Thanks

Good morning all.

I managed to get my wedding ring back on yesterday with a struggle...my finger is still sore where the sting went in but at least the swelling has now disappeared. Moral of the story....check the herbs before gripping them!! Managed to get the first batch of evening invites completed yesterday so only three more batches to do!!

A card I made for a swap to share today....I've a bank of cards stacked up that I just haven't had time to blog so this one was made over a month ago!

I've used one of the gorgeous Faerie Poppets decoupage images (which I keep forgetting to use!) and die cut with a nestie circle and added it to a scalloped mat both from Spellbinders. Backing paper is from Prima's Fairy Flora pad. Floral die of from Memory Box - I bought this die several months ago and this  was only it's second outing!!  Tag and ribbon are from my stash.

Challenges entered:

Crafting by Designs - anything goes

Penny's Paper-Crafty - lots of layers 

Papertake Weekly - anything goes

Party Time Tuesday - Thanksgiving/thanks

Shopping our Stash - thanks

Tuesday Throwdown - tag it

Craft-Dee Bowz - anything goes with a bow

House of Gilli - thanks

Scribble & Scrap - always anything goes

Crafting Muskateers - pretty pastels

Aud Sentiments - feminine

Carol x

Reflections

Good morning all.
Ouch!! I got more than I bargained for yesterday when I asked hubby to bring me in some rosemary to add to the risotto I was making for tea...I'm happily chopping away when I felt a stabbing pain in my wedding finger...I'd been stung by a wasp!! It was absolute agony and luckily I got my wedding ring off before my finger swelled up. It took several hours and a dose of antihistamines before the swelling went down and it's still sore today :(

A layout to share today using an unusual photo taken by the official photographer at my nephew's wedding earlier this year. The reflection is my sister, niece and her partner and the sunglasses belong my brother in law.

Created in Craft Artist using Believe in Love from Indigo Dreams and the photo mask for the November photo mask challenge at Gotta Pixel. The polka dot paper is from Peaches and Cream available at My Memories.

Challenges entered:

Creative Scrappers - #254 sketch

Lasting Memories - mirror image

Carol x

Christmas Crafting (with sketches) #98

Good morning all.

It's time for another challenge over at CCWS and we hope you're playing along with us this year and stocking up on those Christmas cards and projects. It's the turn of the Snow Angels to inspire you this week and Janneke designed the sketch. We are being sponsored by Robyn's Fetish and we have a twist again this week of "Use a Charm".

I've used Carl the Snowman, coloured with promarkers and highlighted with glamour dust and die cut with a Spellbinders oval die. Papers are from Bearly Mine's Christmas Wishes pack. Sentiment is from Pink Petticoat, charm. twine and gems are from my stash.

You will have to pop over to the challenge blog to see the sketch for yourself, remember to check out

 the inspiration of the other DT members whilst you're there. 

Challenges entered:
CHNC Extra - anything goes
Bearly Mine - anything goes
Oldie but a Goodie - add a charm (my charm is my oldie...I bought them for last year's cards!)
Through the Craft Room Door - anything goes
Card Mania - anything goes
Crafty Bloggers - Christmas
Deep Ocean challenge - winter

Carol x

Food for Thought

Good morning all.

We had a lovely autumnal day yesterday, very cold but dry and sunny. 

Decided to carry on making Christmas cards yesterday afternoon and got another couple sorted.

This one uses a House Mouse decoupaged image from Joanna Sheen. I've very simply matted and layered the image, using an embossing folder which came free in a magazine and some twine to embellish it. I must say the Christmas magazine freebies are mostly well worth having this year!

Challenges entered:

Joanna Sheen - food for thought

Flat Friends Challenge - Christmas Card

Christmas Card Challenges - dimension

Great Impressions - holiday card

The Squirrel and the Fox - animal antics

A Gem of a Challenge - Christmas is coming

Allsorts - Christmas cheer

Pumpkin Spice - something sweet

Inky Impressions - traditional Christmas

Jingle Belles - not a creature was stirring

CHNC Extra - anything goes

Carol x

Breathe the Colour

Good morning all. 

Another Monday....don't they come around quick! Only 9 weeks until eldest sets off on his travels again...so warn all your friends and relatives in New Zealand!! Off to the hairdresser's this morning for my monthly trim and colour then I suspect I'll have to do some food shopping if we want to eat this week.

A layout to share today.

Created in Craft Artist using Autumn Ridge from Mandy King. I love all the colours of leaves in autumn...nothing like walking on a dry sunny day kicking your way through all the fallen leaves!

