Christmas Card Club - "Cute Christmas"

Good morning all and Happy Mother's Day, I hope you're all being spoilt.

Thank you for all your kind words this week and to those who've sent cards...they do help.
Thank goodness this week is nearly over though...my youngest sister lost her father in law the day after I lost mine so things didn't get any better. However Gary is arriving home this evening so I will have all my brood under one roof again :), not that I wanted him home under these circumstances.

It's time for our next challenge over at the Christmas Card Club, it was Lorraine's turn to choose the theme this time and she set the theme "Cute Christmas". Luckily I was ahead of myself with my makes!!

Decoupaged card kit is from Create and Craft part of a package Mum bought me for Christmas at a local craft shop.

Finished inside and I'll probably use it for one of the neighbours.

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 Christmas goes

Completely Christmas - anything goes

CHNC - circles

Sad News

Sadly my father in law lost his battle and died earlier this afternoon. Thankfully it was a peaceful end to this life and although not unexpected it's no less painful for the family. We now have the task of getting Gary home from New Zealand in time for his funeral.

I'm signing off now and will catch up with you all when life settles down again.

Carol x

To a Special Niece

Good morning all.

We had a beautiful day yesterday, hope we get some more of it this week. Off to the hairdresser this morning, then for blood tests...luckily the nice Mr Sainsbury is delivering food this afternoon as the cupboards are bare again! Anyone else having problems with Google Chrome at the moment...mine keeps having hissy fits and refuses to load pages, a real pain in the butt when trying to do commenting as I keep having to re-start it....grrrrr technology lol!!

Sharing a commissioned birthday card today.

Topper from LOTV, layered onto a Spellbinder die. Punch from Martha Stewart, embossing folder from Die'Sire, bow die from Tattered Lace Dies, rosette die from Memory Box, bunting die from Signature Dies. Pearl brad from my stash.

Inside decorated to match.

Challenges entered:

Bearly Mine - one for the girls

Scrap it Girl - birthday

A Gem of a Challenge - female birthday

Brown Sugar - anything goes

Craftitude - add a brad

4 Crafty Chicks - no patterned paper

Charismas Cardz - birthday girl

Hobbycutz - girly but no pink

Glitter n Sparkle - use some blue

Carol x

PPP..Pick up a Penguin

Good morning all. I hope you're enjoying your weekend whatever you're up to. We're having a quiet one after a busy week.

Decided to have a makeover after discovering I'd run out of printer ink and couldn't print the images for a diamond wedding card I was planning to make.

Sharing a card today I made for my sister to give my nephew.

Stamp is from High Hopes and I've stamped it several times on various colours of card and paper pieced it together. Dies and embossing folder are from Spellbinders. Punch is from Martha Stewart. Ribbons and bows are from my stash. Heart are punch waste and have been coated with glossy accents along with the rose.

Inside decorated to match.

Close up of the topper.

Challenges entered:

Card and Scrap - use lace or ribbon

Die Cut Divas - lets emboss it

LEJ Designs - favourite die cuts

Crafty Calendar - animal antics

A Creative Romance - seeing double

Challenges and Candies - embossing

Crafts 4 Eternity - anything goes

Creative Corner - a little texture

Cut it Up - anything goes

Stampin for the Weekend - anything goes

Carol x

Crafting for all Seasons #73 "No Designer Papers"

Good morning all.

The week can only get better...had a four hour round trip to St Andrews on Monday as second son Mark had an interview at the university....all of 20 minutes!! Yesterday it was a three and a half hour round trip to take the kids to see my father in law for the last time. Unfortunately he's losing his battle with the big C and has been moved to the palliative care ward. It was a heartbreaking visit, especially for Mark but it had to be done and he wanted to go. Gary knew before he went out to NZ that he probably wouldn't see him again but he's finding it difficult and I think he'll come home. Meanwhile we can only wait and pray that the end is a peaceful one. So I know you'll forgive me if I'm not around much for the foreseeable future.

It's time for our next challenge at CFAS and this time the theme is "No Designer Papers". We're  looking forward to seeing all your makes. We're being sponsored by Kenny K who gave the DT images to work with.

I've used Present Surprise and coloured with promarkers before die cutting with a shaped die from Spellbinders. Backing card is Kraft Core which I've embossed with a folder from Die'sire before sanding and inking with DI. Card is finished with some ribbon and twine 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:

Pile it On - for a guy

Scribble and Scrap - anything goes

Cards Galore - use a stamp or digi

Die Cut Divas - emboss it

Digi Galore - anything goes

Bloggers - Happy Birthday

Fussy and Fancy - birthdays

Stempelsonnen - young men birthday

Digi Choosday Challenge - boys stuff

Kenny K - anything goes (twist bow...there is a little one!)

Carol x

Christmas Card Club "Let's see some Wings"

Good morning all.

Sorry I've been awol again...suffering horribly with hot flushes and an itchy skin rash, hormones...who'd have them!! I've spent hours this week trying to find somewhere to go on holiday for a week in May with both Lora and Mark and so far have failed miserably to find something that suits everyone, think I'll leave them all at home and suit myself!

