Dubai

Good morning all. A big hello to my new followers this week, I hope you enjoy your visits.
Another gorgeous day yesterday, although I wasn't feeling too great. Hubby drove us to the garage and we had an hour or so to kill in Galashiels whilst they checked the car, all I can say is I'm glad I don't end up there often! Didn't bother with the garden centre as I was ready for home when we got the car back.

Unfortunately I'm not going to Dubai - I've just done a layout using a family photo taken 6 years ago when we were there!   

Showcasing "Love is in the Air" from Template Dreams, also using two of the clusters. The layout was created in Craft Artist.

Challenges entered:

Digitally Sweet - anything goes (optional sketch)

Carol x

Christmas Crafting (with sketches) #62

Good morning all. What a gorgeous day we had yesterday, woke to heavy frost and brilliant sunshine so ended up taking the dog for a two hour walk along the coast.
Got to take the car over to Galashiels this morning for it's 3 month check. May just have to detour by Kelso garden centre on the way home and visit the craft department!

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 Christina's turn to design the sketch this time. We are being sponsored by Elisabeth Bell who supplied images for the DT to use. We also have a twist this week of "use glitter or bling".

Image is called "Frosty the Snowman" and I've coloured with promarkers and added glamour dust before die cutting. Dies are from Spellbinders. Papers are some odd pages from a Papermania book bought years ago. Ribbons, webbing, pearls, gems and sentiment are from my stash. Snowflakes are punch waste.

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:
Dream Valley - ribbon and bling
Gingerloft - ribbons and bows
CHNC Extra - anything goes
Glitter and Sparkle - bling it on
Joanna Sheen - layer it up
One Stitch at a Time - use a digi
Robyn's Fetish - ribbon or twine
Digi Haven - snow/snowflakes
Winter Wonderland - snowflakes falling
CCEE Stampers - C is for (Christmas, carrot, cold)
ABC Christmas - D for designer papers

Carol x

Chichester

Good morning all.

A double page layout to share today using photos taken last summer when we were staying at Chichester.

Using "Hey There" from Template Dreams  and designed in Craft Artist.

Challenges entered:

Sketches in Thyme - #103

The Pink Elephant Scrapbook Challenge - banners

Carol x

Passport Required

A second post from me today. Scroll down one to see my DT project for Whoopsi Daisy.

Paid my regular visit to the hairdresser's this morning so my roots are back under control!

Another layout from the Mongol Rally album.

Created in Craft Artist using "Ticket to Ride" from Mye de Leon.

Challenges entered:

Digitally Sweet - sketch

Carol x

Whoopsi Daisy Add a Sentiment and Blog Hop

Good morning all. Had a very lazy weekend, the weather wasn't very conducive to going out although I did go for a walk on Saturday.

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 "Add a Sentiment" or you can do Anything Goes if you use a Whoopsi Daisy image on your project. There is also a blog hop running and full details can be found on the challenge blog.

The image is pre-coloured from sheet #430. Papers are from HOTP and must be 7 years old as they're from the very first paper pad I bought!! Ribbons, button, gems and sentiment from my stash. Die from Spellbinders.

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. Don't forget to check out the blog hop too as there is a prize for one commenter at each stop on the way.

Challenges entered:

Really Reasonable Ribbon - spring colours

Shopping our Stash - use oldest DP

Papertake Weekly - buttons and bling

Creative Card Crew - birthdays

Clear it Out - happy birthday (ribbons must be at least 3 years old)

Bearly Mine - lace,ribbon or twine

Creative Moments - shades of blue

Crafty Ribbons - button up

Chocolate Coffee and Cards - buttons and bows

A Gem of a Challenge - add a bow

Carol x

Christmas Card Club - 3 fold card & traditional Christmas colours

Good morning all. Hope everyone is having a good weekend. We had a beautiful day here yesterday, the breeze off the North Sea was a bit chilly but the sun was quite warm - until about 4 pm when we had a hail storm and the temperature dropped quite dramatically. I wonder what today will bring!

It's time for our next challenge over at the Christmas Card Club and it was Debi's turn to set the theme, she chose a "3 fold card with traditional Christmas colours".  Here's my card:

I don't make many fancy fold cards and especially not at Christmas so was a bit daunted by this one. Not actually sure it constitutes a 3 fold card but at least it has more than one and made me think outside my usual comfort zone! 

Topper is from LOTV; all dies are from Spellbinders; paper, red card and gold mirri card are all from my bit box; poinsettia, ribbon, bow and sentiment from my stash.

