Butterflies

Good morning all.
 Today will be spent like yesterday getting on with the wedding invites. I've finished all the evening ones and now need to make some headway into the daytime ones. Everything is ready to have the wording added and all the printing is done, so it will be cutting and sticking for a few days methinks!

Today's share is a catch up layout using photos from a holiday in 2011.

The kit was a freebie from Raspberry Road called Celebrate Spring and the layout was created in Craft Artist.

It's always difficult to get  a good photo in a butterfly house as the camera always steams up!

Challenges entered:

Digitally Sweet - butterflies

My Time to Craft - things with wings

Tsunami Rose Designs - butterflies

Carol x

Christmas Crafting (with sketches) #58

Good morning all. I finally had a day out yesterday - went down home, picked Mum up and took her down to see my Aunt in the nursing home. My Aunt looks marvellous for 90 and has already outlived 3 of her younger siblings, she puts it down to staying a spinster!
It's time another challenge over at CCWS and we hope you're playing along with us this year and stocking up on those Christmas cards and projects. It's the Snow Angels turn this week and it was my turn to design the sketch this time. We are being sponsored by The Stamp Fairy who supplied images for the DT to use. 

Image is called Barry Winter 2 and I've coloured with promarkers and used glamour dust for snow. Papers are from My Minds Eye. Corner die is a new Die D Lites from Spellbinders, vine die is from Memory Box, all other dies from Spellbinders. Sentiment and gems 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 - red, white and brown
Creative Inspirations Paint - anything goes
Red Carpet Studio - card with a bear
The Squirrel and the Fox - something new (dies)
Drunken Stampers - all that glitters
Clearly Inspired - brown and red
Digi Haven - winter/snow
Fairy Tale - my newest stamp
Winter Wonderland - it take's two (bear and bird)
Christmas Cards all Year Round - anything Christmas goes
Kaboodle Doodles - winter
CHNC extra - anything Christmas goes

Carol x

A Picture Paints a Thousand Words

Good morning all. 

Another new week which I hope will be better than the last. I need to make large inroads into the wedding stationery so I can get the invites delivered at the beginning of the month.

Today's share is a little play I had last week in Craft Artist using a new kit from Crafty Ann. I couldn't resist downloading the kit as soon as Ann sent it over.

The kit is called "A Picture Paints a Thousand Words" and includes

• 15 Papers
• 63 Elements + some of them with shadows
• 15 paint blobs for the palette
• 15 coloured tips for the small paint brush
• 15 coloured tips for the large paint brush.

It is available now from Crafty Ann's for the princely sum of 95p

Challenges entered:

Creative Scrappers - #241

Carol x

Whoopsi Daisy For a Child

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 "For a Child" or you can do Anything Goes if you use a Whoopsi Daisy image on your project.

I've used a pre-coloured image from sheet #406 and added extra colour with my promarkers. Backing paper was from a candy win. Dies from Spellbinders. Ribbon, nail heads and sentiment 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:

Crafting when we Can - strawberries and cream

Dream Valley Challenges - girls girls girls

Polka Doodles - monochromatic

Paper Crafting Journey - for a girl

Paper Shelter - anything goes

Carol x

Christmas Card Club no patterned papers

Good morning, I hope everyone is well.
I managed a crafty day yesterday so got ahead with some DT stuff so I can concentrate on wedding stuff this week.

It's time for our first challenge of 2013 over at the Christmas Card Club and it was my turn to set the theme. I've asked the girls not to use patterned papers for their cards and am looking forward to seeing their makes. Here's mine:

8x8 base card; blue stardream card from Joanna Sheen; white pearlised card punched with a Martha Stewart snowflake PATP; House Mouse decoupaged image; Spellbinders Die D-Lites Flourish Trim. Silver bow and corner peel offs from my stash.

This will be one of my special male family cards so I'll add a personalised sentiment nearer the time (don't wish to tempt fate by adding one now!). Also need to finish the inside, haven't decided yet whether just to buy some 8x8 white inserts or decorate to match the front.......have to say I'm erring on the side of inserts lol, don't know as I love anyone enough to use two sheets of stardream on one card!!

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

If you'd like to join our little club, contact Clare and she'll sort you out! (in the nicest possible way lol).

Challenges entered:

CHNC extra - January anything goes

ABC Christmas Challenge - b for bows or boys

Christmas at Sweet Stamping - cold and frosty

A Gem of a Challenge - holidays

Sugar Creek Hollow - lots of layers

Catch the Bug - picture inspiration (colours)

Emma's Crafty Challenge - animals

Carol x

90th Birthday

Good morning all.

