Saturday 31 March 2012

A cup of Spring Flowers

Good morning all!  Weekend again I swear they are arriving quicker and quicker, Christmas will be here before we know it!!

Today's card is quite a cheery one now that the weather has changed:


I've used a digital image from Ladybug Crafts Ink and coloured with Copics and Prisma Pencils.  I have added quite a bit of Stickles to the flowers but you can't see them!!  The papers are First Edition.  The flower is a new Spellbinder's die I got at the NEC. I have cut the image out with a Spellbinder's die and cut and matted the sentiment using Spellbinder's Dies I embossed the corner embellishment with my new WOW EP also from the NEC.  Ribbon, gem and spacer from my stash.  I would like to enter the following challenges:

Ladybug Crafts Ink - Spots and Stripes
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Cardmadfairy's Digi Days - Die Cuts and/or Punches
Fairy Fun Fridays - Spring Fling
Stamping with the Dragon - Spring is Here
Wags n' Whiskers - Say it with Flowers
Stamp, Scrap and Doodle Saturday - Spring
Shelly's Images - Stripes
Ribbon Carousel - Anything Goes

Well our new fridge freezer came yesterday finally!  What a pallaver to get it into the cupboard when we finally managed it I realised we had not taken the packing out of the motor at the back lol!!  Needless to say, it is still in place with the packing as we had had enough by then so we will tackle it today.

Hope you all have a fab weekend whatever you may do, take care xx

Friday 30 March 2012

Round and Round

Good morning - brrrr hasn't it got chillier now?  I guess we've seen the end of the tropical weather, hopefully not for the year though!!!

Today I have used one of my new stamps which I got at the NEC it is one of the new releases from Lili of the Valley:


He's certainly a little sweetie that's for sure.  I have gone for a round card for a change using my Grand Nestabilities for the shape.  I have coloured him with Copics and Prisma Pencils and paper pieced the balloons.  I got the ribbon from the NEC from Mei Flowers and the sliders are from my stash.  Flowers are from Wild Orchid and have been doused with some Stickles.  The little butterflies are made with a Woodware punch and glitter card but you can't see the glitter lol! The gems are from my stash.  I have used Milled Lavender Distress Ink to distress the edge of the image.  I would like to enter the following challenges:

Lili's Little Fairies - Anything Goes
DRS Design - Anything But a Square
Moving Along with the Times - Cute 'n' Cuddly
Divas by Design - Use a Stamp
Little Darlings - Outside
My Mum's Craft Shop - Stamp it!
Paper Pretties - Bling it
The Pixie Cottage - Cuddly Creatures
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Craft Room Challenge - Bling and Glitter
Stamp and Create - Paper Piecing
Fussy and Fancy - Anything but a Square

Yesterday I played surrogate grandmother to my friend's children.  It was grandparent's day at their school and their real grandma was working and her little boy was so upset that he wouldn't have a grandparent there so I went in place.  I had a lovely time they put on a little show and sang songs and showed their pictures of grandparents and we then went round the classrooms and looked at their work it was all really nice.

Thanks for looking today, please leave a comment if you are able to its always lovely to read them and take care xx

Thursday 29 March 2012

Easter at Delightful

Today sees the start of a new challenge over at Delightful Challenges and the theme this week is Easter.  Here is my card:


For my easel card I have used the gorgeous Cindy Bunny by Wendy which is available at Digital Delights here  and currently has 20% off!! The sentiment is Some Bunny from the Romance Sentiments Set also by Wendy and available at Digital Delights here.  I have coloured Cindy with my Prisma Pencils and cut and matted her using Spellbinders dies.  The fence behind her is a Marianne die.  The flowers have been made with a Woodware punch and have been glued and curled and then mounted on flowers made with a Magnolia Doohickey die.

Our sponsor this week is:


Joanna Sheen is giving the lucky winner a £10 gift certificate to her store!!  So get cracking (hehe) with your Easter creations and enter in the challenge and you may be the lucky winner - you don't have to use a Digital Delights creation (but we love it if you do and you can get some fab ones in the sale now) and if you do your entry will count twice!  Pop over to Delightful now and see what my fabulously talented team mates have created.  I would like to enter the following challenges:

4 Crafty Chicks - Easter
Charisma Cardz - Easter
Paper Play Challenge - Easter
Sarah Hurley - Easter
Fab 'n Funky - Easter
Paper Shelter - Easter
Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge - Easter
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Crafty Sentiments - Easter
Sassy Cheryl's - Easter Parade (Bunnies or Bonnets)

That's it for me off to enjoy the sunshine, take care xx

Wednesday 28 March 2012

Pass the chocolates

Good morning hope everyone is ok and here we are at the middle of the week already!

Today I have another of the the new Lili of the Valley releases which I got at the NEC:


I thought this was quite a versatile stamp and could be used for a lot of occasions even Christmas if you coloured them in Christmas colours.  I have used my Prismas to colour.  The image has been cut and matted with Spellbinders and the border die is X Cut.  The papers are First Edition from the "Daydream" stack.  I have made the buttons using my Epiphany button maker.  Ribbon and twine from stash.   I will enter the following challenges:

Pollycraft - Mmmm Choklit
Creative Belli - Three Shapes
Divas by Design - Stamp Something
My Mum's Craft Shop - Stamp It
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Bearly Mine - 3-2-1 (Three Buttons, Two Papers and One Ribbon)
Ribbon Carousel - Anything Goes
Shopping our Stash - Circles or Dots (My stash is paper!!)
Craft Your Passion - Monochromatic

I am going to get some DT work done today and probably some gardening to make the most of our lovely weather in case this is our summer!!  Thanks for looking and any comments you leave it is always nice to read them, take care xx

Breaking News Alert!!!:


I have just read an article on Yahoo that research in California has shown that eating chocolate makes you slim - Whoppee - I'm off to the shops to stock up!!!!!