The stepper card is a ready made one from Craftwork Cards

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 - one word is sufficient

CHNC extra - anything goes

Crafty Catz - dies and punches

Crimbo Crackers - shaped cards

MilkCoffee Challenge - make it cute

Divas by Design - fancy fold

Penny's Paper-Crafty - anything goes

Crafty Sentiments - fancy folds

Sparkles Forum Christmas - anything goes

Pixie Crafty Snippets - #61

Totally Gorjuss - happy

Carol x

Lora Lou

Good morning all.

Another layout today to showcase "Love is in the Air" from Template Dreams.

For this layout I've also used a Cluster Fun template also available from Template Dreams.

I love these photos of Lora taken at a birthday party we had for the boys when they were 10 and 8.

Challenges entered:

Oldie but Goodie - bright colours (oldie is photographs which are nearly 13 years old!)

Through the Craftroom Door - anything goes

Cheerful Stamp Pad - anything but a card

Challenges 4 Everybody - anything goes

Carol x

Love is in the Air

Good morning all. It was still very chilly here yesterday although dry and bright. I didn't accomplish much of anything although I did manage to bake some scones - a batch of plain and a batch of cheese. The plain ones were made with buttermilk but I didn't care for them much, the cheese ones were delicious though. I've had to freeze half of them so I don't pig out - having lost 10lbs this month I don't want it to find me again!

I know Valentine was last week but "Love is in the Air" is the name of Trish's latest kit at Template Dreams which is due to be released today.

The colour palette of this kit is gorgeous and perfect for scrapping all those baby pics lying around. The border template is from Shannon McNab. My layout was produced in Craft Artist.

Challenges entered:

Sketches in Thyme - #102

Can You Digi It - love is in the air

Carol x

Meeting the Locals

Good morning all. Gosh it was cold here yesterday, don't think I felt warm all day!

Another layout this morning from the Mongol Rally album. The photo was taken by one of the other teams our lads were convoying with - the kids are presumably brother and sister and just wandered into the camp.

Created in Craft Artist using "Ticket to Ride" from Mye de Leon.

Challenges entered:

Creative Scrappers - #247

Carol x

Crafting for all Seasons #46 Dies and Punches

Good afternoon all. I had a bit of a lazy day yesterday after my body decided I'd been overdoing things and shut down on me - when this happens I just have to sleep it off. Apparently I missed a gorgeous morning whilst having my lie in! Got a bit of hoovering done and made The Hairy Dieters Spanish Chicken for tea (which was yummy) and did some digi scrapping....then it was time for bed again!

Today it's time for a new challenge at CFAS and this time the theme is "Dies and Punches". We're  looking forward to seeing all your makes. We're being sponsored by Kenny K and the DT were given images to use although I've used one I won recently. The card is for one of my nephew's who has a birthday next week and as always I had to go look him up on the family tree to make sure I got the number right!! (Anyone else have to do this or is it just me!!).

My image is called "Soccer" and I've coloured with promarkers and diecut with one of my new wonky rectangles from Spellbinders. Green backing paper is from Wild Rose Studio, plaid paper is from Jak Heath. Football is leftover from a decoupage sheet. Sentiment, peel off and gems are 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:
Broken Box Stock - happy birthday
Bloggers - cut it out
Card Makin Mamas - birthday
Chocolate, Coffee and Cards - hobbies
Sweet Pea Stampers - use a digi
Cards Galore - one for the men
A Gem of a Challenge - dies and punches
Totally Gorjuss - men
My Time to Craft - men only
Here Come the Boys - lots of layers

Carol x

Blue Donkey

Good morning all. Another lovely day yesterday although a little chillier. Got the washing done, beds changed and some housework done before  taking the dog for a 3 mile walk....my aim this year is to get fit again and lose some weight!! Also tweaked my blog some more and finally managed to get the layout to save so did some tidying up here too!

Another Mongol Rally layout to share today, I've been utilising all the scrap mats to vary the layouts for the many pages in this album. Blue Donkey was found in a bazaar in Almaty, Kazakhstan when they had a Top Gear style challenge with another team to buy the worst present! He then rode all the way to Mongolia on top of the car. They bought a kids bath in return!

Created in Craft Artist using "Ticket to Ride" from Mye de Leon.

Challenges entered:
Creative Craft World - scrap map

Carol x

Festival of Slow

Good morning all. Another week started, is it just me or are they flying by this year?

Decided my blog needed a makeover so guess how I spent last night! Still need to do some work on it and for some reason I can't save any layout changes at the moment. It was a gorgeous day yesterday so we took the dog on a 4.5 mile walk to the harbour and beach.