Today's share is the card I made for my Aunties 90th birthday which she hopefully received yesterday. I was going to see her today but I think the snow will stop play! Although we don't actually have any here it's was bad last night about 10 miles from us.

I've used a Meadow Cottage Bears decoupage image. Punch from Martha Stewart; dies from Spellbinders; ribbon and button from my stash. 

Challenges entered:

Anything Goes - buttons and bows

A and T Emerald Faeries - celebrations

Die Cuttin Divas - edge punch plus ribbon

Shopping our Stash - use your oldest ribbon (I'm sure this ribbon pre-dates my cardmaking days!)
Whimsy Inspiration - fancy edges
4 Crafty Chicks - buttons
Penny's Paper Crafty - teddy bears
Crafts 4 Eternity - tic tac toe ( circle, ribbon, birthday)
Crafty Catz - cute as a button

Carol x

Brian

Good afternoon all. It's been a bit dreich here today. A second post from me today.

I've been catching up with some scrapbooking this week whilst feeling under the weather.

Here are a couple of the pages from the Mongol Rally album for my son.

I thought sketches #243 and #244 at Creative Scrappers would work perfectly for this album. The first layout is of the car at the end of it's journey in Ulaanbaatar, the second is my son enjoying an icecream cone somewhere in Kazakhstan - the photo was taken by one of the guys they were convoying with and when he uploaded it to FB on their return home Gary wrote the comment "that's a face only a mother could love" beneath it!

Layouts produced in Craft Artist using "A Ticket to Ride" from Mye de Leon.

Carol x

Just for You

Good morning all.

Today's share is a birthday card for hubby's cousin's daughter.

Image is recycled from one of my daughter's birthday cards. Dies are from Spellbinders. Embossing folder is from Couture Creations. Sentiment and gem are from my stash. Heart is punch waste.

Challenges entered:

Forever Friends Monthly - birthdays

Our Daily Bread - for a child

Created with Love - anything goes

House of Gilli - anything goes with pink and bling

Unstampabelles - one or more dies

Amusing Challenges - birthdays

Penny's Paper Crafty - embossing

Carol x

Front Page

Good morning all. Thanks for stopping by and for all your lovely comments this week.

I'm sharing another layout of our visit to the Isle of Wight last summer - this one will be the front page. All this looking at sunny photos is making me yearn for a holiday in sunnier climes!

Layout created in Craft Artist using "Hey There" from Template Dreams.

Challenges entered:

Creative Craft World - scrap mat

Carol x

Crafting for all Seasons #44 Buttons and Bows

Good afternoon. 
Yesterday passed me by in a veil of paracetamol and hot honey and lemon as I've come down with a stinking cold so no crafting was done - and I really need to get these wedding invites finished! All the snow here had completely disappeared by the time I got up, we did have another dusting this morning but that soon disappeared too. I do feel a little better today but I hate having a "muggy head".
Today it's time for a new challenge at CFAS and this time the theme is "Buttons and Bows". We're  looking forward to seeing all your makes. We're being sponsored by Bugaboo and the DT were given images to use.

I've used Sew Sun Button, coloured with promarkers then fussy cut and tied some Inkylicious fibres in a bow through the button. Backing paper is from Webster's Pages; dies from Spellbinders; doily 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:

Moving along with the Times - happy birthday

Simply Create - #18

Anything Goes - buttons and bows

Can you Digi it - girly

Creative Card Crew - girly

Papertake Weekly - tie up your loose ends

Passion for Promarkers - favourite colour combo (peachy pink and green)

Cheerful Stamp Pad - tickled pink

Use your Stuff - birthdays (doily and fibres)

I Love Promarkers - anything goes

Carol x

New Beginnings

Good morning all.

My Aunt will be 90 on Friday so the beginning of a new decade for her. She still has all her marbles but unfortunately no short term memory so has been in a nursing home for some years. Hopefully I'll be going down to see her on Saturday, weather permitting!

This is the card I made for my Mum to give her.

Using a gorgeous decoupage from Faerie Poppets. Dies are all from Spellbinders; embossing folder from Couture Creations; punch from Martha Stewart; ribbon and pearls from my stash and sentiments are computer generated.