Challenges entered:

Digitally Sweet - trees/leaves

Pumpkin Spice - foliage

Carol x

Christmas Card Club - "Religious Theme"

Good morning all.

It's time for our next challenge over at the Christmas Card Club, it was Christine's turn to choose the theme this time and she's asked us for "A Religious Theme".  Here is my card:

Decoupage image is from Joanna Sheen. Backing card is from Kanban. Die is from Spellbinders. Ribbon from my stash. I used to make all my cards this size but rarely do one now but I do like how this one has turned out.

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 Extra - anything goes
Craftyhands Challenge - anything goes
Polkadoodles - anything Christmas goes
Scrapping4fun Challenges - Christmas
Aud Sentiments - Christmas sentiment
Moving along with the Times - no designer paper
My Heart Pieces - Christmas
Crafty Calendar - all things Christmas

Carol x

Merry Christmas

Good evening all...and no I'm not sending you Yuletide greetings just yet. It's been wet and miserable here most of the day!

Sorry I've not been around much this week.....could I ask the person who pinched my week to put it back please, I've looked all over for it and am quite sure I didn't mislay it and I most certainly haven't used it all!!

I decided to crack on with some Christmas cards this afternoon.

When I saw this Merry Christmas die from Memory Box being used by the lovely Jules several weeks ago I just had to treat myself...it did cost me £1.06 to pick it up from the post office though - after I'd already paid p&p as the envelope although flat was too big for the standard slot. I did email the company concerned and they couldn't even be bothered to reply....suffice to say I won't be buying from them again!! I should have asked the post office to send it back and let them pay to pick it up and pay again to resend it to me!

At the time of it's arrival I was in the middle of making wedding invites and had lots of ivory offcuts sitting on my desk so I had a trial run which slipped in the sandwich before I cut it...it's been lying on my desk ever since! Today I decided I quite liked the angle and set to making a card

Hunting for something to use as a background I came across a box of Kanban stuff...matching card, acetate and foil sheets all A4 with two designs per sheet...perfect!

I used the acetate on the background then picked the contrasting foil to die cut my tree and snowflake. The tree was a recent magazine freebie...I managed to cut the shape outline out in ivory card to use as a backing. The snowflake die is from Spellbinders. The card is finished with brads, gems and a bow from my stash. 

I made a second one using the Kanban components the opposite way around...and I so liked the angled wording I did it deliberately this time!

Challenges entered:

CHNC - bling

CHNC Extra - anything goes

Polkadoodles - anything Christmas goes

Aud Sentiments - Christmas sentiment

Die Cuttin Divas - anything goes

The Crafting Cafe - winter blues

A Little Bit Crafty - sparkle and shine

Cards and Scrap - make a Christmas card

Christmas Cards all Year Round - winter wonderland

Get Creative - Christmas card (Evdokia's card challenge)

Carol x

Crafting for all Seasons #64 Autumn Colours

Good morning all.

Today it's time for a new challenge at CFAS and this time the theme is "Autumn Colours". We're  looking forward to seeing all your makes. We're being sponsored by Kenny K Downloads and the DT were given images to work with.

I've used an image from my stash which I won a while ago and haven't yet used. "Need for Speed" has been coloured with last years limited edition Autumn promarkers then die cut with a square nestie. Paper is from We R Memory Keepers. Dies are all from Spellbinders, button, twine and sentiment 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:

Crafty Sentiments - anything goes

Deep Ocean Challenge - button it up

Die Cuttin Divas - anything goes with a die cut

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday - plaid or houndstooth

Feeling Crafty - autumn (I used colours)

Heck of a Challenge - autumn colours

Seemacrafts - autumn colours

Crafty Boots - autumn

Craftyhands - anything goes

Seize the Birthday - birthday

Carol x

Christmas Challenges (with sketches) #97

Good morning all.

It's time for another challenge over at CCWS and we hope you're playing along with us this year and stocking up on those Christmas cards and projects. It's the turn of the Holiday Fairies to inspire you this week and Nicole has designed the sketch. We are being sponsored by Crealing.  

You will have to pop over to the challenge blog to see the sketch for yourself, remember to check out

 the inspiration of the other DT members whilst you're there. 

Carol x

Demon Dog

Good morning all.

Well yesterday started dank, wet and miserable...the sort of day to stay at home and curl up in front of the fire....by mid afternoon it had dried up and the sun was out, by which time it was too late to go anywhere!

Another layout to share today using more new goodies from Template Dreams. "October Breeze" papers and elements are part of the October BYO and currently cost $1 each. 

