Busy Busy

Good morning to you all :) It looks like we're in for a very pleasant weekend weather wise and not before time. With any luck we hubby may even be able to use the BBQ to cook the tea tonight!

It's been a busy week sorting out bedrooms and building Ikea shelving and drawers. We decided we'd replace our rather small bookcase with a very large one so today will be spent sorting out books and DVD's once hubby has finished fitting the shelves into the room. Yesterday I spent sorting out paperwork so now a shredding session is in order.

Only one more bedroom to go now although the carpet has to be replaced in our bedroom as it has a fault running through it and the ceiling needs repainted in my craft room after the shower leak a few weeks back! Next time I mention redecorating could someone please talk me out of it lol

Hence no projects to share at the moment, any spare time I've had I've been getting DT projects ready for when I'm on holiday. I'll will be back in the morning with my Christmas Card Club make, see you then :)

Carol x

Anniversary

Good Afternoon, another showery day here........when is summer going to start! Our schools break up tomorrow for the holidays so I hope we get some decent weather soon. I'm sitting waiting for the carpet fitters to arrive, we did have an AM appointment - just as well I don;t need to be anywhere this afternoon then!

I made this last night for my sister whose 12th anniversary it will be next month whilst I'm on holiday.

Topper is from Krafty Hands, paper is a magazine freebie from Webster's Pages; punches from Martha Stewart; Dies from Spellbinders and Marianne Design; yellow lace from Crafty Ribbons; doilies from Joanna Sheen; ribbon, flower, sentiment and pearls from my stash.

Challenges entered:

Delightful Challenges - celebration

Allsorts - any die will do

Incy Wincy Designs - anything goes

Love to Create - anything goes

Squigglefly - use a pink bow or button (I've used bow)

Party Time Tuesdays - anything goes

Cooking it up with Katie - lace a sunny flower

Crafty Creations - embellish it

Paper Shelter Challenge - punches and dies

Get Hippity with Ippity - colour challenge + weddings/anniversaries

Well my carpet is being laid as we speak so I guess the rest of my afternoon is taken care of putting the room back together!

Carol x

Crafting for all Seasons Challenge #30 Patriotic/Military/Fireworks

Time for a new challenge at CFAS and this time the theme is Patriotic/Military/Fireworks,we're  looking forward to seeing all your makes. We're being sponsored by Di's Digi Doodles, Sweet n Sassy and Saturated Canary. I've used an image supplied by Saturated Canary.

I've gone Patriotic with my card and used red, white and blue. This is the first time I've used a Saturated Canary image and think I need a little more practise to make perfect! Image is coloured with promarkers and die cut with an oval nestie before being layered onto a scalloped and a larger oval nestie. Paper and buttons are from Papermania. Ribbon and sentiment from my stash.

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

Challenges entered:

Delightful Challenges - anything goes

Moving along with the Times - Happy Birthday

Paper Play - use a die

Shelly's Images - anything goes

Saturated Canary - red, white and blue

Cardmad Fairy's Digi Days - girly

Card Makin Mamas - red, white and blue

Simply Create Too - Country where you live (UK)

Digi Makeover - anything goes

House of Gilli - red, white and blue

Sweet Stamps - patriotic/summer

Bearly Mine - anything goes

Anything Goes - polka dots + birthdays

Simon says Stamp - sporty or patriotic

Carol x

Red, White and Blue

Good morning to you all and hello to my new followers. Got a busy day today as we need to clear out and clean one of the bedrooms ready to have carpet laid in the morning.

I managed to make this a day or two ago.

Image is from Kraftyhands and I've matted it onto red and blue card stock to frame it. The sentiment has been layered onto red and blue nestie circles. Card is finished with flowers and gems from long forgotten  stash.

Challenges entered:

KraftyHands - red, white and blue

Crafty Sentiments - red, white and blue

Shopping our Stash - red, white and blue

Use it Tuesday - patriotic (UK flag colours)
Paper Pretties - red, white and blue
Crafts and Me - birthdays

I'll be back this afternoon with my DT project for Crafting for all Seasons.

Carol x

Vintage Sports

Good morning all. I had a productive day yesterday, lots of washing done and dried, a general tidy up around the house and some DT cards made. I'm desperately trying to get ahead as we going off down to Goodwood to see our son off on his Mongol Rally trip in just over two weeks time. We're staying in Chichester for a week then heading over to the Isle of Wight for a week before wending our way home via the west coast and various relatives. Can't believe the rally has come round so fast - don't think the boys can either! Parental panic is beginning to set in but hoping the holiday will keep my mind off it!! 