It's time for our next challenge over at the Christmas Card Club, it was Christine's turn to choose the theme this time and she's said "Let's see some wings".

This is one of the extra cards I made for our Robins challenge two weeks ago so I'm cheating slightly here! Dies are all Spellbinders. Image is a recycled Christmas card, paper and sentiment stamps were magazine freebies. I've added stickles and gems for sparkle.

Flat for posting and finished inside :)

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 Christmas goes

Crafty Hazelnuts patterned paper - anything goes

Completely Christmas - anything goes

Totally Papercrafts - shaped cards

CRAFT - Christmas

Carol x

Just For You

Good morning all.

Another nice dry, sunny day here yesterday but it didn't half blow a hoolie!

A Christmas card to share today, one of the extra ones I made last week when doing my Christmas Club card.

Paper was wither in a candy win or Sheenie angel envelope. Tag and ribbon are recycled off a card. Sentiment tag from my stash. Punch from Tonic and dies from Spellbinders.

Finished inside but not sure whether the ribbon will increase the postage or not...time will tell!

Challenges entered:

CHNC Extra - anything Christmas goes

Crafty Hazelnuts patterned paper - anything goes

Completely Christmas - anything goes

CHNC - spread your wings

52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - colour challenge

Carol x

Rugby

Good morning all.

Well we actually had a few flakes of snow yesterday afternoon...nothing lay though! Got all my chores done yesterday so the weekend is mine to do as I like although a trip to Edinburgh is needed to pick up some glasses...may be able to fit a quick waltz around either Hobbycraft or the Range (or both) while there!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a fab weekend whatever you're up to :)

Today I'm sharing a card made for my brother.

The stamp is a very old one which came in a large wooden box from QVC, which I've stamped onto parchment card. The kraft frame is a Spellbinders die. The background was made loosely following the faux leather method...I started with parchment card and as I hadn't any spray and shine to finish it off I used some gilding wax over the embossing which was a folder from Die'sire. Finished with some string and a charm. A bit too grungy for my tastes but okay for a male card.

Question...as this is the first time I've used my gilding wax I was a bit heavy handed in places...what do you use to apply yours with?

Challenges entered:

Sister Act Card Challenge - anything goes

Stempelsonne - young men birthday

That's Crafty - anything goes

Wags n Whiskers - sports

As you Like it - favourite 3d texture...

mine is embossing, love how a piece of plain card takes on a new life and so many ways to dress it up after.

Charismas Cards - use something not for crafting , the faux leather technique uses glycerin

Paper Crafting Journey - manly

Baffies Kreativladen - anything goes

Crafting By Designs - anything goes

Carol x

Two of a Kind

Good morning all.

Sharing a couple of Christmas cards today. I bought this Penny Black stamp in the sales then wondered what to do with it! My first attempt ended in the bin but I quite like how these two turned out. I'm lagging behind with my Christmas makes so need to do a few more quick easy cards to catch up.

Stamped with DI ink the first card was heat embossed but didn't work very well. Both layers are cut with square nesties from Spellbinders then I've used the Memory Box die to cut the sentiment into the bottom layer to make a pocket for the image (saves card and weight!!) then added a gem and a Spellbinders snowflake to complete.

As you can see the die slipped on this card to leave a nice jaunty angle! Card is completed with seven gems and a Spellbinders snowflake.

Both cards probably flat enough for posting and completed inside :)

Challenges entered:

Christmas Card Challenges - heat embossing (I did try!)

Completely Christmas - anything goes

CHNC Extra - anything Christmas goes

Christmas Inspirations - clean and simple

Top Tip Tuesday - use 3, 5 or 7 of anything (gems on 2nd card)

Card Mania - use a sentiment

Crafting from the Heart - anything goes/dies

The Glory of Christmas - ski or sleigh

Crimbo Crackers - blue and white

Moving along with the Times - moody blues

Carol x

Snowdrops

Good morning all.

Had a flying visit down home yesterday and sorted the third set of wedding stationery out...luckily this one is very small so won't be too onerous.

Sharing another of my makes using my candy win from Linda today.

Decoupage stamp from Imagination Crafts, coloured with promarkers and layered to give dimension. Backing paper from First Edition (which is at least two year old) which I've run through an embossing folder which was a magazine freebie. Simply finished with some gems. I'll add a sentiment later when I decide what to use it for.

Challenges entered:

Imagination Crafts - imagination in bloom

Loves Rubber Stamps - anything goes

Oldie but a Goodie - spring has sprung

Twisted Tuesday - live a clean green life

Crafty Bloggers Network - nature

Crafty Boots - green

Created with Love - think spring

Kaboodle Doodles - embossing

Stamp and Create - ready for spring

Carol x

Crafting for all Seasons #72 "Spring into Spring"

Good morning all.

Another gorgeous spring day yesterday...had thought we'd be going out to see my sister in law but plans changed so I got to spend some more time in the craft room! I'm really enjoying having my mojo back :) Today's card was made whilst my mojo was missing and I'm not that happy with it...I think I should have flipped either the image or the paper before printing then the card may have looked like it came together, if you know what I mean lol!!