Tuesday 27 March 2012

Whimsy Winner

Good morning everyone from a sunny and tropical Blackpool!!  I think I might get my bucket and spade out and head down to the beach lol!!

I recently was one of the winners on the new release blog hop for Whimsy stamps so I have made a card using the cute image which I received at the weekend.


I love her little hippy bell bottoms very 60's!  I have coloured her with Copics and Prismas. The papers are from Bo Bunny Country Garden (which I have 2 of lol).  The flower is from Prima and the little resin flowers are from Teresa at My Crafty Heart.  Chris sent me the wooden heart which I have coated with white acrylic and distressed with Tattered Rose DI and added some Stickles and a gem to.  I also added Stickles to the flowers but it doesn't show up very well - trust me its there!! The border punch is Martha Stewart. I would like to enter the following challenges:

Craft Room Challenge - Bling and Glitter
Creative Card Crew - Spring
The Ribbon Carousel - Anything Goes
Cards and More - Sketch
Belles and Whistle - Butterflies
Sweet Stampin' - Anything Goes
Addicted to Stamps - Rhinestone, Flowers and Ribbon
One Stitch at a Time - Anything Goes
Stampin' Sisters in Christ - Pile it On
Stamptacular Sunday - 3 B's (Blue, Butterflies and Bling)

Thanks for looking today, hope you have some of this wonderful sunshine - take care xx

Monday 26 March 2012

Oops I've done it again!!

Good morning bloggers wow - another day of sunshine, its like living in the Bahamas lol!!

Well I said on my blog the other day that when I started unpacking my goodies from the NEC I would probably find things I had forgotten about - how true was that!! The first thing was that I had actually forgotten to pick up my purchases from the stand!! The last thing I got was a larger embossing ball (don't know what its proper name is) and embossing mat from the Pergamano stand but I obviously did not pick them up because they are nowhere to be seen!!  When rummaging through my bag looking for the above items I came across the next gem:


What makes this worse is that I didn't buy one and get it home to find out I already had it I actually bought them BOTH on Saturday!!  This is the third time I have done this now.  At least I guess it shows that I liked it but they had so many lovely paper pads I really could of done with buying another one.

I have made a card with a new Lili of the Valley stamp that I got on Saturday:


I have used the sketch on Lili's Little Fairies for the layout.  The image is coloured with Prismas and I have used different glitters on the tops of the cup cakes but it doesn't show very well on this picture.  The flower die is my new Spellbinders Die and I have added some of my new WOW embossing powder to that and the Butterfly (which is three layers but that doesn't show well either).  The papers are Wild Rose Studio "Candy Floss". I would like to enter the following challenges:

Lili's Little Fairies - Sketch
The Crazy Challenge - Add a Sentiment
The Pink Elephant - Butterflies
Crafty Emma's - Photo Inspirations
One Stitch at a Time - Anything Goes
Stamptacular Sunday - Blues, Bling and Butterflies
Crafty Creations - Photo Inspiration

We had a nice day yesterday, went for a walk with my sister and her partner along an old railway line beside the estuary and then had a pub tea in the beer garden!  I couldn't believe that you were sat out in summer clothes (not me I'm always cold) surrounded by daffodils - how weird is that??

I am going to try and do some commenting now Blogger would not let me first thing was doing all sorts of silly things maybe he's calmed down now (notice how we all refer to Blogger as a male - I wonder why??!!). Thanks for looking and take care xx

Sunday 25 March 2012

British Summertime Begins - yippee!!

Well I hope you all remembered to change your clocks this morning and were up bright and early to enjoy another day of sunshine and lighter evenings!!

I'm all shopped out now after my day at the NEC, got all sorts of goodies (some I probably will only use once lol!!).  I managed to get my hands on some of the new Lili of the Valley stamps which aren't being released til later in the week.  I was hoping to get some Molly Blooms but they didn't have a stall so I was a bit disappointed with that as I now have an embargo on any more craft products after yesterday!!  I'm going to have a good old play today as everything is still in my shopping bag because my DH picked me up from the train station and we went straight out for a meal!  I'm sure when I unpack I will discover things that I forgot I bought!!

Anyway here is today's card which is another sweet digital image from Wee Stamps:


He certainly looks surprised and he's on one of my favourite spring flowers - Lily of the Valley they smell so pretty and are so dainty.  I used to have some in my garden but they have all disappeared now I should get some more I suppose.  I have used First Edition papers "Birdsong" and coloured the image with Prisma Pencils.  The sentiment is from Lili of the Valley and I have cut and matted the image and sentiment with Spellbinders.  The flower is a Spellbinders die, Birdhouse and Bird a Marianne die, Border punch a EK Success, big butterfly is Martha Stewart and the smaller ones are a Woodware punch.  The gem and spacer are from my stash. I would like to enter the following challenges:

Paper Sundaes - Spring Blossoms
Sentimental Sundaes - Easter or Spring
Cardmadfairy Digi Days - Add a Sentiment
Phindy's Friday - Animal Planet
Raise the Bar - In the Garden
Card Crafter's Circle - Tic Tac Toe (Flowers, Digi, Die Cuts)

Well that's it for me today, I always find the first day of British Summertime whizzes by with loosing the hour and I've got loads to do (play)!  Have a great day and take care xx

Saturday 24 March 2012

Just a quickie

Good morning everyone a really quick post from me as I am dashing to catch my train to the NEC!!