Created in Craft Artist using another photo of Lora when she was about 9 or 10 at a Cub Halloween party.

Challenges entered:

Digitally Sweet - anything goes

Crafts4eternity - happy Halloween

Happy Campers - Halloween

Scrap it with a Song - Halloween with a movie cover art

Scrapper's Delights - Halloween

Carol x

Little Pumpkin

Good morning all. 

We've had a couple of nice days here but it looks like rain today!

I had intended going to the SECC yesterday but after a long day on Wednesday I was too tired to make the trip...besides which the goods I bought at the last show haven't been used yet!! I did treat myself to  a couple of magazines when out grocery shopping which had some nice Christmas freebies.

Template Dreams has a new kit out ready for all those cute Halloween pictures next week, it's called "Little Pumpkin". I've used it to scrap some photos of Lora when she was little.

Created in Craft Artist using "Little Pumpkin" from Template Dreams.

Challenges entered:

Crafty Creations - Halloween

City Crafter - pumpkin patch

Cupcake Inspirations - photo inspired

Pumpkin Spice - dress up

Digitally Sweet - anything goes

Carol x

Design Team Call

We're running a DT call over at Crafting for all Seasons. Here are the details:

"It's been a while since we had a DT call here at Crafting for all Seasons but we're looking for some crafty peeps to join our little team. We welcome all types of crafts and all abilities of crafter's to our challenges (everyone has to start somewhere!). The initial term will be from January to June 2014.

Here's what would be expected from you as a DT member:

1. Make a project once a fortnight according to the theme, sponsor images may be available. Post your project timeously to the DT blog and post on your own blog at 9.00am GMT on the day of the challenge.
2. Comment on numbers assigned to you ( two numbers out of ten).
3. Choose a Top Three after the challenge closes.
4. Have fun!!

If you think you could do all that and would like to be considered for the team please write a blog post sharing details of the Design Team call, telling us a little bit about yourself and linking to three projects of your choice which you feel best showcase your crafting style.

This DT call will be open for up to two weeks...please get in early if you're interested as the call will be closed if we have lots of early interest."

Please pop over to the challenge blog and add your post to the linky...remember the early bird catches the worm!!

Carol x

Christmas Crafting (with sketches) #96

Good morning all.

It's time for another challenge over at CCWS and we hope you're playing along with us this year and stocking up on those Christmas cards and projects. It's the turn of the Snow Angels to inspire you this week and Diana designed the sketch. We are being sponsored by Meljens.

I've used Bitty Christmas Tree Bears from Meljens, coloured with promarkers and highlighted with glamour dust. Papers and sentiment are from Pink Petticoat. Dies are from Spellbinders. Ribbon and gems are from my stash.

You will have to pop over to the challenge blog to see the sketch for yourself, remember to check out

 the inspiration of the other DT members whilst you're there. 

Challenges entered:
CHNC Extra - anything goes
Polka Doodles - Christmas is coming

CRAFT - Christmas

Crafty Little Fairies - Christmas in October

ABC Christmas - under the tree

Papertake Weekly - oh Christmas tree

Party Time Tuesdays - glitter

Merry Monday - Carol inspired (Oh Christmas Tree)

Sparkle and Sprinkle - anything goes with glitter

Carol x

Spooky

Good morning all. Kids back to school here today, hubby out for the day so I need to get my head down and make some inroads into the evening invites.

Another spooky layout to share today featuring my eldest in slightly more recent years.

Created in Craft Artist using 2Cute2Spook from Template Dreams. Trish is offering the torn papers as a freebie on Facebook at the moment so pop over and grab them while you can.

Challenges entered:

A Gem of a Challenge - spooky

Pumpkin Spice - dress up

Bloggers - Halloween

Craftitude - anything goes/spooky

Digitally Sweet - halloween

Simply Create Too - Halloween

Carol x

Happy Haunting

Good morning all.

A layout to share today showcasing 2Cute2Spook from Template Dreams.

Created in Craft Artist using a photo of my two boys taken several years ago! I love the vibrant colours of this kit and all the cute embellishments.

Challenges entered:

StuckOnUSketches - sketch

Digitally Sweet - halloween/scary

Carol x

Christmas Card Club - "12 Days of Christmas"

Good afternoon all. It's a nice bright autumnal day here, hope it is with you too.

The main daytime wedding invites were delivered yesterday so I'll have to make a start on the evening ones this week...I need 90-100 of them, thankfully they're fairly simple!

