The Anniversary Waltz (or in this case, card)

Phew another scortcher today, it was so nice we had lunch in the garden something we've hardly done all summer! Its Friday and the weekend is looming hooray.  I'm off in the morning to London to spend it with my son, his wife and my grandson Harrison who will be one on Monday. I can't believe its a year since he was born.  He was such a big baby 10lb 8 oz - went straight into 3 - 6 month clothing!! He is having his first birthday party on Sunday and I am so looking forward to seeing him.

Today I have made an anniversary card for my husband, its our anniversary in October and saw a digital sentiment on Whimsy stamps that I knew he would like.  Its a quote from John Lennon and my husband is mad on anything to do with him.  I think its a bit of a funny (not ha ha but peculiar) quote for an anniversary card I'm not quite sure about it but I've done it now so its too late.  I'm trying to type this with wet nails and its very difficult without smudging!  I have taken a few pictures as I made a new type of card following a tutorial from Bev:

This is the front of the Criss Cross card and here is a picture of it without the insert:

I can't seem to take a straight picture for love nor life!  Here's a picture (a bit straighter) of the insert:

See what I mean about the sentiment?  The papers are digital - Raspberry Road and cardstock is Coredinations. I have distressed the Insert with TH Antique Linen and Spun Sugar using cut n dry foam (that stuff is so useful).  I have used my Edgeabilities again - can't stop using them!! I will enter this in the following challenges:-

Charisma Cardz Challenge - Love
Paper Pretties - Sentiment as Focal Point
The Play Date Cafe - Colour Challenge
Cooking it up with Katie - Punch, Pair and a Pocket
Crafts and Me Challenge - Flowers
Lady Bug Crafts Ink TLT - Fall/Fancy Folds
Sweet Stamps - Criss Cross Card
Pile it On - Fancy Folds
I hope you all have a fab week-end I know I will :-], thanks for looking, take care xx

Living life on the Edge(abilities that is)!

Phew hope everyone's enjoying the heat wave shame it couldn't have come in summer when we were waiting for it! 

Well I must say  I am loving my edgeabilities, I'm going around using them on everything!  With it being WOYWW yesterday I have had chance to make a few cards so that I have a little stock of them now.  I like to have a few in "hand" as it were so I always have something to post.  My card today is a break from usual as it is a sentiment only card and my husband thought it was a sympathy card (cheeky devil) but I know what he means cause its black!!

As you can see I have used my edgies (no surprise there right?) and the sentiment is a digital one from Whimsy. The papers are digital from Raspberry Road but I can't remember where the script one is from - sorry! I have coloured some pearls with black copic and put them on the edgie but I used my tweezers and the ink musn't have been dry cause I got a little spot on the sentiment hence the pearl heart! grrrr!!!! But I'd already finished the card so I had to do a quick rescue. I quite like black and white because I think it always looks dramatic but I know what my husband means, guess it means I can't give it to him for our anniversary next month - ha ha!

I'd like to welcome my new followers and thank them so much - cheers girls!!

I will enter my card in the following challenges:

4 Crafty Chicks - Anything Goes
Charisma Cardz Challenge - Love
Paper Crafting Journey - Die Cuts and/or Punches
Paper Play Challenge - White Plus One
Inky Impressions - Punches or Dies
Kelly Kids Challenge - Anniversary
Paper Pretties - Sentiment as Focal Point
Simon Says - Anything Goes
Celebrate the Occasion - Must use Ribbon
Thanks so much for looking, take care xx

What's on your Worktop Wednesday? No 121

Good morning everyone hope we're in for another gorgeous day.  Today its time to sit down grab a cup of something hot and steaming and have a good nosey at everyone's worktops around the world via the wonderful Ms Dunnit.  I have had to have another tidy up as I had been reduced back down to 6 square inches to work in!  When I came to do it this is what I found:

Harry having a good old snoop around.  Anyway I shoosed him away and tidied up and look what I've got:

Yummy I''ve finally got my edgeabilities!  I fell in love with these when they were first launched earlier in the year tried my hardest to win one every day for two weeks but I think everyone else in the world was also trying so no luck!  I can hardly wait to have a play! Just to the right are some pins I've been messing around makingk need to get some more beads because I think they could be very useful!  Anyway if I have whetted your appetite and you're in the mood for more noseying around pop over to Julia's blog and catch up with everyone else.  Thanks for looking - take care xx

I'm so excited!!!

Yipeeeee my edgies have finally arrived!! I've been waiting for these babies for months ever since I first saw them on the Spellbinders site when they first introduced them and I tried to win a set each day for a fortnight - no luck. I've not been able to buy them over here as they haven't been available until last week when I just hopped onto Create and Craft website and whoa and behold they were the pick of the day! Couldn't get them into my basket fast enough!!  In case you don't know what I'm rabbiting on about it is the new Spellbinders Edgeabilities and they are gorgeous.  They all interchange and cut and emboss and really do everything (they're in the kitchen now making dinner - I wish!!).  I was in the middle of making a card when they arrived so I had to incorporate a little border into my card didn't I? Here's the result:

I also used my new Marianne heart die I won at Cuddly Buddy (big thank you) and have used Nesties for the image and sentiment.  The papers are Raspberry Road and the image is a Teddy Bo download. The charm is from E Bay here's a close up:

The sentiment is Hero Arts and the ribbon is from a local haberdashery shop.  Here's a side view:

You can just see some more of my gorge Edgie!  Well DH and I are off to our Bridge lesson tonight, its our first "official" lesson - hope we don't get homework!!  I will hopefully pop around and catch up with all you fantastic bloggers later!  I will enter in the following challenges:

Crafty Boots - Things with Wings
Critter Sketch Challenge - Anything Goes
Cupcake Challenge - If you go down to the Woods Today
Die Cut Dreams - Brown, Pink and Cream
Heart Song Inspiration - Use Ribbon and/or Tag
Incy Wincy Designs - Fancy Folds
My Craft Spot - Ribbon
Ooh La La Creations - Punches and Dies
Victorine Stamps - Easel Cards
Stamptacular Sunday Challenge - Have a Latte Day

Thanks so much for looking please leave a comment then I know you've been, take care xx

To Dottie - with love xx

Hi hope you all had an enjoyable weekend and are fully refreshed for the trials and tribulations in the week ahead!  I've another Christmas card to share today. 

I love this image and can you believe it is a free download?  It is from the very talented Beccy's Place and she has loads of free images. This reminds me of where I grew up in Massacusetts and it looks so cosy.  I have coloured it with copics and added True Snow and Twinklets to the ground.  The flower is a Marianne die, a Nestie for the frame and the tag is a Doohickey.  Speaking of dies I received my new ones from Cuddly Buddy which I won in their challenge last week (big thank you) and can hardly wait to play - I think you will be seeing a lot of die cuts from me this week!

I will enter in the following challenges:

Winter Wonderland - Across the Miles
Bows and Berries - Glitter
Paper Makup Stamps - Size Matters (must re-size digi, I made mine smaller)
There's Magic in the Air - Punches and Dies (use at least 3)
Weekly Christmas Card Challenge - Handmade Flowers

Thanks for looking take care xx

What's that racket????

Hello there, well the week-end is flying along isn't it?  I'm looking forward to next weekend because it is my grandson Harrison's First Birthday.  I'm going down for the weekend for his party and can hardly wait.  October is a busy month birthday wise or at least the first 6 days are because I have Harrison on the 3rd, my husband on the sixth and Nish, my daughter's boyfriend, on the first!  I've made my husband's card, started one for Harrison and I've made one for Nish today.    I always think it is so difficult making male cards so I was looking for inspiration.  They have only just moved in together and he has a full size drum kit in the front room (not for long my daughter says - we'll see).  So I had a look for a digital image on that theme and got a great one from Kenny K.  Well, the image is great but it was a b**##!! to colour in.  I don't know how long its taken me - I completely forgot about lunch (poor hubby he's had to have a piece of cake) and I wouldn't mind but you can't really look at it and see all the effort.  To be honest its run in several places which I've tried my best to cover up with not much success.

The sentiment is computer generated and the little cloud is from word art which I printed out.  The papers are DCWV and My Mind's Eye (Lime Twist - which I love but hate using because they are double sided - what a waste). A little bit of candy to finish it off. I will enter it in the following challenges:

Cardmadfairys Digi Days - Lots of Layers
Digital Tuesday - People Images
Kelley Kid's Challenge - Big Boys
Kaboodle Doodles - Lots of Layers
Thanks so much for looking, please leave a comment I always read them and its lovely to know you've been - I can visit you then!!  Take care xx

Chanel No 99

Hi there hope everyone is ok and enjoying their weekend.  Evidently we are going to have a heat wave next week! Yippee summer at last!! Can't wait just as we are going into October, about time we got our share of global warming cause so far it seems to be passing us by.

Today's card is made from a stamp I've had ages, I am still trying to use my old stamps as its such a shame when you buy new ones and forget about the others.  Having said that I've got new ones I've had a while and not even used yet.  Anyhoooooow, the stamp is by Inkadinkado, I really like their stamps their images are really pretty and delicate I've got a few that I really love.

I decided to do a thank you card and did the sentiment on my computer.  The papers are from a DCWV pad (scrummy) and I've added a few buttons from my stash.  I actually did the layout for a sketch so I will enter in into the following challenges:

A Gem of a Challenge - Sketch
Delicious Doodles - Cute as a Button
Our Craft Lounge - Designer Papers
The Poodle Parlour - Tea Party
Simply Create - Let's Eat Some Cake (I've got a croissant on)
Totally Papercrafts Challenge - Thank you
Bearly Mine Challenge - Button it Up
Paper Creations Ink - Buttons and Bows

I don't know if you remember but a few weeks ago I wrote that I had been to a perfume party at my sister's house.  Anyway this is the result, it came yesterday:

You designed your own perfume then the box and bottle!  I don't think I'll be putting Chanel out of business too soon but its cute don't you think?

