Easter

Another glorious day here, can't believe how cold it's supposed to get over the next few days though! 

The ingredients of my card today have been lying on my desk for about two weeks now but I finally got around to making this last night.

Image and papers from Joanna Sheen's Precious Petals CD. Border punch from Martha Stewart and dies from Spellbinders. Sentiment computer generated, ribbon from stash.

Challenges entered:

CD Sunday - spring has sprung

Dream Valley Challenges - Easter

Sentimental Sundays -Easter/spring

The Squirrel and the Fox - Easter

Lexi's Creations - Easter

Anything Goes - get ready for Easter

Crafty Sentiments - Easter

Paper and Such Designs - spring/Easter

Paper Shelter - Easter

Penny's Paper-Crafty - Easter

Scrapalicious USA - Easter

4 Crafty Chicks - Easter

Cute Card Thursday - Happy Easter

Delightful Challenges - Easter

Paper Play - Easter

Card Makin Mamas - Easter

Carol x

Crafty Ann's #62 Christmas in March

It's time for another challenge at Crafty Ann's and the theme is "Christmas in March".

I've opted to show a layout I've made using photos which have been waiting to be dealt with. All the papers and elements on the page came from Ann's Traditional Christmas Kit available from Crafty Ann's Digi Shop. My LO is 12 x 12 and was made in My Memories Suite. I love to layer up my images and embellishments.

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see Ann and the teams creations, you won't be disappointed.

Challenges entered:

Lasting Memories - layers

Craft us Crazy - anything but a card/altered item

Crimbo Crackers - family

Carol x

Template Thursday

This weeks free template from My Memories Suite,  click on the image to be taken to the download page. The templates will work in any programme so you don't need to have MMS to be able to use them.

To receive $10 off the price of My Memories Suite V3 software copy and paste this code STMMMS57827 at checkout. You'll also receive a $10 gift certificate for the online store.

I hope you enjoy your download and would love to see how you use it. Feel free to link in a comment so I can pop over and have a look.

Carol x

Aud Sentiments #51 Happy Easter

Our next challenge over at Aud Sentiments is Happy Easter. We're being sponsored by A Day for Daisies.

As I'm on Team B my card won't be revealed until next Thursday, do however in the meantime pop over to see this weeks inspiration from the DT - you won't be disappointed.

Carol x

Christmas Challenges (with sketches) #23

 It's time for our next challenge over at CCWS and we hope you're playing along with us this year and stocking up on those Christmas cards and projects. Nicole has designed the sketch this time and we have an added twist of White on White. We are being sponsored by Hein Design.

The digi image (which was left over from a previous card) is from Whoopsi Daisy and I've coloured with promarkers, fussy cut and mounted 3D to a deckled edge rectangle nestie. Vellum from Papermania, embossing folder from Cuttlebug, tag and sentiment die from Spellbinders. Ribbons, lace and pearls from my stash. Small snowflakes are punch waste and large snowflakes are from a Fiskars punch. Card is finished with some stickles. All card and paper came from my bit box for this card. 

I have to say I found the sketch a little daunting this time but once I'd got it under control I'm very pleased with how my card turned out :)

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:

Craft your Passion - monochromatic

House of Gilli - white plus one

Incy Wincy Designs - tag it (tucked top left)

Art Impressions Stamps - monochromatic

Charisma Cards - pocket card (pocket with tag top left)

Jingle Belles - hybrid holiday

Stampin for the Weekend - anything goes

Stampin with the Dragon - things with wings

Sweet Stampin - anything goes

Creative Inspirations Paint - monochromatic

Whoopsi Daisy - use your stash

Christmas Inspirations - embossing

Party Time Tuesdays - anything goes

Ribbon Carousel - anything goes

Stamp n Doodle - embossing

Paper Pretties - bling

Simon says Stamp - anything goes

Truly Scrumptious - use lace

Carol x

Celebrate

Had a busy day yesterday and wasn't the weather gorgeous! Managed to find carpets for the stairs, daughter's bedroom and our bedroom at the local carpet shop then we went down to Berwick and found the perfect material for roman blinds for our room - just need some bathroom tiles and our room will be sorted! Lounge carpet and blinds are proving a little more difficult but there's no hurry at the moment so we'll just keep looking.

Managed to do a bit of crafting last night and finished a competition card I'd started on Sunday, got a DT card out of the way then made this one just because!