Another page from Gary's Mongol Rally album to share today. All the layouts will end up as double pages with a collage of photos on the opposite page and perhaps some journalling.

Created in Craft Artist using "Ticket to Ride" from Mye de Leon.

Challenges entered:

Creative Scrappers - #246

Carol x

Ribbons and Lace

Good morning all. Another nice day yesterday although I spent it doing housework and washing!

Today's share is a card I made for a "Lace and Ribbons" swap.

The decoupage is from Kraftyhands; ribbon and lace is from my stash - it was bought to attach to a dress when I was a teenager (and that wasn't yesterday!); red bow and sentiment from my stash.

Challenges entered:

Simply Create Too - female/Mother's Day

By the Cute and Girly - roses are red

Cards and Scrap - use lots of flowers

Sparkles Forum - lace it up

Unique Crafters - lace and fabric

Delightful Sketches - frilly

Kraftyhands - spring colours

Carol x

Happy Birthday

 Good morning all. Hope your weekend plans are going okay thus far.
Had a nice day at the zoo yesterday, the weather was very mild so everyone was there! I do find Edinburgh zoo very tiring going up and down all those hills though. Managed to see both the giant pandas but some of the other animals weren't out on view. Didn't manage to get to Hobbycraft though as I was too tired by the time we headed home so we'll do that next week once Lora is back at school.
I'm sharing a birthday card made for my brother today.

Backing card and topper from Kanban. Sentiment from Kraftyhands and ribbon from my stash. Everything on the card is at least 6 months old.

Challenges entered:

Charisma Cards - anything goes

LEJ Designs - for someone special (my big brother)

Shopping our Stash - they say it's your birthday

Tuesday Throwdown - anything goes

The Crazy Challenge - birthday

ABC Challenge - h is for happy birthday

Sandy's Crafty Creations - birthday

Carol x

Crafty Ann's #83 Love Actually

Good morning all. We had a gorgeous day yesterday, I hope it continues. I eventually got a dozen red roses yesterday after hubby bid a hasty retreat to Asda once he realised what day it was!! I mean it only happens every year...what is it with men??
We're off to Edinburgh today to the zoo then hubby wants me to go to Hobbycraft to buy wallpaper for my doll's house so he can get on making it!! Wonder what else will fall in the basket.
It's time for a new challenge at  Crafty Ann's and this week the theme is "Love Actually".

I've done a layout for this one.

Using  Crafty Ann's latest scrap kit " A Picture Paints a Thousand Words" and a photo of our three children taken the day our youngest was born. The layout was created in Craft Artist.

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see Ann and team's inspiration, you won't be disappointed.

Challenges entered:

Little Red Wagon - love

Through the Craftroom Door - anything goes

Challenges 4 Everybody - anything goes

Cards Galore Scrapbook Challenge - feature blue

Digitally Sweet - love is in the air

Carol x

Love

Good morning all. Have you all been treated to red roses etc or not like me!!

Wasn't the weather awful yesterday - we had rain, sleet, snow and squally winds all day, I never ventured out the door. Hopefully the forecasters are right about the better weather for the rest of the week and weekend.

A quick layout I did following a sketch.

Created in Craft Artist using "Candy Hearts" from Template Dreams. The photo was taken about four years ago on holiday in Dubai - I think it is the most recent one of the two of us together that I actually like!

Challenges entered:

The Pink Elephant Scrapbook Challenge - #46

Carol x

Christmas Crafting (with sketches) #60

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 Chantal's turn to design the sketch this time. We are being sponsored by Quixotic Paperie.

Stamp is from Penny Black, stamped in Memento and coloured with promarkers then die cut with a scalloped nestie. Papers are from Papermania all mounted onto silver mirri card. Dies are all from Spellbinders. White snowflakes are punch waste; webbing and sentiment are from my stash. Card is finished with lots of glamour dust and stickles.

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:
CHNC Extra - anything goes
Jingle Belles - Ho Ho H2O
Sparkles Forum Christmas - anything goes
Holly Jolly Christmas - at least two dies/punches
Party Time Tuesdays - #3 (penguins)
Through the Craftroom Door - anything goes

Carol x

Ready2Go

Good morning to you all.
 Gosh wasn't blogger awful yesterday or was it just me who had a load of old posts in their newsfeed?

Another layout from eldest's Mongol Rally album to share today. Still dozens of pages to be done and I need to get a move on as he's already planning his next adventure!! Thank goodness I discovered digi scrapping!!

Created in Craft Artist using "Ticket to Ride" from Mye de Leon. I'm loving working with this kit, it's been perfect for this album.