Here is a card I made a few weeks ago (the weather and garden have been beckoning these last few days lol):


The image is a wooden stamp by Inkadinkado highlighted with Prisma Pencils.  Nesties to cut and mat and for the sentiment which Kath kindly sent me - thank you x.  I'm afraid I can't remember the paper!!

Right I'm off now catch you all later, take care xx

Friday 23 March 2012

Spring Bringer

Good morning everyone hope you are all okay.  This weather we are having is glorious isn't it?  It was so nice to get in the garden and get it all tidied up and it was actually warm enough to sit out and have lunch - in March!!

Today's card is made with a delightful little digital image called Spring Bringer by Wee Stamps:


Isn't she the sweetest and I think she's done her job as it is definitely spring here! I have used lilac as that is my favourite spring flower and I have two lilac trees in my garden, one is lilac and the other white.  I have coloured her with Prisma Pencils and added Stickles to her wings.  The papers are the new release from Nitwits called Gratitude.  My border punch is EK Success and the butterfly is a Magnolia Doohickey.  The doily is by Cheery Lynn - French Pastry (love it!!).  The metal corner embellishment is from Wild Orchid.  Ribbon and twine and charm are from my stash.  I crocheted the flower and added another resin flower from My Crafty Heart to it.

I would like to enter the following challenges:

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - Handmade Flowers
Paper Play Challenge - Spring Colours
Crafts and Me - Spring Colours
Flutterby Wednesday - Open
Little Darlings - Colours of Spring
My Mum's Craft Shop - Let's go Digital
Simon Says Stamp - Bingo (Charms, Punches/Die Cuts, Ribbon/Twine)
Celebrate the Occasion - Welcome Spring
Ribbon Carousel - Twinery
Daisy Doodles - Tie it Up
Incy Wincy - Things with Wings
Paper Creations Ink - Things with Wings

Well hopefully it will be another beautiful day today, we are going for a walk (trying to get fitter - my shins are killing me lol)!  Then tomorrow an early start for the NEC - yippee!!

Thanks for looking and any comments you may leave, take care xx

Thursday 22 March 2012

Easter Treats at Delightful Challenges

Good morning is everyone ready for the heat wave today? I hope we're not having our summer in March lol!!  Today sees the start of a new challenge over at Delightful Challenge and the theme this week is Easter Treats - yummy!!  I have made an Easter Basket after seeing one on Bev's blog:


I have used the delightful Cindy Bunny which you can purchase from Digital Delights here.  I have coloured her with Copics and paper pieced her dress and shoes.  The papers are by Nitwits and flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts.  I have used a Go Create XXL die to cut the basket and mats out and Edgeabilities for the handle.  Here is a side view:


We are sponsored this week by The Cutting Cafe

and one lucky winner will win three sets from their store.

Pop over to Delightful Challenge now and see what my talented team mates have come up with for more inspiration.  To enter the challenge you do not have to use a Digital Delights image although we love it if you do and your entry would then count twice.  I would like to enter the following challenges:

Crafts and Me - Spring Colours
My Mum's Craft Shop - Let's go Digital
The Paper Shelter - Paper Piecing
Anything Goes Challenge - Get Ready for Easter
Digital Tuesday - Life is Peachy (Papers and image are digital)
Sassy Cheryl's - Think Spring
Sweet Stamps - Easter
Stamp and Create - Paper Piecing
Joanna Sheen - Spring is in the Air

Thanks for looking today and take care xx

Wednesday 21 March 2012

A Posy for You

Good morning everyone!   Here's a card I made using an image I have had for a while by Penny Johnson for Stampavie:


I have coloured her with Prismas and the papers are by Anna Griffin.  I have cut and matted her with Spellbinders.  The border punch is by EK and the corner pieces are by Cuttlebug.  The flower die is a Memory Box and I have used pearlised card for that and the corner pieces.  I have crocheted the flower myself and died it with Dusty Concord Distress Ink.  The little resin flower I got from Teresa's My Crafty Heart Shop. Her service is fantastic with really quick delivery and reasonable postage costs and these little resin flowers are very reasonably and competitively priced check them out here.  The ribbon is from my stash.  I used a liquid pearl thing around the frame and I have just notice that  I must have smudged it!!  Will have to redo it now!!

I would like to enter the following challenges:

One Stop Challenge - Handmade Flowers (I crocheted and dyed the purple flower)

Well today I am off to the Trafford Centre with a friend, just browsing for me as I am saving for the NEC on Saturday and then for my holidays!!  Have a good day whatever you are doing, thanks for looking and take care xx

Tuesday 20 March 2012

Let it Rain!

Good morning everyone and a big welcome to my new followers! Only one more day until the first day of spring - yippee!! And only four more days until the NEC - big yippee!  This has come around fast it doesn't seem two minutes since I was getting my ticket and buying my train ticket but it was a couple of months ago!  Is anyone else going?  I've not been for a couple of years so I'm looking forward to it, it will be great to have some new stash!!

Today's card is another Saturated Canary yes I think they could become addictive lol!!


