Crafting for all Seasons #53 Wedding/Anniversary

Good morning all.

Today it's time for a new challenge at CFAS and this time the theme is "Wedding/Anniversary". We're  looking forward to seeing all your makes. We're being sponsored by Joanna Sheen Ltd.

I made this for my youngest sister who celebrated her "Pearl" anniversary earlier this month.

Topper is from Kraftyhands, dies are all Spellbinders, pearls from Joanna Sheen, heart buckle from Meiflower. Ribbon and pearl hearts are from my stash and have been there for some time!

And the verse inside...

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

Challenges entered:

Going Grey with Scrap Creations - graduation/wedding/anniversary

LEJ Designs - celebrate

Party Time Tuesdays - anything goes

Shopping our Stash - anniversary

Created with Love - at least 3 layers

Crafty Bloggers Network - O's and X's (diecuts, flowers, ribbon)

That Craft Place - dies and punches

Carol x

Good Morning.....

.....just passing through! I should be most of the way to Italy by the time you read if everything goes to plan.

Had a lovely time in Belfast, the weather was absolutely gorgeous. Saturday was a very long day as we were all up about 4am to catch flights so we were in bed by midnight!! It was my first visit to Ireland but hopefully not the last, everyone was so friendly and genuinely helpful everywhere we went. Unfortunately I didn't have time to do any sightseeing this visit (apart from the odd hostelry!) but everywhere was busy.

Arrived home at teatime...all flights running to schedule, bags unpacked, Lora packed off on school trip, washing done, early night......and off we go again at silly o clock!!

Hope everyone is well, hugs if you need them. Catch you all when I get home.

Carol x

Believe

Good morning all.

Hopefully blogger is working well this morning and posting this in my absence, also hoping I'm not hungover after the hen party last night!!

Sharing a card made for a swap today.

Topper and paper from Kraftyhands. Die from Marianne Designs. Ribbon, skeleton leaves, feather and pin from my stash.

Challenges entered:

That Craft Place - dies and punches

Dutch Dare - flutterby butterfly

Penny's Paper-Crafty - circles

LEJ Designs - dies and punches

Carol x

Happy Birthday

Good morning all.

Off to the hairdressers first thing, then I have to get daughter packed for her school trip this afternoon, finish my packing for tomorrow and get mine and hubby's packing organised for Monday. Then it will be an early night as I have to be up at silly o clock to get to the airport!!

A card made for my Father in laws partner who has a birthday this weekend.

Decoupage image was from Create and Craft and is half of the original layers. Card is all from my snippets box. Embossing folder from Die'sire. Die from Spellbinders. Bow, pearls and sentiment from my stash.

Challenges entered:

Crafty Ribbons - anything goes with ribbon

Milk Coffee Challenge - load on the flowers

Moving along with the Times - embossing

Crafts and Me - lots of layers

Creative Belli - flowers

Fresh Brewed - flowers

Digi Darla - use a 3D element

Carol x

Ticket to Ride

Good morning all. 

Yesterday was much more relaxed :) Picked up my wedding shoes and bag on route to my sister's and found the perfect corsage to put on my bag so my outfit is complete and now in the building!! I did end up sealing envelopes for my brother in law who was up to his eyes with entries for the Jim Clark Rally and needed to catch the post office before it closed though.

My feet and legs are killing me.....breaking in new walking shoes for next week, which are so comfy but as they correct the way you walk I'm using muscles I'm not used too! Also breaking in a pair of heels for Saturday....it's not easy tottering around when your leg muscles ache from top to bottom!! Anyway I'm off for a manicure and pedicure this afternoon and a little bit of waxing (ouch) and I'm having my hair done tomorrow morning..so hopefully I'll be all glammed up for the weekend!!

My third and final share for my guest design spot over at Sketches in Thyme this month. It's a double page layout this week so I just had to add another page to the Mongol Rally album.

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

Most of these photos were taken in Mongolia when crossing the Gobi Desert...tarmac roads just didn't exist!

Challenges entered:

Lasting Memories - alphabet

The Memory Nest - Whimsical Wednesday

Carol x

Christmas Crafting (with sketches) #74

Good morning all. I think it actually stayed dry all day yesterday!!
Managed to finish all the place cards by teatime, then cook a roast dinner and make three cards and still had time to go for a late walk with hubby and the dog! So I'm off down home today to deliver them to my sister and pick up my shoes and handbag which were left to be dyed to match my dress for the wedding.

