Child's Play

Good morning hope you are having a lovely weekend.  Can you believe its June already? I certainly can't! As it is the first of the month that means there is a new challenge at A Little Bit Crafty.  The theme this month is "Child's Play".  Remember that the challenge is not only for cards but for all types of crafting.  Here is my card:

Apologies for the sunlight! This was made very last minute and very much in a rush in between going over to Bolton to see my daughter and going to tea at my step-daughter's!  As you can see, I did not centre the mat very well!  The image is a Lili of the Valley that I have had quite a while and she has been coloured with Copics.  The papers are Nitwits "A Breath of Fresh Air" with Papermill Cardstock.  I used the following dies: Spellbinders Edgeabilities for the border, Dienamics Pierced Round Stax for the image, Marianne for the mat and Whimsy for the corners.  Sentiment is also Lili of the Valley which I stamped in Versafine.  I inked the mat with a Versamark pen whilst it was still in the die and used some blue WOW embossing powder and heat set.  It smudged in one place so I had to go over it again - you can still see where it smudged but it looks a bit better.

Here is a side view:

We have some fabulous sponsors this month:

Prize to be arranged

£12 On Line or Shop

TOODLES AND BINKS

Prize to be Arranged

Some fabulous prizes! Remember you have almost a month to enter. Please pop over to see the rest of the DT work for some more inspiration at A Little Bit Crafty.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers - R is for Ribbon

Suzy Bee's - Layer it Up

Brown Sugar - Birthday

Crafty Catz - Anything Goes

Jo's Scrap Shack - Happy Birthday

I am taking my Aunt to visit her friend in hospital today, she had a stroke and was on the floor for 3 days before she was found.  I keep on at my Aunt to get an alarm in case something like that happens to her but she won't.  She says if she has one then it will happen! How can you argue with that? I have tried and tried but to no avail!

Thank you so much for looking today I do appreciate it and any comments you care to leave, thank you! Take care xx

Winter Blues

Good morning! I can't believe its five days since I last posted and today I have two posts.  I decided I needed to clean up my craft room since as soon as I put anything down it was swallowed up into the dreadful messy abyss of my craft room. I should have done before and after pictures but I think I would have been too ashamed to put the before pictures up.  I have almost finished, another hour or two today and I will hopefully then be able to do a bit of crafting.

Today sees the start of a brand new challenge at The Paper Shelter and the theme this week is:

WINTER BLUES

here is my card:

Hmph more like winter washed out blues! I really struggled to take a decent picture of this, the first lot which I did and edited were all pink!  Anyway I have used the gorgeous Winter Goddess which is available here. I coloured her with my Copics and added lots of Stickles and Glamour Dust.  I have also got my Frantage out!  The paper is from First Edition Silent Night.  Sentiment from LOTV. I used  my new Dienamics Pierced Rectangles Stax to cut the image out I really love these dies and have just got the circles, waiting for the squares and ovals but can't get them at the mo!  I then gave my sewing machine a treat and sewed around the edges of the card.  The corner embellishment is from Wild Orchid Crafts and I have frantaged that too.  The snowflake border is a Memory Box die called, aptly, Frosty Border.  Ribbon from stash and the Dazzler is Creative Expressions. Here is another view:

As usual there is a fabulous prize to be given to the lucky winner:

So please go over to The Paper Shelter Challenge for some more inspiration from the talented DT.

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp - Ice Challenge

Cuttin and Stampin - Anything Goes with Winter

Everybody Art - Snow

Craft Your Passion - Cool Colours

Kaboodle Doodles - Winter Wonderland

Papertake Weekly - New Year New Stash (My Dienamics Pierced Rectangle Stax - love them!)

Thank you so much for looking today, I will be back at 1100 with my second post!! Take care xx

The Rowan Fairy

Good morning, well I don't know where this week has flown to! I haven't done much at all, in fact I haven't been out as both Dave and I are full of a cold.  I am taking my Aunt out this afternoon for a spot of lunch but I will try not to breathe on her! I haven't seen her since before Christmas and she would be so disappointed if I cancelled, we were supposed to go out yesterday but I postponed it until today.