I have coloured her with my Prismas as per usual these days.  The papers are Nitwits and I have distressed the ones behind the image.  The cloud die and umbrella die are by Memory Box.  The ribbon, button, twine and gems are from my stash.  I would like to enter the following challenges:

The Ribbon Girl - Aqua and White
Bearly Mine - Polka Dots
The Ribbon Carousel - Baking with the Twinery
Papertake Weekly - Bingo (Gems, Die Cuts, Flowers)
Pile it On - Up in the Air
The Cheerful Stamp Pad - A Windy and Rainy Day
Two Sisters - Spots and Dots
Saturated Canary - Twine


Well that's it for me today.  Hope everyone is well and enjoying the lovely weather, take care xx

Monday 19 March 2012

Award

I have been really honoured and touched in the last few weeks that several people have nominated me for awards.  I have not had a chance to put it on my blog with one thing and another so tonight I would like to put that right!

I have been nominated the Versatile Blogger Award:


This has been awarded to me by Denise, Lyndsey, May, Mags, Judy and Lou P thank you so much kind ladies!  When you receive this award you are supposed to:

  • You should thank the person who gave you this award.
  • Include a link to their blog,
  • Select 15 blogs that you have either recently discovered or follow regularly,
  • Nominate those 15 bloggers for the Versatile Blogger Award,
  • Finally, tell the person who nominated you 7 things about yourself.
Well seven things about me:
  1. I've only been married to Dave, my husband, for four years
  2. I grew up and was educated in Canada and the USA
  3. I used to do synchronized swimming when I was younger - before anyone had heard of it really
  4. I would love to be an opera singer but have a voice that could cut through glass!!
  5. I was a ward manager in the NHS before I retired and also did a stint as a matron - no jokes please!
  6. Harrison my grandson is the light of my life having thought I would never have any grandchildren I have now been blessed with him.
  7. I love Las Vegas and go every year (sometimes twice).
Well that's my seven things its quite difficult to think of things I'm sure I'll think of loads later!!  I am not going to nominate anybody for this award because I think there are a lot of awards going around at the moment so, instead, anyone of my followers who would like are more than welcome to take the award as you all truly deserve it.  A big thank you to the lovely ladies who nominate me and a big thank you to everyone who comes by my blog and for any comments you leave it is such a pleasure to get acquainted through cyber space with such lovely people.  Take care xx


Easter at Lexi's

Good morning everyone hope you all enjoyed Mother's Day in the UK and are all enjoying this fabulous weather!  Today sees the start of a new challenge at Lexi's Creations and the theme this week is

EASTER

I tried to make that look pastel colours but it just looks washed out lol!  This week we are sponsored by The Stamping Boutique who will give the lucky winner one digi image of their choice from their store and we would like to see all your Easter Creations.  Here is mine:


I have used the adorable Easter Egg Lily which you can purchase at Fairy Dust Crafts here.  I coloured her with Copics and the papers are from Nitwits.  The sentiment is computer generated and cut out with Spellbinders as are the image and mats and flower.  So get your Easter projects ready and pop over to Lexi's Creations to join in the fun and see what all the DT have done for some wonderful inspiration.

I would like to enter the following challenges:

My Grafico - Easter and Spring
Paper Pretties - Easter Blessings
There She Goes - Easter and Animals
Dream Valley - Easter
My Sheri Crafts - Easter
Crafty Ann's - Spring/Easter


Thanks for looking today and any comments you may leave take care xx

Sunday 18 March 2012

This That and the Other

Good Morning and Happy Mother's Day to all you mums in the UK!  I hope you are all going to be treated like queens for the day today!  At least the sun is shining and it looks like it is going to be a lovely day.

Today's card is one I have made using a Penny Black image:


I stamped him with Memento and coloured him with my Prismas.  I have put some Glossy Accents on the ladybug but it doesn't really show up.  The papers are by First Edition and the flowery one is glittered but you can't really see that either!  I have cut and matted the image with my Spellbinders Label (don't know which number).  I have used my new cloud dies from Memory Box which I saw on Vicky's blog and had to have (she always uses lovely dies which I then get -  costs me a fortune)!  The clouds have been edged in Stickles.  The butterfly and flower base are Doohickey dies and the flower is a Marianne die, the gem inside the flower and the pearls are from my stash.  I would like to enter the following challenges:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - This That and the Other
Sundays with Crissy - Animals
Pan Pastel Challenge - Add a Flower
Penny Black and More - Spring Time
Allsorts Challenge - Three in a Row
One Stop Craft Challenge - Hand made Flowers
Delicious Doodles - The Wonder of Life

Well I am going to have a nice relaxing day (nothing new there, lol), my daughter is coming over to take me to lunch at the new place inside the Empress Ballroom in the Winter Gardens.  Hope you are all spoiled rotten today and have a fab day, take care xx

Saturday 17 March 2012

One for the Girls

Good morning everyone hope you are all fine and dandy!!

Today I have gone with a really girly card which of course involves lots of pink and glitter and, of course, Tilda:




I'm finding all my pictures lately are looking a bit washed out, IRL the image has a lot more depth of colour than you can see on this picture - honest!!  For the image I have used Tilda and cut and matted her using Spellbinders.  The card has been cut using a Go Kreate XXL.  I have coloured Tilda with my Prisma Pencils (there's a surprise lol).  The flowers and Crown Pin are from Wild Orchid Crafts.  I have added little butterflies which have been cut using a really old punch which I think is a Woodware one.  The heart is from a  Marianne die and has been slightly distressed with Shabby Shutters DI.  I have sponged some white acrylic on the cheesecloth behind the image.  The banner has been cut from a Dienamics die and I don't know who makes the sentiment it is an old wood mounted one but no name on it (probably from QVC years ago).  The papers are Wild Rose Studio "Candy floss" I have used two different ones but you can't really see that too well.  Stickles to the flowers and the border punch is Martha Stewart.

