Wedding Invites

Good morning all. 

Well the engineer finally arrived about 6.45pm last night!! Luckily he didn't take long to complete the service and we managed to get out with the dog after he left. Did get stuck into the wedding stationery again whilst waiting and have done most of the Order of Service toppers, just need to do some die cutting today and add some ribbon then it will be onto the place names.

I'm finally sharing the wedding invitations with you.

Difficult to get a decent photo with the pearl card and typically I chose one with a kink in the ribbon to take a photo of! Size is just under 6x6 and there is a pocket inside to hold the RSVP and hotel details.

The evening invites were 5x5 and post card style.

Challenges entered:

Creative Creations - weddings

Crafty Ribbons - anything goes with ribbon

Carol x

Happy Christmas

Good morning all. 

Waiting for engineers arriving today to do the annual service of the boiler and heating system so must get some housework done whilst waiting!

Sharing another Christmas card today which I made a few weeks ago.

The decoupage topper and papers were a gift so don't know where they're from. Everything else is from my stash.

Challenges entered:

CHNC Extra - anything goes

CHNC - ribbons and bows

Crimbo Crackers - anything goes

Carol x

Congratulations

Good morning all. Hope you're all enjoying your weekend, we're off to Edinburgh soon as hubby and daughter have optician appointments at lunchtime.

Finally managed to get my nephew's engagement card made....I've had bits lying on my desk for over a week but couldn't get the card to come together how I saw it in my head. Luckily everything clicked on Friday after the migraine I woke up with subsided and this is the result.

Using ivory Centura pearl card and gold Mirri card. The lovebird die is from Marianne Designs, all other dies are from Spellbinders. Ribbon and pearls are from my stash.

I've popped up the dies on 3d foam to add some dimension to the card.

I've used a photo of the beach where the proposal took place inside the card.

The wedding is booked for February next year so I'm busy making some sample invites for them to look at next weekend, the rest of the year is definitely going to be busy!

Challenges entered:

Totally Gorjuss - ribbons and pearls

Crafty Ribbons - anything goes with ribbon

Sparkles Forum Challenge - hearts

Crafting When We Can - personalise it

Carol x

Noel

Good morning all. Yesterday started cold, wet and miserable but by mid afternoon it was lovely.

I had a very successful shopping trip and managed my whole wedding ensemble in one shop! We went to the wedding shop just for a look round and possibly try some different styles on.....my youngest sister Diane (mother of the groom) pointed out a coral lace dress she liked and I loved the colour so I picked it up in two sizes and went off to try it on. I put the smaller size on first but wasn't expecting the zip to go up, my other sister did me up and it was just perfect....obviously made for me lol When Diane saw me she just went WOW that's perfect! I've gone for a coral fascinator and I'm having a clutch bag and a pair of sandals dyed to match the dress. So all my efforts to lose weight have paid off and a few more pounds in the next 10 weeks will just make it look even better! Managed to get four nice tops too for my holidays :)

A Christmas card to share today which I made a couple of weeks ago when trying to use up some of my vast stocks of Christmas goodies. Another nice flat one for posting.

Papers and topper were in my stash and came from an Angel envelope so I don't know what make they are.

Challenges entered:

CHNC Extra - anything goes

CHNC - red and green should be seen

52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - feature the big guy

Carol x

One Moment

Good morning all. I'm off down to Berwick today to meet a couple of my sister's and going dress shopping or at least dress trying on to see what, if any, styles suit me!!

A layout to share today using a photo of my youngest sister taking her first steps outdoors.

Created in Craft Artist using "Reflections" from Nutkin Tailz. The shaped border is from Shannon McNab and the doily and photo mask are from a Crafty Ann kit which is sadly no longer available.

The quote reads"Sometimes you'll never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory" Dr Seuss.

Challenges entered:

Sketchabilities - #89

Bird is the Word - "moment"

Lasting Memories - insp. by a quote

Carol x

Christmas Challenges (with sketches) #70

Good morning all.

It's time for 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 turn of the Snow Angels to inspire you this week and Nicolet has designed the sketch. We are being sponsored by Krea Teja.

Papers are from Bearly Mine and have been layered digitally in Craft Artist. Image is "falalaemma" from All that Scraps (who are our monthly sponsor for April), I've coloured her with promarkers, used blue Stickles on her wings and mounted her onto a nestie scalloped oval. Ribbon and snowflake button are from my stash. 

I've rotated and flipped the sketch to suit the image.