Sharing my final Father's Day card today.

Image from Kanban, embossing folder from Couture Creations which I've sanded, base card is kraft. Finished with a sentiment, a charm and some bakers twine from my stash.

Challenges entered:

Cards for Men - sport plus a sentiment

Little Red Wagon - get krafty

CCEE - masculine

Cooking it up with Katie - Dad's, texture and metal

Crafty Boots - sports

Carol x

Whoopsi Daisy - Things with Wings

 It's time for another challenge at  Whoopsi Daisy  and this week it's team A's turn to share their inspiration with you. The theme this week is Things with Wings. I've used an image from sheet #199.

Image is coloured with promarkers and highlighted with a gelly roll pen,  die cut with an oval nestie and mounted onto a scalloped nestie. Papers and sentiment are from a Nitwits magazine freebie. Punched strip is a Martha Stewart punch. Card is finished with some gingham ribbon, a butterfly charm (recycled from my daughters bra!) and pearls 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:

Daisy Doodles Creative - anything goes

Creative Card Crew - 123 (1 image, 2 DP, 3 embellishments - ribbon, pearls charm)

Ladybug Crafts Ink TLT - double trouble (2 DP's)

LEJ - recycle something (butterfly charm)

Ribbon Carousel - heavy metal

Bunny Zoes - girls, girls, girls

Phindy's Place - gingham or plaid

Sweet Stampin - ribbons and bows

Dream Valley Challenges - things with wings

Sentimental Sunday - cute and girly

Craft your Passion - things with wings

Creative Mondays - mermaids/fairies

Carol x

Crafting when we Can #21 Summer Fun

It's time for a new challenge at CWWC and this time the theme is Summer Fun. We're being sponsored by Crafty Ribbons and Milk Coffee. I've used an image from Milk Coffee on my card.

Image is coloured with promarkers and die cut with an oval nestie and mounted onto a scalloped nestie. Papers are a magazine freebie from Nitwits. Ribbons from Joanna Sheen and button from Crafty Ribbons. Sentiment from my stash.

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

Challenges entered:

Bearly Mine - flowers

Lollipop Crafts - flowers in bloom

Simon says Stamp and Show - a bit of brown

Charisma Cardz - summer (C10)

Cute Card Thursday - here comes summer

Crafty Catz - pastel colours

Delicious Doodles - 123 recipe (1 image 2 DP 3 ribbons)

Fairy Tale - soft colour tones

Totally Gorjuss - something yellow

Corrosive Challenges - summertime girl

Carol x

Baby Baby

Good morning all. I'm sharing a new baby card today which I made for our neighbours a couple of weeks ago.

Stamp is from Kodomono Inc, stamped in versamark and heat embossed with blue embossing powder. Ribbons and button from Crafty Ribbons.

Challenges entered:

Oh La La - baby baby

The Hybrid Chick Caravan - CAS

Crafty Creations - baby

Crafty Ribbons - CAS

Southern Girls - baby baby

Stampin for the Weekend - show us your style (CAS)

Carol x

Crafty Ann's #68 Memories are made of this

It's time for another challenge at Crafty Ann's and the theme this time is "Memories are made of this".

I've done a layout of my eldest son on his first trip to a warm beach.

I've done this layout in My Memories Suite using various colours of the Mottled Stone papers, one of the Funky papers and the buttons from the Rhapsody in Blue kit all available from  Crafty Ann's Digi Shop. The alpha shells are from Raspberry Road and the other embellishments and frames are from MMS. The layout was inspired by a sketch I found over on the Prima website. Love these photos of Gary, he was so gorgeous at this age!

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

Challenges entered:

Sentimental Sundays - summer fun

Totally Gorjuss - holiday

Celebrate the Occasion - welcome Summer

Sparkle Creations RSC - beach challenge

Deep Ocean Challenge - welcome summer

Crafts and Me - anything goes

My Mums Craft shop - about the boys

Scrapalicious USA - summertime

4 Crafty Chicks - by the sea

Carol x

Aud Sentiments #57 Bingo

Our next challenge over at Aud Sentiments is a Bingo card.  We're being sponsored by Stamp and Create.

I've used "Happy", ribbon and die cut on my card. Decoupaged image is from Sarah Kay, dies are from Spellbinders, flowers and butterfly from Prima, ribbon and button both candy wins, border punch from Martha Stewart, sentiment and gems from my stash.