It's time for our next challenge over at the Christmas Card Club, it was Sue P's turn to choose the theme this time and she's asked for the "12 Days of Christmas".  Here is my card:

I had to put my thinking cap on for this one!! Then I remembered this digi image and sentiment from Pink Petticoat which I've teamed up with papers from their Scandi Chic Winter Blooms collection and a small Christmas sentiment. Dies are from Spellbinders and border punch is from Tonic. Card is finished with crafter's cord and gems from my stash.

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 - peace

CHNC extra - anything goes

52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - bling it up

Totally Gorjuss - string

Polka Doodles - Christmas is coming

CRAFT - Christmas

Crafty Little Fairies - Christmas in October

Crimbo Crackers - Christmas birds

ABC Christmas - under the tree

Holly Jolly Christmas - inspired by a Christmas Carol

Carol x

Crafting for all Seasons #63 Too Cute to Spook

Good morning all.
Still in wedding mode although I'm off out today to meet my niece and sisters....to re-plan my niece's wedding as she's decided to go for a very simple ceremony with an afternoon tea to follow for about 30 people. If this goes ahead I'll be able to plan a holiday to New Zealand straight after as her wedding date will come forward by over two weeks!

Today it's time for a new challenge at CFAS and this time the theme is "Too Cute to Spook". We're  looking forward to seeing all your makes. We're being sponsored by Joanna Sheen Ltd.  I've chosen to do a layout for this challenge.

Created in Craft Artist using 2Cute2Spook from Template Dreams....I love this kit with it's fabulous Halloween colour palette. The photo is of my eldest when he was four and got dressed up for playgroup, where have the years gone??

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

Challenges entered:

Digitally Sweet - favourite colours (love Halloween colours)

Lasting Memories - black background

The Pink Elephant - photo inspired

Carol x

Christmas Challenges (with sketches) #95

Good morning all.

It's time for another challenge over at CCWS and we hope you're playing along with us this year and stocking up on those Christmas cards and projects. It's the turn of the Holiday Fairies to inspire you this week and Mieke has designed the sketch. We are being sponsored by Scrap it and Wrap it.  We have a twist this week of "White on White" - colour only allowed on your image.

You will have to pop over to the challenge blog to see the sketch for yourself, remember to check out

 the inspiration of the other DT members whilst you're there. 

Carol x

Lunch with a View

Good morning all.

Beavering away quietly in the background with the wedding stationery, I'll hopefully finish the daytime invites today - they'll just need the inserts added, a menu printed and the RSVP's made after that - none of which is onerous.

Sharing another double layout from Venice today. I have moved LUNCH since I wrote this post but as I was battling a migraine at the time I haven't exported the new image yet.

Created in Craft Artist using papers and elements from Template Dreams "Celebrate September" and a photo mask template from Indigo Designs. 

Challenges entered:

Lasting Memories - one colour

Carol x

Christmas Crafting (with sketches) #94

Good morning all.

It's time for another challenge over at CCWS and we hope you're playing along with us this year and stocking up on those Christmas cards and projects. It's the turn of the Snow Angels to inspire you this week and Christina designed the sketch. We are being sponsored by Krea Teja.

I've created the layers in Craft Artist and layered onto blue stardream card. The image and sentiment are stamps by Anita which I stamped with versamark and heat embossed. Dies are all from Spellbinders, gems from my stash.

You will have to pop over to the challenge blog to see the sketch for yourself, remember to check out

 the inspiration of the other DT members whilst you're there. 

Challenges entered:
CHNC - picture inspiration (I've used the colour)
CHNC Extra - anything goes
Bunny Zoe's - something blue
Lawnscaping - patterned paper
Challenges 4 Everybody - anything goes
Glitter and Sparkle - monochromatic
Christmas Stampin all Year Round - circles

Carol x

On the Wings of Love....

Good morning all.

A quiet afternoon was planned yesterday since all the children were out. First hiccup in the works was having to get a photo of daughter's passport to her for ID so she could get into the pictures, then I ended up having to cook a roast dinner as after Tesco had delivered the fridge was overflowing! Can't remember the last time I cooked a Sunday roast...it turned out a tad rare but at least the leftovers won't be overcooked today! Then I remembered I had a DT card to make so it turned out more peaceful than quiet.

Another double page layout to share today from our Venice trip, these were some of the first pictures I took with my new camera and I was quite surprised how well they turned out.

Created in Craft Artist using papers and elements from Template Dreams "Celebrate September" and a photo mask template from Indigo Designs. 