I would like to enter the following challenges:-

Dutch Magnolia Lovers - Spring is in the Air
Just Some Lines - Spring Cleaning (Items over 6 months - stamp, papers, flowers,butterfly punch, heart die)
Totally Gorjuss - Spring
Crafty Purple Frog - Pink and Girly
Do You Stack Up - Favourite Colour (Gotta be Pink!!)
Little Miss Muffet - Easel, Shaped or Step Card
Little Darlings - Colours of Spring
Papertake Weekly - For the Girls
Totally Stampalicious - A Bouquet of Flowers

Yesterday I showed you what Harry was up to in my craft room.  Well Louis, my third cat, decided to get in on the action:


He is one big mahoosive cat so when he sprawls out you have no chance!! But why do they always insist on  lying on your work??  He was a rescue cat and although he is a really big giant of a cat he is the most gentlest cat I have ever seen.  He never tries to scratch or bite you no matter what you do.  He never wanders away from the house and rarely even goes to the bottom of the garden only if one of  us is with him.  I have a third cat but she is the most nervous and neurotic cat, she was my first born and will be 16 this year but she is afraid of her own shadow and would never jump up on the worktop!
Hope you all enjoy your weekend whatever you are up to and hopefully we will all see a bit of sunshine.  Thanks so much for visiting I appreciate it and please leave a comment - take care xx

Friday 16 March 2012

Butterflies and Fairies

Good morning bloggers and here we are again at the threshold of another weekend!!  My daughter is coming over to take me out for lunch on Sunday, we are going to the Winter Gardens I think the Empress Ballroom as there is a new Weatherspoons there.

Today's card is a step card that I have made for a special friend following this week's theme at Lili's Little Fairies:



The theme is Butterflies and Fairies.  I have coloured my image with my Prisma Pencils and cut and matted her using Spellbinders.  The large butterfly is a Spellbinder and I have cut it so it opens out to use for your greeting:


I have put a couple of little butterflies on the flower arrangement.  The flowers are by Wild Orchid and the papers are First Edition.  I would like to enter the following challenges:

Lili's Little Fairies - Butterflies and Fairies
Frosted Designs - Things with Wings
Fussy and Fancy - Fairies
Stamping with the Dragon -  Things with Wings
Crafts 4 Eternity - Colour Recipe
My Mum's Craft Shop - Mum's the Word (Special Friend)
Papertake Weekly Challenge - For the Girls/Mum
Hooked on Craft - More than One Fold
Love to Create - About the Ladies
Let's Ink it Up - Show us your Flowers

I had a little helper yesterday when I was making my card:


Harry would not leave me alone (???!!) I think it was only because Dave was out so I was second choice.  He jumped up there three times and on the third time I gave up and left him.  He doesn't look too bad there but then he turned around with his back to me and spread himself all over my die cuts you can see there that I had painstakingly cut out.  Then he started to wiggle and move around so the tin of Prismas you can see there ended up on the floor!!  I had enough by then so tried to get rid of him and I got a swipe and the back of my hand scratched!!  I think today I'll just give him the Prismas and tell him to get on with it lol!!

Well thanks for looking, have a good day and take care xx


Thursday 15 March 2012

Someone Special at Delightful Challenges

Good morning everyone I'm up bright and early because Harry, cat No 2, wouldn't leave my husband alone all last night.  Today sees the start of a new challenge at Delightful Challenges and the theme this week is to make a card for

Someone Special

You don't have to use a Digital Delights image but if you do your card can be entered twice!!  Here is the card I made this week:


What a cutie little Time for Tea BooBoo is you can purchase him at Digital Delights here.  I have coloured him with my Copics and paper pieced the tea cup using the spotty background paper.  The papers are all Nitwits and I have used Coredinations Card Stock.  I have computer generated the sentiments onto Wendy's ticket sentiments from Digital Delights.  The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts and the little tea pot charm is from E Bay.  This week we are sponsored by Stamping Scrapping:

and they are giving one lucky winner a Spellbinders compatible set.  Please go over to Delightful Challenges and have a look at what the other DT members have come up with, there are some great designs!!  I would like to enter the following challenges:

Celebrate the Occasion - Use Metal, Any Occasion
Karen's Doodles Netherlands - Just Because
Shopping our Stash - Food or Beverage Related
Top Tip Tuesday - Mother's Day/Craft Buddy make a girly creation
Crafty Bloggers - Floral
Paper Makeup Stamps - Critters
Forever Friends - Add a Charm
Simon Says Stamp and Show - Anything Goes
Stampalicious - A Bouquet of Flowers
Allsorts - Say it with Flowers

Thanks for looking today and any comments you may leave - take care xx

Wednesday 14 March 2012

Something New (for me)

Morning everyone hope you are ok, well the sun did come out to play for a while later on yesterday so fingers crossed for today!

I have made my first card using a Saturated Canary digi image as I always think they look so pretty when other people do them.  I made it with the challenge in mind over at Saturated Canary which is to use a doily although you can't see that much of mine lol!!