A big hug to my new followers and hope you all enjoy the rest of the week-end, take care xx

Mellow Yellow

Hi there hope you're all ok and all looking forward to the week-end ahead!! I'm looking forward to seeing Karl Pilkington in An Idiot Abroad 2 tonight he's hilarious!  Today I've got another Tilda (love that girl) to share with you:

She looks very serene sitting there.  The butterfly is casting a shadow and makes it look likes the paper is smeared but I took 3 pictures and they all turned out like that so you'll have to believe me.  I have made the flower from tuille and cheesecloth and distressed the edges with Distress Ink, Broken China.  I got the idea from the brilliant Linda, she has a tutuorial on her web site The Funkie Junkie which you can see here and I bought the cheesecloth from her Etsy store which came so prettily packaged - thank you Linda.  Here's a close up of the flower:

It's only the first one I've done but its dead easy and Linda shows you how to colour them and does another type also.  My papers are downloaded from Nitwit and the die is a Marianne.  I have decorated the inside also:

The image is a digi I have downloaded from Whimsy stamps.  Hope you all have a fab week-end I will be round everyone's blog later to see what everyone has been up to (after the pub and a large glass of wine - yum yum!).  I will enter this card in the following challenges:

Tuesday Morning Sketches - Sketch
Little Miss Muffet Challenge - Things with Wings
Moving Along with the Times - Recipe (3 Designer Papers (you can just see my 3rd peeping out behind the image!), 2 types of embellishment and 1 stamped image)
Flutterby Wednesday - Anything Goes
Digital Tuesday Challenge - People Images
My Time to Craft - L is for ... (I've used Lemon cardstock!)
Crafty Boots - Things with Wings
The Crafty Pad - Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend
I'd like to say a big hello to my new followers Janette, Marg, Crafting Time, Avril and Lynn thanks you so much for becoming followers ladies - big hug! Thanks for looking, take care xx

LOTV Challenge

Good morning all hope you are all okay.  I'd like to welcome my new followers and thank them for becoming followers :-] xx  Today is the new LOTV challenge which is Aqua and White.  I have used a stamp from this year's collection and it is the first time I've used it.  I decided to emboss it rather than stamp and colour and I have paper pieced the baubles with some holographic silver paper which I also embossed but you can't tell too well.  I've done two pictures because it is difficult to see the embossing with my photographic skills!!

The embossing powder is some Moon Glow I've had yonks its really pretty as it changes colour in the light.  Here is another picture:

Actually I can't see the difference between the two pictures!  The poinsetta and bauble charm I have done following the fab Bev's tutorial.  The gem brad in the poinsett was blue but I changed it so it was more aqua and I've done the same with the pearls.  I will enter it in the following challenges:

LOTV - Aqua, White and Glitter
Party Time Tuesdays - Sketch and/or Monochromatic
Shopping our Stash - No colouring allowed
Paper Creations Ink - Buttons or Bows
Aly's Sunday Sketch - Add a Bow
Sparkles Forum Challenge - White and One other Colour
Challenge Up Your Life - Paper Piecing
Crafty Hazlenuts Christmas Challenge - Glitter
The Stamp Man - Monochrome plus One Colour

My husband starts his treatment today for the next 6 1/2 weeks so I am going to try and do another card today so I have some in reserve to be able to post if I don't have time to make any in the coming weeks.  Hopefully he will be ok with it but the main thing is that it works as it was so disappointing when the surgery had not cleared it all away. 

On a happier note I found out that I won Tracy's candy on the Dies to Die for blog whippee!! A big thank you to Tracy for the beautiful diesxxx  There is still candy to be won if you hop over girl sxx
Thanks for looking please leave a comment so I know you've been!  Take care xx

What's happened??????????????

Well I was almost too ashamed to take a picture this week after the beautiful ones I took last week.  My husband said just take it and say we've had burglars and they've ransacked your craft room, that's how bad it is! So I have taken a limited view of my worktop as it is really too embarassing to take anymore. 

I don't know why I can't keep it tidy, I was ok for a few days and then suddenly everything went pear shaped.  Anyway, as you can see I have decorated two of the boxes I made.  There is a card I am working on that you can just see the corner of at the top of the picture.  The copics were left out following a card I made yesterday (should have put them away when I finished). The twine and die and stamp set have just arrived from the lovely postie (he keeps bringing me presents, love that man!) I have got the die to make a card for my Grandson's first birthday.  The Christmas tree is one of several that I cut out from shrink plastic following Bev's tutorial, if you haven't seen it yet you should pop over. So that's it from me and my red face why don't you pop over to Julia's and have at look at other crafter's desks from around the globe, I can promise its highly addictive!  Take care xx

Well its a bit of a rush today I don't know where the time goes its just as well I'm retired now I could never fit work in!! I went out with Dave (DH) this morning and we were looking for a painting for the hall but couldn't find one (not one we agreed on anyway) however I did get the cutest string of skeletons for Halloween for just 99p!  They were half price because they had a couple of legs missing but I think that just adds to the scariness.  I'm in a rush because I have to get dinner ready and we are going out, we are starting to learn bridge and this is our third lesson tonight and it starts at 7 so I better get a push on!  The card I have to show today is made with a Cuddly Buddy image (rubber) I ordered a few a while back and this is the first time I have used this one but when I went to use it its not the one on the package!  It should have been this: 

Cute eh?  However, the stamp was actually this:

Another cutie!  I have coloured him with copics and used paper downloaded from Raspberry Road.  The Christmas treee I have made with shrink plastic following Bev's fab tutorial and added some gems with Glossy Accents.  I think you get a better view here:

Well not really that much better!  I have coloured the pearl brad with Copics to match the ribbon:

I have used a Nestie behind the image and the border is a Martha Stewart punch.  I would like to enter in the following challenges:

Cuddly Buddy - Recipe: 3 DP, 2 embellishments and 1 Ribbon
ABC Christmas - S for Shaped card to include Swirls, Stripes or Spots - I've used swirls
Kaboodle Doodles - Use lots of layers
Paper Playtime - Easel Card
Victorine Stamps - Easel Card
Thanks for looking, I will try and get round everyone's blog later tonight!  Take care xx

Should have gone to Spec Savers

Well that's what my husband said to me when he saw my attempt at some artful digital re-mastering!!  I was only trying to add soft edges to the thing and look what happened! The program I have seems to have everything but a simple soft edge so I've installed an old one I've found at that has soft edges - whew.  Actually I kind of like that picture I think I'll ask Dave to take a picture of me and use it - its gotta be flattering hasn't it?  Anyway here is a proper picture:

Mmm not sure which I prefer now!  Anyway the image is one of my new Lili of the Valley stamps that I almost lost last week.  I have coloured her with Copics and added True Snow and Glamour Dust to the snow on the ground.  To the falling snow I have used Pearl drops oops I mean Liquid Pearls (I think Pearl Drops is toothpaste isn't it?) and Glamour Dust to the Liquid Pearls.  The paper is my Papermania pad I found last week when I was looking for the stamps - so pleased with that find. The music paper is from Nitwits and I have distressed it.  I have embossed the metal corner and added flowers and lace from Wild Orchid.  Thanks to the fantastic Bev for her tutorial on attaching flowers, she is so helpful and has loads of video tutorials including one today for making shrink plastic embellishments from dies and embossing them.  I've been experimenting with it - a work in progress I think, she makes it look so easy.  One more "arty" picture from me:

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

The Corrosive Challenge - Punches and Dies
Gingerloft - Vintage or Distressed
CES Challenge - Use at least 4 different embellishments (I used flowers, lace, Corner thingy, Stickles, True Snow, Liquid Pearls, Glamour Dust, D.P. and die cut)
CHNC Challenge - Use glitter
Designed 2 Delight - Girls and Glitter
Sweet Stampin - Flowers, Flowers, Flowers
Paperworks - Distessing, Lace and Pearls
Christmas Stampin - Photo Inspiration
Magical Monday Challenge - Christmas in September
Winter Wonderland - Girly Christmas
Thank you so much for looking, take care xx

Another Tilda....

Good afternoon everyone hope you are all enjoying your week-ends!  Just a quick post today to share another Tilda card:

Isn't she a sweetie?  The papers are digi - Raspberry Road.  I have coloured her with Copics.  The flowers and corner thingy are from Wild Orchid.  I have embossed the corner thingy with embossing powder.  Dies are Nellis Snellen and Nesties.  I will enter this in the following challenges:

Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes

Paper Play Challenges - Punches/Dies

Fab'n'Funky - Bingo (I chose Flowers, Sentiment, Dies)

City Crafter - Heart

Die Cut Dreams - Flower Power

Karen's Doodles  - Check it Out

Victorine Stamps - Primary Colours

Thanks for looking, hope you all enjoy your week-end, take care xx

Bring me sunshine!

Hello everyone, Dave and I went out yesterday cause it was such a nice day and guess where we went?:

That's right we left sunny Blackpool and went to sunny Morecambe!! Look at those creases in my trousers - gosh!!  We had a nice stroll round and then went to Silverdale and Arnside and had another stroll.  Wasn't the weather fab?  Shame about today though.

I've made another fall call following the sketch on Just Magnolia and hAnglar & sTanglar challenge:

I must say I enjoyed making this card because I love Magnolia stamps, they are so cute.  This little Tilda is actually blowing hearts on the stamp but I masked that out and then used a little leaf stamp I had to make it a bit more autumnal and coloured her with Copics.  The papers are Nitwits and I have used Nestabilities die to cut Tilda out and also for the lacey edging.  The flower is a Marianne die and I have embossed the spacer on the top as it was silver coloured and I wanted it to be more autumnal, I also sponged the seam binding with some Spiced Marmalade Distress ink to change the colour to match more.  I then punched out loads of little leaves to make it look like Tilda was standing in them.  I will enter this card in the following challenges:

Just Magnolia and hAnglar & sTanglar - Sketch and Fall is in the Air
Always Something Creative - Autumn
Marianne's Design Divas - Use Flowers
Really Reasonable Ribbon's Ramblings - Autumn Theme
4 Crafty Chicks - Embossing
Craft us Crazy - Goodbye to Summer and/or School Theme
Crafty Purple Frog - Fall into Fall
Digi Doodle Shop - Autumn Colours
Little Miss Muffet - Things with Wings
Paper Play Challenge - Punches and Dies
Cooking it up with Katie - Girl, Green and a Group of Things (I used leaves)
Digi Stamps 4 Joy - The Colours of Fall
Papertake Weekly Challenge - Things with Wings
Lexi's Creations - Autumn
Critter Sketch (Enjoy the Journey) - Photo Inspiration
Come and Get It Challenge - Colour Challenge
Magnolia Stamp Lovers - Fall Colours
Catch the Bug Challenge - Use Punch or Die Cuts
Colour Me Creative Copics Challenge - Fall/Halloween Inspired
Mark's Finest Papers - Use a Punch
Thanks for looking, take care xx

Panic over!