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
ABC Christmas Challenge - h is for holiday helper 
Sweet Stampin Christmas - krafty Christmas
Critter Sketch - buttons
 Sparkle and Sprinkle - use a digi
Dream Valley Challenges - things with wings
OSAAT - use a digi
All that Stickles - baby blue
Bearly Mine - digi days
Through the Craftroom Door - anything goes

Carol x

Explore Mongolia

Good morning all. We had another nice day yesterday although a little cooler than it was at the weekend. Spent my day doing laundry and housework though and I will need to do more housework  today!!

A double page layout to share today, another for the Mongol Rally album.

Created in Craft Artist using "Adventure" from Sherwood Studio and "Ticket to Ride" from Mye de Leon.

Challenges entered:

Sketches in Thyme - #109

Carol x

Whoopsi Daisy - Circles on your Card

 Good morning all. Yesterday was looking a bit hit and miss weather wise so we decided to stay at home for the day, typically by teatime it was gloriously sunny! We did enjoy a good bracing evening walk with the dog after dinner though which should have counteracted the home made by hubby carrot cake I had for pud!

It's time for another challenge at  Whoopsi Daisy  and this week the theme is "Circles" or you can do Anything Goes if you use a Whoopsi Daisy image on your project. 

I've used a topper and paper from the Daisy and Friends CD. Dies from Spellbinders. Buttons from Crafty Ribbons and Papermania. Ribbon, sentiment and gems 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:

Paper Creators Crafts - all about spots

Paper Pretties - happy birthday

Inky Chicks - happy birthday girl

Card and Scrap - use dies

Love to Scrap - diecuts/punches

Carol x

Christmas Card Club - Vintage

Good morning all.

It's time for our next challenge over at the Christmas Card Club, Lizzie has chosen "Vintage".  Here's my card:

Decoupage image from Joanna Sheen. Backing card from Kanban. Ribbon from my stash.

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

Challenges entered:

CHNC Extra - anything goes

Christmas Stamping all Year Round - celebrating snow

Crimbo Crackers - vintage

By the Cute and Girly - vintage

Cards Galore - vintage

Carol x

Raindrops

Good evening all. Hope you've all enjoyed the same lovely spring weather we've had today.

Had a good trip up to Edinburgh to the Sincerely Yours show and had a good spend. Also got to meet Dawn one of my teamies at Crafting for all Seasons - although it turns out we've probably met several times before when eldest was attending the Dental Hospital a few years ago!

The show was quite busy but not so busy you couldn't get into the stands to see everything which does mean you spend more lol! I bought some new dies, cardstock, chalk paint, a Flitter Glu starter kit and 3 tubs of flakes, a tag kit, some die cuts, a Martha Stewart PATP and probably a few other bits which evade me for now!!

Sharing a quick layout tonight to cover a few current challenges.

Created in Craft Artist using "Raindrops" from Daisy Trail. The photos were taken many years ago when we took the boys on a cruise calling at Coruna in Spain on the way home from the Canaries. I've never seen rain like we had that day and we had to take shelter to avoid becoming drowned rats!!

Challenges entered:

Sketches in Thyme - #108

Child's Play - Mary Poppins (insp by umbrella)

Digitally Sweet - April Showers

The Pink Elephant - anything goes

Carol x

Happy Christmas

Good morning all. Anyone going to Ingliston at the weekend? I'm hoping to be there on Saturday all being well.

Well yesterday didn't turn out quite as expected - I'm quietly enjoying lunch browsing the lingerie on-line when the phone rings - one of sister's saying Mum was at Vision Express in Berwick and needed to be taken to the RVI in Newcastle to the Eye Casualty department and could I take her as no one else could! I made hubby drive me as it's too long a journey for me now and we made it to the department with 2 minutes to spare before it closed it's doors! Turns out she has a small scratch on her eye (her eye had been sore for a couple of days and she had drops from the chemist) and they have given her drops and antibiotic cream to use for two weeks with the proviso she goes straight back if it gets any worse. So it was 8.30pm when I got home again and I still didn't have any food in the house!!

Here's one I made a few weeks ago.

Using a decoupage sheet from Kanban and a base card - nice and flat for posting.

Challenges entered:

Christmas Card Challenges - something with wings

CHNC - wonderful wings

CHNC extra - anything goes

Carol x

"Telling Stories"

Good morning all. Gosh it was blowing a gale last night again, quite mild though. Need to go shopping today as we're running out of food again...I don't know where it all goes to!

A layout today using photos taken on Monday.....it's not often I like photos of myself but I do like the ones taken on Monday!

Trish from Template Dreams has recently opened a new store at Scrap Takeout who run a monthly Build your Own Carryout Box with each pack costing only $1.00 for the duration of the month - 

Each month our designers will have coordinating products for you!  All you have to do is mix and match to create your own unique kit (or Carry Out) for the month! 