Here is the bingo card, choose any line across, down or diagonal and please tell us which you use.

Showing the dimension on the card.

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see my team mates take on this challenge, you won't be disappointed.

Challenges entered:

Lexi's Creations - Happy Birthday

Love to Create - summertime fun

Squigglefly - border patrol

The Crazy Challenge - recipe

Corrosive Challenges - feeling punchy

By the Cute and Girly - cute as a button

Crafter's Companion - use lots of embellishments

Pixie Dust Paperie - summer days

Divas by Design - to die for

Carol x

Guest Design Spot

This is my second post today, please scroll down to see my DT card for Christmas Crafting with sketches.

Well the weather stayed fine yesterday for my visitors so we had a very pleasant afternoon walking the dog and then had a leisurely lunch in a local tearoom. I hope to catch up with everyone later.

I was lucky enough to be given a Guest Design spot from Chris at Crafting Heaven to showcase her new digi venture. This week everyone is showcasing Dino so I made a Father's Day card for my daughter to give her Dad.

I've coloured Dino with promarkers and die cut with a square nestie die and used some antique linen DI before removing the die. The red mat is another Spellbinders die and I've used some of the cut out hearts to decorate the corner. Backing paper is from We R Memory Keepers and was a magazine freebie. Card is finished with some bakers twine. Sentiment was computer generated.

I made a fairly plain insert to match.

Thank you Chris for the chance to use one of your digis, I really enjoyed colouring Dino. If you 'd like to see more of Chris's images you'll find them here.

Challenges entered:

Art Impression Stamps - husband/father

Moving along with the Times - kraft card stock

Paper Play - for men + twine

Cardmadfairy's Digi Days - Father's Day

Stampin with the Dragon - anything goes

Creative Inspiration Paints - inspired by Father's Day

Carol x

Christmas Challenges (with sketches) #29

 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. It was Claire's turn to design the sketch this time and there's an added a twist of no traditional colours (so no red and green please). Sadly we're having to say goodbye to Claire as she has left the design team but hopefully we'll see her joining in the challenges in the future. We are being sponsored by Krea Treja.

Image is from Wild Rose Studio, coloured with promarkers and highlighted with stickles. Papers are also from Wild Rose Studio. Embossing folder from Cuttlebug, oval dies are both nesties. Lace, sentiment and gemstone snowflakes 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:

Christmas Card Challenges - dots and stripes

Joanna Sheen - lavender and lace

The Squirrel and the Fox - make it sparkle

Di's Digi Designs - spotty and dotty

Christmas Crafting - purple Christmas

Sparkles Forum Christmas - monochromatic

Passion for Promarkers - glitter and pastels

Paper Take Weekly - bingo (gems, free, lace or die cut free glitter)

Carol x

Happy Father's Day

Good Morning all. Hope it stays fine today as we have visitors arriving! I spent most of yesterday sorting out the house after having carpets laid in the small bedroom and the staircase. Hopefully another bedroom will be carpeted later this week or early next then we only have one room to decorate and my craft room ceiling to repair! Another two Father's Day cards to share today.

Backing paper from Wild Rose Studio, punch from Martha Stewart, dies from Spellbinders. Stamp was a magazine freebie. Finished with a button, baker's twine and gems from my stash.

Challenges entered:
Cards for Men - sports plus sentiment
Creative Belli - sentiment only
Cute Card Thursday - use a punch
DYSU - masculine
Stamp Artic - black and white plus one

Carol x

Just for You

Good morning all. Well what a washout of a weekend that was! Did manage to get out for lunch yesterday though which was very pleasant. Sharing the card I made for my Father in law today.

Image is a Meadow Cottage Bear decoupage from Crafter's Companion which I've layered onto scalloped nestie rectangles in red, white and blue. Backing paper is from Wild Rose Studio (I think!), ribbons and star button are from Crafty Ribbons and sentiment is from my stash.

Showing the dimension on the image.

Challenges entered:

Paper Take Weekly - 321 (3 die cuts, 2 ribbons 1 button)

Whimsy Inspiration - buttons and bows

Craft Punked - Father's Day

Poodles Parlour - red, white and blue

Craft Your Days Away - bingo (button, ribbon and die cuts)

Just us Girls - red, white and blue

Our Creative Corner - buttons and bows

Secret Crafter - red, white and blue

Mishelflos - red, white and blue

Unstampabelles - ribbons

Carol x

Christmas Card Club - Clean & Simple

Good morning all. What a wet miserable weekend it's been so far, hope it clears up today as we're off out to lunch later. I can't believe a fortnight has passed since our last Christmas Card Club reveal but it's Anne's turn to choose the theme and she asked to see clean and simple.

