Tuesday 31 January 2012

January Candy!

This is a sticky post please scroll down for newer posts, thank you.
To beat those post Christmas blues I have decided to give away some candy:


There is a 6 x 6 Paper Pad from My Mind's Eye - Stella Rose, A Memory Box Heart die, Acrylic Stamp from Nellie Snellen, Heart Pins from Wild Orchid Craft (in time for Valentines), some flowers from Wild Orchid Craft, a bit of bling I got in Las Vegas and some ribbon.  I will post anywhere.  You must be a follower already or become a new one, post a picture of my candy in your sidebar with a link back to this post and leave a comment below.  I will draw a winner on 31st January (I'll get my husband to select a number randomly - he can be random org. hehe).  xx

Monday 30 January 2012

Tilda Again!

Happy Monday to everyone!  Well today I have used the same Tilda stamp that I used last week.  I think I got a bit mixed up because I put some stamps on my worktop that I haven't used and left them there to be used  and I used this Tilda which I thought I hadn't used before but I actually used her the other day - lol!!  I have thought about using only one stamp for a week and see what kind of different cards I could make with the one stamp, I think that would be kind of fun!  Anyway here she is (again):


I saw a challenge to use pink and green and thought that was a nice colour combination I would give it a go so I hunted out some paper. The paper is from a gorgeous stack by K and Co called Sweet Nectar and I have had it years - I think this is the first time I've used it!!!  I don't know about you but I am a bit of a paper junkie I keep getting it because its lovely then I hate using it because its too nice.  The annoying thing is that papers do go in and out of fashion and some I have had a while are starting to look dated so I have decided to start using them more.  I have coloured Tilda with Copics and distressed the edge of the image with Spun Sugar Distress Ink.  I have cut the image out and matted her using Labels 12 by Spellbinders.  The mat has been embossed with a small hearts embossing folder.  Flowers are from Wild Orchid as is the metal corner which I coloured with Copics.  The heart is punches out with a Nellie Snellen die and the letters with a Tim Holtz alphabet die.  The swirls are made with a Memory Box die and the heart border with a Martha Stewart punch, ribbon from stash.

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Colour Create - Pink and Green
DRS Design - Hearts
Moving Along with the Times - Blooming Marvellous
Paper Crafting Journey - Floral
Cooking it up With Katie - Hearts, Punch, Emboss
Inky Impressions - Heart You
Little Darlings - Polka Dots
The Crazy Challenge - Flowers
Addicted to Stamps - Summer in Winter
The Corrosive Challenge - I Heart You
Everybody Art - Swirls
Oldie But a Goodie - Have a Heart (my paper is my oldie)

That's it from me, can't believe its the last day of January tomorrow!  If you haven't entered for my candy it is the last day tomorrow.  Take care xx

Saturday 28 January 2012

Little Winged Friends on Walk

Good morning hope you are all enjoying the weekend.  I'd like to say a big thank you for all your suggestions regarding taking pictures in the Wednesday they were very helpful!  Funnily enough today has been ok because its a nice clear day and the sun doesn't seem as bright as it sometimes is so it hasn't washed the picture out as much as usual.

Today I have made a new card with one of my new stamps which I haven't used before.  Its from Bildmalarna entitled Little Winged Friends on Walk:


Isn't she a cutie?  Slightly hippyish with the flowers in her hair lol!  I have coloured her with Copics and Stickles to her wings and the teddy has about 20 colours on because I didn't like the greens I used and tried to tone him down.  In the end I put some white pencil all over him!!  I have used Marianne dies for the flowers, leaves and button, Memory Box die for the wreath around the picture and a Martha Stewart border punch for the butterfly border at the bottom.  I used Nestabilities Labels Twelve for the image and mat.  The sentiment is computer generated and cut out with Labels 12 and inked with some Spun Sugar Distress Ink.  The seam binding has been coloured with some Spun Sugar DI.  The papers are from First Edition called Isabelle which is such a pretty collection of papers. I would like to enter the following challenges:

Crafty Catz - Things with Wings
The Stamp Man - Embellish It
Charisma Cardz - Pretty in Pink
Colour Create - Pink and Green +/- Handmade Flowers
Digi Doodle Shop - Anything Goes
Moving Along With the Times - Blooming Marvellous
Paper Crafting Journey - Floral
My Mum's Craft Shop - Flowers
Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge - Ribbons and Buttons
Stamp N Doodle - Include an Animal

Well that's it for me today, hope you are all enjoying your week-end.  Thanks so much for looking and take care xx

Friday 27 January 2012

Feeling Blue

Not me - my card today!! I've gone for a new colour combination well for me anyway, and I must admit I am quite fond of it!


