tutorial.  So today I am going to post a card I made a while ago.  It is a male card which I always find a bit difficult and I have used a stamp that I have had ages, really like but never used!!

The image is by Inkadinkado and I have inked it with a Memento London Fog ink pad.  Cut it out with a Spellbinders nestie and matted onto another nestie.  The backing is Coredinations which I have dry embossed and then sanded so it shows through.  The candi I have coloured to match and then distressed with crackle paint and the seagull is from my stash.  I would like to enter the following challenges:

Bearly Mine Challenge - One for the Boyz
Creative Craft Challenge - Minimalistic
Shopping our Stash - Never been inked (my stamp)
Critter Sketch Challenge - Monochrome
The Pink Elephant Challenge - Embossing
Lollipop Crafts - Embossing and No Designer Paper
Creations by Gill M - Men's Monochromatic
Fairy Fun Fridays - No Black Lines
I will be round to catch up with you all at some point today, thanks for looking and take care xx

Away I go!

Well I am now either on my way or have arrived in Las Vegas, so no blogging from me for a while.  But I will be doing plenty of this:

A fair bit of this:

And some of this:

Catch up with you all when I get home, take care xx

Getting Ready!!

Morning everyone!  Today is What's on your Workdesk Wednesday over at Julia's place.  As usual my workdesk is a complete an utter shambles. BUT I am going away on my girly holiday tomorrow so I don't care and I am not even going to show you a picture of it ha ha (cause I'm too embarrassed really).  Instead I shall show you a picture of my new home for the next 7 nights:

Yippee that's where I'll be (no, not in the lake but rather the hotel!!).  We shall be having a great time shopping, slurping sipping cocktails and a bit of gambling (shock horror - just a bit I said).  What more could a girl ask for oh yes and Rod Stewart on Saturday night!!

As I haven't made any cards (too busy packing and cleaning and baking for DH) I have an old one I will post today:

Cor its very bright isn't it?  Can't remember anything about it (that is definitely my age) apart from its a Magnolia stamp or rather two.  If you get chance bob over to Julia's and have a look at everyone else's workdesks - very addictive. 

I'll catch up with you all later today hopefully then I'll be back in about 9 days yeehaw!! Take care xx

Goldfinger, well rather wreath that is!

Hope you are all recovered from a night of ghostly occurrences and witchy goings on!! We were rather slow to get going with the trick or treaters but then picked up and it was great to see them all dressed up.  One rather winsome witch had long witchy fingers and everytime she picked up a sweet she dropped it!!

Well now we are into November and the countdown to Christmas has well and truly begun - panic stations everyone!!  It is such a gorgeous day here in Blackpool it has been sunny all day and quite mild, we did have some rain this morning but it was still sunny whilst it was raining!  I have made another wreath Christmas card today again following Crafty Elf's tutorial which you can find in detail here.  I decided to go for a white and gold theme today for a change. 

I have used the Swiss dots embossing folder again and three types of gold card for the wreath.  The ribbon is from a local haberdashery shop.  The dove is from Hobbicraft which started out with a pattern on it but I covered it in gold embossing powder.  I don't know what I'll do once Christmas is over for inspiration for cards - start on next years perhaps????

Thanks so much for looking please leave a comment if you have been as it is always nice to hear from everyone and visit your blogs.  Take care xx

Happy Haunting!!

Happy Halloween to everyone hope you all have a spooky one!! I am already for the Trick or Treaters, the decorator has started today so I have had to move some of my Halloween decorations but I'm looking forward to seeing all the ghosts and goblins tonight.  You never can tell if you are going to have many or not but I think the numbers have been steadily increasing over the past few years.  Mind you its raining and miserable at the moment which may put a few parents off I guess. 

Today I have a different kind of card.  Its different in that I have not stamped anything on it.  I have followed a tutorial from the Crafty Elf which I absolutely love.  Mine has not come out as good as hers (no surprise there!!) but I think it is a really simple and effective method of making a Christmas card.  If you would like to see her tutorial it is here and she has loads of pictures to explain it.  Her website is very interesting for all sorts of Christmassy things you should check it out if you get a chance.

I have punched out the leaves with Coredinations cardstock, the ribbon is from Paperchase (had it a while) and I have used an embossing folder for the backing paper to match the ribbon. The berries are from my stash, possibly from Wild Orchid.  Used my edgeabilities and some mirri card to back.  I will enter the following challenges:

Bows n'Berries - Clean and Simple
Cupcake Craft - Take a Leaf out of my Book
Christmas Inspirations - Use Diecuts/Punches
Well I'm off to start some packing ready for my hols, thanks for looking and take care xx

Whew!!