Well I was so pleased with myself after tidying my craft room at the weekend and sharing the pictures yesterday on What's on Your Worktop Wednesday and then I almost went and ruined it all!  How?  Well, I received my new Lili of the Valley stamps last week and then dumped them on the pile on my worktop.  When I was sorting them out as I still haven't got round to sorting out a catalogue system I quickly put all my new ones in a plastic box in my storage system and put my Christmas ones in another plastic box - good idea I thought.  Anyhow yesterday I thought mmm I haven't used my new LOTV stamps I think I'll have a play.  PANIC!!!!!!!!!!!!! Where are they??? I couldn't find them.  Well boxes were tipped out, neat piles of paper were ransacked and even the waste paper basket (which was rammed full to the top) was overturned and I still couldn't find the little blighters!  Totally despondant I realised I must have thrown them out when I was tidying up and the bin men had been on Tuesday :-{ Well that's what you get when you try to be tidy I thought, better to live in chaos at least I knew where everything was then.  But as I was getting up to go and cheer myself up with some cake I glimpsed something on the back of the chair:

Ah ha - that's where I keep empty bags ready to put in the waste basket and, guess what - yes that's right, my stamps were in there!  I'd bought some stash from the garden centre last week and when I got home my stamps had arrived and I had put everything in the bag which I hung there when I was tidying and completely forgot about everything whe hey its like Christmas!!

I was so pleased that I finally got to play with them and this is the card I made:

Don't you think that image is so sweet? I love these papers when I was looking for the stamps I found this pad of papers which is A4 Papermania and I have no idea when I got them but whenever I did they were half price, they must be last years but a lot of them have gold embellishment on them and they are really pretty, I had no idea I had them!!  The sentiment is from Pink Petticoat, a digi download, and I have put Gold Stickles in between all the letters, I have also added the stickles to the rose in the middle but you can't see it that well.  Isn't mirri card a faff to photo its either too bright or you can't tell its mirri card, this is the best I could do.  I will enter this card in the following challenges:

Lili of the Valley - Red White and Green
Papercraft Star - Anything Goes
Digital Tuesday Challenge - Celebrate the Seasons (I did winter)
Ladybug Crafts Ink - Flowers
Heart Song Inspirations - Use Gliter and/or Chipboard
Woodware USA - Happy Holidays
Stampfairy - Sketch
Christmas Inspirations - Use Glitter
Pile it On - Layers
Delicious Doodles - Fresh New Start (I used new stamp)

I'd like to say a big thank you to Cynthia at Rainbow Lady's Challenge because I won the challenge and I received my voucher for Joanna Sheen today a big thank you to both of them!
Thanks so much for looking, and thank you for my new followers for joining I'm so pleased you joined, take care xx

Boxy Lady

Good morning everyone - hope you are all ok out there in blogland.  Another Wednesday and that can all mean one thing - its time to show off your worktops to the crafting world.  Since I had a tidy up at the weekend I'll be quite proud to show mine off for a change!  I tidied up all my worktops but had quite a few cards that needed boxes due to the embellishments so yesterday I had a box making session and here is the result:

The two top on the left I made on Monday but the card wasn't really thick enough so I went to the local Art Shop and bought some large sheets of 300gsm which is much bigger and made the rest.  I will decorate them to match the cards I put in them.  The following pictures are of my tidy worktops (can you tell there is a slight touch of smugness?):

Well I know its not pristine but its a big improvement on last week!! There are a few piles of things around but I know what I'm doing with them.  But take a look at this next picture:

Yippee - you can actually see my Cricket machine, wow I'd forgotten it was there! It was covered in cards and stamps which I have now put away. I've still not used it yet it still scares me however I have had a look at more videos on You Tube about it so I will get it out soon and start playing.  Unfortunately I have still not catalogued my stamps, I might share with you next week what I have done with them if I am not too ashamed (blushing).  Well that's it for me but if you would like to join in the fun hop over to Julia's blog and you can be the next to share your worktop.  Take care xx

Who's drab???????

Hello hope everyone is ok and not too wind damaged.  Its still blowy here in Blackpool but I've risked putting my washing out - if anyone sees any towels go flying by please let me know!!

The perfume party was good last night although I've got a bit of a headache today I think I sniffed too many nice smells!

Well today I have made a card that I will probably give to my husband for his Birthday next month, that is if I don't make another I prefer but then he'll probably get two.  Its not my usual style but it is in the kind of colours that he likes (drab!) and he likes anything old (don't say it!!!!) so I thought this would probably appeal to him:

The papers are by Raspberry Road and the stamp is Paper Artsy.  I have distressed all the edges, I distressed the edges of the paper behind the image with a paper distresser and curled the edges over to make it look  older.  The advert for the Cologne is a download from Twisted Paper (they've got tons of really good images most $1 each) and I've distressed it a bit more. I've distessed the mesh behind the image so it wasn't too bright.  Here is another view:

The key is a Tim Holtz grunge die cut which I have distressed with Crackle Paint and then with Distress Ink on top.  The little clock in the corner I have embossed with Tim Holtz Distress embossing powder as it was bright gold coloured before.  I downloaded a verse for the inside and added it on to more Raspberry Road paper:

I think the photos are a bit on the bright side but I'm not very good with a camera!

