Welcome

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Hello and welcome to my blog. Here I will be showcasing all my design team work, general crafting and digital scrap booking.I hope you enjoy seeing my creations and listening to my ramblings. If you leave a comment I'll know you've been and be able to visit you in return. I read and appreciate all comments which are left - good or bad! Thank you for taking the time to visit me. Pop back soon. Carol xx

Saturday 31 December 2011

Happy New Year

Wishing all my blogging friends all the best for 2012. Many thanks for all the help and support you've given me since I started my blog.

Carol x

Friday 30 December 2011

Christmas Challenges (with sketches) Blog Hop Candy Winner

Many thanks to all those who joined in our first blog hop and special thanks to those who entered the challenge too. I have drawn one winner from all those who commented on my blog hop post using Random Org.

winning no 32


Congratulations Lizy if you send me your details I'll get your ribbons in the post asap.

Carol x

Thursday 29 December 2011

Christmas Challenges (with sketches) Blog Hop

A quick reminder you only have until 5pm GMT to enter in the blog hop and optional sketch challenge. Each of the participating DT have a prize for one random commenter and there will be one random winner from the sketch challenge. My prize is a bag of gorgeous ribbons.

If you want to make a headstart on next years Christmas cards (or have any other winter themed project to make) you can join in our fortnightly challenges, you'll find the current one featuring a sketch designed by me here. You have until January 1st to upload your projects.

Carol x

Wednesday 28 December 2011

Crafting for all Seasons #17 Fairies

Can't quite believe that's Christmas all over for another year, hope everyone had a good one. It's time for a new challenge at CFAS and the theme this week is Fairies. We're being sponsored by Whoopsi Daisy and The Stamping Boutique and the DT were given images to work with, I've used a Whoopsi Daisy image from sheet #264.


A very CAS card, the image is coloured with promarkers and highlighted with stickles then cut out with a nestie beaded oval die. Ribbon is tied around base card into a bow with a button added (both from stash). Sentiment is computer generated.



Do pop over to the challenge blog to see the inspiration from my team mates.

Challenges entered:
Daisy Doodles Creative - birthday, buttons and bows
Kaboodle Doodles - angels/fairies
Less is More - just one word
Shopping our Stash - use ribbon. twine or rik rack
I Love Promarkers - anything goes

Carol x

Tuesday 27 December 2011

Blog Candy


Hazel has this gorgeous blog candy up for grabs on her Christmas Challenge blog. It's open until 10pm on the 6th January, so pop over and join in.

Carol x

Sunday 25 December 2011

Merry Christmas

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas, hope your day is wonderful however you are spending it.
Many thanks to all my friends and followers for the wonderful comments you continue to leave me, you've made my jaunt into blogging this year very enjoyable.

Hugs to all. Carol xx

Saturday 24 December 2011

Christmas Challenges (with sketches) Blog Hop

Hi and welcome to the the first Christmas Challenges {with sketches} blog hop! If you came here from Sandra's blog, you are on the right track. If not please start at Christmas Challenges {with sketches}, because you don't want to miss anything! There is a list at the CCWS Blog if you get lost! 

We have a new sketch by Janneke, especially for the blog hop. Each of the Design Team are giving a prize to a random commenter on their blog so be sure to call around to see everyone.


Managed to up-cycle a bag today so here it is:



Backing papers are all Papermania, image is a pre-coloured digi from The Paper Shelter, finished with a snowflake ornament off the Christmas tree and a recycled bow and berries arrangement.

Thank you for joining us in this bloghop, and don't forget to join us at our Bloghop sketch Challenge. You could win a lovely stamp . You can upload your card on the CCWS Blog until December 29th 18:00 PM (Dutch time) and you can find the winner on the blog the day after. When you leave a comment here too, you can win a bag of gorgeous ribbons and I will announce the winner on December 30th here on my blog. 

Now it's time to hop on over to Karin to see what wonderful creation she's made for your inspiration.


Challenges entered:
Karen's Doodles - spots and stripes
Ooh La La Creations - anything but a card
Paper Pretties - red, white + ? (green)
Bearly Mine - anything goes
Papertake Weekly - anything Christmas
Crafty Purple Frog - Happy Christmas
Crimbo Crackers - snowflakes
Digi Doodles Best - anything goes
DYSU - stripes
Pixie Dust Studio - 3 DP's
Delicious Doodles - anything goes
Stampin for the Weekend - anything goes
Stampin with the Dragon - let it snow




I'd like to take this opportunity to wish all my friends in blogland a very Merry Christmas and hope that Santa leaves lots of crafty goodies in your stockings.

Carol x

Thursday 22 December 2011

Aud Sentiments #44 Anything Goes

Our final challenge for the year at Aud Sentiments is "Anything Goes". We're being sponsored by Sassy Cheryl's and TLC, I've opted to use the sentiment from TLC for my card.


