Happy Birthday to You

Good morning all.

Yesterday was perishing but we had glorious sunshine all day. The days are certainly lengthening again...it's still daylight here after 5pm. Spring must be on the way!

We've got parent's evening tonight...I really mustn't forget to go! It may be our last one as Lora is talking about going to college next year instead of 6th form.

It's theme week at LIM and we're being asked to show things with wings, here's my offering:

The mini stamp is a freebie from Craft Stamper magazine, stamped in versamark and heat embossed with detail white EP then die cut with a scalloped nestie. I then used DIs to colour....squeezed lemonade and spiced marmalade. The mesh die is from Couture Creations. Sentiment die is from Words with Honey, stamped onto a Spellbinders pennant die. Stitched rectangle die is from Spellbinders. Gold cord and sequin are from my stash. The blue dots in the background are punch waste.

Challenges entered:

Less is More - things with wings

CASology - mini

 

CAS Colours and Sketches - colours

ShowCASe your Style - birthdays

Shopping our Stash - out of a jar

 (embossing powder..I think this jar is going to last forever, it's still nearly full after several year's use!)

Making Moments Matter

Good morning all.

Making a little bit of headway with my journal and finally managed to do the front pages.

After painting the pages with gesso I stuck a few strips of torn paper and some washi tape on the right hand side. Textured paste was used on the sunrise stencil from Splodgeaway, after drying I coated both pages with gesso again. I used DI to ink the pages (tumbled glass and squeezed lemonade). Background stamps are from various sets and stamped with either peacock feathers DI or black archival ink. The three main sentiments are from Unity Stamps and have been stamped onto tissue paper. Celebrate is a die from Couture Creations. Numbers and hash are from Jellibean.

Under the numbers I've added some tissue printed with some Happy New Year music.

Challenges entered:

Unity Stamps - colour inspiration

Frosted Designs - get messy x 2

Our Creative Corner - tic tac toe (paints, stamps and stencils)

Simon Says Stamp - anything goes

Sweet Stamps - anything but a card

Simon Says Wednesday - add a little texture

Craft Stamper - take it make it stencils

Journey, Explore, Discover

Good morning all.

I had my regular trip to the hairdressers yesterday with a bit of crafting and cooking in the afternoon. Not sure what today holds yet, think we need to do some baking as we decided not to buy a load of cakes and biscuits at the weekend...and it won't be long before the natives revolt!

An Artist Trading Block to share today.

Using one of my old stamp blocks...after removing the stamp I've painted the block with black gesso. Paper is from a case of 12x12 papers I got ages ago from Costco. Die cuts are all from Couture Creations, all cut twice and layered to give dimension. I've left the back plain.

I need to spend a day removing stamps from the rest of them now!

Challenges entered:

Recycle, Re-Purpose & Re-Invent - anything goes 

Rhedd's Creative Spirit - anything goes

Die Cut Divas - words, quotes and sentiments

All Crafts Challenge - anything goes

Not Just Cards - anything goes

2 Creative Chicks - anything but a card

Altered Eclectics - anything goes

Crating for all Seasons #85 "Wheels and/or Cogs

Good morning all.

I spent a lousy day yesterday...eldest very kindly passed on a flu type bug he had last week, still feeling yuk today but have an appointment this morning which I made a month ago so don't want to cancel.

Today it's time for our next challenge at CFAS and this time the theme is "Wheels and/or Cogs". We're  looking forward to seeing all your makes. Our sponsor this time Kenny K downloads who gave the DT images to work with.

I've used Devilish Donna and coloured with promarkers, using stickles on her wings. Embossing folder from Couture Creations which I've sanded down, dies from Spellbinders, sentiment from LOTV, cogs stamp was a magazine freebie, twine and gems from my stash.

Promarkers used: grey green, tea green and soft green)

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see the rest of the girls inspiration, you won't be disappointed.

Challenges entered:

A Little Bit Crafty - distress it

Card and Scrap - everything allowed

Cards Galore Encore - make a card

CCC Digi Creations - things with wings

Lia Stampz - girly

Live & Love Crafts' Inspiration - things with wings

Natalie and Amy - things with wings

Fan-Tastic Tuesday - anything goes

Sweet Stamps - embossing

Crafting for all Seasons #79 "Don't be Square"

Good morning all.