I will enter it in the following challenges:

Creative Stamp Friends - Card for a Man
Pink Elephant - Vintage
The Shabby Tea Room - Boys will be Boys, Photo Inspiration
Paper Sundaes - Finishing Touches
Totally Gorjuss - Its a Man Thing
Fairy Fun Fridays - Masculine
Jellypark Friends - Pass it On (to my husband x)
The Paper Shelter - Embossing
Thanks for looking, take care xx

We're off to see the Wizard

Well not exactly but I do feel like Dorothy must have when the tornado came!  I don't know about you but its really windy here, my craft room is in the loft so I can hear the wind whipping around.  My husband had to go past the sea front this morning and he said it was really wide with the water splashing right over the edge, hope everyone stays safe.

We're back on the Christmas theme today because when I was tidying up yesteday I found a cute image that I had stamped up but not coloured so I did that today.  The stamp is Lily of the Valley it is from this year's collection not the brand new ones but the last ones from August.  The papers are from Nitwit.

The sentiment is from Pink Petticoat and I have used a Whimsy die for the snowflake and put a pearl brad from Wild Orchid Crafts in the middle (ooh I've just realised you can see me taking the piccie in the pearl). 

Tonight I am going to my sister's house because she is having a perfume party.  I think its a new thing where you design your own perfume including the packaging.  I'll let you know tomorrow!

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

Creative Inspiration Paint - Ribbons
The Sweet Stop - Sketch
Crafts 4 Eternity - Brown and Blue
Crafty Catz - Ribbons
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - Children
Crafty Ribbons Challenge - Festive Cheer in September
For Fun Challenges - Kids at Play
Creative Card Crew - Anything Goes
Thanks for looking, take care xx

How much is too little?????

Whew! I've just finished tidying up my craft room well the worktops anyway and I must say it does look better.  I'll be able to take a much better picture for WOYWW this week!  I've put everything back in its rightful place and found some new places for new things!  I've still not managed to catgalogue my stamps that is a mammoth job and best saved for the winter me thinks (any excuse will do) plus I'm still not sure how I am going to do it.  I must have found 1/2 ton of scrap paper scattered around and that's what I wanted to know - how much is too little?  I keep scraps like we all do but where do you draw the line?  I have itsy bitsy pieces of paper that I'm sure I will never use and even if I wanted to they are too small so I have filed them in the wastepaperbasket - hurray! To qualify for being saved a scrap had to be big enough for me to cut something out with a Nestie - mind you I do have some very small nesties, maybe I should rescue the discarded scraps - NO be strong!!

Anyway before I started my tidying I made a girlie card.  Lots of pink and bling - yummy!

The stamp is by Stampavie (I think, see I knew I should have catalogued!) and I have coloured her with Copics and added Stickles to the butterfly on her foot.  The papers are Nitwits.  Lace, corner, butterfly and flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts.  The heart I die cut with a Nellie Snellen die and distressed with Crackle Paint and Distress Ink. The button I got from John Lewis the other day its really glittery but I don't think you can see it too well on the picture.  I have embossed the butterfly and corner with a glittery pink embossing powder.  I also decorated the inside:

And I also made a box as you really need to when you put flowers on a card don't you?  I've got about 5 cards waiting for boxes to be made but if I don't make them the same time as the card I never seem to go back.  I haven't taken a picture of the box but its got a 3D flower and 3D butterfly with bling on.  I might possibly give this to my daughter for her birthday but it isn't until November so I will probably make other ones for her in between!

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

Catch the Bug - Lets get Punchy
Marks Finest Papers - Use a Punch
A Gem of a Challenge - Colour Inspiration
JellyPark Friends - Pass it On
Pattie's Creations - Girlie Things
Phindy's Friday Challenge - Stripes Somewhere
Stampin' for the Weekend - Tickled Pink
Totally Papercrafts - Cute with Buttons
Delightful Challenges - Bling it
DYSU Challenge - Texture
Flutterby Wednesday - Must use Butterfly, Fairy or Angel
Kelley Kids Challenge - Girly Girl
Truly Scrumptious - Decorate the inside
Thanks for looking, take care xx

S.O.D. (Season of Death)

Well that's my name for Autumn anyway.  As I have said in a previous blog, I hate Autumn cause everything is dying (hence S.O.D.) and you know Winter can't be far behind. I used to hate winter even more but as I've got older I don't seem to mind it as much anymore, it can be quite cosy snuggled up in a warm house (providing the gas doesn't go up too much) with the curtains drawn and the candles on, not to mention a glass of wine!! So to try and make me feel a bit better about Autumn I have made a card to herald the start of Autumn (I don't think its officially started yet but it sure feels like it).  Autumnal colours are some of my favourite all earthy and warm - terracottas and greens - yummy.