Yep its that lace again!!  I have coloured her with my Prisma pencils, I am really enjoying colouring with these at the moment my poor little Copics don't get a look in!!  I have used some Stickles on her wings and petticoat and some Glossy Accents to those gorgeous eyes!!  I have used a Marianne die for the flowers which I edged in Distress Inks and then placed on my new Doohickey die.  The butterfly is also a new Doohickey die (that's why you are seeing him on all my cards at the mo lol).  The papers are First Edition.  The gem trim was from Christine - thank you so much - I have only very frugally used a bit of it!!  I have cut and matted the image using Spellbinders and my doily which you can just see peeking out is from Spellbinders Lacy Doily motifs.  I really enjoyed colouring her and have already done her in a different colour for another card!!  I think you will be seeing more of these lovely images from me!!  I would like to enter the following challenges:

Saturated Canary - Use a Doily
The Pixie Cottage - Perfect Pastels
Crafty Sentiment - Things with Wings
Timeless Tuesday - Lace and Scallops
Crafty Bloggers Network - Floral
Love to Create - About the Ladies
Totally Stampalicious - Flowers
One Stitch at a Time - Use a Digi
Allsorts Challenge Blog - Say it with Flowers
Fussy and Fancy Friday - Fairies

That's it for me, thanks for visiting and your lovely comments which are always so nice to read - take care xx

Tuesday 13 March 2012

Oh so Blue

Good morning all - what's happened to all the lovely sunshine??  The sun has certainly got his hat on and his boots and overcoat 'cause I haven't seen him in a day or two!! I went to the Garden Centre yesterday and they had bedding plants out I thought that was a bit dicey as I'm sure we've not seen the last of Jack Frost this year. I only went for cardstock anyway (there's a craft shop in the garden centre in case you are wondering).

Today's card is rather blue hence the title of my post today:


I wanted to do a card for the challenge over at Lili's Little Fairies and I started one at the weekend which is still lying half finished on my worktop but I wasn't pleased with it at all.  So yesterday I decided  roughly what I wanted to do and went to the haberdashery to get some of this lace which I love to bits - I have some already in beige.  It's quite expensive but I only get 1/2 a metre and that will do for three cards.  It's so fine and delicate really pretty and looks like antique lace IRL.  The ribbon behind the image is gathered already so I knew what I wanted to do which is to make it look like an embroidery hoop.  I have coloured with Prisma Pencils and the glitter is Art Institute which looks so good IRL really sparkly!!  The papers are by Nitwits and I have paper distressed the pattern one behind the image.  I have cut and matted the image with Spellbinders.  The base for the flower and the butterfly are my new Doohickey dies and the flower is by Wild Orchid.

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Lili's Little Fairies - Ribbon and Lace
Simon Says Stamp and Show - Anything Goes
Catered Crop - Use Ribbon
A Gem of a Challenge - Perfect Pastels
Charisma Cardz Challenge - Ribbon, Ribbon, Ribbon
Flutterby Wednesday - Spring
Ladybug Crafts Ink - Anything Goes
Sweet Stamps - Think Spring
Glitter Geeks - Spring is in the Air

That's it for me today, hope you all have a good day and take care xx

Monday 12 March 2012

What's on the menu today?

Good morning hope you all enjoyed your weekend and are fully refreshed for the week ahead.  I was doing some blog hopping yesterday and say the challenge over at Teddy Bo's and thought mmm that looks interesting.  It was a menu and you had to choose one item from starter, main, dessert and coffee.  So I decided to do a card for that as I have not used a Teddy Bo for a while and I do love them.  I always find it so helpful when you make a card for a specific challenge and it really helped kick my mojo back in gear.  Here is the card:


I have coloured the digital Teddy Bo image with Prisma pencils and the papers are digital by Raspberry Road.  The image is cut out with a Spellbinders die.  The tag, fence and butterfly are all Marianne dies.  I'm not sure who makes the border, possibly Nellie Snellen, and the corners are one of the first dies I got when I got my Cuttlebug and are by Cuttlebug I have just rediscovered them.  The sentiment is computer generated.

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Teddy Bo Challenge - Menu (Green and Cream, Butterflies, Ribbon and Tag
Catered Crop - Use Ribbon
One Stitch at a Time - Use a Digi
Sentimental Sundays - Go Green or Recycle
Phindy's Friday Challenge - Monochromatic Green
Raise the Bar - Go Green
Digi Doodle Challenge - Animals
Do You Stack Up? - Go Green
Inky Impressions - Use Green
Crafty Sentiments - Bears
Paper Makeup Stamps - Critters

A big hello and thank you to my new follower.  Hope everyone is ok and thanks for looking, take care xx

Sunday 11 March 2012

Good Ol' Tilda!

Good morning everyone and a big welcome to my new follower! I'm slightly a bit worse for wear this morning if you know what I mean!! We had a lovely time with my daughter and her partner last night so today will be a nice relaxing day and hopefully crafty day!!  I have got a Tilda card today, again I made this a few weeks ago.  I did make a card yesterday but didn't take a picture of it yet I'm still not sure about it.  So today I in order to kick start my mojo I have got a Saturated Canary image to use.  I just bought it on Friday as I have really loved them when I see them on other people's blogs so I thought it would be good to try something new.  I'm a bit nervous about colouring her though as all the ones I have seen are by people who are so brilliant at colouring but I shall give it a go.  Anyway enough waffle from me here is my Tilda:


Got your sunglasses on?  She is very bright isn't she I think I may have gone overboard on the yellow lol!  I have coloured her with my Copics and added Stickles here and there.  The heart die is a from Marianne, the doily die from Cheery Lynn and the sentiment tags are an old punch I have had a long time I think it may be Woodware. The dew drops are from E Bay and I coloured them with Alcohol Ink.  The little resin flower is from Prima and the sentiments are from Pink Petticoat.  The paper is from First Edition and I have cut and matted the image using my Nesties.  The image has been distressed around the edges with Scattered Straw DI.