Trish has two packs this month called "Telling Stories".

I've created my layout in Craft Artist using a sketch for inspiration. The top photo is me with my brother and three sisters, the first one we've had taken in ages. I'd like to say I baked the cake myself but it came from M&S and being the dutiful crafter that I am the ribbon went straight into my bag when the cake was cut lol.

Challenges entered:

Creative Craft World - sketch

Pink Elephant - celebrate

The Studio Challenge - colours

I had a box of macaroons just like those from M&S last weekend! They were lovely :)

The Crafting Cafe - let's celebrate

Carol x

Crafting for all Seasons #50 No Stamps Allowed

Good morning all. It was a lovely sunny day here yesterday but talk about blowing a gale. I walked up to the Dr's to have some blood tests done and nearly got blown off my feet! As usual it was like getting blood out of a stone.....my veins were deep in hibernation and the nurse eventually had to go in the back of my hand. I have to say she was very gentle though and I haven't gone black and blue this time.

Today it's time for a new challenge at CFAS and this time the theme is "No Stamps Allowed". Strictly no rubber or digi stamps this week. We're  looking forward to seeing all your makes. We're being sponsored by Joanna Sheen Ltd.

This is the card I made for my Mum who was 80 on Monday - I think she liked it!

Decoupage image is from the Faye Whittaker CD and I've printed onto Ice Blue Decoupage paper. Flower die from Memory Box, all other dies from Spellbinders. Ribbon, pearls, gems and pins from my stash. Sentiment is computer generated. The ivory pearl card is from the wedding stationery and came from Crafter's Companion.

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

Challenges entered:
Card Mania - punches and dies
Digi Darla - garden/flowers
Lexi's Creations - lace/ribbons
Love to Scrap - die cuts/punches
Great Impressions - pastel colours
Joanna Sheen - spring into spring
Kenny K's Krafty Krew - dies and punches
Platypus Creek Digitals - flowers and pearls
Bearly Mine - spring flowers
Oldie but a Goodie - girly (oldies are the CD and some of the dies)
Marianne Design Divas - going girly
Crafty Creations - no patterned papers

Carol x

Gift Card

Good morning all. Wasn't the weather lovely yesterday - a balmy 14/15 degrees here!

I found out last night that I'm definitely doing the stationery for the wedding next year so I'd best get my skates on and finish the first lot for this year ready to get started again!

I had a lovely lunch out yesterday for Mum's birthday and a good catch up with the rest of the family.  We all pooled together to pay for a holiday for her so I was requested to make something to give her, this is what I came up with:

Created in Craft Artist using "Dunes" from Daisy Trail. I don't use CA that often for card making but thought this kit was perfect for the job. After printing out I simply layered the image onto some dark blue card.

Challenges entered:

The Paper Girls - travel

Moving along with the Times - song or movie inspired (Summer Breeze)

Carol x

Happy Everything

Good morning all. Finally made it to Edinburgh yesterday but it was blowing a gale! Made it to Hobbycraft and they have stopped doing doll's house stuff so I didn't get what I wanted.....came out with just a pack of card blanks and some giant chocolate buttons!

Spoke to my sister last night and the next wedding is going to be at Easter next year, I said they'd need to get their skates on thinking of designs if they'd like their wedding stationery done!

Off out for lunch in Alnwick today to celebrate Mum's 80th birthday. Looking forward to catching up with my brother and sisters as it's not often we're all together.

A card to share today.

Topper and papers from Wild Rose Studio. Dies from Spellbinders. Ribbon, button and sentiment from my stash. Love these ready coloured toppers for making a quick card.

Challenges entered:

Dream Valley challenges - happy birthday

Joanna Sheen - spring into spring

Scrappy Frogs - think spring

Crafty Ribbons - green and pink

Delightful Challenges - round up

Happy Campers - flower power

Milk Coffee Challenge - welcome spring

Crafting by Design - spring flowers

Divas by Design - flowers

Whimsy Inspiration - pretty in pink

Carol x

Summer Breeze

Good morning all.
I didn't make it to Edinburgh yesterday, hubby went gardening shopping on his own! Hopefully we'll pop up today as I could do with a birthday cake for my Mum who is 80 tomorrow.

Looks like I could be busy again, my second nephew popped the question to his girlfriend this weekend and she said yes so we have another wedding to look forward to - don't know how soon yet!

I wish it were a "Summer Breeze" blowing more like "blowing a hoolie" last night - but we can dream, it was certainly a lot nicer yesterday - I even got some washing hung out!

