When Life Gives you Lemons

Had an evening in the craft room tonight catching up and getting ahead as I'm going out tomorrow night to celebrate the "big 50" which happens on Monday. It will definitely be a celebration as two years ago I spent my birthday preparing for major surgery to have a brain tumour removed the size of a tangerine, so I'm very grateful to still be here in good health and able to celebrate this milestone. 

Love this sentiment from Meljens, it's so appropriate in life.

Using another of my prize digis from the Waxfruit Company - lemon blossoms, the image is coloured with promarkers. I printed the gingham and sentiment direct to card then mounted the image on foam pads then a further layer with silicon glue. This has been layered onto lemon card and a white card base. Card is finished with a gingham bow and pearl.

Challenges entered:

Less is More - feeling fruity

Allsorts - free and easy

Card Makin Mamas - food and drink

Aud Sentiments - make someone smile

I Love Promarkers - anything goes

Carol x

Feeling Fruity

Good afternoon fellow crafters, the sun is shining again and the sun lounger is beckoning me so a quick card for now.

This was already printed and just needed coloured and was perfect for the Less is More lucky dip challenge of Feeling Fruity.

Using one of my prize digis and sentiment from the Waxfruit Company the card is a simple OLC and the image is coloured with promarkers. I've added some peel off waste for the studs on the basket.

Will print off some more of Arielles fruit designs later and see what else I can come up with!

Hope you're all enjoying sunny weather too.

Challenges entered:

Less is More - feeling fruity

Sentimental Sundays - focus on the sentiment

Carol x

Crafty Ann's #46 Summertime and the Living is Easy

The fortnights are fairly whizzing by here and it's time for another challenge at CACB and this time we want to see some summer themes in your creations. This is my card:

I've used the Tropical Beach image from Crafty Ann's and digitally pieced it with some backing papers from the Mottled Stone collection (also from Crafty Ann's) . I've then added some further images to the scene (hammock from Sylvie, shells and bucket from Daisie, kite and hot air balloons were freebies - sorry I don't know where from). The sun and the boats were shapes in Publisher and the birds were made using the letter "V". The tree, hammock, chairs, sunshade, kite, spade and bucket are all coloured with promarkers. The image has been framed in Publisher and the sentiment written in the sand. Image is mounted onto card and I've used foam pads to mount to the base card, then finished it off with a ribbon.

Challenges entered:
Allsorts - free and easy
Craft your days away - summertime
Daisie Doodles - anything goes

Paper Playtime - summer

The Pink Elephant - fun in the sun

Paper Sundaes - just beachy

Creations by Gill M - beach scene

Easy Craft Projects - the summer

Digis with Attitude - anything goes

Fussy and Fancy - summer

Craft us Crazy - anything goes

Crafty Purple Frog - take a dip

Shelly's Image Blog - summertime

Digi Doodle Shop - anything goes

Divas by Design - summer

Delightful Challenges - Dog days of Summer

Stamp Something - Summer

Carol x

Rodney Reindeer

Aperture created with a Cuttlebug embossing folder. Plaid is from Crafty Ann's tartan collection. Reindeer is a   free digi from Digital Delights and has been coloured with promarkers. Card is finished with holly leaves, red beads, poinsettia, silver holly leaves, sentiment and tartan bow which have been in my stash for ages.

Challenges entered:

Bah! Humbug! - beads

Winter Wonderland - holly and ivy

CHNC - reindeer

Christmas Card Challenge - plaid

Christmas Cards all Year Round - white, bling and flowers

Christmas Stampin - all about you (white)

CCEE Stampers - season (winter)

Crafty Creations - Christmas

Creative Belli - Christmas

Flourishes - Christmas

Craft your Passion - Christmas in July

Paper Creations Ink - Christmas in July

Pollycraft - Christmas in July

Creative Inspirations Challenge - Christmas in July

Digi Doodle Shop - anything goes

Craft Us Crazy - anything goes

Thanks for stopping by today, I do read and appreciate every comment you leave.

Carol x

Delightful Dogs

Stamped with my favourite stamp (slightly biased here as we own a Siberian Husky) from the Stamp Barn with black versafine then heat embossed with holographic embossing powder. Image is cut out with an oval nestie, matted onto a black scalloped nestie and mounted onto the card with foam pads. Sentiment is computer generated and the ribbon is rescued from some clothing.