Well what do you think?  I am continuing in my quest to try and use some of my older stamps more often.  I think we are all guilty of buying new ones and forget about older stamps which we still love.  I have new stamps that I haven't even used yet and I'm sure I'm not the only one who does that!!  This stamp is a wood mounted one (never buy them anymore they use too much space but love the feel and look of them) and is part of a set I bought by Woodware part of their Francoise collection.  I bought the set after seeing it in a Craft magazine many years ago it was so prettily demonstrated I had to have it!!  I have teamed it up today with some beautiful papers from My Minds Eye called Wild Asparagus.  I have used my new grunge corner stamps in two corners but I think you can only see the top left one!  They were inked with Tim Holtz Brushed Corduroy DI.  I slightly coloured the image with my Copics and added Stickles to the flowers.  The ticket sentiment is from Whimsy and the flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts.  I have used a X Cut border die and a mixture of Spellbinders and Marianne dies for the butterflies.  I cut the image out with a Spellbinder Nestie and slightly inked the edges with Broken China DI.  The ribbon is from my stash as are the pearls.  Here is another picture:


I think I prefer taking my pictures when it is dark in the winter as the colours don't get as washed out as they do in the winter sun.  I don't have a light tent and I would be interested to know what everyone else does.  I will enter the following challenges:

Digi Doodle - Anything Goes
Moving Along with the Times - Flowers
Paper Crafting Journey - Floral
Little Darlings - Polka Dots
My Mum's Craft Shop - Flowers
Truly Scrumptious - Something Forgotten (Wooden Stamp)
Whimsy Stamps - Pearl or Bling
Creative Craft - The Colour Blue
Sassy Cheryls - Light Blue and Brown
Shopping our Stash - Winter Blues
Fashionable Stamping - Butterflies or Bugs
Stamptacular Sunday - Seeing Spots

Thanks so much for looking and please leave a comment if you can they are much appreciated!  Not long til the weekend now, take care xx

Thursday 26 January 2012

New Challenge at Delightful

Good morning everyone.  Today sees the start of a new challenge over at Delightful Challenges and the theme this week is Valentine - Anything but a card.  This is so much fun because the possibilities are endless!  There are some amazing examples from my fellow team mates if you want to pop over for some inspiration.  I decided to make a candle and I did enjoy it:


I used pre-coloured Love You Larry for the front which is available here. On the back I used Love Me Love Me Not Sentiment which is available here:


As I said, I had so much fun decorating these and they are so easy to do.  All you have to do is print out the image on tissue paper, cut around the image fairly closely, put it onto the candle and hold in place with a long strip of greaseproof paper which you hold tightly at the back of the candle and then use your heat gun over the image until it sticks onto the candle - it takes seconds!  I have then decorated with a piece of Red coredinations which I cut out with my Edgeabilities and then tied a red ribbon around.  I used a variety of flowers from Wild Orchid Craft to which I applied some Red Stickles (I also put some on Larry) and added a little heart pin to the flowers and finished off with some pearls around the top.

If you would like to take part just head over to Delightful Challenges and enter, we are being sponsored this week by Whiff of Joy Stamps


prize details to follow.

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Inky Impressions - Heart You
My Mum's Craft Shop - Flowers
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Whimsical Design - Love themed Home Decor Project
Oldie But a Goodie - Have a Heart (my ribbon and card are over 6 months old)
Cupcake Craft - All You Need is Love
Heart Song Inspiration - Red and White and Ribbon
Incy Wincy Designs - Anything But a Card
The Pink Elephant - Photo Inspiration
Sentimental Sundays - Die Cuts (must use sentiment also)
CES Challenge - Anything But a Card
Little Claire's - Anything But a Card
Stamp Scrap and Doodle Saturdays - Have a Heart
Craft Us Crazy - Valentine/Love plus an Animal

Thanks so much for looking and have a great day, take care xx

Wednesday 25 January 2012

Lovely in Lilac

Morning everyone I'm getting a nice early start as I didn't post yesterday and I am off out for the day so I thought I would post the card I had for yesterday.  Its a new Tilda and I have made a birthday card in one of my favourite colours lilac:


So pretty in her little dungarees!  I have coloured her with Copics and cut her out with a Spellbinders die which I have used some Distress Ink Milled Lavender on.  There is a doily behind which I have also distressed with Milled Lavender.  I have put some Distress Ink on the flowers to tone them in with the papers, they are from Wild Orchid Craft.  The sentiment is computer generated and cut out with a Spellbinder and sponged with some more Distress Ink.  I have coloured the gems with Copics to match and the border is made with a Nellie Snellen die.  Papers are from Pink Petticoat and ribbon from my stash. The little dove was fabric covered but I took that off and painted it with Crackle Paint and then Milled Lavender DI to finish off.  I would like to enter the following challenges:

Crafty Bloggers - Distressing
Nettie G's Digital Gems - Spring (Pastel colours only)
Addicted to Stamps - Summer in Winter
Birthday Sundaes - Birthday Card and Sentiment
Marks Finest Papers - Birthday Card
Little Darlings - Polka Dots

That's it from me I'm off to get ready and out for the day!  Enjoy your day and take care xx

Monday 23 January 2012

Baby Bear

Good morning everyone - don't Mondays come round ever so fast? Today sees the start of a brand new challenge over at Lexi's Creations and the challenges this time is Fancy Folds.  For this I have made a criss cross card using the adorable Baby Bear which you can get here at Fairy Dust Crafts. The sponsors for this challenge are Stamping Bazaar and the prize is one of their digital images so get cracking with your fancy folds and enter the challenge to be in with a chance to win. I decided to make a card for a new baby boy, here is my card:


What a little cutie he is with his little dummy in his mouth!! I have put the sentiment on the inside:


I do like criss cross cards I think they look really good and are easy to make.  The digital papers are by Raspberry Road called My Baby Love Boy.  I have computer generated the sentiment which has been cut with a Nestie and matted onto a Heart Nestie and I used the same two for the image on the front.  The flower is made with a Marianne die and the heart border is Martha Stewart.  The gems and ribbon are from my stash. I would like to enter the following challenges:

Dream Valley Challenge - Animals
Sentimental Sundays - Die Cuts
Crafty Pad - Something for the Boys
The Squirrel and The Fox - Critters
Cardmadfairy's Digi Days - Ribbons and Bows
Pattie's Creations - Fancy Folds
Peachy Keen Stamps - Pockets
Divas by Design - New Beginnings
I Brake for Challenges - Fancy Folds
City Crafter - Pretty Inside and Out

Thanks so much for looking and a big Helloooooooooooooooo to my new followers, take care xx

Sunday 22 January 2012

What a plonker!

Hi there hope you are all ok, isn't the weekend going quickly?

Every time I see a chandelier I think of the scene in Only Fools and Horses when they are cleaning them and are standing under the wrong one to catch it when it drops!! I can remember laughing and laughing at that it was so simple but brilliant. After the scene when Del boy falls backwards in the pub I think that must be my favourite.  So why am I talking about Only Fools and Horses - because my card today has a chandelier on it!


Its a card I made for a friend's birthday which is today.  The chandelier is from my Tim Holtz Bigz die and I have painted some pearls with Gold Paint Dabber.  The image is by Stampavie a Penny Johnson Vintage (Chandelier) which I have distressed with some TH Antique Linen distress ink and then coloured with some gold Perfect Pearls which looks really gold in real life.  I have added gold Liquid Pearls to the image.  The flower is from Wild Orchid which has a Tattered Angel diamond spray on and has also been painted with Perfect Pearls and had some Distress Ink added also.  The beautiful papers are from My Minds Eye paper pad entitled Paris and Co. I have used coredinations card stock and my Edgeabilities for the border.  I have used a Tim Holtz die to cut Julie's name out.  The inside is decorated quite plainly:


A Nellie Snellen heart die which has been covered in Tim Holtz tissue tape and then distressed and a Spellbinders Label which has also been distressed.  I would like to enter the following challenges:

Craft Your Days Away - Distressing
My Sheri Crafts - New Things (My Tim Holtz Die and Stamp)
Sugar Creek Hollow - Go Girlie
Cropstop - Vintage, Distressed or Shabby Chic
Shelly's Images - Anything Goes
Sir Stampalot - Monochromatic

My blooming back is playing up yet again, I only seem to be getting a couple of week's relief from it now and am so fed up.  Anyway hope you are all ok and enjoying your weekends, take care xx

Friday 20 January 2012

I'm a Winner!

I have been so lucky and won Crafty Ribbons blog hop I can't believe it!! I just scrolled down not really expecting anything and there was my name, so I am so delighted - thank you Crafty Ribbons x

My card today  was made using a topper which I have never used a pre-coloured one before but I bought it a little while ago from Lili of the Valley and thought it would go nicely for the current challenge on Lili's Little Fairies Challenge which is lavender and lace:


I am really struggling to get good pictures even when it is sunny the sun is too low and just washes all the colour out not that it was sunny today when I took this!  I have computer generated the sentiment and put it on a Nestie and the same with the Topper which I edged with some Stickles.  I have added lace and some ric rac. The stars are cut using a Die-namics die and I have used a Memory Box for the circular doily behind the image.  I have used my new Go Kreate dies for the card shape which I got at Christmas. Just added some pearls - why not?? The paper is from First Edition Dreamcatcher, I just love First Edition papers they are so pretty and you get loads in the pad, some with glitter and some with foil mmmmm delish!  I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Cute Card Thursday - Music and Dance
Lili's Little Fairies - Lavender and Lace

Well I hope you all have a fab weekend we are off to the pub tonight for tea and a glass of something nicely chilled, take care xx

Thursday 19 January 2012

Vintage Loving Cherub

Good morning everyone, today marks the start of a new challenge over at Delightful Challenges and the theme this week is Distressed Vintage/Distressed Challenge so get out your distress tools and vintage papers and see what you can come up with!  I have used Loving Cherub and Postage stamps set:


Isn't he just a darling little cherub and what a dream he was to colour in you can get him over at Digital Delights here.  Papers I have used are Nitwits with Coredinations card stock, I paper distressed the backing paper first.  I used Copics to colour him and have put Stickles on his wings which you can just about see.  I distressed the post card with some distress ink Antique Linen and also Colour Box Papaya Cream which I also put on the filigree corner before embossing it.  I have cut the image out and matted him with my Nesties and used my Edgeabilities for the border.  The heart is a Nellie Snellen die which I have put through my Cuttlebug Script Embossing folder which I had first swiped with the Distress Ink.  Flowers, heart pin, crown pin and corner are all from Wild Orchid Crafts and ribbon is from stash.

Our sponsor this week is Magnolia-licious who have very kindly donated two mini stamps:


Sherwood Edwin and Tilda with Apple minis aren't they sweet?  To enter pop along to Delightful Challenge and enter, if you use a Digital Delights image your entry will count twice so that's double the chance to win! Pop over to see what the talented team have come up with for more inspiration. I would like to enter the following challenges:

Crafty Creations Challenge - Valentines
Flutterby Wednesday - Open
Scrapbook Sisters - Valentine
Alota Rubber Stamp - Hearts
Bildmalarna - Use Flowers
Crafters Companion - Love is in the Air
Just Tracys - Love is in the Air
Digital Tuesday Challenge - Romantic Card
Paper Creations Ink - Love and Romance
 That's it from me for today, I will try and catch up with commenting today - Blogger permitting!! Take care xx

Wednesday 18 January 2012

What's On Your Worktop Wednesday No. 137

Well its been a while since I have joined in the frivolity over at Julia's . What frivolity is that you say? Well its where you share the state of your work top today with other crafty people and then pop over to say hello and have a look at their worktops - great fun!  The state of my worktop today:


What - no clutter I can hear you say!! Yep that's right nice and tidy and that is due to the recent arrival of this little piece of ingenuity:


Wow I just love it, it means I can put all the things I use all the time away as I finish using them.  I have put my overspill of Copics in them as I have 5 boxes of Ciaos and am now getting Sketches instead so I don't need a big storage unit for them - yet!  I saw this on Kath's blog the other day and it comes from Sir Stampalot so I ordered one and am so pleased with it - big smiles!!  The champagne stopper is one from New Year and has a pretty picture on top which I have kept to use at some point.  In the background is a little plate my gorgeous grandson Harrison made, waiting to be hung up.  That's it for me pop over to Julia's and join in the fun - its very addictive.  Take care xx

Tuesday 17 January 2012

I'm in love with Tilda

Good afternoon everyone hope you're enjoying this lovely sunny day!

My title of my blog today refers to my love of Tildas and the fact that I have done a Valentine Tilda.  I can't leave my Tildas alone at the mo and just love them, especially the new collection - yummy!


Isn't she a sweetie?  Everything is a bit pinker IRL but you just can't get the colours captured correctly with the winter sun!  I've even done two pictures today:


Just to show the inside which is decorated to match with a balloon stamp from Magnolia to match the main image.  I have coloured her with a combination of Copics and Promarkers and paper pieced the balloons.  The gorgeous papers are from a pad I got at Christmas from my DH (which I have to admit I chose) which is by Echo Park called yours Truly - scrummy!  I have paper distressed the edge of the background paper and also distressed it with some white acrylic paint. I have distressed the doily and the edge of the image with DI - spun sugar.  The Corner bracket I covered with Versamark and white Embossing Powder which was heat set. I have used Spellbinders Nesties for the image and their Edgeabilities for the heart border, the border on the inside is a Martha Stewart one.  The button is from John Lewis and the bakers twine, pearls, ribbon and doily are from my stash.  I would like to enter the following challenges:

Crafty Cardmakers - No floral embellishment
Karen's Doodles - Paper Piecing
My Grafico - Love and Valentines
Paper Creations Ink - Love/Romance
The Pink Elephant - Favourite Colour (Pink)
Pollycraft - Bingo -Ribbon, button and die cuts
Crazy Challenge - Tic Tac Toe - Ribbon, Embossing and Die cuts
The Shabby Tea Room - Photo Insp.(Pink, Grey, Peach, Lace can be paper, Metal)
City Crafter - Pretty Inside and Out
Ladybug Crafts Ink - Bows
Shopping Our Stash - Across the Border
Well thanks so much for looking and any comments that you may leave, take care xx

Monday 16 January 2012

Just a quickie!