Challenges entered:

Digitally Sweet - anything goes with wings

Carol x

Christmas Card Club - "Upcycle"

Good morning all.
The wedding production line is now in full flow, hopefully everything will be cut by the end of today for the daytime invites and I can start putting them together tomorrow. Only need three dozen daytime invites which isn't too onerous but they are quite intricate. The 100 evening invites will take a bit more doing though!!

It's time for our next challenge over at the Christmas Card Club, it was Maureen's turn to choose the theme this time and she's asked us to "Upcycle".  Here is my card:

Topper has been made with the front of a gift tag, paper is from My Mind's Eye. Snowflake has been cut from some waste kraft card and the back of the gift tag. Bow is made from the ribbon off the gift tag. Dies are all Spellbinders.

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 Extra - anything goes
Creative Fingers - anything goes with ribbon
Sister Act Card Challenge - anything goes
Crafty Ribbons - anything goes with ribbon
Delightful Challenges - holiday spirit
Little Miss Muffet - we wish you a Merry Christmas
Moving along with the Times - anything goes
Southern Girls - song inspired (Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer)
Digistamps4Joy - recycled + a snowflake

Carol x

Crafting for all Seasons #62 - Pins and Lace

Good morning all.
Had a lovely run over to Galashiels on Monday, I love the Tweed Valley at this time of year - the colours are just beautiful. I wish I'd taken my camera with me! We waited at the garage and had a cuppa while they did the recall on my car then decided to have a drive down to Melrose for some lunch while we waited for the service on hubby's car.

I made a start on the next wedding invites yesterday, 36 fronts all printed and heat embossed and now weighed down with a large box of wooden stamps to hopefully flatten the card again. Hope to get the card bases and layers cut out today.

It seems ages since I shared a card with you so here goes. Today it's time for a new challenge at CFAS and this time the theme is "Pins and Lace". We're  looking forward to seeing all your makes. We're being sponsored by our own team member Jani from Jani's Kreativewelt who gave us images to work with. 

I've used Elefant, coloured with promarkers. The backing paper was found lying on my desk discarded from a previous project and I've not had time to find out where it came from. Flower die is from Memory Box. Circular dies are all Spellbinders. Lace, pins, sentiment, ribbon flower and gems are all 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:

Craft-Dee BowZ - anything goes with a bow

Melonheadz Friends Challenge - animals

Challenges 4 Everybody - anything goes

Hobbycutz - lace and pearls

Crazy 4 Challenges - bows

Drunken Stampers - die cuts

Pattie's Creations - animals

Crafty Ribbons - monochrome

Southern Girls - monochrome

Passion for Promarkers - lots of legs

Carol x

Christmas Crafting with sketches) #93

Good morning all.

It's time for another challenge over at CCWS and we hope you're playing along with us this year and stocking up on those Christmas cards and projects. It's the turn of the Holiday Fairies to inspire you this week and Lotte has designed the sketch. We are being sponsored by Alota Rubber Stamps.  

You will have to pop over to the challenge blog to see the sketch for yourself, remember to check out

 the inspiration of the other DT members whilst you're there. 

Carol x

Camera Shy

Good morning all. 

Another lovely day yesterday and the forecast looks good for today too. We're off to Galashiels with the cars today, hubby's needs a service and mine has a recall on it so that will take up most of the day!

Sharing another scrap page today using a recent photo of our dog Freya.

Created in Craft Artist using  Nuts for You from Template Dreams, combined with one of the Circle Fun revised templates.

Challenges entered:

Digitally Sweet - anything goes

Carol x

One Moment

Good morning all. 

Well yesterday turned out just as forecast and we had a glorious day of sunshine here, I wonder what today will bring! Hubby managed to get some stain onto our decking and I had a play with my camera in the garden....it does take some fabulous pictures and I'm really pleased I bought it.

I'm sharing another double page layout of Venice today. Two of the smaller photos are the views out of the windows from inside the bridge itself.

Created in Craft Artist using papers and elements from Template Dreams "Celebrate September" and a photo mask template from Indigo Designs. Word art is from Word Art by Jennifer. These double page templates have been brilliant for this album.

Challenges entered:

Digitally Sweet - anything goes

Lasting Memories - odd# embellishments (5), even# photos (4)

Carol x

Forever Love

Good morning all. The weather forecast is lovely here today, lets see if it happens!

A wedding layout to share today.

Created in Craft Artist using "Believe in Love" and a photo mask from Indigo Dreams and elements from "Peaches and Cream" from My Memories and Word Art by Jennifer. 

Challenges entered:

Sketchabilities #99 - sketch

Carol x