Challenges entered:

My Time to Craft - delightful dogs

Rainbow Lady - pets

Aud Sentiments - enjoy your day

Crafts and Me - ribbon

Little Red Wagon - heat embossing

Paper Pretties - no markers

Paper Shelter - anything goes

Creative Card Crew - animal antics

Jac's Inks - monotone

Party Time Tuesdays - anything goes

Creative Stamp Friends - monochrome

Die cut Dreams - animal antics

Card Cupids - birthday card

Stampin for the Weekend - paws for thought

Carol x

#6 CFAS Beach or Ocean

Can't believe how the weeks are flying by, we're onto challenge 6 at Crafting For All Seasons and the theme this week is the beach or ocean and our sponsor is Some Odd Girl. We each got to choose an image and I chose Snorkel Tobie which was a dream to work with, here is my card:

The framed scene is a freebie from Birds and I've digitally pieced the sky, sun, sand and sea with mottled stones papers from Digi Ann's. The tree, treasure chest and Tobie have been coloured with promarkers. The backing paper is from Joanna Sheen's Messy Rabbit CD. The sentiment is computer generated.

For more inspiration do pop over and see the delightful cards created by my Design Team colleagues and I do hope you can join us in the challenge.

Challenges entered:

CD Sunday - Dreams

Allsorts - Free and easy

Cute Thursday - for his eyes only

Daisie Doodles - anything goes

Paper Playtime - summer

The Pink Elephant - fun in the sun

Paper Sundaes - just beachy

Craft your days away - summertime

Creations by Gill M - beach scene

Easy Craft Projects - the summer

Digis with Attitude - anything goes

Fussy and Fancy - summer

Totally papercrafts - one for the boys

Craft us Crazy - anything goes

Crafty Purple Frog - take a dip

I Love Promarkers - anything goes

For Fun challenges - sand

Carol x

On Your Wedding Day

Embossing folder is from Cuttlebug and this has been layered onto aqua card. The middle cuts out and I've stamped the sentiment onto it with versamark and embossed with aqua embossing powder then mounted it with 3d foam pads above the aperture. Card is finished with some ribbon roses and pearls.

Challenges entered:

Less is More - ribbons or buttons

The Ribbon Reel Challenge - photo inspired

Crafty Sentiments - happy ever after

One Stitch at a Time - pearls and swirls

Paper Creators Crafts - weddings

Carol x

Birthday Wishes

I've had a lovely week with my sister and Mum in the Peak District and we seem to have missed most of the rain luckily. We had a fairly hectic schedule making puddings in Bakewell, shopping in Buxton, touring Chatsworth House and gardens and a final day touring around the Peaks and lakes. The proof of the pudding is in the eating or so they so - you'll have to be content with a photo as I've already done the eating!!

Since arriving home I've done six loads of washing and cleaned the house from top to bottom so thought I was due a little me time in the craft room tonight.

This week over at Less is More the challenge is to use ribbons or buttons (or both) but still keeping the card clean and simple. I've used a strip of black card and scalloped both edges with a Martha Stewart punch then added a piece of white ribbon and a narrow black ribbon. I've added a button tied with red ribbon to the middle of the flower, a tiny spotty black bow and some bling. The sentiment is stamped direct to the base card.

Challenges entered:

Less is More - ribbons and buttons

Stamp Something - something embellished

St Lukes Charity - black, white plus one (red)

Digi Doodle Shop - CAS

Shelly's Image Blog - anything goes

Thanks for visiting today, your comments are very welcome and always read.

Carol x

Christmas Challenge (with sketches) #5

I can't believe we're up to our fifth challenge at CCWS - we're so pleased to see so many of you joining us each challenge and those Christmas boxes must be starting to fill up now! We are being sponsored by Krea Teja. This time it was my turn to design the sketch and this is my card:

The image is another newly downloaded from Inger Harding (if you haven't done so already do go and check out her blog) which I've coloured with promarkers. The backing papers are from an old download called Christmas from around the World. Gold doiley is a die from Cheery Lynn Design, embossed corners are from Spellbinders and the die cut strip is from a Martha Stewart punch. Card is finished with a ribbon and gold berries rescued from a cracker, a sentiment, some pearls and glitter highlights on the stars.