The image is from Joanna Sheen's Daisy and Friends CD. Papers and sentiment are all from a HOTP book which was a very early "must have" crafting purchase from QVC many moons ago......to be fair I'm slowly getting through it lol. The border die is from Marianne Design and is having it's first airing although I've just realised it's actually meant for threading ribbon through....doh! The ribbon is recycled and the organza flower has been in my stash for some time. Card is finished with some gems and pearls.

Challenges entered:

Lollipop Crafts - anything goes

Squigglefly - anything goes

The Crazy Challenge - add a sentiment

Hiding in my Craftroom - hideous papers

Whoopsi Daisy - use your stash

Carol x

Christmas Card Club - Swirls and Pearls

Well guess who forgot to put the clocks forward before she went to bed last night..........yes that would be me!! Luckily I'd bought hubby a radio alarm which automatically adjusts itself and realisation eventually dawned on me after pondering the reason my clock had gone an hour slow!! Have to say no one else in the house remembered.

Well another fortnight has passed and it's Christmas Card Club time again, it was Hazel's turn to choose the theme and she's requested swirls and pearls on our cards. I had mentally pictured a card using a LOTV image and lots of dies but when looking at some of the other girls cards earlier I remembered some must have Kanban card I had stowed away unused and unloved and decided I'd make a card using old stash (if I didn't buy any Christmas goods for the next five years I don't think I'd run out!!).

The Flowersoft decoupage was one of four languishing in the same box as the card and as it's about 3 years old I thought it was time it made it onto a card! (I used these images for all my special cards in 2009 and had 4 left for hubby and the kids cards when I ran out of time and steam and decided to recycle and give them their 2008 cards again! The cards were well travelled as we'd spent Christmas 08 in Dubai but no one noticed that only the envelope was new!)

The matting for the image was all from the bit box and everything except the base card, ribbon and pearls was ancient stock.

The inside has been decorated to match using the metallic version of the Kanban card (probably should have used it on the front and the matt inside but hindsight and all that lol).

Challenges entered:

Forever Friends - 3d/decoupage

ABC Christmas Challenge - F is for furry/feathered friends

4 Crafty Chicks - inspired by music

Crafty Calender - spring clean

OSAAT - anything goes
Pixie Crafty Snippets - #13

Carol x

Buttons

Scraping by tonight by the skin of my teeth for this challenge!

Papers from Papermania, image from LOTV, doily and button dies from Marianne Design, ribbon and sentiment from my stash. 

Inside has been decorated to match.

Challenges entered:

CHNC - buttons

Winter Wonderland - photo inspired (I've used the colours)

Christmas Stamping all Year Round - anything goes

Cute Card Thursday - anything goes

Card Makin Mamas - buttons

Carol x

Birthday Cheer

Well what a beautiful week it's been weatherwise, hope it lasts over the weekend especially for  Claire who gets married tomorrow. I got a result with my Martha Stewart punch too, they're sending me a new one so I'm a happy bunny again!

Put this layout together this afternoon........I should have been doing other things but hey ho what the heck!!

I used My Memories Suite and the kit is a freebie called LouCee's birthday from LouCee's Creations.

Challenges entered:

My Memories Blog - LouCee Creation

Pile it On - up in the air

Shabby Tearoom - pennant party

Creative Mondays - anything goes

Stamp n Doodles - circles/ovals

Pixie Dust Studio - favourite things (daughter and cake)

Willow Sketchie - let them eat cake

Carol x

To receive $10 off the price of My Memories Suite V3 software copy and paste this code STMMMS57827 at checkout. You'll also receive a $10 gift certificate for the online store.

Template Thursday

This is my third post today, please scroll down to see my DT posts for Aud Sentiments and Crafty Purple Frog.


This weeks free template from My Memories Suite,  click on the image to be taken to the download page. The templates will work in any programme so you don't need to have MMS to be able to use them.

And here is a page showing how the kit components can be used. 

To receive $10 off the price of My Memories Suite V3 software copy and paste this code STMMMS57827 at checkout. You'll also receive a $10 gift certificate for the online store.

I hope you enjoy your download and would love to see how you use it. Feel free to link in a comment so I can pop over and have a look.

Carol x

Aud Sentiments #50 Song Title for Inspiration

This is my second post today, see below for my DT post for Crafty Purple Frog.

The current challenge at Aud Sentiments is to use a Song Title as inspiration (don't forget the sentiment). We're being sponsored by Limited Runs Digi's. I've used an image from Limited Runs and my inspiration is "Let it Snow".

Image is coloured with promarkers and highlighted with a gel pen before being die cut with a Spellbinders nestie. I've used a bigger nestie to emboss the background card. Punched snowflakes, pearls, stickles, a sentiment and a bow have been added to finish.