Sorry I haven't been around, real life is getting in the way of blogging and crafting at the moment.

Hubby and I took an impromptu weekend over to the Lake District at the end of May/beg of June which was lovely, the weather was very kind to us too.  Hence the plethora of blog posts on the 31st...I'd forgotten I had them all sitting waiting to be finished and slotted between my DT stuff, so apologies for bombarding you all!!

Today it's time for our next challenge at CFAS and this time the theme is "Don't be Square". We're  looking forward to seeing all your makes. Our sponsor this time Stitchy Bears Digi Outlet who gave the DT images to work with.

I've chosen to use an image of my own this time...."Airborne" from KennyKdigistamps. I've printed onto kraft card and coloured with promarkers, before die cutting with a round Spellbinder die and making a rocker card. Cogs and wheels embossing folder is from Couture Creations; sentiment from LOTV; sentiment die from Spellbinder; stars die from Joanna Sheen; cogs and wheels stamp is a magazine freebie.

Both my sons have birthdays this week so this is for my eldest....not that he'd dream of wearing a helmet when skateboarding!!

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see the rest of the girls inspiration, you won't be disappointed.

Christmas Card Club "Anything Goes"

Good morning all.

Off out for a family lunch today so Gary can see everyone before he leaves tomorrow. I'm not sure which one of us has the biggest butterflies at the moment...I know mine are huge!!

It's also time for our first challenge of the year over at the Christmas Card Club, it was Sylvie's turn to choose the theme this time and she's been kind and said "Anything Goes!".

My image is a recycled money holder, cut with a Spellbinder die and mounted onto the corresponding fancy die which I've just bought in the sales...though I do wish they'd size them all properly!! Backing paper, sentiment and ribbons are from my stash (the red ribbon being recycled off this year's crackers). The embossing folder is from Couture Creations.

Kept flat for posting and this year I'm determined to have inserts  made with the card! I've also bought a new Penny Black sentiment stamp for the purpose.

You'll find the rest of the girls listed on my sidebar if you'd like to pop over and see their creations.

Challenges entered:

CHNC - recycle

CHNC Extra - anything Christmas goes

Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - anything goes

A Gem of a Challenge - something new

Winter Wonderland - teddy bears

Jingle Belles - something old, something new

Christmas Card Challenges - no colouring

Carol x

Guest Design Spot

Good morning all.
Still busy here trying to get organised plus I had a family funeral yesterday so nothing much else got done! I'm off to a Christmas Market today and hopefully we'll have Sunday lunch out too. I'm hoping to get some time to myself this week to pop around and catch up with you all...I am missing you!

I was very lucky (and honoured) to be chosen to Guest Design at The Joanna Sheen Challenge blog today. I've been a fan of Joanna's products for many years now...indeed a fair portion of my retirement income has been spent in her online shop!!

The challenge this time is to "Make it Sparkle" and this will be a month long challenge.

I've used this gorgeous House Mouse Decoupage image which I've die cut with a circle nestie and layered with a gold fancy circle - both from Spllbinders. I've added glamour dust and red stickles to the image to make it sparkle. The background layers are gold mirri card, red and green foil card which looks like glitter (had these for years and found them a few days ago when looking for something else!) and white pearl card which I've embossed with my tied together folder. Gold sparkly ribbon, a sentiment, gold brad and more stickles finish the card off.

And a view showing the layers.

Challenges entered: Craftyhands Challenge - sparkle and bling Totally Papercrafts - ho ho holiday Winter Wonderland - a Christmas mouse 4 Craft Chicks - Christmas Charismas Cardz - Christmas Crafty Ribbons - anything goes with ribbon Crafting by Designs - Christmas/winter Rhedd and Rosie - Christmas Shopping our Stash - holiday/winter CHNC Extra - anything Christmas goes Carol x

Forever Friends

Good morning all.

We had a lovely relaxing day yesterday at the spa and all enjoyed our chosen treatments, a tasty three course lunch and a sisterly catch up...we really should do it more often.

My card today was made last week as it was the bride to be's birthday.

The decoupaged image is from the Black and Gold Forever Friends Collection, backing card is Kraft Core from Tim Holz, embossing folder is from Couture Creations, dies from Spellbinders, ribbon and gems from my stash.

