Oh what a beautiful day

Good morning all. I hope you've enjoyed a very sunny weekend.

We had an absolutely fabulous day on Saturday at Stephen and Gemma's wedding...woke up to gorgeous sunny weather which set the tone for the rest of the day. The bride was late.....the wedding car broke down 5 minutes into their journey and they had to call a taxi to take them the rest of the way, much to her and her father's amusement. I don't think it did anything for the groom's nerves though! The service was beautiful with Gemma emitting an uncontrolled giggle whilst saying her vows. The venue at Alnwick Gardens looked fabulous in the sunshine and we had a superb afternoon and evening.

They had a sweepstake on the speeches, there were four in total - the Bride's father, Groom's father, Groom and Best Man. All four were very eloquent and they ran for just over 50 minutes from beginning to end!! 

Stephen managed to reduce me to tears though...he started by saying he had along list of people to thank - I was top of that list (which set me off straight away!), after thanking me profusely, complimenting me on my obvious patience and work I'd done he stopped and looked down at his notes again (that's it thought I next one's turn and started to compose myself!) when he looked up he proceeded to say how he'd not really known me very well before the wedding plans, with me living so far away but how great it had been spending time with me and getting to know me again...by the time he'd finished I was a gibbering wreck along with Gemma and most of my family! I then had to get up to go and collect a pressie from them, by this time the  tears were streaming uncontrollably and Stephen's mates (all Newcastle supporters) were apparently chanting "There's only one Aunty Carol". My brother came soon after on the list and he was preparing to stand up and say you'd better not make me cry when he did precisely that so he ended up in only a marginally better condition than me which of course had the effect of setting me off again!! Luckily my mascara was fully waterproof!!

Any way enough waffle, last night I just had to start scrapping some of the photos I'd taken and some which were being shared on Facebook.

Created in Craft Artist using a kit called Peaches and Cream which I got from My Memories, perfect for the album as these were the wedding colours.

The large photo is my Mum, me, two of my sister's, my niece and our other halves plus my eldest as we congregated to go to the church. From the left the smaller photos are me, hubby and son; Stephen (groom) and his two brothers; my brother and his wife; and my sister and her hubby (mother of the groom) who looked stunning in her black and ivory outfit.

This is obviously the happy couple taken at Alnwick Gardens by another guest. Gemma's dress was gorgeous and the men all looked so smart in their suits.

The night ended on a rather funny note for the groom's two brother's and their partner's who headed back to Wooler after the do to stay at the family home. My sister had given one of the girls the key to get in as neither of the boys had a key with them.....when they got there it was the wrong key...luckily it opened the garage door though and they managed to get a set of ladders to reach Christopher's bedroom window which had been left open....Graham being the skinnier of the two was elected to climb the ladder and Christopher took this brilliant shot!!

Luckily we've got it all to do again in February when the next one gets married .......which means I've got to try to get a final design done for the invites this week before we head off on holiday...happy days ahead :)

Challenges entered:

Lasting Memories - precious family

CRAFT - here comes the bride

Carol x

Happy Wedding

Good morning all.
I'm all packed ready to head down home so I can hand over the table plan today. Hoping to have a meal out tonight with my niece and one of my sisters then we'll meet up with the groom to be and help him celebrate his last night of being a singleton.....not sure that's such a good idea actually!! Hubby and son will join me tomorrow in time to get dressed for the wedding service.

Guess who came home yesterday and nearly ruined their pedicure kneeling down to wrap a wedding present up...yes that would be me. Both big toes were smudged although I managed to repair one, the other I had to completely re-do....didn't have any of the sparkly varnish to finish it off though so sprinkled some Glamour Dust on instead - it did the trick thank goodness, panic over!!

Sharing the wedding card with you today. I've made it fairly plain and simple using the same stash as I used for the wedding stationery.

Stamp is from Kodomo Inc and I've stamped in DI embossing ink and heat embossed with Detail Silver EP. Border punch is from Martha Stewart. Ribbons, pearls and gems were all from my stash.

The inside has been done to complement the front.

Enjoy your weekend whatever you're up to and here's hoping the weathermen have got the forecast right! I'll catch you all again on Sunday or Monday when I come back down to earth with a bump!