Another layout for a challenge which requested you to re-do your first layout. Here is my re-do:

Created in Craft Artist using "Dunes" from Daisy Trail. I used Cut Out Studio to crop the main image then copied the result and cropped it again so I could get the shadows around Lora properly.

And this is the original created in My Memories Suite before I found out how to use shadows - or very much else for that matter lol.

Challenges entered:

Get Creative - re-do your 1st layout

Digi Stamps 4 Joy - anything goes

Party Time Tuesdays - anything but a card

The Squirrel and the Fox - inspired by a song/movie (Summer Breeze)

Carol x

Wildlife Encounters

Good morning all. 

I think a trip up to Edinburgh is on the cards today including a visit to Hobbycraft as hubby wants me to chose the wallpaper for my doll's house...I'm sure I'll manage a few other purchases whilst I'm there!

I'm sharing a double page layout today which I made last night to add to the Mongol Rally album.

Created in Craft Artist using  "Adventure" from Sherwood Studio. Scrabble letters were a gift to members of a Facebook group I belong.

Challenges entered:

StuckonUSketches - sketch

Digitally Sweet - animals

Frosted Designs - travel

Enjoy your weekend whatever you're up to, I'll catch up with you all later.

Carol x

Just for You

Good morning all. Friday again, where did the week go to!

Managed to do some crafting just for me yesterday, between my DT work.

Decoupage image is a Sarah Kay which I made up the other week. Papers are from Wild Rose Studio. Fancy oval dies are from Spellbinders and corners and butterfly are from Marianne Design. Ribbon, rose and pearls are from my stash.

And a shot to show the layers.

Challenges entered:

Forever Friends - diecuts and punches

Stamp n Doodle - bows and butterflies

The Stamping Chef - girly girl

A & T Emerald Faeries - recipe 

(One Image, Two Designer Papers, Three Embellishments - ribbon, rose, pearls)

Bearly Mine - anything goes

LEJ Designs - show us your ribbons

Card Mania - punches or die cuts

Crafty Bloggers - anything goes

Created with Love - recipe

(One Image, Two Designer Papers, Three Embellishments - ribbon, rose, pearls)

Polka Doodles - pink and brown

Carol x

Last at Bat

Good morning all. It's been cold and miserable so far this week, hope it gets better by the weekend.

Are the spammers getting craftier?? I had a load of spam in my news feed last night and when I checked it out I was following the blog....are they infiltrating our accounts or are they setting up bogus craft blogs (this was called "lets ink it up") and befriending loads of people (in the hope we follow them back) then bombarding us with spam and adverts!!
Answers on a postcard please!

Had a play last night scrapping some of the pictures from the concert last Friday, this is what I came up with:

Using the CD cover as a background I used Cutout Studio to crop the image and photos, then layered them all. The red and white background papers are from a kit called "Comic Book" available from Daisy Trail.

Carol x

Christmas Crafting (with sketches) #68

Good morning all.

It's time for 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 turn of the Snow Angels to inspire you this week and Miranda has designed the sketch. We are being sponsored by Crealing and we have a twist this week of "use felt".

Stamp is from Joanna Sheen and is coloured with Whisper Pens. Paper was a magazine freebie. Border die from Die'sire. Tag and star dies from Spellbinders. Ribbons, felt and sentiment 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:
CHNC Extra - anything goes
CHNC - use the word Christmas
Sweet Stampin - look at the scallops
Crafty Ribbons - anything goes with ribbon
Sparkles Forum Christmas - tag it
Simply Create Too - animals
Fairy Tale Challenge - tags

Carol x

Childhood Memories

Good morning all. Welcome to my newest followers, I hope you'll pop by often and if you leave a comment I'll know you've been.

A layout to share with you today covering a few of the current challenges.

Created in Craft Artist 2 (I'm slowly getting to grips with this when I remember to use it) using "Spring into Spring" from Daisy Trail and the frame is a label from Far Far Hill.

The photo was taken on the annual Sunday School trip to Bamburgh beach (obviously on a year when the sun shone!) circa 1970. We went by bus every year on the first Saturday of the summer holidays and were given a picnic lunch at the beach followed by games and races. I can only remember it raining once in all the years I went. The Dad's usually accompanied us (complete with back up food and drinks) which was quite a novelty for most of us in those days. The trip home consisted of a good sing song on the bus - think She'll be coming round the mountain, You cannae shove your grannie off the bus etc with those at the back usually singing a slightly different version to the Sunday School teachers!! Those were the days!

