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

In the pink

Good morning everyone its currently 0542 and I have been up for 2 hours unable to sleep as I have the dentist this morning and I am all worked up!! Another 5 hours and it will all be over (I hope).  I go every 3 months and get so wound up I now have to medicate myself so I can go but the problem is I am then groggy for the rest of the day!! Because of that I have decided I may as well post now as I'll be a zombie for the rest of the day ha ha!  I've got a pink card today to cheer myself up we all like a bit of pink don't we?

Its an image I got at a stamp show a few years ago but like it because its nice and light its by Penny Black.  I think the papers are Nitwits.  I have stamped a bit of the image on the tag and added a thank you sentiment by Woodware. I made the flower following a tutorial by the Funkie Junkie which is really easy and I bought the crinoline from her Etsy store - wonderful service thank you Linda. The spacer in the flower I have altered by embossing, it was silver coloured.  I have done a little bit of sewing again and used my Edgeabilities and Stickles.  I would like to enter in the following challenges:

Sundays with Crissy - Thanks/Thanksgiving
Heart Song Inspiration - Use Flowers/Felt
Stamps R Us - Nature's Gifts
Anyone for Anya and Friends - Monochromatic
Stamptacular Sunday Challenge - Anything Goes
The Crafty Pad - Monochromatic
The Emerald Faerie Garden - Flowers, Flowers, Flowers
Secret Crafter - White plus One
Fairy Fun Fridays - Sugar and Spice
Jelly Park Friends - Pink and a Ribbon
Mami Doodles - Mother Nature
Crafty Purple Frog - Thank you
Well I'll go have some more coffee to keep me going, thanks for looking take care xx

CAS - how easy can that be????

Happy Monday to everyone hope you all enjoyed the weekend.  I decided to do a clean and simple card today for a few reasons really.  1) I'm trying to do 2 cards a day so I will have some to post next week when my son and grandson are here 2) I was running out of time as I have loads to do and I found an image I had stamped several years ago and 3) I saw it in a challenge on Feline Playful.  So I thought yes I can do that easy peasy, which I must admit is fairly easy and quick as the image was already stamped and layered but what was the difficult bit and I must stress very diffiicult is to resist the temptation to add things to it!! The ribbon box came out and I thought ooooh that would look perfect but no not really CAS then is it?  I did the same with some snowflakes, by this time I was suffering embellishment withdrawal symptoms - you know shaking, glazed eyes and slightly sobbing - so I relented and put 3 miniscule gems in the corner which made me feel better and I hope it is still CAS.

The image is an Aspects of Design which I have had many years and I have embossed it on red velvety card in white EP and layered it on silver holographic and green card.  I have embossed the snow flake design and layered that on silver holographic paper and added 3 little lonesome gems.

I will enter the following challenges:

Sweet Stamps - Clean and Simple
ABC Christmas Challenge - Unused Stash (Stamped Image)
The Paper Shelter - Must Use Animals
Creative Inspirations Paint - Clean and Simple
Stamptacular Sunday Challenge - Anything Goes
Bling it On - No Patterned Papers
Thanks for looking, take carexx

Micechievousness!!

Morning to all you crafty bloggers hope you are enjoying the week end!  Its just starting to rain here drat just as I was about to hang my washing out, guess I'll have to craft instead ha ha!!  My gorgeous little grandson and my son are coming up for a few days in just over a week - yippee! I know when they are up I will not be able to craft so I am trying to stock up on my cards so that I will still be able to post something!  Today I have a card I made some time ago with an adorable Lilli of the Valley image:

I love these cute mice stamps they look so mischievous or should I say micechievous?  I have coloured the image with copics and added some Hologram glitter.  I have distressed the seam binding and also stamped on it with a mouse footprint (too cute) and sentiment.  I also distressed the flower to match.  MS border punch and Nesties for the sentiment.  I will enter in the following challenges:

Frosted Designs - Fancy Trim
Fairy Fun Fridays - Sugar and Spice
Polka Doodles - Ribbons and Bows
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - Recipe
Lilli of the Valley - Warm and Cosy
Paper Play Challenges - Cup Cake
The Paper Shelter - We Love Animals
Die Cuttin' Divas - National Dessert Day
Craft Your Passion - Card for All Occasions

Thanks so much for looking, take care xx

WOYWW 123

Good morning everyone and here we are at another Wednesday which means we get the chance of having a good old peek at everyone's workdesk.  Mine remains disgraceful it has the remains of the last 3 or 4 cards on it plus some that have to be made plus some that will probably not be made!! Anyway, I will take a big breath and show you - here goes:

As you can see the boxes are still there I think I'll move them over to the other side then you won't see them next week ha ha! Brads and bling gems are from cards I've made as is the lace.  The paper stack was never used I changed my mind about a card I was going to make and the wooden stamp and acrylic stamp are out for a card I am going to make next.  The tablets are mine as I'm still feeling rough and need to try and clear my head for our bridge lesson later. I am going to try and have another serious clean up at the week end as I really have no place left to work - the other side is just as bad!!  If you want to join in the fun and frolics pop over to Julia's and leave your link there and see what all the other crafters are up to!!  Take care xx

Think Pink

As I am sure you are all aware, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  I think most people will know someone who has had to deal with this disease and our thoughts go out to everyone who is currently battling with it.  As a ward sister, I was always full of admiration for the brave ladies who went to theatre for their surgery and always marveled at how courageous they were.  My card today is for all these ladies and I am sure they all appreciate a bit of bling:

The cute image is a free download from Nutcrafters Designs and I have coloured it with my copics.  I have used Marianne dies for the tag, butterfly and swirl and a MS punch for the border punch.  Flowers are Wild Orchid and the papers are Nitwits.  I have covered everything (almost!) in Stickles and added some gems and lace from my stash.  Oh yes I have done some stitching (not very straight!!) about time the old sewing machine got a look in though I must admit I think it was a bit shocked when I started sewing paper on it!!  I will enter the following challenges:

Bunny Zoe's Crafts - Lace it Up
Cutie Pie Challenge - Bingo (Flowers, Punch, Lace)
Lexi's Creations - Pink for Boobies
My Sheri Crafts - Think Pink
The Secret Crafter's Saturday Challenge - Anything Goes as long as it Sparkles
Cuddly Buddy - Check it Out
Guylou's Inimitability - Breast Cancer Awareness
Jellypark Challenge - Add Pink and a Ribbon
Sassy Studio Design - Breast Cancer Awareness
Inky Impressions - Breast Cancer Awarenes and/or monochromatic
Tuesday Throwdown - Think Pink
Just Jolie - Think Pink Link Party

We're off to see Peter Kay tonight so looking forward to that, I'm making some soup to build me up for all the laughing.  Thanks for looking, take care xx

Mega Candy!!

Charmed Cards and Crafts have some mega candy they are giving away - look:

It will be drawn on 1st November - hop over and enter its worth over £300!!

Oh Christmas Tree!

Good afternoon everyone must say I can't believe its 10th October today my goodness where are the days going?  I hope you all had a lovely weekend and are all set for the week ahead.  We're going to see Peter Kay tomorrow night so quite looking forward to that!  I've made a card with Tilda today carrying a little Christmas Tree.  She is so cute and she looks so wintry and frosty that I just had to add some glitter - any excuse!

The papers are Marianne - Traditional Christmas.  Being a nurse I'm a bit wary of using red and white (blood and bandages!!) but there is a bit of green in there so its not too bad.  The gorgeous doily type square die I won in Tracy (Dies to Die for) birthday candy - thank you so much xx  The flower die is a Marianne die which I inked with my all time favourite Hero Arts Script stamp. I have used my Edgeabilities mmmm still in love with them!!  The sentiment is Inkadinkado. I have used Flower Soft around her coat and hat to look like fur. Ribbon, charm, brads and gem all from stash.  I will enter in the following challenges:

The Cutie Pie Challenge - Bingo (I chose the line glitter, sentiment and charm)