Challenges entered:

Sketches in Thyme - #101

Carol x

Whoopsi Daisy - Tag It

Good morning all, hope you had a good weekend. Kids are on holiday here this week but we've nothing definite planned - I think we'll just see what the weather does each day.
Had a trip down home yesterday to deliver the wedding invites - everyone was thrilled to bits with them so that was a weight off my mind lol. We also sorted the Order of Service and place name designs so now I can quietly work on those.
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 "Tag It" or you can do Anything Goes if you use a Whoopsi Daisy image on your project.

I've used the pre-coloured snowman from sheet #380. My tag has been dry embossed with a snowflake folder, sanded then lightly inked with some blue DI. The image has been die cut and the edges inked with red DI. Snow flake die is from Memory Box. Tag is finished with gems, stickles and some sparkly cord.

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:
All That Stickles - Christmas red
Sarah Hurley - anything but a card
CHNC Extra - anything  Christmas goes

Carol x

Christmas Card Club - It's only Words

Good morning all, hope you're enjoying your weekend.
It's time for our next challenge over at the Christmas Card Club and it was Dawn's turn to set the theme, she chose "It's only Words".  Here's my card:

Base card is 8x8; fancy scalloped dies are from Marianne Design; sentiment was in my stash and ribbon is recycled.

That's another of my special cards made!

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 - anything goes

Penny's Paper-Crafty - ribbons or bows

Bearly Mine - anything goes

Sparkles Forum Christmas Challenge - anything goes

CHNC - no more snow

Delicious Doodles - no designer paper

Crafty Ribbons - anything goes with ribbon

Pretty Little Ribbon Shop - anything goes

Christmas Card Challenge - scallops

Carol x

Love

Good morning all. Typically the weather is going to change just as the kids holiday's start. Today isn't forecast too bad but supposedly snow again on Sunday - perhaps we'll actually get some this time lol.

I had a busy day in the kitchen yesterday cooking off a large pack of mince I got at Costco earlier in the week. Using the Hairy Biker's Diet book I made Cottage Pie, Chilli and Bolognaise. We has the Cottage Pie last night and it was rather yummy. Everything else has been frozen.

Today's share is a layout I made last night using the latest kit to hit the shop at Template Dreams.

The kit is called Candy Hearts and the colour palette is gorgeous. The layout was created in Craft Artist.

I also made a new header for my Facebook page using the same kit.

Challenges entered:

Sketchabilities - #84

Digitally Sweet - hearts and flowers

Digi Haven - love/valentine

Crazy Amigo Challenge - hearts

Digital Tuesday - hearts

Carol x

Happy Birthday

Good morning all, thanks for calling by today. It was a lot warmer here yesterday so we spent a couple of hours at the beach with the dog before having lunch in a local tearoom.

Thank you all for the lovely messages you left on my sad news post, they mean a lot.

Another birthday card today made for one of my nephew's last month.

Image and backing paper from Dandelion and Daisy. Ribbon from Crafty Ribbons. Dies from Spellbinders. 

Challenges entered:

Forever Friends - ribbon or lace

Crafty Sentiments - anything goes

LEJ Designs - anything goes

Papertake Weekly - anything goes

Crafting when we Can - cards for boys

Carol x

Happy Birthday

Good morning all. It was a lovely day here yesterday although decidedly chilly!

A card I made in December for my nephew. As he's a staunch Newcastle fan I had to apologise to him in advance for the colours when I gave him it and he immediately said "why is it red and white"!

Topper is from LOTV and papers are from Wild Rose Studios. Buttons and sentiment from my stash.

Challenges entered:

Crafty Bloggers Network - anything goes

Love to Create - celebrate

Make it Monday with the Kraft Outlet - seeing red

Pause Dream Enjoy - mainly red

The Crazy Challenge - birthday

A Gem of a Challenge - gingham or checks

Allsorts - let's get cute

Hiding in my Craftroom - reds

One Stop Craft - anything goes

Carol x

Sad News

Just after my last post went live I found out that Dawn the owner of Crafting for all Seasons had passed away yesterday. Dawn had been very bravely battling breast cancer for some time, never giving up hope that she would beat it or that a cure would be found in time to save her. Sadly this was not to be.

I'll always be grateful to Dawn for giving me my first DT post two years ago. I've been running CFAS for almost a year now and will continue to keep the challenge going for the foreseeable future.

My condolences and thoughts are with Dawn's husband and children at this sad time.

Rest in peace Dawn.