I bought some digis from Wee stamps and have been having a play, here is one of the cards I made:

This little beauty is called Rowan Fairy and I have coloured her with my Copics.  The papers are digi by K.Cronin-Barrow and J. Barrette called  Good Things and available from Sweet Shoppe.  Dies used are Spellbinders Grand Ovals and Scalloped Ovals, Dienamics Blueprints, Dienamics Photo Corners and Lil' Inkers.  The sentiment is a rub on and pearls from The Hobby House. Here is a side view:

Challenges I would like to enter:

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Milk Coffee - Celebrate
Divas by Design - Let's Celebrate
Fab 'n Funky - Let's Celebrate
Inky Impressions - Something New (Image and Papers)
Rhedd and Rosies - Going Dotty
Scrapper's Delight - Let's Celebrate

Well that's all for me today, I hope you have a wonderful day whatever you are doing.  Thank you so much for looking and any comments you may leave, take care xx

New Release at Digital Delights

Good morning to you from a very dark Blackpool this morning, I can see a difference in the evening with daylight lasting longer but I hope it starts to get lighter earlier in the morning soon! Today sees the start of a new challenge at Digital Delights and its quite a lovey one!  Here is my card using the super adorable Lovin and Relaxin Barnaby which is available here:

Such a cutie!  I decided to just keep the colouring simple as he is so cute I didn't want to detract from him!  He has been coloured with Copics and also some Star Dust Stickles.  I used Centura Pearl Card and a Martha Stewart PATP and Memory Box Die.  Here is a side view:

If you want to see the rest of the New Releases -

head over here to Digital Delights you will also find a New Year Sale going on where you can get 20% off a single purchase if you spend $10 or more.  Over at Delightful Challenges this week the challenge theme is Use Patterned Paper with a fabulous prize of $10 Gift Certificate to DiesRUs!

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
The Sisterhood of Crafters - Out With the Old in with the New (New Image, Old Punch and Die)
Emerald Faeries - Things With Wings
Animal Friends - Punches and Dies

Thank you so much  for looking I really appreciate it! Take care xx

New Year and Mega News!

Good morning to you.  Thank you so much for all your kind words of support yesterday regarding Dave it means a lot and everyone is so kind.  He has had his bone scan and the CT appointment came through yesterday for the 16th and he will see his Oncologist on the 22nd so everything is crossed!

Today I have the most exciting news in the world to share at the end of the post but first there is a new challenge at Crafty Sentiments the first one for 2014 so to kick start the year we want to see Anything New.  This could mean new stash, New Year or anything new.  Here is my card:

I decided to go with a New Baby.  This cute little couple is called Couples and is a Digital Stamp from Crafty Sentiments available here. The papers are Nitwits Bumbleberry and I made my own sentiment on the PC.  Dies used are Spellbinders Large Circles and Scalloped Circles, Dienamics Open Simply Scallops Trio and Fishtail Flags Layer Stax.  I coloured the image with Copics and Chalks. Here is another view:

Please go over to Crafty Sentiments to see the rest of the DT work and more details of the challenge!

Challenges I would like to enter:
Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes + Pearls or Buttons
Craft Your Passion - Fancy Borders
The Corrosive Challenge - New Beginnings
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes +/- Celebrate Something New

Now for my big news:  the reason I chose to do that card is that my precious daughter  is pregnant!!!  She is now 25 weeks and I have been so dying to announce it for months and months! They are expecting a little boy - that will make three grandsons for me!  It has been a very difficult battle for her I don't know if any of you remember but she became ill 18 months ago and had to come and stay with Dave and I.  That was because she had come off her medication on medical advice to try for a baby but in only six weeks she became ill.  She was put on different medication which eventually worked but she could not get pregnant on it as it would be too harmful to an unborn child so this meant she had to change all her medication to another in order to try for a baby.  My daughter is Bi-Polar and I am full of admiration for her.  She holds down a full time professional job and is such a loving girl I could not ask for a better daughter.  Her new medication does not really suit her it has some unpleasant side effects and it does break my heart to see her having to go through all this when it should be such a happy time for her.  So it looks like 2014 will be a very eventful year for us for very different reasons!