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 I have designed the sketch. We are being sponsored by Bugaboo and the DT were given images to use. We also have a twist this time of "swirls and pearls".

I choose to use FanSBChriststuff and coloured with promarkers before die cutting with a labels one die and mounting onto a decorative die (my swirls). Papers are from Wild Rose Studio. Pearls, sentiment and mesh fibre 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
Great Impressions - celebrations
Joanna Sheen - girls, girls, girls
The Squirrel and the Fox - here come the girls
My Time to Craft - Christmas in May
Sparkles Forum Christmas - favourite festive colours (lilac and aqua)
Bearly Mine - anything goes
Passion for Promarkers - anything goes
Card Mania - spots and/or stripes

Carol x

Busy Busy

Good afternoon all. Quite a nice day here, so washing is on the line! 

Things are a bit hectic here this week as I want to deliver all the place names to my sister tomorrow as the bride's parents are coming north this weekend as we're all flying to Belfast for the hen party on Saturday. I'm only going for one night as Lora leaves for Belgium on Sunday and we go to Italy on Monday but most of the others are staying until Monday teatime. 

Ninety down so only another forty to go!!

They'll all be tied to the favours once they've been written, this is what they look like...whose idea was it to put three stones on each!!!! 

Just taking a quick lunch break. Also need to make a birthday card for my FIL's partner and as it's hubby's birthday tomorrow need to make him a gift card for his pressie.

Better get a shift on Tesco is due in the next two hours too!

Carol x

Happy Birthday

Good morning all. 

Sharing the last of the male cards I made a little while ago today.

Decoupage image is Wellington, background is Kraft Co-ordinations card, dies from Spellbinders, buttons from Papermania, charm from Meiflower. Twine and sentiment from my stash.

Challenges entered:

Gingerloft - happy birthday

Here Come the Boys - buttons

That Craft Place - makes for men

Allsorts - true blue

A Little Bit Crafty - use kraft

Bastel-Traum - birthday

Card and Scrap - lots of layers

4 Crafty Chicks - birthdays

House that Stamps Built - masculine

Nutcrafters - kraft

Crafty Sentiments - add a charm

Carol x

Christmas Card Club - Feature a Creature

Good morning all.

I had a very wet day in Edinburgh yesterday with my sister in law and I think I'm all shopped out now! I was supposed to be going back today to an antique fair but decided hubby could go alone and I'd stay home and get on with the wedding stationery and some DT work.

It's time for our next challenge over at the Christmas Card Club, Hazel has chosen "Feature a Creature".  Here's my card:

Using a decoupage sheet from Kanban and a sentiment from my stash....a very simple card for posting although I think I'll add some red gems to the top right before sending as it looks quite bland in the photo!!

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:

My Time to Craft - Christmas in May

One Stop Craft - anything goes

Kreativeinkauf - things that fly

Natalie and Amy's challenge - things with wings

CRAFT - Christmas

CHNC Extra - anything goes

Carol x

Start your Engines

Good morning all.

We had a lovely day yesterday but there's heavy rain forecast for today...typical when I'm going to Edinburgh.

Another layout to share today to cover a few of the current challenges.

Created in Craft Artist using "Let's go Racing" from Template Dreams and "Ruffles and Frills" from Daisy Trail.

Challenges entered:

The Memory Nest - the fab sketch

Digitally Sweet - leather and lace

Bird is the Word - he/she/him/her

Carol x

Stache Me

Good morning all.

Trish from Template Dreams has a new kit which hit the shop yesterday called "Stache Me". I couldn't resist doing this double page layout for the Mongol Rally album using it.

Created in Craft Artist using "Stache Me" from Template Dreams.

One of the teams the boys ended up convoying with called themselves "Taches Sans Frontieres" so this was perfect to do a page dedicated to them.

Challenges entered:

Challenges 4 Everybody - anything goes

Scrappy Frogs - anything goes

Carol x

Let's Go Racing

Good morning all.
We had a very successful day shopping yesterday if a little tiring. It's a long time since I was last shopping in Newcastle...I should do it more often!!