I've been desperate to use the stamps I won in Clare's candy a few weeks ago and have managed to use both this weekend. Image is from Wild Rose Studio, coloured with promarkers and highlighted with a gelly roll pen and some stickles then mounted onto a scalloped nestie. Backing card has been embossed with a Cuttlebug snowflake folder.  Ribbon (which I've had for ages) and twine from my stash.

IF you'd like to see what the other girls have done you'll find a list in my side bar.

Challenges entered:

CHNC - things with wings

Simon says Stamp and Show - anything goes

Paper and Such Designs - feathered friends

Shopping our Stash - double ribbon/twine

Inky Impressions - celebration

My Mum's Craft Shop - CAS

Paper Shelter - anything goes

Pixie Dust Studio - birds

Southern Girls - things with wings

Crafty Catz - embossing

Carol x

Wonderful Father

Made using a Popcorn Bear decoupage which I got free in a magazine last year or perhaps even the year before! Card is finished with a sentiment from my stash.

Challenges entered:

Use it Tuesday - about Dad

Sentimental Sundays - special guy

Craft your Passion - anything goes

Creative Mondays - summer

Forever Friends - anything goes

My Craft Spot - special Dad

Paper Pretties - Father's Day

The Cheerful Stamp Pad - in the garden

Ready Teddy Go - one for the boys

Crafts 4 Eternity - dashing Dads

Fussy and Fancy - boy attitude

CRAFT - Father's Day

Carol x

Happy Birthday Son

Had a lovely evening yesterday when we decided to pop down to Northumberland and see the Olympic Torch in Bamburgh. There were loads of people lining the street and we had a good vantage point seeing the torch twice as they doubled back on themselves. We then stopped for a meal in one of the local hostelries with other family members.

Torch changeover under the beautiful backdrop of Bamburgh Castle.

I can't believe that my eldest has turned 22 today, it doesn't seem five minutes since I was that age! So today I'm sharing his birthday card, made with his impending trip to Mongolia in mind!

The background has been embossed and sanded using a World Map folder from Couture Creations which I found at the last craft show I attended. The picture is of the Transfargarasan in Romania - one of the best driving roads in the world - which he has built into his route across Europe and that's the car they will be driving! The logos are the official rally logo on top of their own logo. Hope he likes it.

I decoupaged the images for dimension.

Challenges entered:

Charisma Cardz - male cards

Delightful Challenges - for the boys

DYSU - masculine

Little Red Wagon - boys birthdays

Carol x

Father's Day

Good morning all. Hope you're having a great week. I'm still sharing Father's Day cards here!

Another image from Kraftyhands, simply matted and layered onto scalloped circles. Backing paper from Wild Rose Studio. Card finished with ribbon, bow and a sentiment.

Challenges entered:

Party Time Tuesday - Father's Day mechanical

Di's Digi Designs - male inspiration

One Stop Craft - Father's Day

Secret Crafter - Father's Day

Dream Valley Challenges - special guy

The Pink Elephant - masculine

Fab n Funky - Father's Day

Carol x

Crafting for all Seasons #29 For Men

Time for a new challenge at CFAS and this time the theme is For Men,we're  looking forward to seeing all your makes. We're being sponsored by Bugaboo, Lili of the Valley and Digi Doodle Shops Best. I've used a stamp from LOTV which I bought earlier this year and hadn't used.

Image is coloured with promarkers and DI. Papers are from We R Memory Keepers. Dies from Spellbinders. Finished with a sentiment, some baker's twine and a button from my stash.

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

Challenges entered:

Lili's Little Fairies - one for the boys

Pixie Dust Studio - 3+ patterned papers

Card Makin Mamas - Father's Day

Delicious Doodles - for the fellas

Phindy's Place - Father's Day

Simply Create Too - Father's Day

Crazy 4 Challenges - circles

Celebrate the Occasion - Father's Day

Crafty Sentiments - Father's Day

LEJ - Father's Day

Passion for Promarkers - lots of layers

Digi Doodle Shop's Best - male card

Carol x

Black and White

Good morning all, thanks for visiting today. A big hello to all my new followers, I hope you enjoy what you see here. Another Father's Day card today.

Image from Kraftyhands, papers I won in a blog candy so don't know where they're from. Dies are from Spellbinders and punch from Martha Stewart. Card is finished with pearls, bakers twine and a sentiment from my stash.

