Happy Birthday

Good morning all.

Hopefully I've got a day to myself today....may do the basket of ironing...then again may not!!

I've been trying to get ahead of myself with birthdays and DT work this week and also managed to cast on and knit a few inches of the first scarf for Christmas...watch this space!!

Card components are a decoupaged set from Kraftyhands, ribbon and gems are from my stash.

Challenges entered:

Totally Papercrafts - decoupage

Paper Crafting Journey - anything goes

Seize the Birthday - anything goes

Rhedd and Rosie Challenge - for the ladies

Crafty Sentiments - make it girly

Kraftyhands - anything goes

Carol x

Finally.....

Good afternoon all.

I can't believe it's Thursday already, where has this week gone to??

Well I've finally finished knitting the shawl I started much earlier this year!! It was meant for my friend's birthday in May....I had to apologise and promised it would be ready for her holiday to Florida next month!! I can't say I've enjoyed knitting it, the needles were far too big - however since I bought loads of yarn to do scarves for Christmas I's better cast the next lot on and see if a scarf is any easier to knit!!

Close up of the yarn

All neatly parcelled in it's box with a scarf pin to go with it.

and a close up showing the detail on the front of the box.

I treated myself to a new camera this week a Fujifilm XF1, it's going to be a huge learning curve getting the best out of it but meanwhile it's set to point and shoot so I can't really go wrong!!

Carol x

Christmas Challenges (with sketches) #88

Good morning all.
Had a lovely day on Monday, lunch with my sister after the wedding invites were all sorted - I also got a CD of all the official wedding photos from July, over 600 of them so that should keep me busy getting my favourites all scrapped! Then visited my sister in law over the road and finally my Mum and another sister before driving home into the sunset!
The dog went to have her puppy making bits doctored yesterday, so she's feeling a bit sorry for herself poor thing!

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 Janneke has designed the sketch. We are being sponsored by Delicious Doodles.

I've used this gorgeous Christmas Lantern image from Delicious Doodles, coloured with promarkers and die cut with a fancy rectangle from Spellbinders. Papers are all from Papermania. Sentiment and pearls are 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
Creative Craft Challenge - not a square
Top Tip Tuesday - initials (C for Christmas, candle and cones)
Crafty Boots - Christmas
Created with Love - anything goes
Fashionista Challenge - Christmas
Robyn's Fetish - rectangular cards
Christmas Stampin all Year Round - picture inspiration (colours and bow)

Carol x

Relaxing at Sea

Good morning all.
Off out today to see my second nephew and his intended to finalise the wedding stationery, hopefully I'll then manage to get a start made before I go away next month! I've spent the last few days getting ahead with some DT work and birthday cards.

Finally managed some digi scrapping over the weekend. Trish at Template Dreams brought out a new kit called "Relaxing at Sea" just as I went on holiday so managed to put it to good use using a photo of me and Mark from a cruise in 1995!!

I love seeing faded background images on other peoples layouts so decided to try it out myself....I usually end up with the main part of the picture under the rest of the design but hit lucky this time!

Challenges entered:

Lasting Memories - try something new

Digitally Sweet - summertime colours

The Pink Elephant - anything but a card

Carol x

Christmas Card Club - "Anything Goes"

Good morning all.

Well the intrepid travellers arrived in Krakow safely...as they boarded the plane behind two other obvious backpackers Mark had remarked to his friend he thought they were prime candidates to be stopping in their hostel. Upon checking into the hostel they found them sharing their room and that they lived 10 minutes up the road from us!!

It's time for our next challenge over at the Christmas Card Club, we have an "Anything Goes" theme this week.

This is a decoupage kit card which I got in a recent Docrafts bag.....decided to make it rather than stash it away!! Very quick and easy it was to make up too!

You'll find the rest of the girls listed on my sidebar if you'd like to pop over and see their creations.

Challenges entered:

CHNC extra - anything goes

The Glory of Christmas - gifts

Alphabet Challenge - newest stamp or decoupage

Aud Sentiments - anything but a birthday

Crafty Boots - Christmas

Carol x

Crazy Quilt of Life

Good morning all. 

Up at silly o clock this morning as Mark's flight was at 6am, left hubby to take him to the airport though and went back to bed. Only 10 days to worry about him!!