Challenges entered:

Joanna Sheen - new beginnings

Dream Valley Challenges - girls, girls, girls

Eclectic Ellapu - special birthday

A gem of a Challenge - emboss it

Card Crafters Circle - layers

Cards 4 Eternity - punch it

Totally Papercrafts - it's embossing time

ABC Challenges - birthday cards

Card Mania - girly

Kaboodle Doodles - ribbon

Carol x

Blooms

Good morning all. It looks quite icy out and it's trying to snow again, how's your weather? I'm off out to the hairdressers this morning so I'd better shake a leg!

I'm sharing another layout today. I'm thoroughly enjoying doing the album from last year's holiday - it helps that I can still remember where we went lol.

Created in Craft Artist using "Hey There" from Template Dreams.

Challenges entered:

Sketchabilities - #83

Challenges 4 Everybody - anything goes

Carol x

Cherish

Good morning all, hope you're managing to stay safe and warm in this weather.

Hubby obviously decided he was bored and needed a project - I caught sight of him carrying a box upstairs a day or two ago then heard the usual banging and crashing sorts of sounds men make when they're doing things, so went up to take a look. There he was with the dolls house kit he gave me for Christmas in the mid 1990's - he'd only decided to build it for me!! Typical when I'm in the middle of all the wedding stationery and don't have the time to start finding the decor as it has to be decorated as it's built! He even went out and bought a hot glue gun to use....wonder where that will end up?? So it looks like my next project may be sorted for me, I hope he realises it could get expensive!

Today's share is another layout using another photo of hubby's Nana, taken on her honeymoon.

Created in Craft Artist using "Distressed Elegance" from Template Dreams. 

Challenges entered:

Digitally Sweet - sketch (loved this layout)

Carol x

Skate-a-thon

Good morning all I hope you're well and not too badly affected by the weather. We had a dusting yesterday and it snowed on and off all day, it was finally white by dusk.

I nearly had a hairy canary yesterday when I discovered I'd deleted several hundred files from my computer rather than just removing them from Picassa as I'd intended to! Luckily they were all in the recycle bin and I was able to restore everything!!

I saw a double layout sketch over at Sketches in Thyme on Thursday and decided it would be perfect for one of the pages of the lads Mongol Rally album, so here I'm sharing the finished article.

I love this kit from Mye de Leon called "Ticket to Ride" and it's been perfect for this album. The layout has been created in Craft Artist. One of my resolutions for this year is to get this album finished.......there are several pages to go before I even get to preserving their 5 weeks of adventure!!

Challenges entered:

Sketches in Thyme - #100

Winter Wonderland - vintage

Cards Galore Scrapbook Challenge - anything goes

Lasting Memories - something old, something new (old kit and photos, new resolution)

Carol x

Crafty Ann's #81 2013 Recipe

Welcome to the first challenge of 2013  at  Crafty Ann's and this week the theme is a recipe - 2 backing papers, 0 flowers. 1 image/photo and 3 embellishments.

I decided to do a layout of Freya.

Made in Craft Artist using papers from Extravaganza and Tempting Turquoise, 2 ribbons from Tempting Turquoise all available from Crafty Ann's and a row of double stitching from the brushes section in Craft Artist. 

Challenges entered:

Cards Galore Scrapbook - any theme goes

Carol x

Photo Collage

Good morning all.

I was flicking through the challenges the other night (as you do) and found one for a photo collage with a link to Picassa. So I duly downloaded and made a photo collage with some more of last years holiday photos then created this layout. I was a bit disappointed that  you couldn't change the size of the photos yourself (or at least I didn't find a way!) as I would have liked to decrease the size of the main image to leave more space for the top and bottom border ones. Having said that I'm quite pleased with the result and will likely use it again.

Layout was created in Craft Artist using "Hey There" from Template Dreams.

I last visited Lulworth as an 11 year old and have always wanted to go back so it was great to be able to fit in a day out with hubbies Aunt when we were in Somerset last summer.

Challenges entered:

Use your Stuff - use a photo collage

(My stuff is my photos - I have more years than I care to think about waiting to be scrapped and although these ones are fairly recent in comparative terms they're still over 6 months old!! Don't think I'll ever catch up with myself.)

Cards Galore Scrapbook Challenge - any theme goes

Paper Minutes - snapshot

Lasting Memories - something old (photos) something new (kit)

Carol x

Christmas Challenges (with sketches) #56

It's time for our first challenge of the year over at CCWS and we hope you're going to play along with us this year and stocking up on those Christmas cards and projects. It's the Snow Angels turn this week and it was Angelique's turn to design the sketch this time. We are being sponsored by Bugaboo who supplied images for the DT to use. We have a twist this week of "Use a Doiley".