Challenges entered:

Poodles Parlour - Father's Day/male

Just Some Lines - black and white

4 Crafty Chicks - monochromatic
The Crafty Pad - let's hear it for the boys

Carol x

Whoopsi Daisy - Bling

 It's time for another challenge at  Whoopsi Daisy  and this week it's team A's turn to share their inspiration with you. The theme this week is Bling. I've used an image from sheet #351.

Image is coloured with promarkers then fussy cut and mounted with silicon gel onto two Marianne Design dies. Backing paper is from 5th Avenue pad by Melissa Frances. Card is finished with a seam binding bow, sentiment, butterfly, pearls and a floral embellishment from my stash. The small bow is made using ribbon recycled from a clothes label with a gemstone in the middle.

A shot to show the dimension on the card.

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:

Party Time Tuesday - lots of shiny bling

Top Tip Tuesday - sparkles galore

I Love Promarkers - for a little girl

My Mum's Craft Shop - bingo (flowers,pearls & die cuts or pearls, gems & ribbon)

Crafty Ribbons - butterflies and bows

Shelly's Images - blingage

Carol x

Crafting When We Can #20 Mint Choc Chip

It's time for a new challenge at CWWC and this time we have a colour challenge, Mint Choc Chip. We're being sponsored by Kenny K and the DT were given images to use. I've used Wasn't Me on my card.

The image has been coloured with promarkers and mounted onto mint and chocolate cardstock. Papers are from First Edition. Border punch from Martha Stewart. Card is finished with ribbons, flower and sentiment from my stash.

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

Challenges entered:

The Ribbon Girls - use ribbon or lace

Divas by Design - chocolate

Paper Take Weekly - anything goes

Allsorts - icecream colours (mint choc chip)

Crafty Catz - summertime

Craft Punked - birthday/celebrations

Pretty Little Ribbon - lots of layers

Really Reasonable Ribbon - flowers and ribbon

Carol x

Father's Day

Good morning everyone, hope your weekend is going well so far. I've been busy making Father's Day cards to raise money for my son's trip to Mongolia so I'm sharing one today.

Image from Kraftyhands mounted onto Spellbinders circle and scalloped circle dies. Paper from We R Memory Keepers. Buttons, sentiment and bakers twine from my stash.

Challenges entered:

Pile it On - put a button on Father's Day

Cards for Men - Father's Day

Creative Inspirations - card for male

Penny's Paper Crafty - I love you Dad

CRAFT - male card

CCEE - card with vintage feel

Charisma Cardz - travel

Paper Play - back to kraft

Carol x

Crafty Ann's #67 - It's a Girl Thing

It's time for another challenge at Crafty Ann's and the theme this time is It's a Girl Thing, so let's see your feminine side.

I've done another digi layout - I just love Ann's digi kits! The double page spread was done in Craft Artist and uses papers and elements from both the Imperial Purple and Pretty in Pink kits available from  Crafty Ann's Digi Shop. The layout was inspired by a sketch I found over on the Prima website.

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

Challenges entered:

The Crafter's Cafe - pearls and swirls

Fussy and Fancy - swirls and flourishes

Moving along with the Times - anything but a card

Crafty Calender - flower's in bloom (opt swirls and flourishes)

Carol x

Aud Sentiments #56 Birthday Sentiment for a Child

Our next challenge over at Aud Sentiments is a Birthday Sentiment for a Child.  We're being sponsored by Tiddly Inks.

I've made a birthday card for my young nephew using a Daisy and Dandelion decoupage (which I've had stashed away for a year or so), mounted onto a Spellbinder's scalloped nestie circle. The backing paper is from the same set. Sentiment is computer generated and has been die cut with a Spellbinders labels die. Card is finished with a football button and some bakers twine.

Love the dimension on the decoupage.

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see my team mates take on this challenge, you won't be disappointed.

Challenges entered:

Forever Friends - one for boys

Craftroom Challenge - birthdays

Oldie but Goodie - anything goes

Crafty Catz - buttons and bows

My Craft Spot - birthday what's your age

Dude Time Doodles - boys and their toys

Creative Card Crew -  song inspired (Football Crazy)

LEJ - button it

Ladybug Crafts Ink TLT - big birthdays (11 is big when you're only 10!)

Ribbon Carousel - birthday cards

Fresh Brewed - pop it (image is decoupaged)

Scrappy Frogs - male card + 2 embellishments

Unique Crafter's - buttons

Carol x