I didn't think I'd find time to post today but I think I can squeeze a quick post in.  Well Daniel Craig was just scrummy last night, he managed to take his clothes off once or twice!! I quite enjoyed the film although I panicked when I saw it was rated an 18 I normally don't do anything over 12 maybe 15 at a big push.  I think it was mostly because of the sexual violence which if you've read the book you know when to expect it and can look away which is what I did!! I think they did the book justice and I'm not sure which version I prefer the Swedish one or the Hollywood one mind you I think Daniel Craig could swing it to this one - lol! Anyway enough about my dribble over DC.  I have a quick card which I made the other day:


I used my Justrite stamps for the sentiment and distressed it with DI, scattered straw.  I cut it out with a Nestie and matted it onto another Nestie.  I used my Edgeability die for the border and a Spellbinder flower die.  The spacer I got from EBay and the pearl brad is from Wild Orchid Crafts.  The papers are from First Edition Hideaway pad. I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Pollycraft Challenge - Bingo (Punch, Pearls and Flower)
The Crazy Challenge- Tic Tac Toe (Die Cut, Pearls, Words)
I'd like to say a big hello to my new followers, I have gone over 100 I can't believe it! Thank you so much for becoming followers and I hope to be able to get round your blogs as soon as I can x

That's it from me for today, take care xx

Sunday 15 January 2012

So Sweet!

Good morning everyone isn't it a beautiful day - sunny and frosty! Hope you are all having a fab weekend and relaxing a bit.  I'm going to the pictures tonight with my sister to see "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo".  I've read the book and seen the Swedish film and I enjoyed both so I'll have to see what this one is like, mind you its got Daniel Craig in so at least there is some delish eye candy to drool over.

I've done a Lili of the Valley card today to enter in the challenge over at Lili's Little Fairies. The challenge is to use your favourite Lili of the Valley stamp which I find really difficult as I love them all and I think they are all my favourite lol.  Anyway the one I have chosen is a real sweetie in more than one sense of the word:


Isn't she adorable?  I have coloured her with a mixture of Promarkers and Copics and matted her with my Nesties.  The borders are cut out with my Edgeabilities (love 'em) and decorated with some pearls.  The sentiment is from Pink Petticoat (they have a sale on which finishes today) which I have cut with a Nestie and distressed with Spun Sugar DI.  Ribbon is from my stash and the button I got at Michaels in Las Vegas - wish I'd bought more :-(.  The card stock is from DCWV I thought it went so well with the image.  I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Lili's Little Fairies - Your Favourite LOTV Stamp
Mark's Finest Papers - Border Punch
Challenge Up Your Life - Bingo (Purple, die cuts, sparkle)
The Poodle Parlour - Button Up
Simply Create Too - Layers
Southern Girls - Show us Your Sparkle
Little Darlings - Favourite Colour
My Mum's Craft Shop - Here Comes the Girls
Papertake Weekly - Die Cut Special
Sentimental Sunday - Ribbon
The Crafty Pad - Sparkle
The Hybrid Chick - Sparkle

Enjoy your weekend everyone, thanks for looking, take care xx

Saturday 14 January 2012

Pink Canary??

Why not after all you have poetic license so I presume you can have artistic license?  Anyway pink they are:


Well there's loads of pink canaries there for you!  The stamp is a Penny Jonson Vintage one by Stampavie and I have coloured it with Promarkers.  I have matched it up with some delish papers from First Edition - Bird Song, very apt.  I have added a crown pin and some flowers from Wild Orchid Craft and the cheesecloth is also from Wild Orchid and I have added some pink acrylic paint to it.  I have used my Edgeabilities border dies. Spellbinders for the bird cage which is cut from grunge paper and then painted with Crackle Paint and some Spun Sugar DI used on it. Marianne die for the birds which are also cut from grunge paper painted with Crackle paint and then a metallic pink paint added over the top.  The ribbon and card stock are from my stash. Lots of lurvly pink on there yummy!  I would like to enter the following challenge:

Card Makin' Mamas - Use Something New (Stamp, dies, paper, promarkers)
Crafty Catz - Use Something New
Delicious Doodles - All Things New
Frosted Designs - Use Paint
Phindy's Friday - Tic Tac Toe (I used pearls, ribbon and flowers)
Cooking it up With Katie - Pink, Pearls and Flowers
Penny's Paper Crafty - Birds
Truly Scruptious - Shabby Pastel and Paint
Papertake Weekly - Die Cut Special
Passion for Promarkers - Inspired by a Song (Well its gotta be The Birdie Song lol)
Well I have got my ticket for the NEC and booked my train ticket yippee all set! I'm sure March will come round in no time at all.  Hope you are all having a great weekend and enjoying the beautiful sunshine wherever you are.  Take care xx

Thursday 12 January 2012

Dazzling Sue for Delightful Challenges DT




Well today sees the start of a new challenge over at Delightful Challenge and it also coincides with the release of some fab digi stamps and papers designed by the ultra talented Wendy.  The new stamps are called The Fabulous Fifties and are availabe for instant download here, you really need to go and check them out!  The theme for the challenge this week is Pink, Silver and Black and our sponsors are:


who will very kindly give the winner a $20 store gift card, you can pop over to Scrapy Land and see what they have to offer here

For my card I have used Dazzling Sue isn't she the cutest?  The pink and black and white papers are by Digital Delights also as is the sentiment.  I have coloured her with my Copics and used a Nellie Snellen die for the heart.  The frame is Spellbinders and the ribbon is from my stash.  Please pop over to my team mates and see what fabulous ideas they have all come up with.  I would like to enter the following challenges:

Do You Stack Up - Pink
Moving Along With the Times - Spots and/or Stripes
Little Darlings - Favourite Colour (Pink naturally)
My Mum's Craft Shop - Here Come the Girls
Simon Says Stamp - Spots and/or Stripes
Sweet Stamps - Hearts
Karens Doodles - Valentine/Love
The Pink Elephant - Hearts
Colour Me Creative - Retro, Pink, Black and White
Sweet Stampin' -  Spots and Dots

Thanks so much for looking, take care xx

Wednesday 11 January 2012

Happy (Chinese) New Year

Well as it is Chinese New Year on the 23rd January I thought I would do a card reflecting that.  It is going to be the Year of the Dragon which I think sounds nicer than Year of the Rat which was in 2008 - no offence to the rat lovers of course.  I have a stamp with a dragon on it that I have never used so I thought it would be a good excuse reason to use it.


I have no idea where the stamp came from it is a wood mount stamp but there is no name on it.  I have a feeling I may have bought it from QVC years ago along with the papers and Chinese type coin.  I have a mould for the coins which I was messing around with last week and now I can't find it!! I was going to make one in a nice blue colour to match the card.  I think I might have binned it accidently mind you my craft room needs a good sort out as I can't find anything at the moment, oh dear.  The card is quite simple really and uncluttered.  I have used a Spellbinders motif either side of the image and used Nesties to cut and frame it.  I would like to enter the following challenges:

Craft your Passion - Mythical Creatures
Crafty Boots - New Beginnings
Just Some Lines - New Year
So Artful Inspiration Challenge - Year of the Dragon

Thanks so much for looking, I'll be back tomorrow with my first DT card to Digital Delights Challenge - take care xx

Tuesday 10 January 2012

Peek a Boo

Good morning its a bit dull here today so I thought I would brighten things up with a cheerful card reminiscent of warmer days to come (hopefully):


This cute little stamp is an Elizabeth Bell Hey Birdy Peeker I've had her a while and this is the first time she has seen any ink poor soul!  The branch stamp is by Magnolia and the sentiment is a Bildmalarna both of which I have had ages and this is the first time for them!!  I have used two new dies which I have just got the fence one and the birdhouse and bird one aren't the cuties?  Both are by Marianne I'm not sure who the grass die is from I think Dienamics.  I have coloured her with copics and the paper  is from Nitwits the gems from my stash.  I would like to enter the following challenges:

Cupcake Craft - Something New (Birdhouse and fence dies)
Hooked on Craft - Try Something New (New dies)
Stamps R Us - Anything Goes
The Crafter's Cafe - Happy Birthday
Truly Madly Crafty - Anything Goes
Craft A Scene - Anything Goes
If The Shoe Fits Scrap It - Use your Stash (My 3 stamps)
Jellypark Friends - Something Old (stamps) Something New (dies)
Sassy Studio - Use Something New (Dies)
My Mum's Craft Shop - Something New (Dies)
Thanks so much for looking please leave a comment if you have the time it is lovely to hear from you, take care xx