Thank you so much for looking today and any comments you may leave. Take care xx

New Year - New CMM

Good morning to you, if you are in the UK I hope you are safe from the storms we have been having.  My PC seems to have recovered from yesterday's go slow but for how long who knows!

We have a brand new challenge and a brand new look over at Card Makin' Mamas.  We have gone back to being a fortnightly challenge - hurray!  We will be revealing our new DT soon so keep tuned.  Our challenge for January is Anything Goes which is everyone's favourite!  Here is my card:

I have used the super cute Brittany 1920s Flapper from our sponsor this week Art By Miran - thank you!  She has been coloured with Copics and the edges distressed with some Antique Linen DI then cut out with Spellbinders Wonky Rectangles.  The papers are Basic Grey Serenade and I have used a Whimsy die for the corners.  Ribbon from The Ribbon Girl, sparkler from The Hobby House and sentiment is LOTV.

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Crafty Catz - Thank You
Brown Sugar - Use Ribbon or Twine
Crafty Hands - Anything Goes
Delicious Doodles - Layer It Up

Thank you so much for looking today and if you would like some more inspiration please go over to Card Makin' Mamas and have a look at the rest of the DT makes.  Take care xx

Celebrate

Hello there and a big Happy New Year to you all!  I hope you all had a wonderful festive holiday and are all raring to go.  I had a fabulous time, very hard work with a lot of entertaining but I loved every second!  My son and grandsons left yesterday after coming up for New Year so sorry I have not been round to see you but I have literally not stopped.

 I am late posting this as there is a new challenge at A Little Bit Crafty and the theme this month is Celebrate.  We want to see your creations with the theme of celebrations - this could mean Birthdays, New Year, new job, new birth, engagement, anniversary, wedding and so on.  It does not have to be card you can enter anything crafty you have made yourself.  Here is my card:

The image is Whiff of Joy and I coloured it with my Copics. I don't know who the paper is by I didn't write it down!  The shutters are a Poppy die and I used MFT Dienamics Blueprints for the mat.  I made a window box and scored it with my Scor-Pal and added the flowers.  The ivy is a Marianne die and the little sentiment tags are LOTV.  The flowers were very kindly donated by Petal Lu, one of our sponsors this month - thank you! Here is another view:

We have some wonderful sponsors this month:

£10 Selection of Blossoms

Gruffies and Happy Hoppers CD

£15 Voucher to Spend at Scribble and Scrap

I am so sorry I can't provide the links to the sponsors but my pc is playing up big time this morning it has taken me 50 minutes just to do this so I am afraid I will have to leave it at this for now.  If it starts behaving later I will try and get back to link up and maybe enter a challenge!

Thank you so much for looking and I am going to catch up with you all!! Take care xx

Delightful Thursday

Good morning to you, hope you are all well and if not I wish you a very speedy recovery!  Today is the last Delightful Thursday of the year over at Digital Delights Blog and the DT have some fabulous cards for you to see.  Here is mine:

I have used Pickles the Penguin which is available to purchase here.  I coloured Pickles with my Copics and Stickles.  The background paper is Nitwits and I free cut some snowy mounds with Centura Pearl and Glitter card.  The Santa and sleigh are a Cheery Lynn die. Quite a simple card but it looks real cute in real life.

Please pop over to Digital Delights Blog to see the rest of the DT work there are some fabulous cards on show. And don't forget the challenge over at Delightful Challenges where the theme this week is Celebrations you would be in with the chance to win a $15 gift voucher for Scrapyland!

Well I got my cake marzipaned yesterday:

And I also made Mary Berry's Mincemeat Tray Bake which has homemade mincemeat and a struesal topping, it was on The British Bake Off Christmas Special Tuesday night:

For some reason it has come out yellow on the picture but its a lovely golden brown IRL, I can thoroughly recommend it, it tastes delicious and I have frozen it for over Christmas. The recipe is here.

Well I have to do my menus today because I am starting my food shopping tomorrow so I will have to know what to get lol!  Need to do that this morning because I am out for lunch with my Aunt and my Cousin who has come over from Yorkshire.  Have a wonderful day and thank you so much for calling! Take care xx

Chocolate Anyone???