Please pop over to CCWS to see the sketch and the delightful creations that my fellow design team girls have produced.

Challenges entered:

Stamp Something - Christmas in July

Craft us Crazy - Christmas in July

Paper Creations Ink - Christmas in July

Saturday Challenge - Christmas

Crafty Emma's - Christmas

Simply Create - Christmas

Winter Wonderland - wet/ dry embossing

Creative Inspirations Challenge Blog - Christmas in July

Paper Sundaes - Christmas in July

I love Promarkers - Christmas in July

Carol x

Football

One final card before I disappear for the week, bags are all packed - just need to check the train times before I log off for an early night.

A quick card I made for my nephew who will be 10 on Friday. Using decoupage featuring Onion with matching backing paper and a stamped sentiment. Took one look at the sentiment and thought not another one doesn't stamp straight - then I realised it's supposed to be like this!!

Challenges entered:

Less is More - circles

Crafter's Companion - one for the boys

Here come the boys - sporty

Cute Thursday - going round in circles

A Gem of a Challenge - lets hear it for the boys

Carol x

Nautical

Using an image from Joanna Sheen's Thomas Kinkade CD which was in my bit box, I've layered it onto gunmetal mirri card before mounting with foam pads onto an 8x8 card. Finished with a length of black ribbon and sentiment and a life belt badge.

Challenges entered:

CD Sunday - nautical

Crafter's Companion - one for the boys

Allsorts - free and easy

Creative Inspirations - no flowers allowed

Unstampabelles - celebration

Heidi's Hobbystuggu - card for a man

Paperminutes - homes/houses

Sentimental Sundays - for the men

Carol x

Things with wings

Digi stamp and background are from Stitchy Bears. The image is coloured with promarkers. The sentiment was a free digi from somewhere (don't know where though).

Challenges entered:

Little Claires - things with wings

Stamptacular Sunday - animal antics

By the Cute and Girly - things with wings

My Time to Craft - bird watcher

Paper Play Challenges - things with wings

Aud Sentiments - at least two words

Poodles Parlour - anything to do with birds

Stampin' for the Weekend - wings and things

Art Impressions - show me the bird

Clear it out - wings

The Craft Garden - use a bird

Tiffany Doodles - all creatures great and small

Carol x

Christmas Card Club

This time it was Pinky's turn to choose the theme and she asked for a Teddy Bear. Here is my card:

A very simple decoupage card from Create and Craft, finished with a peel off sentiment and a tartan bow. The base card was ready printed with the lovely glittery holly border.

If you'd like to join us making Christmas cards once a fortnight get in touch with one of us (list on my sidebar), it's just for fun but helps us fill that box for December!

Challenges entered:

CHNC - seeing stars

Unstampabelles - celebration

CES - Christmas

Saturday Challenge - Christmas

Sparkles Forum - glitter

ABC Christmas - N for no nonsense

Creative Inspirations Challenge Blog - Christmas in July

Paper Sundaes - Christmas in July

Carol x

Pink and Blue

Backing paper from DCWV and image from LOTV both layered onto pink mirri card. I've done some faux stitching around the edge of the backing paper and I could swear the sewing machine positively glowered at me whilst I was doing it lol. Die cut is a Martha Stewart punch. Flowers, button, gems and sentiment from my stash.

Challenges entered:

Crafty Sentiments - stitching

DYSU - sew

Rainbow Lady - a stitch in time

Shelley's Image Blog - what's cooking

LOTV - pink and blue

Aud Sentiments - at least two words

Fussy and Fancy - summer

Cutie Sunday - summer

Carol x

Shaped card

I don't often make anything other than square or rectangular so this was a challenge.

The pre-coloured digi was a freebie from Pink Gem. I've printed direct to card then layered up his towel, head and nose. Sentiment is computer generated in Santa's Sleigh font. Card is finished with a bow from which Rudolph is hanging his bell for the night and some white gems in the centre of the snowflakes.

Challenges entered:

Bah! Humbug! - shaped card

Jingle Belles - reindeers

Saturday Challenge - Christmas

Christmas cards all year round - white plus bling

Christmas Card Challenge - Christmas in July

ABC Christmas - N for no nonsense

Carol x

Love you

A little something for hubby while I'm away. The rose stencil circle image is a freebie from Fred She Said, I've used a pre-coloured one printed direct to card and added a circular sentiment on foam pads to the centre.