Monday 9 January 2012

DT Card for Lexi's Creations

Good morning everyone hope you are all raring to go and had a lovely weekend.  I'm so excited because today sees the first challenge of the year at Lexi's Creations and the theme is Anything Goes how easy can that be?  So come on get out your cardstock, pencils and stamps or whatever you want it doesn't have to be a card and enter.  The sponsor this week is Fairy Dust Crafts


and the lucky winner will receive 5 of Lexi's stunning digi images!  Here is what I have come up with:


I have used the adorable Ching Lan and you can get her here at Fairy Dust Crafts.  For more inspiration please pop over to Lexi's and see what my fabulous teamies have done.  I will enter the following challenges:

Dream Valley - Anything Goes
Gingerloft Challenge - Anything Goes
Pile it On - Manly Card (I would send this to a man)
CES Challenges - Anything Goes
Art Impressions Stamps - Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday - What's New (My image)
Flutterby Wednesday - Open
My Mum's Craft Shop - Something New (My image)
The Paper Shelter - Anything Goes
Crafty Sentiments Design - Love and Romance

Thanks for looking, take care xx

Sunday 8 January 2012

Puppy dog's tails

Good morning bloggers hope you are all ok, my my don't the weekends fly by?  I don't really know why I bother because since I retired every day is like a weekend but I guess after years of working it is hard to let go of the feeling of  "its weekend".  Today I have a little baby boy card to share with you as a lot of the challenges are themed on "new beginnings" I thought it was a good idea to do some baby cards for my stock.


Isn't he a cutie? Hope the stork doesn't drop him lol!! The image is from Digital Delights and called Little Dumpling and Stork and you can download him here.  The sentiment is the Baby Sentiment Set also from Digital Delights and can be downloaded here.  I have coloured him with Copics and used Stickles on the Stork.  The papers are from Nitwits.  I have coloured the Card Candi to match and the ribon is from my stash.  I have used Nesties for my cutouts. I would like to enter the following challenges:

2 Sisters - Things with wings
Craft Your Days Away - New Beginnings
Delicious Doodles - All Things New
Fairy Fun Fridays - Things With Sparkly Wings
JellyPark Challenges - Something Old (Ribbon) Something New (Digi Stamp)
Crafty Ribbons - New Beginnings
Digi Doodle - New Beginnings
Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge - Birds
Digi Design - Its All New
Whimsy - New Beginnings
Daisy Doodles - New Beginnings

Thanks so much for looking and any comments you may leave.  Enjoy the rest of your weekend, we're off to the pub later for a Sunday dinner - yummy. Take care xx

Saturday 7 January 2012

Sugar and Spice

Good morning everyone hope you are all ok and ready for a nice weekend.  Took all my decorations down yesterday and had a bit of a furniture move around, the house looks really bare now and always looks bigger without the tree! By the time I'd done all that and given the house a good clean up I was so tired that I couldn't post the card I had ready so I am doing that today.  It is a new baby card and naturally in pink!  I am in the middle of doing a blue one so I will hopefully post that tomorrow.


I wasn't 100% sure who the image was by I thought it was Meljen's Designs and when I went into my file to check I can't find the digi stamp!! Anyway I have checked on the website and it is a Meljen's Design I have no idea what has happened to it on my computer. I'm telling you me and this computer are going to have a serious falling out before too long (its just under the velux window in my craft room and I can see it being chucked out of there soon :-]).  Anyway I digress, I have coloured the image with my Copics and added lots of Stickles and some Liquid Pearls. I have matted it on a Nestie frame as well as the sentiment which was computer generated.  The heart and flourish are Marianne dies and the ribbon, twine and button are from my stash.  Not sure about the paper probably Pink Petticoat for the gingham and Nitwits for the stripey paper.  I will enter the following challenges:

Crafty Catz - New Beginning
Poodle Parlour - Button Up
Simply Create Too - Layers, Layers and More Layers
Crafty Ribbons - New Beginnings
Digi Doodle - New Beginning
Whimsy Stamps - New Beginnings
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes (new baby)
Ribbon Carousel - Anything Goes
Shopping our Stash - Use a Meljen's Image
Emerald Faerie Garden - Flourishes/Swirls
Daisy Doodles - New Beginnings
Hope you all have a nice weekend and are able to find some time for crafting, take care xx

Thursday 5 January 2012

Frustrated!!!###***

That was me this morning after having a running battle with my printer.  For some reason the little darling decided that it was no longer wireless and wasn't going to play!  After trouble shooting to no avail the only solution my pc could offer was to re do the driver or something like that.  Well I can tell you computers and me don't really get on too well we have a kind of understanding that we tolerate each other and that's about as far as it goes.  I am positive I didn't get a CD when I got the printer I have a feeling it just did itself if that sounds right.  Anyway I keep all my CDs in a little file box besides my computer and there wasn't one there so I am presuming it didn't come with one.  I have had to connect the printer up with the lead to get it to work but I want to know why has it suddenly decided it is no longer wireless - is it just in that kind of mood?????????????????  That wasted most of my morning and I was so cross because I had stamped two images and I was determined to try and do two cards today which is almost a record for me.  Anyway I have managed it so I am sticking my tongue out now at the printer!!