Carol x

Crafting for all Seasons #45 Colour Inspiration

Good afternoon. Well it's midweek again! I got the all clear yesterday at the eye clinic - just need to use eye drops to keep them from drying out. I think the optician was being a bit over cautious but I can't complain as it was them who initially picked up on my brain tumour 3 years ago.

Today it's time for a new challenge at CFAS and this time the theme is "Colour Inspiration". We're  looking forward to seeing all your makes. We're being sponsored by our own DT member Jani from Janis Kreativewelt and we were given images to use.

Jani choose the colour inspiration picture for this challenge too (see below) and I had originally chosen a gorgeous spring hedgehog image to use....until Jani drew this snowman which I just had to have! The brain and gears clicked into place when I came to print it out and remind myself what the challenge was...oh sh heck a lovely pastel spring colour palette!!

Think I managed though! The image is coloured with promarkers and die cut with a wonky rectangle die. Paper was a magazine freebie. Sentiment from LOTV. Ribbons from my stash. Dies all from Spellbinders. (The ribbon isn't as blue irl but I should have used white and coloured it with a promarker!).

http://design-seeds.com/index.php/home/entry/sundae-brights1

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

Challenges entered:
CHNC extra - anything goes
Christmas Stampin all Year Round - anything goes
Jingle Belles - H2O
Natalie and Amy - something old (paper), something new(image)
Sparkles Forum Christmas - anything goes
Crafting Cafe - anything goes
Christmas at Sweet Stampin - cold and frosty

Carol x

Watch the Birdie

Good morning all. Phew finally finished sticking wedding invites last night thank goodness - if I never see photo glue again it will be too soon!! Got a trip to the Eye Pavilion in Edinburgh this morning to check out something which has grown on my eyes over the last few months - I'm just hoping they don't tell me to stop wearing contact lenses.

Today's share is another of my layouts using photos taken last summer on the Isle of Wight.

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

Challenges entered:

Challenges 4 Everyone - anything goes

Carol x

Peek a Boo

Good morning all, another new week - at the rate this year is going it'll soon be Christmas again!!

Hopefully the wedding invites will be finished today.

Today's share is a practise layout using a template...now that I've worked out how to use one!

The kit I've used is "Cutie" from Template Dreams. The template was a freebie from Template Dreams. The layout was created in Craft Artist.

Challenges entered:

Cards Galore Scrapbooking Challenge - anything goes

Carol x

February

Good morning all. Hope your weekend is going well. We took the dog for a long walk after lunch yesterday as the weather was so nice, before I settled down to a sticking session! Two more sessions and I should be done!

Today's share is a couple of calendar pages, basically messing around with some templates to practise using them.

Both layouts were created in Craft Artist 2. The kit I've used is Distressed Elegance from Template Dreams. The first template was a freebie and the second came from the Clusterfun Bundle also available at Template Dreams. The calendar template was a freebie from Creative Cappers Facebook group.

Challenges entered:

Digitally Sweet - anything but a card or layout

Carol x

Cutie

Good morning all.
Well no sticking got done yesterday as I ran out of glue!! Postie failed to deliver so I hope he comes up trumps today. I sent hubby around all the shops on the high street as there are a few which dabble in crafts and a stationers shop and none sold photo glue. In the absence of glue I managed to get all the cutting out done....thank goodness! I think I spent about 6 hours in total between housework and laundry duties.

Sharing a layout today using Trish Hughes latest kit "Cutie" which is available from Template Dreams.

The photo is my fifteen year old daughter, taken on her 1st birthday! The templates for the borders/decotrims are by Shannon McNab. The layout was created in Craft Artist. I love the colour palette of this kit.

Challenges entered:

Lasting Memories - borderlines

Cards Galore Scrapbook Challenge - anything goes

Carol x

Crafty Ann's #82 Tie a Yellow Ribbon

It's time for a new challenge at  Crafty Ann's and this week the theme is "Tie a Yellow Ribbon" - so you need something tied, something yellow and a ribbon.

I got to this point writing this when I realised I hadn't used a ribbon on mine doh! Back to the craft room to see if I could rescue things......one inch of yellow ribbon sitting on the windowsill so with the aid of my tweezers I managed to tie it around the twine bow....phew!

Using a pre-coloured daffodil digi available from Crafty Ann's, two lengths of bakers twine and a computer generated sentiment....and not forgetting the yellow ribbon!

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see Ann and team's inspiration, you won't be disappointed.

Challenges entered:

Creative Creations - keep it simple

Love to Create - anything goes with a sentiment

Happy Campers - flowers (use something digital)

Celebrate the Occasion - green and white plus one

Carol x