Eldest has just got his work visa through for New Zealand this week too, so it looks like he'll be off in January for a year or more....to quote my Nana "I wish they were all still under my feet on the hearth rug" lol. Does mean I can plan a trip to New Zealand for us next year though!!

Another birthday card today rescuing a one layer card I wasn't quite happy with.

It's so long since I made the original card I can't remember where the images are from...I'll add the details if I find them on my computer.

Challenges entered:

Paper Crafting Journey - anything goes

Challenges 4 Everyone - anything goes

Carol x

Crafting for all Seasons #59 "Tag It"

Good morning all. Well it's back to school today here after 7 and a half weeks off!
I've had a busy couple of days making the final samples for the first wedding, hopefully I'm seeing my nephew and his intended on Monday to get everything finalised.

Younger son is off backpacking for ten days on Friday...him and his friend are flying to Krakow, staying there 3 nights then catching an overnight train to Prague. After 3 nights there they'll catch a daytime bus to Berlin where they'll have a final 3 nights before flying home again. All their accommodation in hostels and travel tickets are pre-booked so hopefully all will go well!!

Today it's time for a new challenge at CFAS and this time the theme is "Tag It". We're  looking forward to seeing all your makes. We're being sponsored by A Day for Daisies who gave the DT images to work with. 

I choose to work with Christmas Tree Fairy and coloured with promarkers before die-cutting with a Spellbinder tag. Tag has been put through a Crafts Too embossing folder which I'd inked up with various DI. Large snowflake is a Spellbinder die set, fastened with a small button brad. Ribbon, raffia, sentiments and gold snowflake 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:

Creative Craft Challenges - not a square

Deep Ocean Challenge - odd shapes

Sweet Stamps - anything goes

Crafty Boots - Christmas

Come and Get it Challenge - things with wings

Gingerloft - bright sunshine yellow

Glitter and Sparkle - anything but square

Joanna Sheen - embossing

The Hobby House - Christmas

Card Crafter's Circle - winged things

Carol x

Happy Birthday

Good morning all.

I'm off grocery shopping today...the cupboards are bare, I don't know where it all goes to!!

I had to make some quick birthday cards last week so upcycled some earlier one layer cards which I wasn't happy with.

I do like one layer cards but I like them more with layers! Stamp is from La Blanche. Ribbon and gems are from my stash.

Challenges entered:

Great Impressions - square card

Pile it On - no designer papers

Brown Sugar - green, blue and white

Paper Shelter - ribbon

Carol x

Christmas Card Club - Playing Catch Up

Good evening all. I've spent a lovely lazy day crafting and managed to do some catching up with myself and some getting ahead!!

I've missed several of the challenges at our little Christmas Card Club lately due to holidays so set to today to catch up....I have cheated a little as I've only made one card to cover three challenges!!

The first challenge was from Claire was to use pastel colours and include a circle ; next came Karen and she wanted to see an origami or teabag folded topper; finally Asha gave us the theme "Oh Carol" - your favourite festive tune....I've gone for "Let it Snow".

The teabag topper is one I have had saved for a long time but don't know where it originates from; snowflake is a Christmas tree decoration; backing paper and ribbon are from my stash; dies from Spellbinders.

Sorry my photo is a little wonky!!

You'll find the rest of the girls listed on my sidebar if you'd like to pop over and see their creations.

Challenges entered:

CHNC Extra - anything goes

Delicious Doodles - Christmas in August

Christmas Cards all Year Round - fussy and fancy

Crimbo Crackers - it's snow business

Divas by Design - Christmas

Carol x

Christmas Challenges (with sketches) #86

Good morning all. 

Sorry I've not been around, trying to catch up on the dreaded housework which was sadly neglected whilst I was busy doing wedding work - thought I'd better do something about it before I start the next lot of stationery!

I'm off to see my niece today to help get her wedding plans off the ground...she seems to know what she wants though so we should make quite a bit of headway today.

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 Crealing.