Image is FANSB Christmas from Bugaboo which I've coloured with promarkers. Papers, pearls and sentiment from my stash. Dies from Spellbinders. My white doiley was sent by a friend so I don't know where the die is from.

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:
Bearly Mine - anything goes
Can you Digi it - getting girly
City Crafter Challenge - winter blues
Clear it out - circles (stash used - paper)
Card Makin Mamas - anything goes
Squigglefly - blue/winter theme
CHNC - Rudolph is resting
CHNC extra - anything goes
Crafts 4 Eternity - moody blues
Pixie Dust Studio - winter
The Paper Shelter - winter blues
I Love Promarkers - layer it up

Carol x

Chicory Fairy

Good morning everyone, hope your week has started well. I'm waiting for my first on-line food shop from Sainsbury's to arrive. They have only just started to deliver in our area so it will be interesting to see how they compare with Tesco!

Today's share was made before Christmas but was another I didn't have time to blog.

I love this Marianne Design die set, it looks so effective and makes a really quick card. The Flower Fairy decoupage was a magazine freebie ages ago.

Challenges entered:

The Corrosive Challenge - out with the old

Allsorts - dies and punches

Wags n Whiskers - celebrations

Charisma Cardz - birthday cards

The Crazy Challenge - no design papers

Unstampabelles - use one or more dies

By the Cute and Girly - cute and girly

Live and Love Crafts - something old (decoupage)

Bunny Zoe's - anything goes

Carol x

Whoopsi Daisy Monochromatic

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 "Monochromatic" or you can do Anything Goes if you use a Whoopsi Daisy image on your project.

Using a pre-coloured image from sheet #387 which I've printed in greyscale. Backing paper was in a candy win; die cut from Spellbinders; ribbon, flower and gems are 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:

Creative Moments - monochrome

Can u Digi it - sparkle sparkle

Digi Haven - sparkle and bling

Come  and Get it - tie ribbon around

Glitter and Sparkle - use a digi

OSAAT - anything goes

The Squirrel and the Fox - anything goes

Carol x

One for the Boys

Good morning all. Well I didn't get a day out yesterday - the weather was pretty miserable here so we had a lie in followed by a lazy day. Did manage to get some DT work done though.

Here's one I made before Christmas but didn't have time to blog.

Using a Daisy and Dandelion decoupage and backing paper. Tag die from Spellbinders. Ribbon from my stash and sentiment was computer generated.

Challenges entered:

2 Sisters Challenge - celebrations

Catch the Bug - anything birthday

My Sheri Crafts - all sports

Fairy Tale Challenge - animals or pets

Charisma Cardz - birthday cards

Forever Friends Monthly - birthdays

Celebrate the Occasion - boys birthday (use blue)

Tammy's Scrapin Corner - manly

Carol x

Like a Duck to Water

Good morning all, hope your weekend plans are going well.

The wedding stationery has gone well this week and I now have 75 invites awaiting the wording (topper, invite, RSVP and directions) being printed and attached. The 25 evening invites are also ready for the wording and ribbon to be attached.

I think we may be going to see Life of Pi today, so hopefully we'll eat out as I'm fed up of cooking!

Today's share is another page for my scrapbook of last year's summer holiday.

Made in Craft Artist using "Hey There" from Template Dreams. We spent a glorious sunny day lazing around the Water Mill and grounds whilst on the Isle of Wight last July.

Challenges entered:

Sketches in Thyme - sketch #99

Digitally Sweet - pinterest inspiration

Carol x

Family Memories

Good afternoon all, hope everyone is well. 

Has anyone else been getting spam in their blogstream this week? First it was stuff about the XBox then it was cleaning all from places I wasn't following! At least the spam comments seem to have stopped for the time being - you'd think people would have better things to do with their time!!

It's been a busy week making a start on my nephew's wedding stationery - so far so good! All the invites and RSVPs are cut and half are scored and folded with ribbon attached, hopefully the rest will be done today between the laundry and housework! I'm still awaiting final confirmation of the wording to be used so nothing is printed yet.

Managed to fit in a play with a new kit from Template Dreams between batches of invites. Called Distressed Elegance it goes on sale today and it's gorgeous! It includes a mix of papers (31 total) and elements (65 total).

I've used it to scrap photos of my hubbies maternal grandparents taken on their honeymoon in 1935. Pages have been made in Craft Artist.