Well I think I have finally recovered from my little grandson being here!  He is certainly a bundle of energy and at 12 months is into absolutely everything like a whippet!  I certainly don't know how these women of 60 that you read about having IVF and having a baby manage - do they know what they are letting themselves into???  It was absolutely wonderful having him here and I think I gradually acclimatised to all the running around.  The first couple of days I was so tired at night I couldn't even speak!! Here is a couple of pictures, the first one was taken at the park:

Hmmm he looks very calm and quiet there!  I then took him to my sister's dog class Halloween party where he caused chaos picking up all the dog toys and running through their tunnel:

And here he is choosing his Wii game:

The house certainly seemed empty and quiet when he left.

I have not done any crafting in almost a week now and I'm not sure when I can get anymore done as we have the decorator coming tomorrow (we both thought it was the following week!) and I am going on holiday to LAS VEGAS (yippee) on Thursday so I need to get ready for that!!  I do have a  to share today:

Its a white on white one which I did make some time ago but have never posted it before.  The image is by Cuddly Buddy which I have coloured with Copics.  I have dry embossed the panel behind and used various dies for the snowflakes.  The bell is a Marianne die and the corner embellishment has been heat embossed with white EP.  I would like to enter the following challenges:

Cuddly Buddy - White on White
One Stop Craft - No Sentiment
Bah Humbug - Die cuts
Card Makin Mamas - Use Die Cuts
Chrismas Stampin' All Year Long - Jingle Bells
Fairy Fun Fridays - Wet Embossing
Jingle Belles - Creatures

I would also like to welcome my new followers and thank them so much for becoming followers. Thanks so much for looking I will be round everyone's blogs to catch up later on.  Take care xx

Sale time!!

Just a quick post to tell you that Raspberry Road have a great sale on over the weekend:

I stocked up last time and its worth having a look as everything is half price!! Take care xx

The Final Countdown

I'd like to start by welcoming my new followers and thank them so much for becoming followers, I will be round to check your blogs later if I haven't already done so xx

Yes its the final countdown, Harrison and Stephen (grandson and son) will be arriving later on today - yippee.  The final preparations have begun, lots of baking done - check, Halloween decorations up - check, Ball pool blown up and filled - check and cot up and ready - check!!  Ready and waiting.  You can tell by my excitement that I can hardly wait, I get really envious of people that have their grandchildren nearby (like my DH) and think it is the greatest thing.  I would love Harrison to be closer but that is not going to happen so I really do treasure it when he comes up here or I go down there.  I have made some cards for this week as I don't think I will have any time to craft until Friday or the week-end (no I'm not complaining) and I still would like to post something.  Here is one I made earlier, so to speak:

Its a little acrylic set I bought last Christmas and I can't remember who by.  I have coloured with my copics and added true snow and glamour dust.  Used my edgeabilities for the border the papers are nitwit and the ribbon and button are from a local haberdashery.  I have coloured and stickled the candy.  I will enter the following challenges:




Thanks for looking, take care xx

And now for something completely different....

Hello everyone I certainly hope you are all enjoying your weekends.  I am going to put my Halloween decorations up today in preparation for spookiness!  I need some cobwebs so I'll have to go out later and try and find some, I knew I shouldn't have dusted - lol!! 

I have not made a card today but tried something completely different.  I while back I got some little calenders which came in a pack of 10 and I think they were only £1 which seems very cheap to me, they are by Anita's.  I saw a tutorial on how to make a calender with XL frames on Lisa's blog and decided to give it a go as I am still playing with my Big Shot.  Here is the result:

I quite enjoyed making something other than a card for a change.  I have used my Kreate Dies XXL and the papers are Anna Griffin which I have had for years and I do mean years!  The image is sitting Tilda but it is not the one I wanted to use that one had a butterfly on the back of her dress but I could not find the blighter anywhere - do need to catalogue those stamps!!  I have distressed the edge with pink acrylic paint.  I have used a Spellbinders Parisian Accent motif on the left side and the other dies are Marianne with the small butterfly being a MS punch.  I have Stickled the heart and small butterfly and added gems to both butterflies.  The decorative pin I made myself and flowers are Wild Orchid.  I did tell my husband he could have it for his desk but he didn't look too impressed, I can't think why!!