I decided to get ahead with my January birthday cards and as I have two football mad nephews with birthdays next month I thought this was very appropriate for one of them (especially as they both support Newcastle United!).
Border die from Spellbinders Edgeability set. Sentiment is matted onto black card and mounted with foam pads over black ribbon. Card is finished with a bow and button.



Do pop over to the challenge blog to see some more inspiration.

Challenges entered:
Glitter Geeks - anything goes
Less is More - music
Paper Sundaes - celebrate
Sparkles Forum - anything but Christmas
Really Reasonable Ribbon - anything goes plus ribbon

Carol x

Wednesday 21 December 2011

Christmas Challenges (with sketches) #16

I hope no one else is feeling as frazzled as me - remind me never to do work on the house within six months of Christmas ever again!! It's time for a new challenge at CCWS and this time it was my turn to design the sketch. The sketch is a fairly simple one which can be embellished or not as you please. We're being sponsored by Whiff of Joy. I've struggled to make my card as my craft stuff has had to be deposited back into my newly refurbished craft room in boxes in order to organise the sitting room for Christmas! Luckily I found this image in the bit box!



Stamp from Joanna Sheen, stamped and embossed with white detail EP. Backing paper is from my stash. Snowflake punch from Martha Stewart. Finished with some ribbon, snowflake waste, sentiment and some gems.


Do pop over to the challenge blog to view the sketch for yourself and see the other girls' interpretations.

Challenges entered:
My Time to Craft - winter pals
Top Tip Tuesday - anything Christmas
Try it on Tuesday - anything goes
Inky Impressions - winter fun
Craft us Crazy - Christmas or humorous
Delightful Challenges - anything goes
DYSU - winter
Meljens - no rectangles
Shelly's Images - anything goes
Fussy and Fancy - monochromatic and sparkle
Catch the Bug - baby it's cold outside
Di's Digi Designs - Christmas
Christmas Card Challenges - non traditional colours
OSAAT - anything goes
Always Something Creative - Merry Christmas
Fresh Brewed - Christmas
Sundays with Chrissy - anything goes
Joanna Sheen - Christmas wishes
Critter Sketch - let it snow
Paper Playtime - anything goes plus sentiment
Stamp n Doodle - Christmas
Inky Impressions - Christmas cheer
Paper Pretties - let it snow
My Mum's Craft Shop - anything goes
Crafts and Me - anything goes
Jules Snippets Challenge - since the image and all the blue card came from my bit box.

Carol x



Sunday 18 December 2011

Christmas Card Club

It was Pinky's turn to set the challenge this time and she chose a religious theme.


The decoupaged image and backing paper were magazine freebies. Border punch is from Martha Stewart. Card is finished with a ribbon. See the list on my sidebar to visit the other girls and see what they created.

Challenges entered:
CHNC - anything goes
Crafty Boots - Christmas
Lexi's Creations - Christmas (no red/green)
Squigglefly - CAS holiday
Celebrate the Occasion - Christmas no red
Little Red Wagon - Christmas
4 Crafty Chicks - Christmas card
Paper Play - Christmas
Fairy Fun Fridays - Holly Jolly (no red or green)
Sparkles Forum - nativity
Unstampabelles - Christmas

Carol x


Wednesday 14 December 2011

Crafting for all Seasons #16 Christmas Cards and Projects

We saw some wonderful WOW creations last time at CFAS but it's time for a new challenge and we'd like to see your Christmas projects - dippy me didn't read the instructions properly until after I'd made a gift bag then found the challenge was to be Christmas cards! Luckily Dawn was very understanding and my mistake is your gain lol. We're being sponsored by Meljens and The Stamping Boutique and the DT were given images to use, I've used Holly Christmas Fairy from Meljens.


I've up-cycled a gift bag for my project. Backing papers and ribbon from Papermania. Image is coloured with promarkers and a white gel pen then cut with a square nestie and layered onto a scalloped nestie mat. Poinsettia from WOC. All other components are recycled or from my stash.
Do pop over to the challenge blog to see the inspiration of my team mates.



Challenges entered:
Crafty Ribbons - traditional Christmas
Crafts 4 Eternity - red, cream, green
Crafty Catz - anything goes
CHNC - traditional Christmas
CBGM - red and green
One Stop Craft -  traditional Christmas colours
Sweet Stampin - things with wings
OSAAT - use a digi
Crafty Boots - Christmas
House of Gilli - red and gold
Lollipop Crafts - happy holiday
Ooh La La Creations - anything but a card
Stamp with Fun - gift wrapping
Anything goes - anything but a card
Party Time Tuesdays - red and green Christmas
Stamp n Doodle - metallics or traditional Christmas
Use it Tuesday - holiday creation
Cards and Me - Christmas
Divas by Design - Merry Christmas
My Mum's Craft Shop - cute and funky Christmas
Pixie Cottage - anything goes Christmas
Meljens - use green (a little or a lot)

Carol x



Sunday 11 December 2011

Crafting When We Can #8 Friendship

Our final challenge for this year at CWWC is friendship. We are being sponsored by Kenny K and the DT were given images to work with. I chose Reindeer to upcycle a gift bag for my eldest son.