Do pop over to see this weeks inspiration from the DT - you won't be disappointed.

Challenges entered:

Papertake Weekly - bingo (ribbon, free (pearls) and punched shapes)

Hiding in my Craftroom - KISS

OSAAT - girly
Little Red Wagon - CAS
Crimbo Crackers - cute
Craft Room Challenge - bling, glitter and sparkle

Carol x

Crafty Purple Frog Challenge #37 Anything Goes

We've loved seeing all your entries in our "Pink and Girly" challenge but it's time for a new at the Crafty Purple Frog and this fortnight the theme is "Anything Goes" and is being hosted by Sarah Louise.

I've used the "Scent of Beauty" decoupage for my card bag.

I needed a bag to use with this card so used the second decoupage off the sheet to make this. Backing paper is from Melissa Frances 5th Avenue pad; punch for doily is from Martha Stewart; die from Spellbinders; ribbon, flower and pearls from my stash. Bag is finished with some stickles on the punched flowers and twine for handles.

All decoupage and pyramage sheets are available from The Crafty Purple Frog.

Do call by the challenge blog to see the gorgeous samples from my teamies, you won't be disappointed.

Challenges entered:
Fairy Tales - fairy tale (The little Mermaid)
Ribbon Carousel - use bakers twine
Corrosive Challenges - fairy tale (as above)
Creative Inspirations - anything goes
My Time to Craft - doilies and flowers
Scrapalicious USA - a cut above

Carol x

Crafting for all Seasons #23 Sketch

Time for a new challenge at CFAS and this time we have a sketch to use. We're being sponsored by Fred She Said, Pink Cat Studio and The Stamping Boutique. I've used Kissing Penguins from The Pink Cat Studio for my card.

Card base is Kraft. Image has been coloured with promarkers. Papers from MME. Corner dies and circles from Spellbinders. Ribbon die from Marianne Designs. Ribbon, spirelli thread and card candy from my stash. 

This is the sketch which Catherine created. 

Challenges entered:

Allsorts - 3 in a row
Christmas Stampin all year - recipe
52 card Throwdown - animals
Challenge up your Life - zoo animals
Crafty pad - perfect pairs (two penguins 2 x 2 corners)
The Pink Elephant - get krafty
Passion for Promarkers - animals
Joanna Sheen forum M15 - spirelli
ABC Christmas Challenge - F is for furry or feathered friends
I Love Promarkers - 3 DP's
My Mum's Craft Shop - get digital
Crimbo Crackers - cute
Sundays with Chrissy - animals

Carol x

Butterflies

Good morning all, hope you're having a good week. I'm off to the dentist shortly for a check up, hopefully all will be fine and I'll only need a scale and polish. Will have to have a quick look around the craft shop whilst I'm up the street - I'm hoping they'll have some of the new Wild Rose Studio stamps and papers in.

Anyway enough of the chat here's one I made last night.

Image is a LOTV die cut mounted onto a Marianne Design doily. Border punch is from Martha Stewart and corner dies are from Spellbinders. Butterfly and flower dies from Marianne Design. Backing papers are from First Edition (large square) and Joanna Sheen's Precious Petals CD (corners and mat). Ribbon, flower and gems from my stash. Sentiment stamped on flower is from Wild Rose Studio.

I'd like to say no tools were harmed in the making of this card but I can't...........I managed to break my new Martha Stewart border punch.... boo hoo....will have to email them and see if they will do anything as it's only two weeks old!

Challenges entered:

Lilis Little Fairies - butterflies and fairies

Cute Card Thursday - Happy Birthday

SSD - monochromatic

Willow Sketchie - sketch or embellish it

CD Sunday - spots and dots

Get Hippity with Ippity - things with wings

Incy Wincy Designs - things with wings

My Craft Spot - spring with scallops

Paper Creations Ink - things with wings

Bearly Mine - dots

Carol x

Lots of layers

Pre-coloured digi and backing paper from Joanna Sheen's Daisy and Friends CD. Image has been fussy cut and layered then mounted 3d onto the mat. Fan punch is from Martha Stewart, corner dies from Marianne Designs and rosette die from Memory Box. Button from Crafty Ribbons. Card is finished with ribbon, pearls, gems red metallic thread from my stash.

Inside has been decorated to match.

Challenges entered:

Crafty Ribbons - birthday

Stamptacular Sunday - cute as a button

Whoopsi Daisy - layers and GDT call

Kaboodle Doodles - cuteness

Pollycraft - check it out
Cute Card Thursday - Happy Birthday 

Carol x

White plus a pop

It's been another lovely day today, hope it lasts all week.