The weather here was still wild this morning with the rain lashing down and the wind howling so I remembered a Tilda stamp which I thought would be appropriate for this weather.  The funny thing is that now I have finished messing with my printer and made the cards it is actually a beautiful day.  The sun is shining and the wind has gone - lol!  Anyway I'm sure it will all return so here is my card:


I downloaded some new Nitwits this morning so that was why I was messing with my printer, these are some of the ones I downloaded.  I have coloured Tilda with Copics. The ribbon is one of my new ones I got at Christmas and the charm is from my stash.  I would like to enter the following challenges:

Cute Card Thursday - What's New (my ribbon and paper)
Sassy Studio - Use Something New (my ribbon and paper)
Shelly's Images - Out with the Old in With the New (use something less than 1 month old - ribbon and paper)
Digi stamps 4 Joy - Something Old (stamp) Something New (ribbon)
Fab'nFunky - Something New Received as Present (ribbon)
Freshly Brewed - Something New
My Mum's Craft Shop - Something New
Simon Says Stamp - Something New
Ladybug Crafts Ink - Use your new stash (ribbon and Paper)

Well I hope you all have a great day and I will be around later to catch up, take care xx

Wednesday 4 January 2012

I can't believe it!

I can't believe that my son will be 36 on Monday!  It doesn't seem that long ago when I was chasing around after him like I do with his son now.  So I have made a card for him which I posted off today to make sure he gets it in time.  Stephen if you are looking at this don't look any further!! He sometimes does take a look at my blog so I don't want to spoil it for him - too late now if he has looked!!


I saw this digital image by Mo's digital pencil and thought it would be ideal for Stephen.  He used to really enjoy watching all the old black and white silent comedy films (no he's not that old!).  I coloured it with Copics and Prisma pencils and matted it onto a Spellbinder Nestie made from Kraft card.  The tickets are stamped onto Kraft card and the gears (Tim Holt) and clock (Tim Holt) are also made from Kraft card and distressed with some DI Vintage Photo. I have used some brads from my stash for the centre of the large gears and card candi for the smaller gears.  I have matted the computer generated sentiment onto a Spellbinder die and used twine to secure it.  The paper is by Bo Bunny from their Timepiece Collection.  I would like to enter into the following challenges:

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Sassy Cheryls - New Beginnings - my gear dies are new (a Christmas present)
The Stamping Boutique - Number 12 (you can just see XII on the clock behind my image!)
Top Tip Tuesday - Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion - Distressing
Crafty Boots - Celebrations
Critter Sketch - Celebrations
Victorine Stamps - Punches
Robyn's Fetish - Anything Goes
Sentimental Sundays - Anything Goes
Dude Time Doodles - Anything Goes
Hope you are all keeping dry and not been blown too much it is wet and wild here on the Fylde Coast brrrrr I'm keeping holed up here in my craft room :-), take care xx

Tuesday 3 January 2012

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to you all hope everyone had a great time and you are all refreshed and ready for a new crafty year!!  I don't feel quite refreshed yet as my gorgeous little grandson Harrison has been up for New Year and he is only almost 15 months and a bundle of energy so I have been running around after him.  It certainly makes you realise you're not as young as you used to be but it it so worth it.



He's a bundle of gorgeousness but is into everything!! The tree ornaments were gradually getting higher and higher during his stay.   Now the house seems so quiet without him so I need to do some crafting to cheer myself up.

I've got a card that I made the other week for my husband's son in law who's birthday is on Christmas Eve so it was quite nice to take a break from last minute Christmas cards.

The image is a digital stamp from Lexi's creations as Andy loves golf.  The papers are digital from Raspberry Road.  I have used Kraft card as a base and the mat and stars and button are cut from an old cardboard box.  The twine and raffia are from my stash.  I would like to enter the following challenges:

Cards for Men - Recycling
Heart Song Inspiration - Anything Goes
Incy Wincy Designs - Anything Goes
The Kraft Journal - Anything Goes (must include Kraft cardstock)
The Pink Elephant - Anything Goes
I shall be round later to play catch up with everyone as it feels so long since things were "normal" in blogland!!  For now take care and hope you don't get blown away with all this wind xx