Challenges entered:

Sketches in Thyme - #107

Digitally Sweet - picture inspired

Lasting Memories - childhood memories

Scrappiness Designs - colour palette

Carol x

Whoopsi Daisy - Swirls

Good morning all.

Yesterday turned into a nice relaxing day, I caught up with lots of my favourite blogs in the afternoon then hubby decided we'd go out to tea. A new Marstons Pine Marten opened two weeks ago just round the corner from us so we went to try it out. It was very busy and we made it just in time before the evening rush started. The meal was fine and considering how busy it was we didn't have to wait too long - I think we'll probably frequent the place on a regular basis if they keep their standards up. The rest of my evening was spent digi scrapping.

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

Image from sheet #431 coloured with promarkers and die cut with Spellbinders dies. Papers, sentiment and pearls from my stash. Floral border die from Memory Box.

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:

One Stop Craft - birthday

Sweet Stampin - look at the scallops

CCEE Stampers - things with wings

My Heart Pieces - angels/fairies

Crafty Creations - flowers/fairies

Creative Moments - things with wings

Flutterby Wednesdays - flowers

The Craft Garden - inspired by rainbows

Stamp and Create - use at least one die

Creative Corner - girly birthday

Dream Valley - happy birthday

Carol x

Christmas Card Club - Silver plus One

Good morning all. Hope everyone is well.

Hopefully today will be a quiet one to recover from the rest of the weekend! I enjoyed the concert but he's not the performer he once was and his vocals were a bit lacking....although I think he can be forgiven at 65!! The audience more than made up for his lack of vocals and his band were great. I was a little rough yesterday after one too many wines on Friday night and too few hours sleep but I managed a catnap when visiting my Aunt lol and played and sang along with the Bat out of Hell album full blast on the drive home to keep me awake!

It's time for our next challenge over at the Christmas Card Club, Sylvie has chosen "Silver plus One".  Here's my card:

Using one of my favourite Marianne Design dies and ivory pearlised card to make a shaped base. Added a peel off sentiment et voila! Perfect for posting!

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

Challenges entered:
CHNC Extra - anything goes
Crimbo Crackers - no papers
Jingle Belles - blinging
MilkCoffee Challenge - anything but square
Shelly's Images - scallops
Whimsical Designs - shaped cards
Everybody-Art-Challenge - shaped cards
Lexi's Creations - punches/dies
Card Makin Mamas - no patterned papers

Carol x

Like a Bat Out of Hell.......

I'll be singing this all day lol.

Good morning all. 

I've scheduled this post as I knew I wouldn't be around to post it this morning. I stayed with my sister last night after the concert and will be spending today with my Mum (hope she doesn't mind listening to a bit of Meatloaf) visiting my Aunt so I'll catch up with you all later. Enjoy your day whatever you're up to!!

A male card for today that I made a few days ago.

Decoupage image is Wellington. Die is from Spellbinders. Backing card is Kraft Core. Buttons from Crafty Ribbons. Charm from Meiflower. Twine and sentiment from my stash.

Challenges entered:

4 Crafty Chicks - charms

Moving along with the Times - kraft

Papercrafting Journal - monochromatic

Crafting by Design - all about animals

Ruby's Rainbow - Happy birthday

ABC Challenge - K for kraft

Reddy Teddy Go - anything goes

The Crazy Challenge - add a charm

Carol x

Sandringham House

Good morning all. How nice to see some sunshine this week!

I'm off to Newcastle to see Meatloaf tonight....can't wait - I'll probably be hoarse tomorrow though!

A layout today using an old family photograph.

Using True Blue, a kit from Daisy Trail (I'm blaming Edna for inciting me to buy this kit as she showcased it so well!) and created in Craft Artist. The photo ( my Mum and Dad, Aunt and Uncle and 3 cousins) was taken at the gates of Sandringham House many moons ago.

Challenges entered:

Lasting Memories - old fashioned photograph

By the Cute and Girly - vintage

Carol x

Cinderella??

Good evening all. A third post from me to catch a challenge before it closes!

Another layout this time featuring Lora when she was six.

Created in Craft Artist using "FairyTale" from Nitwits.

Challenges entered:

Digitally Sweet - fairy tale

Frosted Designs - scallops

The Pink Elephant Scrapbook Challenge - sketch (which I've turned)

Carol x

Convoy

Good afternoon all. 

A second post from me today. This is another Mongol Rally layout. I'm plodding on quietly but still have a mega amount of photos left!!

Created in Craft Artist using  "Adventure" from Sherwood Studio and the chevron from "Ticket to Ride" from Mye de Leon.

Challenges entered:

Sketchabilities - #88

Carol x