Blooms and a bob

I've had great fun making these flowers tonight.  We made bigger ones at the Inspired Retreat in February, so I just scaled them down for this card.  I still love this SEI Jolie Chocolat range - it's so pretty and girly.

This card was inspired by challenges at:

Charisma Cardz - girly creation, using flowers

Cute Card Thursday - make your own

I found out today that I made the top 3 at Charisma Cardz for challenge #16.  Thank you girls - you've made me smile.

Today was also haircut day and time for a little change.  Thank you to the lovely Kay my hairdresser for talking me into it.  I'm lazy when I go to the hairdressers and just stick to a good trim and a colour or two.  But not today... today I got bobbed.

It's great as it looks the same from the front but is quite a bit shorter at the back.  I wonder what I'll go for next time!

Whinging Wednesday!

I've got nothing major to whinge about but that doesn't seem to have stopped me today.  I walked to the ATM at the bank before work this morning to pay some money in, but it didn't take deposits!  OK I should be happy as I'd got my exercise in for the day but it didn't stop me grumbling to myself.

Follow that by going to give blood after work - why do they have an appointment system when you still have to wait for 45 minutes!  Another gggrrrr but again the happy bit is I did donate blood.

How can I not be happy when I got a little inky this evening.

I fell in love with this little bird cage from PaperArtsy at the NEC but this is the first time it's been used and I wasn't disappointed.  I also got out my distress embossing powder that hasn't been out of the cupboard for several years but it worked really well on this project.

Thank you to the following challenge blogs for inspiring me to get inky:

Quixotic Challenges - how distressing

The Secret Crafter - #80, distressing

The ABC Challenge - T is for Thank You   

Onward and upward to a non-whinging day tomorrow!

Monster Truck!

What do you make for your 4 your year old nephew - a monster truck full of sweets and chocolate of course.  If he has half as much fun with it as I had making it we'll be onto a winner.  It started off as a shaped card and just kept growing.  The little monsters are all from Lettering Delights and there's finger puppets, wrappers for the chocolate bars, circdles I've attached to gold coins and little sweet bag wrappers.  The trucks are from Craftwork Cards, they're chipboard shapes are fabulous.

This little project was inspired by a couple of challenges:

A Spoonful of Sugar - 3D something

Papertake Weekly - Do something different

Cupcake Craft Challenges - don't be square

So what else would a 4 year old need for his birthday - a card of course.  Another little monster and a mixture of digi monster paper and some patterned paper from October Afternoon.

This was based on a couple of sketch challenges:

2 sketches 4 you - sketch 51

CPS - sketch 164

It's not his birthday until next week but let's hope that he like it.

Back to work

What a better way to start the week than going to see some customers.  Going out to see customers has it's dangers though!  You try walking into a craft shop and not coming out having bought something.

Now I'm home again, I've managed a couple of quick cards. I was determined to use the last scraps of the kit I'd been using over the weekend.

This one is for the challenge to use a quote on your card over at  Charisma Cardz

This cute little frog is for challenge #004 over at Twisted Sketches, where the twist this week was to use buttons.

A little woo hoo - I made the top 5 over at Cupcake Craft Challenges, with my red and white charleston card.  Thank girls

I'm loving the time I've had for crafting in the last week or so, I just don't know how long it will last. No doubt I'll be working away again soon, so I'm making the most of it whilst I can.

I hope you have great week.

Splendid Sunday

Sunday has been another wonderful day with lots of crafting.  I've made this little desk tidy and filled it with cards.  We'll be doing this as an afternoon class at crop in May.

I do need a little bit more ribbon to finish it off but otherwise I love it.

This card is for the Dutch Dare Card Challenge #76 where the challenge was to make an easel card with a repeated element - for me that's the punched border.

This little umbrella comes from the Spring cartridge for the Slice as do all the main images on these cards.  I thought it was about time I got it used!

I made this card for the challenge to use die cuts over at Daring Cardmakers.  A fabulous challenge as really set me off on a die cutting mission! 

This one is based on a sketch challenge over at Cute Card Thursday

The next three are based on a sketch challenge over at CPS.  lthough what started it all off was the 'photo inspiration' challenge over at Allsorts Challenge Blog, where the photo was butterflies in circle - so here's where it took me.

 

Today was also filled with fun with a mini adventure to Bibury, with lunch at Barnsley on the way.  A beautiful day in the Cotswalds.  Anna had another encounter with a tree - I do worry about her!

She also things she's Dorothy (see the red shoes) - too much watching Graham Norton on a Saturday night me thinks!

I'm not sure I'll fit in those jeans I scrapped about yesterday after todays lunch.

So the weekend is nearly over.  I hope yours has been as much fun as mine xxx

A Wonderous Weekend

The sun is shining, I'm with one of my bestest buddies, so why wouldn't it be wonderful :)

Visiting Anna is always fabulous and there's always a chance of a Ginger adventure. We had a little one today when we went for a walk, I made Anna walk a little bit further than normal and we found goats, a swan, herons, a deer (not a real one) and even a tree to hug.