Challenges entered:

Created with Love - for the girls

Love to Scrap - anything goes

Challenges 4 Everybody - anything goes

The ABC Challenge - Q for quite a few (layers)

A Little bit Crafty - die-ing for it

Carol x

Whoopsi Daisy - Buttons or Bows

Good morning all. Well I got two thirds of Mother's Day yesterday and will probably get the other third this evening! Eldest left things a little too late so bought me a birthday card and crossed off birthday and wrote Mother's Day.......did buy Bailey's to go with it though. Youngest bought one of those alternative cards...."Mother likes her house like her vodka.......NEAT"!!! Goodness knows what child no 2  will arrive home with!! Life is never dull with them.....

Got a trip to the dentist today for my six month check up, hopefully I won't need any treatment.

It's time for another challenge at  Whoopsi Daisy  and this week it's team A's turn to share their inspiration with you. The theme this week is "Buttons or Bows" or you can do Anything Goes if you use a Whoopsi Daisy image on your project. 

Using a pre-coloured digi from sheet #406, die cut with a labels one nestie and layered onto a fancy nestie. Embossing folder from Couture Creations. All dies from Spellbinders. Ribbon, sentiment, stickles, button and silver cord from my stash

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see the inspiration from the rest of the team and remember if you use a Whoopsi Daisy image you could win 2 image sheets, 1 sheet will be awarded to a winner using any other image.

Challenges entered:
Clearly Inspired - die cuts
Delicious Doodles - use die cuts
Divas by Design - buttons and bows
Paper Pretties Wednesday - texture
Paper Shelter - punches or dies
Crazy Amigo - women
Digital Tuesday - buttons or bling
Party Time Tuesdays - die cuts
Eclectic Ellapu - birthdays
OSAAT - use a digi

Carol x

Just for You

Good morning all.

Today's share is a birthday card for hubby's cousin's daughter.

Image is recycled from one of my daughter's birthday cards. Dies are from Spellbinders. Embossing folder is from Couture Creations. Sentiment and gem are from my stash. Heart is punch waste.

Challenges entered:

Forever Friends Monthly - birthdays

Our Daily Bread - for a child

Created with Love - anything goes

House of Gilli - anything goes with pink and bling

Unstampabelles - one or more dies

Amusing Challenges - birthdays

Penny's Paper Crafty - embossing

Carol x

New Beginnings

Good morning all.

My Aunt will be 90 on Friday so the beginning of a new decade for her. She still has all her marbles but unfortunately no short term memory so has been in a nursing home for some years. Hopefully I'll be going down to see her on Saturday, weather permitting!

This is the card I made for my Mum to give her.

Using a gorgeous decoupage from Faerie Poppets. Dies are all from Spellbinders; embossing folder from Couture Creations; punch from Martha Stewart; ribbon and pearls from my stash and sentiments are computer generated.

Challenges entered:

Joanna Sheen - new beginnings

Dream Valley Challenges - girls, girls, girls

Eclectic Ellapu - special birthday

A gem of a Challenge - emboss it

Card Crafters Circle - layers

Cards 4 Eternity - punch it

Totally Papercrafts - it's embossing time

ABC Challenges - birthday cards

Card Mania - girly

Kaboodle Doodles - ribbon

Carol x

Crafty Ann's #80 White Christmas

Another fortnight gone and it's time for a new challenge at  Crafty Ann's and this week the theme is White Christmas - we want to see white on white projects but you may use a coloured image.

Image is a pre-coloured poinsettia which I've printed several times and decoupaged, it is available from Crafty Ann's Digi Shop. The rocker card and layers are all cut using fancy grand nestie dies, the second layer being embossed with a tied together folder. Ribbon and sentiment from my stash. Snowflakes are punch waste. I don't think you can see the white stickles added to the snowflakes. 

I've left the card fairly plain and simple as I wanted it flat for posting.

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see Ann and the teams creations, you won't be disappointed. This is our last challenge of the year but we'll be back on the 4th January next year!