Challenges entered:

Less is More - circles

Allsorts - free and easy

Creative Craft Challenge - pretty blossoms

Stamp n Doodle - love or romance

Carol x

Running round in circles..

chasing my tail all day so it's very apt that the theme at Less is More this week is Circles. Got all the washing and ironing done, beds changed, and house spruced up ready to pack my bags tomorrow for my holidays on Monday. Really looking forward to spending a few days with my Mum and sister in the Peak District - Mum still doesn't know we're going so it should be fun on Monday when we show up out of the blue.

Back to circles:

I made this digitally then layered up the elements with foam pads to give some dimension. All the background papers are from Crafty Ann's digi shop, browns and blues from the Mottled Stone collection and yellow from the Funky collection. The digi stamps are from Daisie and have been coloured with promarkers. The sun and boats are shapes in Publisher, the birds are made using V's. The sentiment was created with Wordart.

Challenges entered:

Less is More - circles

Polka Doodle - summer

Cute Card Thursday - going round in circles

Bunny Zoes - fun in the sun

Secret Crafter - holidays

Carol x

Crafty Ann's #45 Embossing and/or de-bossing

Time for a new challenge at CACB and this week we want to see embossing and /or de-bossing on your cards. Here is my card:

Using one of the images from the Love is all around sheet I've put the topper together in Publisher using the pink Embossed Hearts backing paper (available from Crafty Ann). I've used Mutlu font for the monograms. The card base is ivory stardream and this has been embossed with a Glitter Girls board. Card is finished with peel off flowers, pearls, hearts and a flower bow.

Do pop over and see what the other Design Team girls have created this week, I'm sure they'll delight you.

Challenges entered:
Allsorts - free and easy
Cupcake Challenges - 129. I ♥ You: To include a heart
Hooked on Craft - with love
Stamp N Doodle - love/romance
One Stitch at a Time - anything goes
Bee Crafty - Wedding wishes
Ellephantastic - celebrations
Paper Creators Crafts - special occasions
Divas by Design - pastels
Aud Sentiments - at least two words
My Mum's Craft Shop - pearls and swirls

Carol x

ATC

I decided to make an ATC today, the backing paper is from Joanna Sheens ATC CD, the stamp is from a large box bought from QVC ages ago and has been stamped with versamark and embossed with a glittery embossing powder then coloured with promarkers. Finished with a length of raffia tied in a knot.

Challenges entered:

CD Sunday - handbags

ATC Challenge Blog - anything goes

Carol x

N is for no nonsense

Stamps from Joanna Sheen, stamped with versamark and embossed with silver detail embossing powder, then coloured with promarkers. Cuttlebug swiss dots border used along the bottom edge. Card is finished with a bow and a peel off sentiment.

Challenges entered:

ABC Christmas - no backing papers

Bah! Humbug! - mice

Winter Wonderland - no red or green

CHNC - dots

My Creative Moments - Christmas/Winter

Craft us Crazy - Christmas in July

The House that Stamp built - Christmas

Simon says Stamp - anything goes

Carol x

CFAS Challenge #5 Furry Friends

Well we are up to our fifth challenge at CFAS and this fortnight we want to see Furry Friends on your creations. We are being sponsored by Di's Digis this week and the Design Team are all working with one of Di's images. I choose Painting Fun.

The image is coloured with promarkers and cut with a nestie and mounted on a red mirri card scalloped nestie. The background has been created from mirri card with a Martha Stewart PATP and this has been layered up with paper from a DCWV adhesive stack, a scalloped square nestie and another paper from the same stack. Card is finished with a variety of buttons tied with rainbow thread.

I hope you will pop over and see the delightful creations of the other Design Team members and leave them some comments. Thanks for stopping by today.

Challenges I'm entering:
Cards for men - wild west
Simon says Stamp - anything goes
Creative Inspirations - no flowers allowed
Bling it on - anything goes
Fresh Brewed - 2 papers, 2 shapes, 2 embellishments
Your next stamp - buttons
Crafty Creations - Boyz to Men
Scrapalicious USA - use a bear
Paper Pretties - animals

Carol x

Lighthouse

It's my Father in law's birthday tomorrow and this is the card I made. Using a freebie digi from My Grafico and a backing paper I had stored on my computer, I've recoloured both in Publisher. The brown ribbon is rescued from a chocolate box.