Good morning to you all hope you are on top of things for the big day in one week's time!!!!  I have finally got all my decorations up and our suite has arrived in the store so they are delivering on Friday - whew!  Done most of my present wrapping just a couple left to buy today and wrap.  I will marzipan my cake today and decorate it at the weekend.  Still haven't finalised my menu plans but I am slowly getting there.  Still haven't posted my cards either - eekkkkk!

Today sees the start of a new challenge over at The Paper Shelter and it is our last challenge of the year and will last three weeks to give us all a break - yay!  The theme is everyone's favourite:

ANYTHING GOES

Nice and easy and here is what I did:

I have used the irresistible Christmas Candy Fairy from The Paper Shelter coloured with Copics and plenty of Star Dust Stickles.  I cut the milk box carton out on my Cameo and added some acetate to the window to stop the chocolates falling out into my mouth! I cut the image out with Spellbinders Labels Eight and the holly is a CC Designs die.  The letters are by Trimcraft and have been painted with Martha Stewart Acrylic Paint.  The ribbon is from The Ribbon Girl.  Now I made this way back in October and I am very pleased to say the chocolates are still in it!!

As usual there is a fabulous prize on offer for the lucky winner:

Please go over to The Paper Shelter Challenge to see what all the DT both Team A and Team B have done - wow you will be blown away!

Right I am off to marzipan my Christmas Cake and then I am meeting up with a friend for a Christmas coffee may just have a mince pie too! Thank you so much for looking and big big hugs to you if you are not feeling well! Take care xx

Christmas Time

Good morning to you all  I hope you are having a good week!  Today sees the start of a new challenge at Crafty Sentiments and the theme this week is Christmas.  Here is my card:

I have used Snowman and Friends which is available here from Crafty Sentiments.  He has been coloured with Copics and Stickles and I added some Liquid Pearls for snow.  The background has been put through a snow embossing folder.  The poinsettia is a Marianne Die and I added some WOW embossing powder to the veins.  Tag is Cheery Lynn Tags 2 and the image has been cut and matted with Spellbinders.

We have a fabulous prize this week:

and you can get up to 6 chances to win by: popping a 3 after your name if you have used a Crafty Sentiments product, pop a 3 after your name if you become a follower of the Crafty Sentiments Inspirations Blog or put a 6 after your name if you have done both!!

We also have some exciting news to share:

Whoo hoo make sure you tune in to see some fabulous products!!

That's all from me for today thank you so much for looking and take care xx

Let it Snow

This is my second post today if you would like to see my other one please scroll down.

I am back again hanging my head in shame!  The reason being that it is a new challenge at Lexi's Creations and this is the last one for the year with the theme of snow, here is my card:

Mmmm doesn't take a genius to see that there is a distinct lack of snow here!!  I had a very blonde moment and thought the theme was Christmas which was the theme for the last challenge lol.  Susan who runs the challenge was very kind to me - thank you!  I only made the card yesterday so I really didn't have any time to make another.  I have used my Grand Nesties for the card shape.  The image I received in my candy from Rachel (thank you x) and is Hollie Hobbie, reminds me of my daughter when she was little!  I coloured the image with Copics and added some Antique Linen to the edges.  Papers are First Edition. Here is another view of my snowless creation:

Our sponsor for this challenge is:

who have very kindly donated a £10 voucher for the lucky winner.  Please go over to Lexis and see the DT's creations - complete with snow!! Thank you so much for looking and take care xx

Hostess Monday

Good Morning to you all, hope you had a nice weekend.  We had a quiet one as we have both been laid low with this virus.  I am now starting to have a mild panic about Christmas preparations.  I have done most of my Christmas present buying just a couple to get.  The decorator is coming today to decorate the lounge and the carpets are being fitted on Thursday and Friday but no date as to when the suite is coming!!!  I haven't been able to get any of my Christmas decorations out yet and I haven't planned my menus - eeeek!  Is anyone else starting to feel a slight bit of panic setting in?  I guess it well be alright on the day as they say - here's hoping!