Challenges entered:

House that Stamps Built - monochrome

Lady Anne's Stamp Challenge - anything goes

Creative Card Crew - no designer papers

Loves Rubber Stamps - anything goes

Through the Craftroom Door - anything goes

Craft-Dee BowZ - anything goes with a bow

Fashionista Challenge - wedding or birthday

My Craft Creations - special occasions

Bearly Mine - anything goes

Carol x

Table Plan

Good morning all.

I'm off to have my nails done this afternoon and a bit of waxing!! I'm so looking forward to Saturday now that it's nearly upon us, the weather is looking perfect too.

I finally managed to get the table plan finished yesterday along with their wedding card and some samples for the next wedding in February.

Not the best photo with all the glare off the mirri card but I'm quite pleased how it turned out. The frame is an up-cycled white board which hubby spray painted silver for me. The bride and groom are expecting it just to be made of card, I do hope they like what I've done!

Challenges entered:

LEJ Designs - recycle, up-cycle or use household items

Carol x

Christmas Crafting with Sketches #80

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 has designed the sketch. We are being sponsored by Scrap It & Wrap It.

Image is from Anita's Stamps and I've stamped with DI embossing ink and embossed with Verdigris Sprinkle and Sparkle EP before colouring with promarkers and adding Glamour Dust. Dies from Spellbinders. Papers are from My Minds Eye and were a magazine freebie. Brads, poinsettias and tartan bow 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:
Amusing Challenges - anything goes
The Glory of Christmas Challenge - song inspired (Oh Christmas Tree)
The Squirrel and the Fox - Christmas in July
Christmas Card Challenges - anything goes
Card Mania - Christmas in July
Merry Monday - anything Christmas goes
Stamp and Create - Christmas in July
Sparkles Forum Christmas - Christmas trees
Holly Jolly Christmas - use something new (stamp)
CHNC Extra - anything 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 - Girly

Good morning all.

I'm off for a spa day with my sisters and sister in law today, looking forward to a  Full Body Exfoliation and a Hot Stone Massage along with a good catch up and some relaxation...bliss!

It's time for another challenge at  Whoopsi Daisy  and this week the theme is "Make it Girly" or you can do Anything Goes if you use a Whoopsi Daisy image on your project. 

I've used an image from the Daisy & Friends at Christmas to make a birthday card. Dies are from Spellbinders. I printed the image several times and decoupaged it. Card is finished with a sentiment and some gems 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:

Hiding in my Craftroom - freestyle

Paper Crafting Journey - anything but square

Whimsy Stamps Challenge - shaped cards

Crafty Boots - anything but square

Creative Creations - shaped cards

My Sheri Crafts - birthday

Joanna Sheen - don't be square

Carol x

Christmas Card Club - Make a Scene

Good morning all. Yesterday stayed dry but overcast so I got the washing finished and managed a bit of crafting in the afternoon. We took Freya for a walk after tea half way home she lay down on the verge and wouldn't move until she'd been tickled for five minutes...she's such a diva sometimes! Unfortunately I didn't have my phone with me to take a photo.

It's time for our next challenge over at the Christmas Card Club, Lorraine has chosen "Make a Scene".  Here is my card:

Stamps are all from Creative Expressions and I've used Versafine and DI to stamp with, masking the images as I went. Dies are from 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:

Stampin for the Weekend - anything goes

Stampin with the Dragon - anything goes

Stempelsonnen Challenge - winter

Crafting by Design - anything goes

Crafts and Me - anything goes

Creative Card Crew - no DP

Party Time Tuesdays - anything goes

My Time to Craft - masking

Polka Doodles - animals

Create a Scene - forest animals

Carol x

Menus

Good morning all. 

Yesterday turned into a lovely evening, very warm...we had a lovely meal out.

Today's share is the wedding menus, one for each table and a cocktail menu for the bar. Each of the menus will go in a frame the same as the cocktail one.

All the tables are named after flowers and there will be a floral arrangement on each table to match.

Apologies for my reflection in the photos, so difficult to avoid with mirri card.

Have a great weekend whatever you're up to.

Carol x

Post Box

Good morning all.