The papers are by Raspberry Road - lovely papers all digital - and the image is a free digi courtesy of the talented Beccy's Place (there's a link on my sidebar) which I have coloured with Copics. I have stamped and embossed the leaves then cut them out and added them with foam pads.  The sentiment is computer generated I got it from Great Inspirational Quotes they have loads of free quotes and I printed it out on to Kraft Card which I then distressed. I also distressed the netting behind the sunflower.  I will enter this card in the following challenges:

Cardmadfairy's Digi Days - Add Flowers (must use digi image)
Paper Cutz Challenge - Pumpkin Patch
Stempelsonne - Brown, Orange and Green
Craft Us Crazy - Autumn Colours and/or Favourite Embellishment
Digi Stamps 4 Joy - Fall Colours
Scrapalicious - Fall Theme
Everybody Art Challenge - Autumn
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Stam-n-Doodle - Anything Goes
Daisy Doodles Creative Challenge - Anything Goes
Lexi's Creations - Autumn
Stamp With Fun - Autumn
Thanks for looking please leave a comment if you can, take care xx

Ho hum

Well I  have been waiting for news about my husband so I have made another card to kill time.  This time I made the card following a sketch which I have not done before.  I must say it is quite helpful as you don't really have to decide too much about your layout.  The sketch I chose was quite a straightforward one for my first (don't want to overtax the little grey cells)!

Another little Tilda, I really love Tilda images but my sister thinks they are a bit weird because they don't have a mouth or nose. I have rested her on the edge of the Nestie because she really should be sitting on something so I thought she could sit there!  I found her a lot easier to colour than the last one.  The papers are from Papermania "Christmas Time" and I have used Kraft Kard for the base and sentiment.  I have added 3 little jewels for berries to the holly on the sentiment but I don't think you can tell on this picture. Oh I forgot to add the Glossy Accents to the lantern before I took the picture but I have now, just so it looks like glass.  I shall enter it in the following Challenges:

Christmas Challenges - Sketch
Scrapbook Sisters - Ho Ho Ho
Anyway I guess I'll go and start another now as it looks like he may have to stay in overnight, take care x

Silent Night Tilda

Happy Friday to everyone!  Hope you are all ok and looking forward to your week-end ahead whatever you are doing.  I have just returned from taking my husband up to the hospital for a small op before he starts his treatment, hopefully he will be back home today if not tomorrow.  I have spent more time up there since I retired than when I was working! In anticipation of spending a lot of time up there today I started a card yesterday which I finished off this morning before we went.  The stamp is Silent Night Tilda which, although not new, is new to me and is the first time I have used it.  Although you can't tell to look at it, it took me ages to colour it!

The papers are Nitwits and the poinsetta die is a Marianne die, as is the Christmas tree, which I have covered with Art Impressions Ultra Fine glitter in Angel Dust.  I have put Stickles all around the cut out of the image and the sentiment and Flower Soft around her coat but they don't really show up. Here's another picture and you can see some of the Stickles around the sentiment:

 I will enter this in the following challenges:

Crafty Ribbons Challenge - Festive Cheer in September
Delightful Challenges - Bling it
My Mum's Craft Shop - Lots of Layers
Simon Says Stamp - Multifold Cards
Truly Scrumptious - Decorate the Inside of your Card
Scrap Creations - Winter Wishes
Thanks for looking, please leave a comment if you have visited I love to read them and I can visit you too! Take care, x.

8th September 2011

Hi there hope everyone is ok and on the countdown for the weekend (don't get too excited - more rain forecast).  I live in Blackpool and the Illuminations started last week-end which always seems to herald the start of windy, wet weather, I don't know how it happens but it always seems to be the case.  I think all those lights attract the storm clouds!!

On a happier note, at least it gives us a good excuse to stay locked up in our craft rooms/spaces/tables whatever (do we really need an excuse - absolutely not!!).  I had a nice time yestereday, went to the Trafford Centre and met a friend.  We did a bit of shopping and had a nice lunch.  I was back in time to do some crafting and my husband took me out for tea - what more could a girl ask for??

The card I have made is another Christmas card (well it is September) and I have used some stamps that I have had for a couple of years.  I'm enjoying this recycling whilst I wait for my LOTV stamps to arrive!  The images are quite cute and are wooden stamps by Judikins - I don't know about anyone else but I really like wooden stamps, they feel so nice when you hold them but I don't really buy them anymore cause acrylic and unmounted take up so much less space. 

The photo isn't too good, it doesn't pick up the gold embossing on the music script behind the images which I got from LOTV.  The corner thingamy jigmy was some grunge paper that I painted with Crackle Paint and added Perfect Pearls to.  The paper is Memory Box "Mistletoe" collection and I have computer generated the sentiment and popped it on a Nestie label.  Now I have actually done the inside as well.  I don't often do the inside although I sometimes do but don't bother photographing it.  But I have been looking at Diane's blog, who is one of my (few) followers and they all leave me such nice and encouraging comments, and she always does the inside (and back) of her cards and it does look so nice and finishes the card off so I have done the inside of this too!