Then back to do some crafting.  This will be a future kit for crop.  This scrapbook page developed when looking for a title.  The photo was take in Blackpool and although it was only last year as we're in 1940's style dress it looks a lot older.  So we thought of vintage postcards and this is the outcome.

It's based on a sketch #183 from Pencil Lines

This layout is to celebrate me fitting into a smaller pair of jeans.  I was so excited as I dropped from a UK size 12 to a size 8 (US 6), and even better, 6 months on they still fit.  This was based on sketch 46 over at Twisted Sketches

When I work with a kit I never like to throw anything away, so I've made a couple of cards to use up my scraps.  This first one I've based on sketch 61 over at Card Patterns

Another card using the scraps up

The bird stamps are from Crafty Individuals but I've had them for a long time.

I am loving this wood paper from the fabulous Inspire Me Papers.  It's just like wood but you can score and fold it.  I'm planning all kinds of projects with this card :)

As if this wasn't enough excitement for one day, it seems it's still my birthday (I started celebrating on 6th March!).  Look at this beautiful bag full of goodies from my fabbie friend :)

And what's even better is that it's only Saturday so I have another full day of crafting and no doubt an adventure or two in front of me.

Fabulous Friday

Woo hoo, it's nearly the weekend.  After a day of customer visits I'll be off to Gloucestershire to visit my wonderful friend Anna for what I know will be a fabulous weekend of crafting.  I'm sure we'll be sipping the odd glass of fizz too.  What more could a girl ask for?

I leave you with this little card I made for this weeks challenge of Make a Splash over at Quixotic Challenges.  I was in two minds over which stamps to use and nearly got out Popcorn fishing but instead went with this little boat from PTI - isn't it sweet.

Happy weekend blogging world

xxx

In the Red

Good morning blogging world.  I hope the sun is shining where you are, it is here and was yesterday too.  I made a discovery yesterday, I found Hyde park, not the one in London, the one in Hyde!! - going for walks around my local area has helped me find all kinds of things - there's a disused reservoir just 5 minutes up the road from us, that now a nature reserve.  Back to Hyde park, lovely for a quick wander.  Unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me which is a shame as there's lots to see including a beautiful bandstand.  I wonder where my wander later today will take me?

Anyway what did I get up to last night?  I made some cards of course, whilst watching American Idol.

This card I made for a challenge over at Card Patterns.  As soon as I saw the sketch I knew I wanted to use my Tiny Treats: Valentine set from Papertrey Ink.  I'm loving the kraft with the red and the little tail of the bunny is given a bit of extra texture with some ultrafine flowersoft.

 

This card is for the challenge over at Embellish Magazine.  I love the way the challenges are colour based, with an added theme.  As it's for an invitation I've kept it quite simple so that I could rustle up a lot in a short time.

Patchwork Polly

How gorgeous are these new stamps from Jayne Nestorenko?  I love their pretty faces and the fact that you can have them with wings as little angel dolls or without as little ragdolls.  Polly herself is a little girl and the 5 other characters are her patchwork pals.  Each stamp plate has a main character plus a patchwork background element along with lots of accessories.  These are coloured in the same colours as on the packaging.  I'm hoping to have a play with some other colour combos soon.

So, here's Polly.  On the stamp she's actually sitting a branch but I've cut that away and popped her onto a patchwork seat and covered the join with the little patchwork birdie.

Then let's meet Jenny.  I love the way she can hold the little heart in her hand.  Her patchwork square is so easy to stamp and colour in.

I've based the layout of this card on a sketch over at Twisted Sketches, the twist this week was to use twill.  I did nearly have a twill emergency as the end of my white twill dropped into my coffee - messy creation that I am!  Luckily I had just enough undyed twill left for my card - phew :).  Thanks Anam for starting a card making version of your fabulous challenges - I love it.

Here's the ever so pretty Olivia with her little teddy bear.  This card was based on a sketch from this weeks challenge at Papertake Weekly

Next up is Julie.  To me she's the quiet one of the bunch. I can see me using her as a first day at school stamp at some point as she comes with a little satchel as one of her accessories.  I'm entering this card into this weeks challenge over at Inspirational Card Sketches.  As soon as I saw this weeks sketch it screamed patchwork squares to me.

For an outdoor, gardening feel we've got Helene, she's got a watering can and a very cut little patchwork duck in her accessory set.  I'm entering this one into the challenge at  2 sketches 4 you a fabulous sketch that just had me itching to craft.

Last but definitely not least here's Chloe.  She reminds me of my sister when she was little, although she still lies like this now - normally on a ski slope - don't ask.  I love the way she has the little plaque that you hang other elements from.

As you can see I'm totally smitten with these stamps and know there's so much more I can do with them.  As they're all in proportion you can mix and match too.

The card blanks are from Craftwork Cards, a great way to add some extra detail.