The weather forecast is lousy here today although warmer than it's been.  Won't get the washing dried outside that's for sure. Hopefully things will improve as the kids break up at lunchtime for 7 and a bit weeks!! 

We're off out for a meal this evening with hubby's relatives before they head home tomorrow.

Had a good day crafting yesterday finishing most of the wedding stuff, just got to print off the table plan next week and put it together....all the bits are cut ready. Today I'm sharing the post box made so the guests can all post their cards and gifts on the day.

The box was bought flat packed, I just decorated it! Still need to make my wedding card...I have an idea in my head...just hope it pans out okay!!

Carol x

Alnwick Gardens

Good morning all. 

We had a lovely day out yesterday, the weather could have been warmer but at least it was dry. The gardens looked lovely and it was very busy. It's certainly not a cheap day out although it costs not much more to extend your ticket for a year.

Here are a few of the photos I took:

The flower beds looked wonderful.

The Cascade Fountain

Looking down the fountain to the Pavillion which is where the wedding reception will be held next weekend.

The Treehouse

and finally the Castle itself.

Hope to be back tomorrow with a card to share! Meanwhile enjoy your day and thanks for visiting.

Carol x

Crafting for all Seasons #55 Make it Girly

Good morning all. 

Sorry I've not been around much but I've been busy with wedding stuff again, I think it's all under control now! Can't believe it's just over a week away now.

I'm off out for a day to Alnwick Castle and Gardens with hubby's Aunties and Uncle who are in Northumberland on holiday. Hoping the weather stays dry! Will also be able to check out the wedding venue whilst we're there.

Today it's time for a new challenge at CFAS and this time the theme is "Make it Girly". We're  looking forward to seeing all your makes. We're being sponsored by Saturated Canary who gave the DT images to work with. This is a birthday card for my niece ready for next month.

I chose Muriel to work with and coloured her with promarkers before die cutting with a Spellbinders die. Papers are from Echo Park. Card is finished with a twine bow, charm and sentiment from my stash.

I've attached the sentiment with a springy thing which was a little bent! I love how this turned out, considering it was made in double quick time it all fell together peaceably...do like it when that happens!

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

Challenges entered:

Craft-room Challenge - blue, green and yellow

Crafty Sentiments - girl power

Party Time Tuesdays - anything goes

Digi Makeover - all tied up

Fashionista - wedding or birthdays

Catered Crop - dies and punches

Red Carpet Studio - going digital

Sentimental Sundays - for the girls

The Squirrel and the Fox - use something metal (charm)

Digi Haven - flowers

Carol x

Order of Service

Good morning all. Hope you're all well.

Feeling slightly more human today....the sore throat rocketed into a full blown head cold with my throat feeling like I'd been eating razors so for the last couple of days I've been pretty rough.

I did manage to put the Order of Services to bed yesterday...I was beginning to doubt I'd ever get them done which would have given a whole new meaning to "singing from the same hymn sheet". I did have a few hiccups on the way as the inserts wouldn't print out clean and it took a few attempts with a befuddled brain to sort out the problem; then there was the batch that was missing the print on pages 3 and 6 which I sorted out with the pages back to front!! Anyway they'll all double checked and boxed ready to deliver now so I've just got menus and the table plan to print now and a post box to decorate.

Enjoy your weekend.

Carol x

Christmas Crafting (with sketches) #78

Good morning all.
Middle child appears to have gone back to Edinburgh leaving his sore throat behind...just what I needed when I'm going out for lunch with a friend!!

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 has designed the sketch. We are being sponsored by Crealing.

The image is a digi which I've had printed out for ages and I can't for the life of me remember who it is from (please let me know if you recognise it); * Thanks Wilma...the image is from Robyn's Fetish and is called Paul Penguin sleighing * I've coloured it with promarkers although I'm not happy with the end result as the batch of card I'm using at present bleeds horribly even though it's meant for promarkers. Papers were loose ones from my stash, dies from Spellbinders and Marianne Design, tag, stars and gems from my stash.

Despite all the layers this is still a thin card and hopefully will go ordinary post.