Sharing another of my Mother's Day cards.

Decoupage flowers are from a C&C kit which a friend gave me two years ago - it's been sitting made up for several months and just needed a card! I've used my new Anja border dies from Marianne Design for the first time to frame the decoupage - I used foam pads under the cut edge to lift the design. Ribbon, button and pearls are from my stash. Sentiment is computer generated and cut with a Spellbinders label die. All card came from my bit box.

Challenges entered:

Celebrate the Occasion - welcome spring

Crazy Amigo Challenge - spring

Shopping our Stash - buttons and bows

Tuesday Throwdown - spring cleaning

The Stamping Boutique - CAS

Creative Belli - CAS

Divas by Design - citrus colours

Marianne Design - spring into spring

Pretty Little Ribbon - spring colours

Pixie Crafty Snippets - challenge #12

Carol x

A bit of Glamour

Good morning all and thanks for stopping by today

Another Mother's Day card to show,

Image is from Debbie Moore, mounted onto black card before being added to a DL card. Sentiment computer generated. Gems from my stash.

Challenges entered:

4 Crafty Chicks - chicks rule

Creative Belli - CAS

Carol x

With Love Mum

Another magazine freebie this time featuring Popcorn the bear from Crafter's Companion. The backing paper is a free download (I think from Papercraft Inspirations). The image is a twisted pyramage. Sentiment is computer generated and cut with a Spellbinders die. Ribbon and bow from my stash.

Challenges entered:
Creative Stamp Friends - spring
Forever Friends - 3d or decoupage
Heidi's Hobbystuggu - animals as focus
Love to Create - anything goes


Carol x

Chilllon Castle

A couple of layouts to show this afternoon.

Created in My Memories Suite using a page builder template from Albums to remember. The photos were taken on our trip to Montreux last May.

Challenges entered:

My Memories - page builder

To receive $10 off the price of My Memories Suite V3 software copy and paste this code STMMMS57827 at checkout. You'll also receive a $10 gift certificate for the online store.

Carol x

Crafting When We Can #14 Cards for the Boys

Happy Mother's Day, hope everyone is being spoilt today, I'll let you know later whether I am or not!

It's time for a new challenge at CWWC and the theme is Cards for Boys. We're being sponsored by Some Odd Girl. 

• Papers: Kanban
• Image: Kanban
• Medium: teadye DI
• Ribbons and sentiment from my stash

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

Challenges entered:
Creative Card Crew - vintage
My Craft Spot - man cards
Fairy Fun Fridays - distress it
Anything goes - boyz to men
Craft Room Challenge - vintage
Totally Papercrafts - male
Paper Shelter - for the boys

Carol x

Sell out news!

It's been a beautiful day here although quite cool. Really felt I should have been out in the fresh air but needed to make Mum's card for tomorrow! I'm pleased to say all the cards I made for eldest to sell were gone by lunchtime today so at least all the work was worthwhile.

I treated myself to the Faerie and Paintbox Poppet decoupage sheets from Crafter's Companion this week and I've used the Star Magnolias Faeries image for Mum's card.

The image is gorgeous and the die cut decoupage is a dream to work with. I've mounted the image on a new fancy rectangle nestie. Backing paper is from a K&Co pad which I've had forever; fan punch from Martha Stewart; ribbon and pearls from my stash. Hat pins from Joanna Sheen and heart button from Crafty Ribbons.  Pink and green matting layers are Papermania. Sentiment is computer generated.

A close up of the bow treatment which I did on the mini bowdabra.

A shot showing the dimension on the decoupage. Inside was decorated to compliment the front.

As the finished card was too big for an envelope I made a matching bag using two sheets of the backing paper.

I hope she likes it as much as I do!

Challenges entered:

House of Gilli - colours of spring

Little Darlings Challenge - colours of spring

Delightful Challenges - someone special

DYSU - favourite colour (pink)

Moving along with the Times - special lady

Paper Play - bingo (flowers, stitching (on button) and button)

Card Makin Mamas - buttons

Crafts 4 Eternity - colour combo

Little Claires - spring

Joanna Sheen - spring/Easter

Penny Black and More - springtime

Crafter's Companion - spring

Really Reasonable Ribbons - spring + ribbons

That Craft Place - anything goes

Totally Gorjuss - spring

Top Tip Tuesday - Mother's Day

My Top Tip for Tuesday would be to use your anti static bag to dust an intricate die before using it for the first time this makes releasing the die cut easier.