Today it's time for our next at CFAS and this time the theme is "Spring into Spring". We're  looking forward to seeing all your makes. We're being sponsored by Stitchy Bear Digi Outlet who gave the DT images and papers to work with.

I've used Butterfly Solace from Floppy Latte Designs and a backing paper from Painted Garden Pack 1 by Panda Bear Designs. The image has been coloured with promarkers and highlighted with Glamour Dust. Die from Spellbinders. Butterfly 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:

Deep Ocean - just for a girl

Fan-Tastic Tuesday - anything square goes

Papertake Weekly - anything goes

Through the Craft Room Door - anything goes

Digi Makeover - anything goes

OSAAT - anything goes

Hiding in my Craft Room - spring colours

Carol x

Celebrate in Style

Good morning all.

We had a beautiful day yesterday, I hope you did too.

It's my sister in laws birthday today and this is the card I made her.

Background created using Sparkle Medium and a stencil from Imagination Crafts, both part of my recent candy win. Stamps and backing paper were magazine freebies. I've paper pieced all the stamps using a coordinating paper from the pad. Ribbon and yarn are from Inkylicious; lace and charm are from my stash.

Challenges entered:

Crafty Hazelnuts Patterned Paper - anything goes

Paper Pretties - try a new technique (stencilling)

Inky Impressions - charm
Divas by Design - sparkle
Baffies Kreativladen - anything goes
It's all about Vintage - use lace
Crafts 4 Eternity - texture
Dream Valley - vintage
Ecleptic Ellapu - vintage
The Ribbon Girls - birthdays
The Cheerful Stamp Pad - anything goes
Craft room Challenge - 20th Century...inspired by early 1900's elegance
Craft-Dee BowZ - anything goes

Carol x

Happy Birthday

Good morning all.

Sharing one of my makes from Friday today. I was lucky enough to win some fabulous blog candy from Linda. My bundle included this decoupage stamp from Imagination Crafts. I think this will be hubby's birthday card...so another new card for him this year!!

I printed the image several times on both parchment and kraft card and coloured with promarkers. Papers are from Costco and Webster's Pages which I've matted onto teal pearlised card from Crafters Companion. I've used the additional stamps in the set for the sentiment, background and the bird peaking out of the birdhouse.

Challenges entered:

Card Makin Mamas - stack it up

Crafty Catz - anything goes

Jellypark Friday Challenge - things with wings

Sister Act Card Challenge - anything goes

4 Crafty Girls - anything goes

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - anything goes

Scribble and Scrap - anything goes

Challenges 4 Everybody - anything goes

Allsorts - spring is coming

Totally Gorjuss - happy birthday

Carol x

Christmas Card Club - "Feature a Robin"

Good morning all.

It was a lovely day yesterday...so why did I spend the afternoon making a mess in the craft room??

It's time for our next challenge over at the Christmas Card Club, it was Margaret's turn to choose the theme this time and she's asked us to "Feature a Robin". This is the first of several I made featuring robins...it was a case of strike while the irons hot!!

The papers and topper are all from My Mind's Eye and were a magazine freebie. Snowflake die from Spellbinders and Merry Christmas from Memory Box. Card is highlighted with some Glamour Dust.

Flat for posting and finished inside 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 Christmas goes

Totally Papercrafts - make it shine

ABC Christmas - D for die cuts

Crafty Cardmakers - birds/birdcages

Crafty Hazelnuts patterned paper - anything goes

Completely Christmas - anything goes

Carol x

Wedding

Good morning all.

Apologies for being awol but I needed a week off to recover from the wedding....this low iron levels has really hit me hard this winter but hopefully I'll be fine again once I've taken all the pills!

We had a lovely day last Saturday, very chilly but the sun shone. The wedding ceremony, venue and reception were all fabulous and a good day was had by all.

I'm finally going to share the wedding stationery; so apologies in advance for such a long, photo heavy post!

The colour scheme was ivory and fuschia to which I added a little silver. The gorgeous heart die is from Marianne Designs - I've die cut it from the middle of the ivory square then replaced it popped up on foam squares, square dies from Spellbinders. Wording is computer generated then heat embossed with silver EP - a bit of a faff but finished them perfectly. Ribbon is from Craft Creations; charm and gem are from Meiflower. A simple paper insert completed the invitations.

A simple RSVP card and all envelopes were fuschia to match the invites.

Evening invites were postcard style and very simply embellished. Dies from Spellbinders.

The tables were all named after local castles. Wording was computer generated and heat embossed. Dies from Spellbinders and punch from Martha Stewart.

The table plan...dies from Spellbinders, corner punch from Martha Stewart. Small pink hearts are die waste. The wire heart and pegs were supplied by the bride. The place cards were simply the next size down deckled rectangle die and they were pegged to the wine glasses.

And a close up of the heart...wording computer generated and heat embossed. Bow tied on a fork with a charm added.

And finally one of those fluke photos of the bride and groom apparently watching me and OH having our picture taken lol.

Thankfully my mojo seems to have returned and I've spent a few days this week relaxing in my craftroom...all the samples are made for the next wedding in July and I've managed to have a play with some candy I won :) So you should see a little more of me this week hopefully and I'll be round to see you very soon.

Carol x