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:
Cards for Men - boys will be boys
Digi Makeover - punches/dies
Digi Sketch Challenge - Christmas in June
Paper Playtime - anything goes
OSAAT - use a digi
Oozak - anything goes with a sentiment
Christmas Stampin All Year Round - Merry Christmas (R I S M)
Delicious Doodles - all creatures great and small
Digi Haven - anything goes
Polka Doodles - male theme

Carol x

Start your Engines

Good morning all. 

A quick post from me today after I managed a little digi scrapping last night using photos taken of Mark at his birthday treat.

Created in Craft Artist using "Let's go Racing" from Template Dreams and basing the layout on template 1 from "Clusterfun Templates" also by Template Dreams.

Challenges entered:

613 Avenue Create - anything goes (optional special male)

Anything but a Card - masculine

Challenges 4 Everybody - anything goes

Dream Valley Challenges - male

Lasting Memories - tell me a story

A Gem of a Challenge - male

Scribbles Designs Challenge - manly men

Simply Create Too - for a male

Carol x

Christmas Card Club - Baubles

Good morning all. Sorry I've not been around much but it's been a busy week with birthdays and I'm still up to my eyes in wedding stuff and trying to get ahead ready for my holidays next month. I'll try to pop in to see you in the next day or two though and catch up with you all.

We had a lovely meal on Wednesday for Mark's 21st and yesterday both him and hubby had their birthday treat of a Super Car Day at a local racetrack. They each got to drive 3 laps in 3 cars....a Lotus Elite, a Porsche and an Aston Martin. They also had an Ariel Atom there been driven by a racing driver friend of ours so me and Hubby each had a ride in it.......speeds of up to 100 miles an hour in under a 100 yards....absolutely fabulous!!

We're off down home today to deliver a card to FIL and hopefully have lunch out somewhere.

It's time for our next challenge over at the Christmas Card Club, Kerry has chosen "Baubles".  Here's a very quick card I made last night:

Using Spellbinders dies, snowflake card from Kanban and some peel offs, a bow and clear gems from my stash. I have used foam pads to lift up the baubles but the card is still very flat for posting.

Challenges entered:

CHNC extra - anything goes

Hiding in my Craft Room - die cuts

Aud Sentiments - anything goes

CRAFT - Christmas

Southern Girls - punches or die cuts

Holly Jolly Christmas - ornaments

Totally PaperCrafts - feeling blue

52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - ornaments

Carol x

Crafting for all Seasons #54 One for the Guys

Good morning all.

Sorry for the lack of blogging, the lure of the sunshine proved greater than that of the craft room and now I'm chasing my tail trying to get all the wedding stuff finished, a pile of birthday cards made along with getting ahead with my DT work before we go on holiday next month!

Hubby was supposed to organise the holiday as he wanted to do Land's End to John O Groats or vice versa...guess who ended up doing it! I decided we'd only do Land's End this time so we're spending a few days in Wales at a lovely converted water mill before heading down to St Ives for a week. On the way home we're having a weekend in Devon and a few days south of Manchester. We'll probably have a night in the Lakes each way too. I've also ended up organising a few days away for our Silver Wedding in September...gave up waiting for hubby to do anything so we're going to Venice for a Monday to Friday break the week of our anniversary. 

So it hasn't all been sitting in the garden doing nothing!!

Today it's time for a new challenge at CFAS and this time the theme is "One for the Guys". We're  looking forward to seeing all your makes. We're being sponsored by Bugaboo who gave the DT images to work with.

Today is my younger son's 21st birthday so this is the card I made him......can't believe how quickly the years have flown! We off out for a meal tonight to celebrate at our local Chez Roux restaurant.

My image is Monster Birthday Sign which has been part digitally paper pieced and part coloured with promarkers. The papers are from Template Dreams "Hey There" kit. I've printed everything several times and layered up the image. Border punch is from Martha Stewart.

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

Challenges entered:

City Crafter Challenge - all about him

Crafty Sentiments - male

LEJ Designs - something for the boys

Our Daily Bread - masculine

Papertake Weekly - hello boys

Top Tip Tuesday - masculine

Ladybug Crafts - for the men in your life

The Crafter's Cafe - for a male

The Crafting Cafe - here come the boys

Cards for Men - boys will be boys

Craft your Passion - masculine

Get Inky - for boys/men

Kaboodle Doodles - favourite guy

Lexi's Creations - special male birthday

Carol x

Birthday Wishes

Good morning all. Another glorious day yesterday, I don't think there was a cloud in the sky all day.