Challenges entered:

CCEE Stampers - monochromatic/Chocolate

Cupcake - 134 monochromatic

Aud Sentiments - at least two words

Card Cupids - monochromatic

A Gem of a Challenge - lets hear it for the boys

Carol x

Berry Blue

Using a digi image and sentiment from the Waxfruit Company (June prize from Less is More challenge) printed on pearlised card and coloured with promarkers. Simples!!

Challenges entered:

Paper Play Challenges - fruity

Aud Sentiments - at least two words

Saturday Challenge - get well soon

Allsorts - free and easy

Crafty Cardmakers - one layer card

Cupcakes - no 26 one layer card

Catch the Bug - CAS

I Love Promarkers - CAS

My Time to Craft - food

Shopping our Stash - use something you got in a swap/RAK/won, or a kit of some kind

Carol x

Windmill

Image is from the Waxfruit Company, printed direct to card and coloured with promarkers. Sentiment is computer generated using Chopin Script font.

Challenges entered:

Rainbow Lady - in the country

Allsorts - free and easy

One Stitch at a Time - anything goes

A Gem of a Challenge - Lets hear it for the boys

Wags and Whiskers - birthday

Delightful Challenges - on the farm

I Love Promarkers - CAS

Ladybug Crafts - summer birthday

Craft your Passion - anything goes

Carol x

Ladybugs

This was part of my wonderful prize from the Waxfruit Company and I thought it fitted the bill splendidly for the legs challenge at LIM this week. Image is coloured with promarkers.

Challenges entered:

Less is More - things with legs

Saturday Challenge - get well soon

I Love Promarkers - CAS

Stamp Something - bugs and butterflies

Aud Sentiments - at least two words

Carol x

Left Overs

All the components of this card came out of my bit box except the base card. The image and backing paper are from Joanna Sheen's Pam West CD. The snowflakes are "waste" from the border punch and the ribbon and bell came off a chocolate reindeer. Even the glitter came out of the sweepings up box!

Challenges entered:

Jingle Belles - leftovers

Moving along with the Times - Christmas in July

Craft us Crazy - Christmas in July

Wordplay Weekend - Christmas/Winter

Sassy Studio Design - red, white and blue

Little Red Wagon - Christmas in July

The Paper Variety - Christmas in July

Tuesday Throwdown - Christmas in July

Unstampabelles - celebrations

Sparkles Forum - glitter

Fabs big Christmas - tree

Carol x

Things with Legs

Well it's back to business after the holidays. A big welcome to my new followers, I'm working my way round to see you all so if I haven't visited yet I'll be there soon.

 I need to get some crafting done this week - 1 to catch up with DT work and challenges and 2 to feed my addiction lol. I'm going away again  a week on Monday for a four night break with my sister to the Peak District - Mum is going there on a coach trip and we're going by train to meet her there as a surprise - at least I think it's still a surprise, must check that one out with my sister before one of my lot put a clod hopping size 9 in it!!

On to cards - the lovely ladies at LIM are looking for things with legs so here is a very simple one layer card using a coloured download from Daisie's Buttons and Bows collection. I've used  the frame, Betty Bowsele (I'm presuming she has legs under her frock!) and a butterfly. Sentiment is computer generated. Note I have resisted the temptation to embellish it with some real bows!

Challenges entered:

Less is More - things with legs

Cupcake - OLC

Catch the Bug - CAS

Incy Wincy Designs - sugar and sweets

Aud Sentiments - at least two words

Thanks for stopping by today and if you leave a comment I'll be able to pop by to see you.

Carol x

Shades of Blue

Got here by the skin of my teeth lol  Had a relaxing trip back today although it was torrential rain from Stirling to Edinburgh and arrived home about 4pm. The second load is in the washing machine and the unpacking is done, mail is sorted and fridge is tidied out (two sons home alone!!!) so thought I just had time to print out the cards I'd designed whilst away............and do you think I could find where they were saved........a very BIG resounding NO is the answer to that. So I started again and here is what I ended up with:

Apologies for the photography and the size of the cards - they should be twice the size but the printer decided to have a mind of it's own.