Crazy volcano

Can you believe that the erupting volcano in Iceland is still affecting flights - it's crazy!  Let's just hope it's cleared by May when I'm due to go to France :)

So the ash cloud isn't really changing the weather here and it was clear and dry this morning, so I decided to walk to the sorting office before work.  It's a 3 mile round trip, so that's my steps done for the day.  Better than that my Scrap-a-go-go card kit was waiting at the sorting office for me - happy days.

I haven't played with my kit yet, I'm saving that for tomorrow night but I have made a couple of cards for a couple of challenges:

The challenge over at A Passion for Papertrey this fortnight is pretty petals so which set did I dig out ... Wishing You of course.  I don't think I'll ever tire of this tulip.  Stamping it in blue was a new one for me though.  I love blue and brown together.

Ahhh, bliss.  I had to send my Ultimate Pro and sping embossing boards off to a magazine the other week so was without mine for a whole week.  Luckily being in the office last week meant I got to pick up a new one, so I was able to play tonight.  How else would you celebrate a birthday but with cake and with that in mind I'm entering this into the challenge over at A Spoonful of Sugar.  Happy 40th Birthday Debbie - she set the challenge this week and as it's her birthday she wanted to see some birthday cards, so this one is especially for her.

My last card for tonight is for Quixotic Challenges with the theme of heavy metal.  My metal element is the hope brad.  These lovely papers are from Thrift Shop range from October Afternoon.  I was lucky enough to be given them at CHA - thank you guys, you make me giggle.  Those of you with beady eyes might also notice that the decorative edges are from a brand new Tim Holtz Sizzix Die.  I'm sure pretty cards aren't what he invisaged whilst designing the die but I love it and I'm sure it'll be on a few more cards very soon.

The Same but Different!

I have the birthdays of some of my friends I know through dancing coming up, so I thought I'd get ahead and get some cards made.  It's not easy to find images for 1930's/1940's swing dancing but this young lady doing the Charleston is getting close.  She's only 10 years out - 1920's!  So one stamp three different colours and three slightly different looks.

First up is this gorgeous olive green combo which I'm entering into this weeks challenge at Charisma Cardz where the challenge was monochromatic.  Although all three of these cards could count for this challenge :)

Next up I went bright and bold with this red version which I'm entering into Cupcake Craft Challenge where the challenge this week was red and white. 

Last up is a mustard colour.  Not a colour I'm automatically drawn to but I thought I'd give it a try for this vintage look.

Two Bad Mice

Joining Jemima Puddleduck are Two Bad Mice.  The images on this CD are just too cute.  I made time to play this weekend. mainly as the cards are needed for a show on Create & Craft on Wednesday 21st April.  Don't you just love a challenge!  A date being moved meant these had to be done this weekend but for me that's great as I really do work best under pressure and anyway, sleep is over rated!!

I love the country kitchen feel to this card and the addition of the gingham ribbon makes me smile.

A nice gentle card for a new baby in lovely soft colours.  Great for a new arrival be they a boy or a girl.

I loved the cameos on the other Beatrix Potter CDs and the ones on this CD are no exception.  These fit beautifully in the nestabilities labels ten dies.

  

The co-ordinating papers on this CD are beautiful and I know I'll be using them with lots of my projects not just with Beatrix Potter.  Look at the little flowers on this one and there's another of those nestabilities labels ten dies, turned the other way this time.

Happy Stamping

Today I had a great day at crop, followed by a walk as the sun was still shining.  So how do you finish off a day like that - stamping of course.  I got to play with my new Beatrix Potter stamps from Crafter's Companion.  I love the way you can make a whole scene using the flower stamps (I think they might be foxgloves but don't hold me to that!) and one of the main images.  I'm entering this into 2 challenges:

A Spooful of Sugar where the lovely Nikki set a sketch challenge

Allsorts challenge where the challenge was stitching - mines the faux type :)

I made this cute gable box for the challenge at Dutch Dare where the challenge was to create a gable box.  I printed mine onto card printed from the Jemima CD before staminping the cute mouse onto it.

Last one for today is this cute little mouse.  I decided to go sepia with this one with a hint of blue.  I've entered it into Papertake Weekly challenge where the theme this week was cute.

Jemima Puddleduck

Here she is ... Jemima Puddleduck.  Ever since we launched the first set of Beatrix Potter CDs people have been asking when Jemima would be making an appearance.  So she launches today, along with the Tale of Two Bad Mice.  Even though I've been away all week, I've still managed to get some cards made.  How could you not want to make cards with such beautiful images.

This first card I'm entering into the weekly challenge over at Cute Card Thursday.  This weeks challenge is texture.  So I used ribbon and flowers to create texture on this invertage card.

This second card shows the lovely Jemima decoupaged in a beautiful frame.  These soft colours remind of sping so with that in mind I'm entering this into a challenge over at Totally Paper Crafts where the challenge this week is spring.

Last but not least this little easel card.  I love easel cards, great impact but so simple to do.  I'm entering this into a challenge over at Meljen's Designs where the challenge is 3D.  So this card fits the bill being a 3D card plus it's got twisted pyrimage on it and the bow and buttons.

Just a quick note to all those who pop by my little blog - thank you :)