Had a very fleeting visit from one of my cousins who had been working in Fife and was on his way back to Devon....he'd no sooner got through the door when his phone rang and they wanted him back in Fife to run a test they'd forgotten to ask him to do before he left!! So it was a quick cuppa and no more!

The sun must have addled my brain though as I decided to go for a bike ride last night with hubby...ouch it hurt and we only did 3 or 4 miles!!

Another birthday card to share today.

Decoupage from Pinflair, I've had these for ages but made up loads of them a few weeks ago and I'm gradually getting cards made with them all. Embossing folder is a magazine freebie and I've inked it with DI before embossing. Dies from Spellbinders. Button, sentiment, pearls and ribbon from my stash. All the bits of card were leftovers lying on my desk.

Challenges entered:

Craftroom Challenge - use your scraps

Crazy Amigo Challenge - distress inks

Papertake Weekly - anything goes

Shopping our Stash - no patterned papers

Tuesday Throwdown - embossing

Emma's Cards UK - buttons and bows

Sandy's Crafty Creations - embossed background

Carol x

Birthday Wishes

Good morning all. Another gorgeous day, don't think I'll be doing much except enjoying the sunshine today!

A quick card I made last night as I still have a few birthday's to make for this month.

Decoupage image is from Pinflair. Dies from Marianne Design. Backing paper was a magazine freebie.   Pearls and reel die were bought at a recent craft show. Binders twine and sentiment from my stash.

Challenges entered:

Craft Your Passion - haberdashery items

Created with Love - anything goes

A & T Emerald Faeries - dies and punches

Bastel-traum - birthday

Country Views Craft Challenge - die cuts

Marianne Design Divas - dies

Scrap it Girl - use your dies

The Cupboard Trilogy - birthdays

Opus Gluei - anything goes

Allsorts - here come the girls

Carol x

Christmas Card Club - Father Christmas

Good evening all. I hope you're all enjoying the same gorgeous weather we've had here the last few days....too nice to stay inside and craft!!

It's time for our next challenge over at the Christmas Card Club......apologies girls I'm running a day late here due to the good weather...... Margaret has chosen "Father Christmas".  Here's my card:

The decoupage image is from Joanna Sheen which I bought years ago and I'm just getting around to using. The patterned backing is card from Kanban which I've had for years too!! Snowflake die from Spellbinders. Ribbon and sentiment from my stash. Bell recycled from a certain chocolate reindeer.

You'll find the links to the other girls in my sidebar if you'd like to pop over and see their creations.

Challenges entered:

CHNC Extra - anything goes

ABC Challenge - O is for open

Christmas Cards all Year Round - vintage Christmas

The Ribbon Girl - use a die cut

CHNC - use favourite embellishments (ribbon and snowflakes)

Crafts 4 Eternity - the same letter ( B for bow, brad and blue)

Jingle Belles - tie a holiday ribbon

Winter Wonderland - photo inspiration ( colour and vintage feel)

Divas by Design - tie a ribbon

Carol x

Big Birthday Wishes

Good morning all. Arrived home safe and sound yesterday to a pile of dirty dishes!! I have to commend Easy Jet - four flights in 7 days all on time or ahead of schedule, you can't fault their efficiency.

We had a lovely relaxing time, the hotel was beautiful as was the view and the food was gorgeous. The weather was a little hit and miss but we did see some sunshine. The resort was still very quiet and peaceful which suited us perfectly.

Sharing a card today I made before we went away.

Peter Rabbit decoupage came from Pinflair. Dies are from Marianne Design. I've inked the base card with DI but it doesn't show very well in the photos.

Challenges entered:

Bloggers - to die for

Polka Doodles - to die for

Totally Papercrafts - anything goes

Crafty Ribbons - anything goes with ribbon

Crafting by Designs - anything goes

Creative Moments - lots of layers

Carol x