Well that's it for me, enjoy the rest of your weekend and take care xx

Saturday 10 March 2012

Birdie Song

Good morning everyone hope you are enjoying your weekend.  It's a lovely morning here in Blackpool and hopefully it will be mild again.  I have not made any cards for a day or two my mojo seems to have gone walkabout I have started them but then not really liked them or not finished them.  So  today's card is one I made a couple of weeks ago when I was having a cardmaking frenzy!! Luckily I have quite a few cards I have not put on my blog so I am hoping Mr Mojo comes back soon before I run out lol!!


The image is a digital from Birdie Brown.  The papers are from First Edition "Bird Song" - very apt!  I have used my French Pastry Doily die from Cheery Lynn, this die is so yummy.  The birdhouse is a Spellbinders and the stamp is a Whimsy.  I have used a Lili of the Valley stamp in the corner but you can't see it very well as I covered most of it up lol!  The seam binding was cream but I coloured it with some Distress Ink. Button, twine and gems from my stash.  I can't remember if I coloured with Copics or Pencils but I did use my Spica pen on one of the flowers which I don't really like how it turned out.

Thanks for looking today and hope you are all enjoying your weekend and the sun shines for you, take care xx

Friday 9 March 2012

CAS Again

Good morning bloggers and here we are again - its Friday at last!! These weeks are whizzing by before we know it we'll be flapping about getting our Christmas cards done.  I've made another clean and simple card again, I think they are a bit addictive because once you've made one you feel the urge to do another!!


It's another one that I have coloured with my Prisma pencils and the digital image is by Ladybug Crafts Ink it is one of their new releases that I got the other week.   I cut out the card, mats and image with my Spellbinders and added the little wooden ladybird from my stash.  Here is another view:


There you go - clean and simple voila!! I would like to enter the following challenges:

Paper Makeup Stamps - CAS
Fab'n Funky - Mellow Yellow
The Paper Shelter - Anything Goes
Whimsy Stamps - No Sentiment
Paper Makeup  Stamps - CAS
Lollipop Crafts - CAS

I hope you are all going to have nice weekends and the weather is kind to you wherever you are.  I am off to the hairdressers this morning (after housework) and my daughter and her partner are coming for dinner tomorrow.  Hopefully will be able to fit some crafty time in over the weekend!! Thanks for looking and take care xx

Thursday 8 March 2012

St Patrick's Day at Delightful

Good morning bloggers hope you are all ok and enjoying this beautiful morning!

Today sees the start of  a brand new challenge over at Delightful Challenges and the theme this week is:

St Patrick's Day Projects

Well it will be St Patrick's Day next week, so it gives you plenty of time to get your thinking cap on and come up with something for our challenge.  Here is what I have done:


I have used the super adorable Shamrock Pat by Wendy which is available here at Digital Delights and at the moment he is half price so hurry up!!  I have coloured him with my Copics and cut and matted him using my Spellbinders Nesties.  The shamrocks were made with two punches I have had years and this is the first time I have used them!!  The papers are by Nitwits and the twill ribbon from my stash.  We are being sponsored this week by:


And they will be giving the winner a $20 store certificate!  Hop over to Delightful Challenges and see what the rest of the team have been doing (you won't be disappointed).  I would like to enter the following challenges:

Do You Stack Up - Go Green
Pixie Dust Studio - Show us your Irish
Digi Stamps 4 Joy - Green
Inky Impressions - Luck of the Irish Use Green
Papercraft Star - Lucky St Patrick's Day
Sweet Stamps - Monochromatic
Love to Create - Monochromatic
Paper Pretties - Going Green
Paper Sundaes - Green or Good Luck
Card Caravan - Lucky Green

That's it from me for today, thanks for looking and it would be great if you could leave a comment too, take care xx

Wednesday 7 March 2012

Psycho Cat

Good morning all!  The title of my blog today refers to the card I have made which so reminds me of one of my cats, Harry (short for Harry Potter), who is a bit of a psycho cat.  He absolutely loves my husband and follows him around like a dog, when my husband goes out he waits by the front door for him.  I am convinced he is trying to kill me off (the cat that is not my husband) so he can have Dave all for himself because he will spread himself out on a stair when I am going downstairs and I have to try and manoeuvre around him.


The stamp is an old one by Magenta and I have used my Prisma Pencils to colour him and added some Orange Peel Stickles for a bit of bling.  I have used my Spellbinders to cut and mat the image and my Spellbinders Edgeabilities for the border.  The tree is Memory Box die and the little butterflies are an old Woodware punch.  Twine and button are from my stash.  The papers are Wild Rose Studio - Milton and Co.  I would like to enter the following challenges:

Paper Shelter - Anything Goes
Whimsy Stamps - No Sentiment
Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes
Totally Stampalicious - Spring is in the Air
One Stop Craft Challenge - Button It
Card Makin' Mamas - Let's see some Green
Raise the Bar - Twine



Here is a real picture of Harry:



This was taken quite a long time ago when butter wouldn't melt and I'm not quite sure why he's using David Beckham as a blanket - not that I would complain!!