Challenges entered:

ABC Christmas - x marks the spot (embossing folder)

Fresh Brewed - Christmas

Paper Pretties Wednesday - Christmas inspired

Creative Craft Challenges - white on white

Hooked on Craft - Christmas

Paper Pretties Monday - use ribbon

Pretty Little Ribbon - Christmas

Platypus Creek Digitals - Christmas flowers

That Craft Place - no squares allowed

The Ribbon Girls - Christmas

Simple Salutations - winter flower

Carol x

Whoopsi Daisy Sparkle and Shine

It's time for another challenge at  Whoopsi Daisy  and this week it's team A's turn to share their inspiration with you. The theme this week is "Sparkle and Shine" or you can do Anything Goes if you use a Whoopsi Daisy image on your project.

I've used a pre-coloured image from the new Daisy and Friends at Christmas CD. All the dies are from Spellbinders, embossing folder from Couture Creations, ribbon and sentiment from my stash. My sparkle and shine comes from the pearlised cardstock, lots of stickles, gelly roll pen and my sparkly ribbon.

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see the inspiration from the rest of the team and remember if you use a Whoopsi Daisy image you could win 2 image sheets, 1 sheet will be awarded to a winner using any other image.

Challenges entered:

Divas by Design - fairies and fantasy

Stampin Royalty - die cuts

The Stamping Boutique - embossing

Challenges 4 Everybody - anything goes

Kenny K's Krafty Krew - no squares allowed

That Crafty Place - make your own background

A Gem of a Challenge - for the girls

Hiding in my Craftroom - anything goes

Speedy and Friends - circles

Totally Gorjuss - punches and dies

Frosted Designs - embossing

Crafty Ribbons - anything but square

Little Miss Muffet Challenges - anything but square

Flutter By Wednesdays - butterfly or fairy

Carol x

Crafting for all Seasons #36 Things with Wings

Time for a new challenge at CFAS and this time the theme is Things with Wings , we're  looking forward to seeing all your makes. We're being sponsored by Tiffany Doodles.

I've used a Faerie Poppets (keep forgetting I have these!) die cut decoupage image cutting the background with a Romantic Rectangle die from Spellbinders. Embossing folder is my new "Tied Together" from Couture Creations. Pearls, ribbons, button and sentiment are from my stash.

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see the rest of the girls inspiration, you won't be disappointed.

Challenges entered: Creative Craft Challenges - anything goes Scrap Creations - embossing Shopping our Stash - emboss it Use it Tuesday - anything goes (decoupage) Love to Create - things with wings Paper Pretties - use ribbon Unstampabelles - embossing Willow Sketchie - sketch/or things with wings Paper Pretties - no DP's

Carol x

Vintage Sports

Good morning all. I had a productive day yesterday, lots of washing done and dried, a general tidy up around the house and some DT cards made. I'm desperately trying to get ahead as we going off down to Goodwood to see our son off on his Mongol Rally trip in just over two weeks time. We're staying in Chichester for a week then heading over to the Isle of Wight for a week before wending our way home via the west coast and various relatives. Can't believe the rally has come round so fast - don't think the boys can either! Parental panic is beginning to set in but hoping the holiday will keep my mind off it!! 

Sharing my final Father's Day card today.

Image from Kanban, embossing folder from Couture Creations which I've sanded, base card is kraft. Finished with a sentiment, a charm and some bakers twine from my stash.

Challenges entered:

Cards for Men - sport plus a sentiment

Little Red Wagon - get krafty

CCEE - masculine

Cooking it up with Katie - Dad's, texture and metal

Crafty Boots - sports

Carol x

Happy Birthday Son

Had a lovely evening yesterday when we decided to pop down to Northumberland and see the Olympic Torch in Bamburgh. There were loads of people lining the street and we had a good vantage point seeing the torch twice as they doubled back on themselves. We then stopped for a meal in one of the local hostelries with other family members.

Torch changeover under the beautiful backdrop of Bamburgh Castle.

I can't believe that my eldest has turned 22 today, it doesn't seem five minutes since I was that age! So today I'm sharing his birthday card, made with his impending trip to Mongolia in mind!

The background has been embossed and sanded using a World Map folder from Couture Creations which I found at the last craft show I attended. The picture is of the Transfargarasan in Romania - one of the best driving roads in the world - which he has built into his route across Europe and that's the car they will be driving! The logos are the official rally logo on top of their own logo. Hope he likes it.

I decoupaged the images for dimension.

Challenges entered:

Charisma Cardz - male cards

Delightful Challenges - for the boys

DYSU - masculine

Little Red Wagon - boys birthdays

Carol x