Image is coloured with promarkers and highlighted with a gelly roll pen. Glittered BP is from Papermania. Snowflake punch from Martha Stewart. Sentiment is computer generated and cut out with a Spellbinders shapeability die. Tag snowflake is a Spellbinders die. Mirri board strip has been cut with a Spellbinders edgeability die. Card is finished with punched snowflakes and gems.


Do pop over to the challenge blog to see the inspiration of my team mates.

Challenges entered:
Pollycraft - Christmas fun
Dude Time Doodles - holiday spirit
Penny's Paper Crafty - Merry Christmas
Charisma Cardz - no cards
Delightful Challenges - blue Christmas
Moving along with the Times - last minute Christmas
Card Makin Mamas - Christmas
Secret Crafter - all creatures great and small
Stampin with the Dragon - Christmas bling

Carol x



Let it Snow

What a week, I seem to have spent my time chasing my tail and never actually catching it! The kitchen saga is still rumbling on although I'm now down to just two missing doors both of which have been wrongly delivered twice so far!! Today I was going to work wonders and woke to a power cut (or should I say yesterday as it's now Sunday morning!). My mojo went completely awol last week and I have a veritable pile of green things lying on my desk none if which would make themselves into a card!! I have managed a quick one for this weeks challenge.


Taking inspiration from Chrissy, stamp is from Personal Impressions, stamped in versamark and heat embossed with detail white EP, masked with post its and inked with various blue DIs. Sentiment is from the same stamp set and is stamped in blue jeans DI. Snowflake has been stamped in versamark and embossed with vanilla ice sprinkle and sparkle EP. Finished with some gems.

Challenges entered:
Less is More - let it snow
Totally Gorjuss - let it snow
Phindy's Place - clean and simple
Simply Create Too - embossing
Allsorts - it takes two (colours)

Apologies for neglecting everyone last week, hopefully I'll get caught up with everyone soon.

Carol x

Friday 9 December 2011

Football Crazy

Don't know where this week has gone or my mojo. I've struggled to make anything at all and I've got several DT projects to make before Christmas and my daughter's birthday next week. I have managed to get all my cards ready for posting though and made a dent in the Christmas shopping so perhaps my week hasn't been completely wasted!
Finally managed to make this for my nephew but will have to hand deliver it as it's his birthday today!


Using a decoupage image and BP from Daisy and Dandelion kit which I've had for some time, sentiment stamp from LOTV, punch from Martha Stewart, scalloped circle dies and numbers from Spellbinders and scroll from Marianne Design. Card is finished with ribbons, button and gems.

Challenges entered:
Paper Shelter Challenge - celebration
Inky Impressions - use ribbon
Cute Card Thursday - anything goes
DYSU - something old
Just Tracy - celebration
Allsorts - going round in circles
Cards for Men - two (2 ribbons, 2 footballs, 2 scalloped circles no 2)
Squigglefly - based on a song (I'm football crazy, I'm football mad)
Papertake Weekly - anything goes
Crafty Creations - card + sentiment
Totally Paper Crafts - anything but Christmas
Crafty Catz - anything goes

Carol x

Thursday 8 December 2011

Aud Sentiments #43 Anything Holiday

We're continuing the theme of "Anything Holiday" at Aud Sentiments this time with sponsorship from Prairie Fairy and a new sentiment from TLC. I've used Holly Fairy on my card and used the sentiment on the inside (silly me forgot to take a pic though!!).


Image is coloured with promarkers and highlighted with stickles and a gelly roll pen. Base mat has been cut with a Martha Stewart punch, circular mat is a Marianne design die which I've embossed with it's nesting dies, snowflake is a Spellbinders shapeability die which I've embossed with vanilla ice sparkle and sprinkle EP. Card is finished with punched snowflakes, gems, seam binding bow, ribbon rose and sentiment.


Do pop over to the challenge blog to see the inspiration of the rest of the team.