Today's share is my second layout as a Guest Designer at Sketches in Thyme. It showcases one of the latest kits available from Template Dreams.

Created in Craft Artist using "Let's Go Racing" from Template Dreams.

Challenges entered:

The Pink Elephant - male birthday

Carol x

Crafting for all Seasons #52 "Think Pink"

Good morning all.
Well I seemed to lose yesterday trying to sort an Order of Service!! Me and the newer version of Word just don't get on and I eventually cut and pasted everything into Craft Artist to get it laid out properly. It is an exceptionally long service.....8 sides to be precise when I had finished....it started off 11 sides!! Never mind it's done now and all ready to print once I've finished the toppers for the covers. by the time I'd finished it was nearly bedtime so sorry I didn't get to visit anyone.

I'm off to Newcastle shopping with one of my sister's today to sort her wedding outfit out so if I don't get around to see everyone tonight I'll see you all on Thursday.

Today it's time for a new challenge at CFAS and it's a very special one close to all our hearts.  It's our second birthday and as a tribute to and in memory of Dawn Austin the founder of the challenge our theme this time is "Think Pink". 

Dawn fought a long and valiant fight against breast cancer, never losing faith or giving up hope that a cure could be found. Sadly a cure wasn't found in time to save Dawn and she passed away in February.

Dawn was a very private person but the glimpses she gave into her everyday life were always filled with love for her family and her crafting.

We're being sponsored by Robyn's Fetish and Rick St Dennis (who gave the DT images to use) and Inky Impressions (Nicole designed some sentiments specially for the challenge). 

This one's for you Dawn...I hope you like it!!

Image is "Daisy Days" from Robyn's Fetish and I've coloured her with promarkers. Sentiment is from Inky Impressions and I've changed the colour in Publisher. Base punch is from Martha Stewart - I think this is my favourite punch although I do have a new one I haven't used yet which may take it's place!! Pink card from Papermania. Papers are a Me to You magazine freebie. Dies are all from Spellbinders. Floral lace, ribbon, butterflies, button, skeleton leaves, flowers and gems are all from my stash.

We're being joined by many of our former design team girls who also wanted to pay tribute to Dawn, so please pop over to the challenge blog to see all their inspiration. We're  looking forward to seeing all your makes this time and hope as many as possible of you will join us in this very special tribute to to a very special lady.

Challenges entered:

Artistic Inspirations - flowers and lace

Card Mania - flowers

Cupcake Craft - lots of layers

Get Inky - die cuts

Kaboodle Doodles - use ribbon and at least one button

Tammy's Scrapin Corner - ribbon and lace

Pan Pastel UK - pink

Crafts 4 Eternity - Tic Tac Toe (pink, 3 of something (white flowers), bling)

Happy Campers - use lace

Sparkles Monthly Challenge - monochromatic

Carol x

Each Day is Brighter

Good morning all......unfortunately I'm not talking about the weather!! Yesterday alternated between sunshine and heavy rain with the odd shower of hailstones thrown in for good measure!

Another layout to share today starring Gary using the same kit I used for Mark and Lora's layouts.

Created in Craft Artist using "Shine" from Mandy King.

Challenges entered:

Lasting Memories - inspired by a TV show

(Stars in their Eyes)

Challenges 4 Everybody - anything goes

OSAAT - summer sun

Carol x

You are my Sunshine

Good morning all. Welcome and thank you for stopping by to my newest followers Elaine and Sandi, I hope you enjoy your visits.....and thanks to those of you who stop by regularly and leave such lovely comments, I do appreciate it.

Gary was none the worse for his tooth extraction....he seems to have a very high pain threshold so a few painkillers have done the trick and he was back to work yesterday.

Yesterday was spent doing some washing and the grocery shop before I had time to play.

I did manage to load my new Craft Artist CD's to the computer but one arrived scratched and wouldn't load so I'll have to sort that out today! I'll have to find some suitable photos before I start to play with them though. I did manage another layout using the kit I downloaded on Saturday.

Created in Craft Artist using "Shine" from Mandy King. Mark was about three years old in these photos and really was a ray of sunshine.....pity it didn't last lol!!

Challenges entered:

Our Creative Corner - anything goes

Delicious Doodles - anything but a card

Simply Create Too - anything goes

Scrap it with a Song - Soak up the Sun by Sheryl Crow

Lasting Memories - inspired by a TV show 

(Here comes the Sun - Uk programme from about the 70's!!)