Stamp is from Daisy and Dandelion, stamped on to a Kraft ATC blank and coloured with promarkers then highlighted with glamour dust, stickles and a white gel pen. Papers and sentiment are all from Do Crafts Christmas in the Country collection. Dies are all Spellbinders. Snowflakes are punch waste. Lace, string, pearls and gems are 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
Bearly Mine - anything goes
Holly Jolly Christmas - glitter
LEJ Designs - furry friends
Stamp & Create - glitter
CHNC - picture inspiration (shape)
Sweet Stampin - kraft
The Hobby House - Christmas
Winter Wonderland - cute Christmas
Craftin Boutique Challenges - Christmas

Carol x

Rose

Good morning all.

   Thank goodness the weather had dulled over a bit yesterday....I managed to stay indoors and get some housework done!!

A card today for a swap with the theme of roses.

Using a topper from a card I wasn't happy with, the image is a rubber stamp (but as I can't find it atm I can't tell you who it's by) which I've die cut with a scalloped nestie. The dies for the layers are from Marianne Design. Pearls and bow are from my stash.

Challenges entered:

Lady Anne's Challenge - anything goes

Loves Rubber Stamps - anything goes

ABC Challenge - monochrome

Bunny Zoe's Crafts - pink and white

Card Mania - summer blooms

Crafty Boots - die cuts

Creative Creations Challenges - monochromatic

Penny Black and More - in the garden

Totally Gorjuss - anything goes with pearls

Marianne Design Divas - layer it up

Carol x

Crafting for all Seasons #58 "Something Hidden"

Good morning all.

I'm running late today with my DT post....had an unscheduled visit down home yesterday then my EHD wouldn't play ball last night when I wanted to print off the images for my project!! Been for my annual MRI scan this morning...quite surprisingly they found a vein first time for putting the dye in and I only had one set of scans with dye rather than one with and one without so I was in and out in double quick time. They've also installed a mirror on the cage so if you open your eyes you are looking through the glass to where the technicians are instead of just seeing an enclosed space....so much better for the claustrophobia!

Today it's time for a new challenge at CFAS and this time the theme is "Something Hidden". We're  looking forward to seeing all your makes. We're being sponsored by our DT member Jani's Kreativewelt who gave the DT images to work with. 

I've made a tag card which I copied from a birthday card I received from Janneke one of my lovely team mates from CCWS. Think I need more practise but didn't have the time today.

The images are by Jani and I've coloured them digitally. Dies are from Spellbinders. Backing paper is from First Edition. Pearls, button and ribbon are from my stash.

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

I'll be back later to add some challenges, I now need to get ready to go out for lunch with a friend.

Challenges entered:

Anything Goes - coffee break or food

Papertake Weekly - anything goes

The Crazy Challenge - anything goes

Challenges 4 Everybody - anything goes

OSAAT - in the summer

Carol x

No Rest for the Wicked

Good morning all.

We've enjoyed a lovely restful three weeks away with mostly gorgeous weather but all good things must come to an end! My niece got engaged last month when she and her partner were away on holiday so I didn't find out until after we had left home so I had to spend yesterday making her a card. My sister told me she was planning a shabby chic wedding so that set the tone for the card and luckily she loved it. So I've another set of Wedding Invites to do for next summer....I've also been told by my sister I can organise the wedding as she hasn't a clue what "shabby chic" is!!

So it looks like I'm going to be a busy bee for the next year at least!

I think a trip to the supermarket is on the cards for today as the cupboards are bare!! Then I need to get some DT work done and get some birthday cards made.

Backing paper is from Crafty Individuals; bird cage and bird dies are from Ann Marie Designs; heart dies are from Spellbinders; border punch from Martha Stewart; butterfly and corner from Melissa Francis; lace, ribbon, string and button from my stash.

I'm very pleased with the final card as shabby chic isn't really my forte but this one came together quite peaceably thank goodness!

Challenges entered:

Crafty Calender - anything goes

Bastel-Traum - shabby chic/vintage

Card and Scrap - anything goes

Really Reasonable Ribbon - things with wings

Craftin Boutique - anything goes

Paper Crafting Journal - punches or die cuts

By LORi Designs - designer paper

Crafting by Designs - anything goes

Crafts and Me - anything goes

Whimsy Stamps Challenge - ribbon and lace

Die Cuttin Divas - anything goes

Party Time Tuesdays - anything goes

Through the Craftroom Door - anything goes

Fashionista Challenge - things with wings

Carol x