Marianne Design Divas - Use Flowers

Christmas Inspiration - Use Bird or Flower

Sentimental Sundays - Anything goes + a Sentiment

Pink Gem Challenge - Christmas plus a heart/s

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Anything goes as long as it Sparkles

Card Makin' Mamas - Fancy Folds

Crafty Ann's - Inspired by a Christmas Song (Oh Christmas Tree)

Thanks so much for looking, take care xx

Good morning bloggers hope you are all ok and enjoying your weekend but not necessarily the weather!  I have been a very poor blogger this last week but I have been under the weather for the last few days and it has been my husband's birthday and you just don't know where the time goes. I am still not 100% but feel better than I did so I thought it was about time to catch up with my blogging.  I am posting a card that I made a few weeks ago as I haven't made any for a few days now (signs of withdrawal):

The stamp is by Little Claire a Red Gingham Design and I have embossed it with silver EP and paper pieced it as well.  I have used two embossing folders for the backgrounds and coloured the snowflakes with copics.  I have a close up of the snowflake:

This is a whimsy die cut and I have coloured the pearl brad with copics also.  I have used my nesties to layer the image.  I would like to enter this in the following challenges:

Little Claire - Christmas
Jingle Belles Rock - Pink Christmas
Bah Humbug - Glitz and Glitter
Christmas Card Challenge - Photo Inspiration
Creative Inspirations Paint - Embossing
Dream Valley Challenge - Monochrome

I will hopefully get chance to visit everyone later as we are having my husband's grandchildren over for a bit of a tea party for his birthday so it depends what state I'm in later!!  Thanks for looking, take care xx

Whew - I've finally done it!!

Used some double sided paper that is!! Not much I admit but you have to take baby steps at first don't you?  Here is the card I have used some on:

The paper that gave me the palpitations is from an Echo Park pad.  The stamp is from Kraftin Kimmie which I have coloured with my copics.  I have used Nesties and, of course, my new Edgeabilities to mirror the Harlequin effect in the paper. The clock cut out is Tim Holtz and the ribbon and charm are from my stash.  I will enter in the following challenges:

Anything Goes Challenge - Die Cuts/Punches
Tuesday Throwdown - Halloween
Craft your Passions - Anything Goes + Ribbon
My Grafico Crafts - Halloween
Victorine Stamps - Halloween
Bows and Berries - Photo Inspirations
The Shabby Tea Room - Shabby Autumn Photo Inspiration
Gingerloft Challenge - The Colour Orange
I Did It Creations - Halloween
Lollipop Crafts - Halloween
Really Reasonable Ribbon - Halloween
Secret Crafter - Halloween
Delicious Doodles - Tales of the Unexpected

Thanks for looking, I will hop over and catch up with all my blogging buddies later.  Take care xx

WOYWW 122

Good morning everyone its a Wednesday so this is officially snoop day!  If you go over to Julia's blog and post a picture of your worktop today (go on don't be too ashamed, look at mine) you can also have a look at everyone else's its so much fun I guarantee it!  As you know I have been away in London for my grandson's first birthday and whilst I got back Monday I have found it a bit slow going getting back to my crafting.  I did start a card yesterday which you can see amongst all the rubble but I haven't finished it yet, hopefully today.

Most of what is out has nothing to do with the card I'm making its just left over from other bits I have now given up trying to be tidy in my craft room it doesn't work!  The boxes I made weeks ago are still sitting there waiting to be used and decorated - on the other side of the room are loads of cards waiting for boxes?????? What's that all about?!!!  There are several pads of Halloween paper which I am finding it so hard to use as most of them are double sided and I have a serious problem using double sided paper.  My palms get sweaty, palpitations and a slight groan and then the pad goes away again unused.  I am not going to buy anymore double sided pads as they are a serious risk to my health!!  Anyway I couldn't go and see my little prince without sharing a picture could I?? So here he is:

A big kiss to him - mwahxxxx I am hoping to be back later today to post a card of some description although it will probably not be made with double sided card!  Thanks for looking, take care xx