Divas by Design - anything goes

Carol x

Live Laugh Love

Good morning all. Hope everyone is having a good weekend.

We had a mixed old bag of weather yesterday but ended up with a lovely evening. My day was spent doing housework though so I wasn't too bothered.

Postie brought me a parcel yesterday from Craft Artist...several CD's I'd won in a Facebook give away earlier in the week. I didn't get a chance to load any of them but I did make this layout using a new kit I'd downloaded.

Created in Craft Artist using "Shine" from Mandy King. I love the bright colours of the kit and all the floral elements.

Challenges entered:

Get Creative - May flowers

Digitally Sweet - give Mother flowers

Pumpkin Spice - flowers

Carol x

Life is a Journey

Good morning all, I hope you are all well.

It started off lovely here yesterday but turned cool and rained quite heavily when we were in Edinburgh. Eldest managed to get his suit so he's all sorted for the wedding now, just need to get hubby's suit dry cleaned and we're all done. 

Things didn't go quite so smoothly at the dental hospital and they had quite a struggle getting the wisdom tooth extracted as it was so big and the roots were dangerously close to the plate he has in his jaw as a result of maxillofacial surgery a few years ago. They had to break the tooth into four bits in order to extract it, Gary says he blacked out at one point!! I would imagine he'll be quite sore and bruised when he eventually gets up today!

Today's share is another page for the Mongol Rally album using some more of the photos of them and their convoy buddies on the road in Kazakhstan, Russia and Mongolia

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

Challenges entered:

Sketches - Creatively Yours - sketch and something round

Pumpkin Spice - create a layout

Carol x

Happy Birthday

Good morning all. We had a mixed old bag of weather yesterday, windy but dry and sunny in the morning with lots of rain showers late afternoon and early evening....goodness knows what we'll get today!

I had a day at home yesterday after realising eldest has to go to Edinburgh today to have some wisdom teeth out. As his appointment isn't until mid afternoon I thought it was a good opportunity to get him fitted out for a suit for his cousin's wedding in July....so a visit to M&S is on the cards...guess where some of my vouchers are going to go!!

A male card to share with you today, one I made a few weeks ago.

Decoupage image is Wellington Bear, Gun Metal embossing folder from Die'sire, die from Spellbinders, sentiment from Craftwork Cards, buttons from Papermania and charm from Meiflower. Binders twine from my stash.

And a photo showing the layers. 

Challenges entered:

CRAFT challenge - birthdays

Crafty Ribbons - no designer papers

Divas by Design - anything goes

House that Stamps Built - masculine cards

The Perfect Sentiment - dry embossing

Crafty Sentiments - use a sentiment

Ribbon Carousel - celebrations

A Little Bit Crafty - kraft

Crafter's Companion - masculine

Forever Friends - anything goes

Carol x

Celebrate

Good morning all. We had a quiet day yesterday, hubby wasn't feeling too great so I had a day catching up on jobs and got a pile of parcels away to the post office. Hoping to get to Edinburgh today as I've a parcel to go back to M&S and a pile of vouchers to spend!

Recently I was lucky enough to be asked to guest design for the month of May over at Sketches in Thyme....I didn't need asked twice!!

Today I'm sharing the first of three layouts I've created.

Created in Craft Artist using "Telling Stories" from Template Dreams. This is another page of pictures taken at the lunch for Mum's 80th birthday.

Challenges entered:

The Pink Elephant - Mother's Day

Love to Scrap - anything goes

Pumpkin Spice - Mother's theme

Carol x

Christmas Crafting (with sketches) #72

Good morning all. What a gorgeous day we had yesterday....I did spend too long in the sun though and was rather "pink" last night!! Note to self must use sun lotion every time I sit in the garden!

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 Angelique has designed the sketch. We are being sponsored by Robyn's Fetish.

I've used a Robyn's Fetish image from my stash (putting up the tree) and coloured it digitally before fussy cutting it and mounting with silicon gel. Embossing folders are from cuttlebug and a magazine freebie. Card is finished with a tag and some bling from my stash.

Another nice flat card for posting!