Anyway today my card is one I made for Digital Delights Blog as it is my turn to Hostess:

Yes another shadow box card! I do love them they look really good in real life and so easy to make!  I have used Digital Delights Standing Santa and he has been coloured with Copics and Stardust Stickles.  The snowflakes paper is Nitwits.  Spellbinders Dies Labels Thirteen, EK Success Border Punch, Cheery Lynn Tags Two and Whimsy Snowflake Die.  The tree and deer are Marianne and have been covered with Frantage. Here is another view:

Thank you so much for looking today, I will be back later with my second post of the day!! Take Care xx

New Releases at Digital Delights

Good morning to you all!  Its quite windy and wet here in Blackpool today.  As today is the first Thursday of the month it means it is time for the new releases at Digital Delights.

Wendy has designed some fabulous images for Christmas, you can see them all here.  Here is my card:

I have used Gift Giving Susie which you can purchase here and Christmas Hugs Sentiment Set which you can purchase here.` The papers are Bo Bunny Blitzen and some silver mirri card.  Susie has been coloured with my Copics, some Shabby Shutters DI around the edges  and then cut and matted using Spellbinders Long Classic and Scalloped Rectangles.  I used Memory Box Precious Ornaments, Cheery Lynn Tags 2 and Large and Medium Roses. I also used my favourite SB Curved A2 Border which you can just about see!  Here is a side view:

The challenge this week at Delightful Challenges is You're a Gem (Use Gems) and the sponsor is Scrapyland with a $15 gift certificate.

Thank you so much for looking today I really appreciate it! Take care xx

Happy Birthday Hop

Good morning to you all and I have some exciting news today!  On December 8th The Paper Shelter will be three years old!! Whoo hoooooooo! To celebrate this big event we are having a hop over at The Paper Shelter Challenge!

We are having a "Special Birthday" theme for our challenge which will last two weeks and both teams will be participating.  Each member of the Design Team will award one commentator a Paper Shelter digi of their choice as well as the main prize, details of which will be found at The Paper Shelter Challenge. You should have arrived here from the lovely Lydia's blog if not please head back to The Paper Shelter Challenge to see the full list and join in the fun.

Here is my card:

I went for a criss cross card as its for a Special occasion!  I used the scrummy A Curious Cake which is available here from The Paper Shelter.  I had lots of fun colouring it in with my Copics, Stickles and Glossy Accents.  The papers are Wild Rose Studio "Candy Floss."  I cut and matted the image with Spellbinders Grand Nesties.  Martha Stewart punch for the borders and Lil' Inker die for the bow.  The roses are made using Cheery Lynn medium and large Rose dies and SB Rose Creations the leaf sprays were made with a punch.  I made the sentiment on my pc.  Here is a compilation:

Hope you like it I had so much fun doing this and The Paper Shelter images are brilliant to colour in but if you don't have time or don't like colouring you always get a coloured image as well!

Right back to the HOP - from here you need to be heading out to luscious Lorraine's blog as she is next on the list.  Don't forget to leave a comment on all the blogs that way you will have more chances of winning!  The hop will stay open until the 17th December and the winners announced shortly after.  Thank you so much for looking, take care xx

Christmas Cheer

Good morning - another scheduled post from me fingers crossed it works!  Today sees the start of the last monthly challenge for 2013 over at A Little Bit Crafty.  The theme for this month is Christmas Cheer.  Here is my card:

I have used the gorgeous Partridge in a Pear by one of our sponsors Eureka stamps which is available here.  I coloured the image with Copics and used Twinkling H2Os for the background to add sheen, which you can probably see better in this close up:

The papers are Nitwits Woodland Wishes.  I have used a Dienamics border die.  The tag is made using Cheery Lynn Tags 2 and the sentiment is from Clearly Besotted.  I added Martha Stewart glitter to the Card Candi in the corners.  Here is another view:

We have some fabulous sponsors this month:

Prize to be Confirmed

7 Free Digis

Please go over to A Little Bit Crafty to see what the rest of the DT have done there are some stunning projects as always! Remember you have almost a month to join in and you can make anything it does not have to be a card!

Thank you so much for looking! I will announce the winner of my Blogaversary Candy tomorrow when I get home - sorry for the delay I didn't realise I would be away when I set it up! Take care xx