Thanks for looking today, a big welcome to my new followers and thank you for becoming followers - take care xx

Tuesday 6 March 2012

Peaches and Cream

Good morning everyone! Yummy peaches and cream that is the theme for Lili's Little Fairies Challenge this week so I thought I would make a card to fit in with their challenge:


This cute little Lilli of the Valley image has been coloured with my Prisma Pencils and then cut out and matted using Spellbinders.  I have added the pearls from my stash around the image and the flowers and pin are from Wild Orchid as is the silk ribbon.  Papers are by Nitwits and I have computer generated the sentiment and used a Spellbinder die to cut out and emboss.  The card has been made with a Go Kreate XXL Die, I saw Bev do this and love the effect.  I would like to enter the following challenges:

Lili's Little Fairies - Peaches n Cream
Kaboodle Doodles - Flowers
Love to Create - Monochromatic
Let's Ink it Up - Show us your Flowers
Crafty Emma's - Flower Frenzy
The Poodle's Parlour - Birthday
Stempelsonne - A Flower for You
Paper Crafting Journey - Anything Goes
Crafting for all Seasons - Shaped Cards
Little Darlings - Pearls
My Mum's Craft Shop - Throw us some Shapes
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

Well it will be short and sweet from me today.  I have to go and clear out the conservatory and dining room ready for the decorator coming tomorrow and, hopefully if I have enough time, get some DT cards done! Thanks for looking and any comments you may leave, take care xx

Monday 5 March 2012

Mother's Day at Lexis

Good morning hope all you bloggers are ok on this beautiful morning!  Today sees the start of a new challenge over at Lexi's Creations and the theme is "Mother's Day".  It will be Mother's Day here in the UK on the 18th March so it would be good to enter our challenge with anything you may make for Mother's Day.  Here is my card:


I have used the delightful image Lillie with Tulips which you can purchase from Fairy Dust Crafts.  I have coloured her with my Copics.  Paper are from Nitwits and cardstock is Coredinations.  I have used a Memory Box die for the tree and flourishes, the border die is by X Cut and I used Spellbinders for the image and mat.  The Card Candi has been stamped on using their stamps which I won from Kath - thank you! Here is a little picture of the inside:


I computer generated the sentiment and it has been distressed with Milled Lavender Distress Ink.



We are being sponsored this week by Fairy Dust Crafts who have generously donated to the lucky winner five images of their choice!!  So hop over to Lexi's now and see what my talented team mates have done and enter the challenge!! I will enter the following challenges:

Daisy Doodles - No Brown or Black
Simon says Stamp - Anything Goes

Hope you all have a good day, thanks for looking and take care xx

Sunday 4 March 2012

New Technique

Good morning bloggers and a big Happy Sunday to you all!!

My new technique is just that I have been trying colouring with pencils only for a change and I must say I am enjoying it.  I have always admired Chrissy's colouring which is just done with pencils and I always thought it was amazing that she could do it with pencils.  When I first started cards I used to use watercolour pencils which I quite liked but then earlier last year I was introduced to Copics and loved them.  Anyway, I have been quite amazed at the results Chrissy gets with her pencils and thought I would like to try.  This is my first attempt and I know it is not a patch on the ones Chrissy does, however I was quite pleased with it for a first go:


I made a bit of a boo boo down at the bottom of the flower when I chose the wrong colour for some shading and tried to cover it up lol!!  The image is an old wooden stamp I have had years by Hero Arts.  My pencils were Prisma, I only have about 3 or 4 in each colour so I have ordered some more yesterday so I can get better variety.  I have cut and matted with Spellbinders.  The papers are Pink Petticoat.  The flourish is a Marianne and the sentiment computer generated and cut with Spellbinders tags.  I have used Milled Lavender distress ink around the edge of the image to soften it.  I would like to enter the following challenges:

Pan Pastels - Use a Stamped Image
Let's Ink it Up - Show us your Flowers
Pile it On - Spots and/or Stripes
CES Challenge - Flower Frenzy
Polkadoodles - Polka Dots, Stripes or Both
Stempelsonne - A Flower for You
Shelly's Images - Seeing Spots
Divas by Design - Spots and/or Stripes
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Sassy Cheryl's - Are you Seeing Spots


Well hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend, I am off to the pictures with my sister later tonight.  Thanks for looking and take care xx

Saturday 3 March 2012

Smile

Good morning happy bloggers and a big happy weekend to you all!! Well my fridge has gone to fridge heaven or will be when I can get rid of it.  Its only 5 years old I really don't think they make things to last anymore.  Its not like it had heavy use there is only two of us after all.  Now my Kenwood Chef is 41 years old and still going  strong (hope that's not the kiss of death for it lol) so why can't they make things like that anymore??  Enough of my moaning here is today's card:


I made this card using new goodies that I bought at the Trafford Centre Craft Event.  The stamps are by Card-io  Majestix called Emily's Garden. The corner thingys are Spellbinders Lace Doilly Accents and the butterfly punch is Tonic.  The large butterfly punch is one I have had a while from Marianne its so pretty, I have used vellum for it.  The card candy and stamps I won from Kath - thank you so much, its great because you can stamp any message out on them!! I have kept it reasonably CAS although not sure if it would actually qualify for a CAS in a challenge.  Here is another view:


I decorated the envelope as well with the stamps I really like these and think they could have loads of uses and I think I will be getting another set at NEC this month if the stand is there.  I would like to enter the following challenges:

Allsorts Challenge - Spread Your Wings
Guylous Inimitability - Things with Wings
Crafter's Companion - Spring
Sparkles - Things with Wings
Do You Stack Up - Things with Wings
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Everybody Art - Monochrome

Thanks so much for looking, hope you all enjoy your weekend, take care xx