Carol x

Pink Floral

Another quick Mother's Day card.

Made with a magazine freebie by Nancy Watt.

Challenges entered:
Delicious Doodles - wonder of life
Glitter Geeks - Mother's Day
Deep Ocean Challenge - butterflies

Carol x

Punch it out

Eldest had a few friends around for a drink tonight so it's been a bit of a raucous evening but however it's all quiet on the western front now! Managed to make this after finishing off some DT stuff. 

Image is from Whoopsi Daisy and it's coloured with promarkers. The gorgeous glittery backing paper is from First Editions. Dies from Spellbinders, punch from Martha Stewart, ribbons, fibre and gems from my stash.

Challenges entered:

Whoopsi Daisy - punch it out

Simon says Stamp and Show - anything goes

I Love Promarkers - anything goes

Shelly's Images - anything goes

Poodles Parlour - anything goes

Stampin with the Dragon - things with wings

Carol x

Crafty Ann's #61 Spring into Spring

It's time for another challenge at Crafty Ann's and the theme is "Spring into Spring".

The Host of Daffodils image and all the papers are from Crafty Ann's Digi Shop. I've digitally pieced the image and decoupaged it for dimension. Border punch is from Martha Stewart and was one of my purchases at the Secc last week, I've sewed gold thread around the edges.

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see Ann and the teams creations, you won't be disappointed.

Challenges entered:

Kaboodle Doodles - show some green

Karen's Doodles - something special

ABC DT - springtime

Joanna Sheen - spring/Easter

Digital Tuesday - think spring

Lia Stampz - anything goes + sentiment

Always Something Creative - spring

Sparkles Forum - Mother's Day/Spring

Cardmadfairy's Digi Days - add a sentiment

Phindy's Place - spring has sprung

Our Craft Lounge - pretty petals

Simply Create Too - spring

Scrapology - use a digi

Carol x

Template Thursday

This weeks free template from My Memories Suite,  click on the image to be taken to the download page. The templates will work in any programme so you don't need to have MMS to be able to use them.

And here is a page showing how the kit components can be used. The photo is my eldest son.

Challenges entered:

For Fun Challenges - circles

Crafts and Me - circles

To receive $10 off the price of My Memories Suite V3 software copy and paste this code STMMMS57827 at checkout. You'll also receive a $10 gift certificate for the online store.

I hope you enjoy your download and would love to see how you use it. Feel free to link in a comment so I can pop over and have a look.

Carol x

Pretty in Pink

Good morning all. I'm still making Mother's Day cards here! The first boxful went up to the skate park last night and five were snapped up so hopefully by Sunday they will all have gone. My Paintbox Poppets decoupage arrived yesterday so I must get started on my own Mum's card today.

Image is Carnation Fairy decoupage from Crafty Purple Frog. Papers are from my bit box. Border punch from Martha Stewart, dies from Spellbinders. Peel offs and ribbon from my stash, sentiment is computer generated.

Challenges entered:

Paper Take Weekly - one for the girls/Mum

Crafty Sentiments - things with wings

Ladybugs Crafts Ink TLT - anything goes

Party Time Tuesday - monochromatic

Top Tip Tuesday - Mother's Day

Love to Create - about the ladies

 Creative Inspirations - something for Mum

Pixie Cottage - perfect pastels

My Mum's Craft Shop - Mum's the word

Scrapalicious USA - a cut above

Carol x

Aud Sentiments #50 Song Title for Inspiration

Our next challenge over at Aud Sentiments is  to use a Song Title for Inspiration. We're being sponsored by Limited Runs Digi's.

As I'm on Team B my card won't be revealed until next Thursday, do however in the meantime pop over to see this weeks inspiration from the DT - you won't be disappointed.

Carol x

Christmas Challenges (with sketches) #22

 It's time for our next challenge over at CCWS and we hope you're playing along with us this year and stocking up on those Christmas cards and projects. Monique has designed the sketch this time. We are being sponsored by Inky Impressions.

Papers are from Crafty Ann's Christmas digi scrap kit and have been layered digitally. Doiley is a Cheery Lyn die and is cut from vellum. Image is from Delicious Doodles and had been coloured with promarkers and a gold gel pen. Sentiment is from Meljens. Pearls and gem from stash. Ribbon is recycled.

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:

OSAAT - use a digi

ABC Christmas - E is for evergreen

Totally Papercrafts - my favourite things (Christmas, pearls and ribbon)

Sweet Stampin - lots of layers

Dasiy Doodles - tie it up

The Stamping Booutique - use gold

Carol x