So there we are - thank you Diane!  You can also see the music script better on this shot. I will enter this card in the following challenges:

365 Cards - So Not Me, something you don't usually do (I don't usually do the inside)
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - Children
Crafty Ribbons Challenge - Festive Cheer in September
Paper Play Challenges - Use 2 or More Stamps (I've used 3)
Little Red Wagon - Use a Die cut (I used 5!)
The Paper Variety - Use a Stamp
Truly Scrumptious - Decorate the inside of your card
Creative Card Fun - Anything Goes
Scrap-Creations - Winter Wishes
Ladybug Crafts Ink TLT Challenge - Anything Goes
Oldie But a Goodie - Christmas in September (must use a stamp over 6 months old, no digis)

Thank you for looking, please leave a comment and I can come and visit you!  Take care x

7th September 2011 - WOYWW

Gosh it doesn't seem a week has passed since the last What's on Your Worktop Wednesday does it? Actually when I woke up I thought it was Saturday so it was quite nice to have gained 3 days!  This week on my worktop is more experimenting:

This time I found some Perfect Pearls in my drawer that had never been opened (no surprise there then). The little butterfly things have absolutely nothing to do with anything they just came out of a nestie frame I did and they were too cute to throw away! For my experiment, I cut some Grunge paper out with my Nesties, painted it with Tim Holtz Crackle Paint (Picket Fence) and covered it with the Gold Perefect Pearls.  I must admit I think it looks really nice so I will use them on a Christmassy Card I think.  The other colours in the Perfect Pearls pack look really nice - they are all metallic colours.  If anyone has a good idea of what to do with them please leave me a message in my comments box as I'd love to try it.  I do have another picture to share but it is not of my worktop:

This is what I found after I stripped the covers of the settee in the conservatory to wash!

Anyhow if you go over to Julia's blog you can have a good old nosey at everyone else's worktop across the world I can guarantee that it is highly addictive!  No card from me today I am off to meet a friend for lunch and shopping - lol!

Take care x

6th September 2011- how distressful

Hello there hope you are all ok and enjoying the damp weather.  I'd like to welcome my new followers and thank them so much for becoming followers I will be hopping around to their blogs later. 

The reason it is distressful is because that is what I have been doing - Distressing!!  I must admit I am a bit covered in it, I don't know about the card - my fingers look like I have a 60 a day habit!!  However, I have enjoyed it and I could quite easily get carried away with it - mmmm where is that cat????

So anyway to get back to the card and leave the poor cat alone.  I have chosen to use another old stamp today which came as a set of four from Hero Arts.  They are all flapper style girls and remind me of a bygone age when my grandmother would have been young.  The papers are all Raspberry Road digital papers.  The post card I just one in the challenge from Cooking it up with Katie and came from Dragon's Lair Designs - thank you so much Beth.  I have wanted a post card type stamp for ages and as this is digital you can really play around with it and alter it.  I printed out using Old Newspaper edit and then distressed the edges with my paper distressor and some Tim Holtz Antique Linen Distress Ink.  I used an old script stamp from Hero Arts (must be the one stamp I have used the most) to add some writing to the Post Card.  I used some Kraft Card for backing and the frame which is cut out with a Nestie.  The corner frame from Wild Orchid (as were the flowers) I distressed with some Tim Holtz crackle paint in Brushed Corduroy and distressed it further with Walnut Stain (told you I was getting addicted!).  The leaf pin I also distressed but you can't see that so well and I added a couple of little beads to it.  Needless to say I distressed the lace with Antique Linen.

I will enter this card in the following challenges:

Heart Song Inspirations - Distressing And/or Use Paint (I did both)
Kaboodle Doodles - Use Ric Rac, Fabric or Lace
The Kraft Journal - Must use Kraft Paper and Make it Grand (my grandmother's era)
Woodware Challenge - Anything Goes
Catered Crop - Recipe (I used lace, digital image and die cut)
I Did it Creations Challenge - Girly Girls
The Order of the Opus Gluei - Roses/Rosettes
Stamping Sisters in Christ - Quiet Colours
365 Cards - Past (old stamp that I have re-used), Present (I love beige and browns) and Future (Post card - cause I'm going on holiday in November - yay)
Clearly I Stamp - Use patterned papers
Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge - Monochromatic
Fairy Tale Challenge Blog - Flowers and Lace
The Stamp Man - Travel (hence the post card)

Thank you for looking I would love it if you could please leave a comment, take care x

5th September 2011

Good Afternoon hope you all had an enjoyable week-end.  The Smurfs were good and we had a nice time at Stacey and Nish's when we went for dinner.  Today I have made a card using an old stamp I have.  I have been looking through my drawers (stamping drawers I mean!!) and have decided to start using some of the stamps I have had for a while as they get forgotten and some of them are really pretty.

  This stamp I have had for ages and was always a favourite as I think it is so pretty.  It was made by PSX and I have coloured it with Copics.  The backing papers are Nitwit (bought in the sale!!) and I have used Nesties and a Marianne die for the Butterfly.  I have added Stickles to the butterfly and flower.  I will enter this card in the following challenges:

Willow Design Sketchie Challenge - Sketch
My Mum's Craft Shop - 1,2,3 (I have used 1 image, 2 embellishments and 3 papers)
The Paper Shelter - Anything Goes
Aud Sentiments Challenge - Card/Sentiment for a Girl
Charisma Cardz Challenge - Anything Goes
Crafty Boots Challenge - Anything Goes
Magical Monday - Anything Goes (must contain magical/mythical creature)

Thanks for looking please leave a comment and I can visit you, take care x