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
Creative Craft Challenge - animals
Papertake Weekly - anything goes
Love to Scrap - anything goes
Pause, Dream, Enjoy - outdoor critters
Eclectic Ellapu - anything goes
CHNC - use a sentiment
Sparkles Forum Christmas - favourite festive colours (red, white and green)
Crimbo Crackers - anything goes

Carol x

Let's Celebrate

Good morning all. It was a lovely day yesterday although it did try to rain whilst we were out for lunch.

Today's share has been lying on my desk for several days waiting to be finished off and uses one of the decoupage images I made up a few weeks ago.

Decoupage image is from Sarah Kay. Embossing folder from Die'Sire. Dies from Spellbinders. Ribbon from Joanna Sheen. Pearls from Meiflower. Sentiment from Craftwork Cards.

Challenges entered:

Cutie Pie Challenge - lots of layers

Kaboodle Doodles - for the ladies

The Paper Nest Dolls Challenge - emboss

Great Impressions - celebrations

Our Creative Corner - anything goes

Papercrafting Journey - anything goes

Sassy Studio Designs - all about hats

The Perfect Sentiment - feminine

Carol x

Whoopsi Daisy - Special Lady

Good morning all. Hope everyone is enjoying the Bank Holiday weekend. I had a quiet day yesterday ending with a walk along the beach at North Berwick after tea.

It's time for another challenge at  Whoopsi Daisy  and this week the theme is "For a Special Lady" or you can do Anything Goes if you use a Whoopsi Daisy image on your project. This is a birthday card for the little girl next door who will celebrate her 2nd birthday later this month.

The image is a Whoopsi Daisy freebie and I've coloured with promarkers and used Spellbinders dies to cut and mat both it and the sentiment. I love the Labels One shape and the fancy die makes them so pretty for a girly card. Border punch is from Martha Stewart. Ribbon, lace and pearls are from my stash. Backing paper is from First Edition.

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:

Fairy Tale Challenge - special occasion

Jellypark Challenges - girly girl

Wags N Whiskers - girl birthday

House of Gilli - lace and pearls

Lia Stampz - friendship

Aud Sentiments - birthday sentiment

As you Like it - dies and punches

Delightful Challenges - add ribbon

Happy Campers - use lace

Milk Coffee Challenge - lace and pearls

Passion for Promarkers - to die for

Carol x

Christmas Card Club - CAS one layer

Good morning all.
Sorry I haven't been around for a few days, I'm hoping to catch up with everyone today at sometime. I've been making some wedding samples for my second nephew and spent a lovely day with my sister yesterday as Graham and his fiancée were there for the day. I think the wedding invites are going to have penguins on! They both love penguins and everyone loved the sample invite I made so I think we're almost sorted!!

It's time for our next challenge over at the Christmas Card Club, Zoe has chosen "CAS and one layer".  Here's my card:

The stamp is a very old one from a large wooden boxful bought from QVC many moons ago! I've stamped with a DI embossing pad and embossed with silver detail EP. The silver cord is from Meiflower and the cute little card blank (4"x4") is 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.

Challenges entered:

CHNC Extra - anything goes

Jingle Belles - flying home for Christmas

The ABC Challenge - M for make it sparkle

Crafting Musketeers - anything goes

Natalie and Amy's Challenge - things with wings

Crimbo Crackers - anything goes

My Heart Pieces - embossing (wet or dry)

Cards in Envy - things with wings

Paper Playtime - emboss (wet or dry)

No Matter Which Challenge - things with wings

Carol x

Crafting for all Seasons #51 Monochromatic

Good morning all. Had a quiet day yesterday getting on with some wedding stationery.

Today it's time for a new challenge at CFAS and this time the theme is "Monochromatic". We're  looking forward to seeing all your makes. We're being sponsored by Whoopsi Daisy.

Image is from Whoopsi Daisy and is a pre-coloured digi from sheet #418. Dies are from Spellbinders. Backing paper is from Papermania. Ribbon, gems 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:

Bearly Mine - anything goes

Celebrate the Occasion - anything goes

Crafty Sentiments - the letter B (blue, bow, bling)

Creative Card Crew - bling

Die Cuttin Divas - anything goes

LEJ Designs - anything goes

Party Time Tuesdays - anything goes

Love to Create - punches or dies

Glitter and Sparkle - white + one

Paper Crafting Journal - use a sentiment

Carol x