Challenges entered:
Cardmadfairy's Digi Days - winter wonderland
Crafty Catz - colours of Christmas
Catch the Bug - anything goes
Card Cupids - winter themed
Pile it On - bling it up
Sparkles Forum - one you love at Christmas (for best friend)
Whoopsi Daisy - snowflakes
Craft your Passion - anything goes + glitter
Crafty Bloggers - shades of winter
Digi Makeover - cut it out
Heart Song Inspirations - red, green and white Christmas
Kaboodle Doodles - Christmas colours
The Pink Elephant - snowflakes and sparkle
Crafty Sentiments - snowflakes
Creative Card Crew - tis the season
Deep Ocean Challenge - let it snow
Ladybug Crafts Ink - snowflakes and sparkle
Top Tip Tuesday - let it snow
Tuesday Throwdown - celebrate the season
ABC Christmas Challenge - y for yipee (anything goes)
Cooking it up with Katie - anything goes
Crafts and Me - winter, snow, snowflakes
Creative Belli - winter and Christmas
Pixie Dust Studio - glitter and bling
Crimbo Crackers - embossing
Colour Create - red, white and green
Southern Girls - ribbon madness

Carol x




Wednesday 7 December 2011

Christmas Challenges (with sketches) #15

Just over two weeks until the big day, are we all ready? My Christmas cards are all sorted but I'm still madly trying to get the presents bought! Time for a new challenge at CCWS and this week it was Betina's turn to provide the sketch, we also have an added extra this time of incorporating twine and a charm into your design. We are being sponsored by Stempelstudio.


Image is called Fairy Little and is from Prairie Fairy she is coloured with promarkers and highlighted with stickles. Pink card is embossed with various embossing folders by Cuttlebug and Crafts Too (snowflakes, stars and swiss dots). Flowers are a Marianne Design die. Card is finished with Bakers Twine, a snowflake charm, pearl star and DI.

You'll need to visit the challenge blog to find the sketch and see how my team mates used it.


Challenges entered:
CCEE - snowflakes and bling
Rainbow Lady's - Christmas Carol (Oh Holy Night, the stars are shining brightly)
CHNC - monochrome
Drunken Stampers - monochromatic
OSAAT - be square
Dasiy Doodles - something sweet
Incy Wincy Designs - Christmas, non traditional colours
Paper Creations Ink - bling it up
The Crazy Challenge - anything goes
Bearly Mine - untraditional Christmas
Celebrate the Occasion - Christmas, no green
The Stamping Boutique - non-traditional Christmas
Craft Room Challenge - make own flowers

Carol x



Sunday 4 December 2011

Christmas Card Club

It was Vickie's turn to choose the theme for this fortnights challenge and we've been asked to use snow and/or snowman/woman. Here is my card:


The decoupage image is from Flowersoft and I've used a mix of flowersoft and glitter to highlight the snow. Image is matted and layered onto blue mirri card, base card has been scored and a gem added to the corners.  The rest of the gang are listed on my side bar and if you'd like to join our little fun challenge get in touch with one of us.

Challenges entered:
Totally Papercrafts - let it snow
Designed 2 Delight - let it snow
One Stop Craft - let it snow
Hooked on Crafts - winter wonderland
Kaboodle Doodles - bundle up for winter
Pollycraft - Christmas fun
Squigglefly - winter wonderland
Party Time Tuesdays - anything goes
Cooking it up with Katie - anything goes
Divas by Design - anything goes
My Mum's Craft Shop - keeping warm
Paper Shelter Challenge - anything goes
Delightful Challenges - let it snow
Digi Doodle Shop's Best - lots of sparkle
Meljens - inpired by holiday song (Let it Snow)
Shelly's Images - snow business
Mami Doodles - make it shine
Crafty Calender - cold and frosty
Cupcake Craftroom - Christmas traditions
Desert Island Crafter's - itinerary (embossing, glitter, Christmas)
Emerald Fairies - Christmas non traditional colours
St Lukes Charity - let it snow

Carol x

Friday 2 December 2011

Crafty Ann's #55 Tic Tac Toe

Another fortnight been and gone so it's time for a new challenge at Crafty Ann's. This time we're playing Tic Tac Toe so you need to pick any line from the grid - vertical, horizontal or diagonal and use the components on your card. This will be our final challenge this year and will end as normal in two weeks time.

I've used Cracker Teddy and a tartan BP from Crafty Ann's digi shop. Image is coloured with promarkers and cut with a octagonal die, then matted onto red, green and gold layers. Card is finished with a bow, holly ribbon and corner peel offs. 


I've used the bottom row - red, green and gold.
Do pop over to the challenge blog to be inspired by my team mates. See you again next year!

Challenges entered:
Addicted to Stamps - Christmas card
Crafty Boots - anything goes
Pollycraft - Christmas fun
Just for Fun - Christmas
Bee Crafty - it's Christmas
Forever Friends - it's all Christmas
Ready Teddy Go - anything goes
Anything goes - decorative corners
Stamp n Doodle - red and green + ? (gold)

Carol x