I will enter it in the following challenges:

Just Magnolia - Pink
Totally Papercrafts - Layer upon Layer
Scrappy Frogs - Something that Flies
The Squirrel and The Fox - One for the Girls
Thanks so much for looking, enjoy the rest of your weekends and take care xx

The Music of the Night

Good morning everyone.  Hope you are all enjoying your weekend!! As I look out my window there is a beautiful sunrise the sky is very pink - can never remember if that's good or bad??  My card today is very reminiscent of my favourite musical - Phantom of the Opera, I absolutely love it. I've got the CD, DVD and seen the show several times so I thought it would be great to make a card which reminded me of it - why not?  I think it has a slightly Gothic and Halloween feel to it although it is not a typical Halloween image.  The image is a download from The House Across the Bay Etsy Shop and whilst it is not a Phantom image it just had the look of it I thought:

The cardstock is Black Magic by Coredinations which I have embossed and then sanded so the orange core shows through.  The orange cardstock is also by Coredinations.  I have stamped the music out, embossed and paper distressed it, this is a LOTV stamp.  I have made the flower from different fabrics and coloured the white pearl brad to match.  The gems at the bottom and violin charm are from my stash.  I have used my Edgeabilities at the bottom. The corner embellishment is a Cuttlebug die.  I will enter in the following challenges:

Raise the Bar - Orange and Black
Moving Along with the Times - Vintage
Paper Crafting Journey - Black, White and Orange
Paper Play Challenge - Use Black
Friendship's Garden - Vintage Halloween
Paper Pretties - Use Black, White and 1 other colour
Papercraft Star - Photo Inspiration
Papertake Weekly - Halloween Colours
Card Cupids - The Colour Orange
Lollipops Crafts - No Sentiments
Really Reasonable Ribbon - Fall Theme

Thanks so much for looking, hope you all enjoy your weekend - 2 days until my son and grandson come yippee, 12 days until Las Vegas yippee yiay!!  Take care xx

Turkish Delight

Hi everyone out there in blog land hope you are all ok!  I've been busy trying to get to grips with my Big Shot Pro, I realised when I ordered it I would need some extra cutting pads to be able to do Spellbinders and other dies which I ordered the same time as my machine.  However when it arrived I soon realised that I needed an extra cutting mat which I ordered yesterday and it came today - how good is that?  Thank you Cutting Edge Crafts plus it was free p and p on all orders!!

Todays card is a bit of Turkish Delight (yummy my favourite):

No its not a picture of sweets but a Turkish dancer!!  I have had this stamp absolutely years and years its by Rubber Tree Stamps. I think I originally ordered it from a shop because I had seen a similiar stamp used in a magazine and really liked it but I have never really used it to make a card with.  The papers are from Marianne and the dies I have used are all Spellbinders.  The bling embellishment I bought the other day from Fiona Jennings' Etsy Store - excellent service thank you Fiona.  I coloured it to match my paper with Copics and I also coloured the gem stones I put on the paper to match. The flower I made, colouring the material with some ink from Brilliance ink pads.  I will enter this card in the following challenges:

Little Miss Muffet Challenge - Girly Girl
For Your Inspiration - Photo Inspiration (I chose the deep pinks and oranges)
Whimsy Stamps - Make your own Flowers
My Time to Craft - Punches or Dies
Oldie but a Goodie - Autumnal Colours Stamp must be over 6 months
Pollycraft Challenge - Girls Girls Girls
Totally Gorjuss - Bingo (Flower, Swirls, Bling)
Frosted Designs - Fancy Trims
If the Shoe Fits Scrap it - Girls
Crafts 4 Eternity - Colour Recipe
Thanks so much for looking, take care xx

The eagle has landed

Morning everyone another miserable day in paradise here!  However I'm not in the slightest bothered as I have had a very special delivery and I'm over the moon.  The eagle has landed and how, here's a little out of focus hint:

Mmmm looks more like a grumpy parrot than an eagle I hear you say.  Well this eagerly awaited addition to my craft household arrived yesterday and I can tell you I was soooo excited.  Here's another hint:

Yes that's right its a Pro (no not that kind!!) and my lovely DH bought it for me, I had been saving for it for a while (well actually trying to win it with my winnings from scratch cards but I think it would have taken me another 10 years!):



I can tell you he's a big boy, look at him next to poor junior:

So today I will be having a good old play and acquainting myself with the latest addition to the household teehee!  If you pop over to Julia's blog you can have a look around some other worktops all over the world its great fun and you meet a great bunch of crafters!  Take care xx