The first is using a digi flourish from Daisie, sentiment is computer generated. Finished with a ribbon flower and some gems.

The second is a free digi image from Kwed which has been coloured with promarkers. Sentiment is computer generated in Santas Sleigh font.

I think I've come down off the ceiling now after finding out I was the June winner. Many thanks to everyone for all the lovely comments you take the time to leave me and all the hints and tips you give out so freely on your own blogs. I can see you've all been busy this week so hopefully I'll get around a few blogs this weekend to see what you've all been up to.

Challenges entered:

Less is More - shades of blue

Carol x

Rain stops play

We're having a lovely relaxing holiday up in the Highlands and have had fantastic weather up until today - it has poured down for most of the day - it was so wet we didn't even bother going out! We should have been out this evening at the Kenmore Highland games but rain has stopped play so we're watching TV instead. Hoping it's fair in the morning so we can enjoy a last day out somewhere before returning home on Friday.

I did get the chance to put together a quick card with some pieces I brought with me though:

Image is from Joanna Sheen's Dancing with Shadows Cd and is printed on acetate, this is attached to white glitter card with brads and matted onto silver glitter card. Card is finished with ribbon, snowflake button and some snowflakes punched from white glitter card.

Challenges entered:

Bah! Humbug! - acetate

Allsorts - free and easy

Christmas Card Challenge - twas the night before Christmas

CD Sunday - Christmas in July

St Lukes Charity - black, white plus one (silver)

Sparkles Forum - glitter

Fabs big Christmas - oh Christmas tree

ABC Christmas - N is for no nonsense

The Paper Variety - Christmas in July

Carol x

Christmas Challenge (with sketches) #4

Another fortnight past so it's time for a new sketch over at CCWS. This time it was Renata's turn to design the sketch and our sponsor is Whiff of Joy. Please pop over to CCWS to view the sketch yourself. Here is my card:

I've used a free digi from Inger Harding and coloured her with promarkers. Backing papers are all from my stash. Card is finished with some poinsettias (bought years ago in a sale), a raffia bow (recycled from a bouquet), holly punchouts, sentiment (from a very old QVC kit), pearls and some raffia lace  (bought for me by a forum friend several years ago).

Do visit the rest of the Design Team to see their take on the sketch and remember you'll be thanking us come December when all your cards are made on time :)

Challenges entered:

Crafty Sentiments - Christmas in June

Digi Doodle Shop - anything goes

DYSU - squares

One Stitch at a Time - use a digi

Craft your Passion - anything goes

Kaboodle Doodles - celebrations

Tuesday Throwdown - Christmas in July

Sweet Stamps - Christmas in July

Party Time Tuesdays - square card

Shopping our Stash - Candy, kits, RAKS and swags

Carol x

Christmas Card Club

Crikey where did those two weeks go?? It's time again for us girls to display our Christmas cards for the club - see my sidebar for all the participants and get in touch with one of us if you'd like to join in. This is just for fun and we make a card once a fortnight, this time it was it was Lizzie's turn to set the challenge and she said no backing papers. This is my card:

Image is a freebie from Inger Harding and the frame is a freebie from SansDesign both have been coloured with promarkers. Base card is peach stardream, ivory stardream has been out through a Marianne Design snowflake diecut folder, then matted onto copper mirri card - the waste snowflakes have been used around the outside along with some gemstones. The image is mounted onto a Marianne Design doiley diecut from copper mirri card. The gorgeous ribbons are from Crafty Ribbons.

Challenges entered:

DYSU - squares

Divas by Design - diecuts and punches

ABC Christmas - monochromatic
Stamp Something - digi day
Bling it on - anything goes
Allsorts - free and easy
Winter Wonderland - Christmas buffet ( ribbon, snowflakes and gemstones)
Catch the bug - anything goes
Our Creative Corner - Christmas in July
Desert Island Crafts - Betty's Itinery (ribbon, promarkers and foam pads)
Ladybug Crafts Inks - Christmas in June
Jingle Belles - stars or stripes

By the time this posts I should be up north on my holidays for a week but I should have internet access to pop over and see everyone else's work.

Carol x