Challenges entered:

Divas by Design - anything goes

LEJ Designs - something new (kit)

Our Daily Bread - something old (photos) and something new (kit)

Through the Craftroom Door - anything goes

Created with Love - anything but a card

Crafty Calendar - new (new kit)

Simply Create - linky party #17

Carol x

Crafting for all Seasons #43 Something New

Time for a new challenge at CFAS and this time the theme "Something New". We're  looking forward to seeing all your makes. We're being sponsored by Whoopsi Daisy and the DT were given images to use.

I've used a pre-coloured image from sheet #389. All die cuts are from Spellbinders.  Backing paper is from We R Memory Keepers and was a magazine freebie. Sentiment and gems are from my stash.

My "Something News" are the image and the corner flourish which although bought before Christmas is making it's first airing.

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

Challenges entered:

Creative Creations - anything goes

Incy Wincy - something new

Lexi's Creations - anything goes

OLLCB - Happy Birthday

Dream Valley - anything goes

Glitter and Sparkle - anything goes

OSAAT - something new

Crafts 4 Eternity - something new

Sweet n Sassy Digis - something new

Carol x

Osborne House

Good morning all, hope you're well.

I've been doing some more digi scrapping from my holidays last summer and whilst watching one of the programmes on Queen Victoria decided to do these pages on Osborne House, which we visited whilst on the Isle of Wight.

Made in Craft Artist 2 using "Hey There" from Template Dreams. Although I've owned CA2 for some time now I haven't really used it yet as I still haven't got to grips with CA1! I'm also repeating last year's New Year's resolution to catch up with some scrap booking.

Challenges entered:

Crafts 4 Eternity - something new (kit)

Simply Create - linky#16

Cards Galore Scrapbook Challenge - anything goes

Crafter's Cafe - anything goes

Unique Crafter's - new beginnings (resolution)

Carol x

New Header

Good Morning.

Hope everyone is well, my hubby has had the sickness virus which has been doing the rounds for the second time in a few weeks - I'm hoping he isn't going to pass it on!

I've been playing in Craft Artist again and made myself a new Facebook header.

Love the gorgeous colour scheme of "Hey There" from Template Dreams and it makes a lovely cheery picture after the Christmas ones.

Think it's going to be a quiet day today and hopefully I'll fit some crafting in somewhere.

Carol x

"Hey There"

Good morning all. I had a productive day yesterday - had to be up early to await the delivery of a new tumble dryer so got all my Christmas decorations down and put away; cleaning done and the washing caught up with once the dryer arrived. So I may just be having a day in the craft room today!!

Although I didn't venture into the craft room much over the festivities I did do some digi scrapping.

Made in Craft Artist using "Hey There" a new kit available from Template Dreams. The colours were perfect for some of my holiday photos from last summer. Trish also has an add-on freebie available here if you'd like to try before you buy.

Challenges entered:

Crafty Creations - anything goes

Divas by Design - anything goes

Cards Galore Scrapbook Challenge - anything goes

Ladybug Crafts - anything but a card

Carol x

Aud Sentiments #71 Any Winter Sentiment

This is my first card of 2013 but sadly my last for Aud Sentiments as I have stepped down from the Design Team to concentrate on my nephew's wedding stationery.

The theme of our new challenge is "Use any Winter Sentiment".   We're being sponsored by Bugaboo who gave the Design Team images to work with.

Image is from Bugaboo and is coloured with promarkers and highlighted with a gelly roll pen and some glamour dust. Papers which are well over a year old are from Wild Rose Studio. Snowflake is a punch and punch waste. Card is finished with some lace, ribbon and silver chain from my stash.

My resolution for this year is to make my Christmas cards specifically for recipients and try to get the family ones done early. This card is for my nephew and his partner as they both love penguins......now I just have to make a Christmas card list so I can cross them off as they're made!!

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

Challenges entered:

Cards Galore - anything goes

Digi Galore - something new (image)

Pretty Little Ribbon Shop - Christmas

Bearly Mine - something old, something new ( papers and image)

Digital Tuesday - layers

Ladybug Crafts Ink - anything goes for Christmas

Oldie but a Goodie Challenge - use a sponsor product (oldie = papers)

Card Mania - winter wonderland

Digi Makeover - anything goes with a digi

Paper Pretties Monday - winter creation

Carol x

Happy New Year

Wishing you all a very happy and prosperous New Year and I look forward to sharing my creations (and seeing yours) with you all in 2013.

Facebook header made in Craft Artist using Festive Time from Template Dreams.

Carol x