CRAFT Challenge Blogaversary

I'm so excited that as part of my Guest Design spot at CRAFT Challenge, I get to be part of their 2nd Blogaversary with big giveaways:

This week at CRAFT Challenge  we are celebrating our 2nd Blogaversary in style. Our challenge this week is Happy Birthday! (to Us) to fit in with this celebration. Please link your project to InLinkz as per usual.
Here's the card that I've made to join in with the celebrations.  Don't you just love this little birdie from Robyns fetish digital stamps and more

Supplies used:
Digi stamp - a little birdie told me, Robyns fetish digital stamps and more
Cardstock - Core'dinations and Neenah Solar Crest Card
Patterned paper - Kaisercraft Hippy Girl 6 x 6 pad
Ribbon - Papertrey Ink
Stamp - Papertrey Ink, daily design sentiments
Button & twine - Papertrey Ink
Copics used:
Tree - E71, E77
Bird - BG01, BG05, BG10
Flowers - YR04, YR20
Grass - YG03, YG11

To celebrate we will also will be doing a Blogaversary Blog Hop with many sponsors and prizes on the way. To be in with having a chance of winning these prizes, you will need to leave a comment on our (G)DT's blogs, a winner will be chosen randomly at each stop.

We will also leave a word at each stop, with which we would like you to form a sentence. So, don't forget to collect a word on each stop as well! After you have collected all these words, form a sentence with them and enter your sentence in a comment on our CRAFT Challenge blog. We will obviously not allow comments to be posted during this week to stop any cheating, lol!

You should have started at CRAFT Challenge and come from Carol's Blog. If you did not, please go back to the stops before you have so far not passed.

My word is: Bash

My sponsor for the blog hop is Jo aka Trimgym, and the prize you can win on my stop is a choice of 1 paper pack or 3 digi's from her blog.

Just as a reminder, here is your route to follow. You should start and end at the CRAFT challenge blog.

Jo's digistamp blog

Carol

Claire (GDT) (you're here!)

Gemma

Jacky

Jo

Karen

Kerry

Kevin

Kim

Nikki (GDT) 
Sharon

Tigerlover (junior DT)

CRAFT Challenge Blog 

So, join in with us this week to be in with a chance of many prizes and we hope you enjoy the journey!
Your next stop is Gemma
Don't forget to leave a comment if you want to have a chance of winning the prize on my stop!!

It's nearly crop time

It's the Altrincham crop this Saturday, so here's what I've done with this months kit.  I was inspired by the sketch over at:

Twisted sketches - sketch #75, circles (I extended the sketch over a double page)

It's not the greatest photo due to the light but the colours are lilac with some green in there too.

As always I can't let those scraps for to waste so here's a card I made, with inspiration from:

Get sketchy - sketch #64

A Passion for Papertrey Ink - scrapalicious

The paper in the kit are Kaiser and the stamp on the card is Papertrey Ink, from the Everyday Buttons set.

Thanks for popping by.

xxx

Amazing Giveaway

I'm so excited about today's post.  The fabulous people at CSN Stores have contacted me to offer a give-away for one of my lovely readers, for a £30 gift certificate to use in any of their UK websites.

CSN Stores have amazing online stores where you can find anything from wardrobes and lighting, through to my favourite site where they sell cookware and baking products.  Although I don't bake often, as I'd eat everything, I am rather partial to this glorious cake stand, any cakes would look beautiful on it.

To be in with a chance of winning the £30 voucher just leave a comment below.  I'd love to know what you'd be looking to spend your voucher on if you were the winner.  The winner will be drawn at random on Monday 27th September.

Please feel free to tell your friends about the draw, anyone can enter.

 

With all that excitement it's got my creative juices flowing and here's a couple of cards.  This one was inspired by challenges at:

Daring Cardmakers - All up in the air

Crazy 4 Challenges - sketch challenge

Sweet stampin' challenge - stitching - you may have to look very closely but I promise you it's there around the edge of dotted paper

A Spoonful of sugar - anything goes

Cupcake craft challenges - transport

Pink Elephant - recipe, aqua, designer paper, embellishment

 

Supplies used on this card include:

Balloons & buttons - Kaisercraft chipboard

Patterned paper - PTI

Stamp - PTI

Next up this simple card but I'm loving the texture on it.  It was inspired by challenges at:

Clean & Simple - FTL 108

Cardvaarks - clean and simple

The Crafty Pad - embossing

 

For this card I've used

Nestabilities - circles

Cuttlebug embossing folders

Ink - ocean tides PTI

Buttons - Kaisercraft chipboard

Thanks for popping by and don't forget to leave a comment enter the prize draw for a gift voucher at CSN stores.  Good luck.

xxx

We have a winner

As promised at the beginning of last week a draw has been made from all of the comments to win the blog candy I offered.  So drum roll please ....

and the winner is StamperSue.  Sue send me an e-mail with your postal address and which 3 SWALK stamps you want and I'll get your stamps, your CD and Collall glue off in the post to you.  Congratulations Sue.

After all that excitement I thought I'd better get me finger out and get ready for our Altrincham crop this coming Saturday.  Well that was the plan but everything is taking a bit longer than usual as I've strained my neck, but it's on the mend so I'll be back to full speed very soon. 

This months kit is fabulous Kaisercraft papers and the colours are red, black and white.  As well as the patterned papers there's white card, red, white and black ribbon, lots of paper flowers and black and red adhesive pearls.  So you're in for a treat girls.

Here's one layout to wet your appetites, which was inspired by the challenges at:

Twisted sketches - scrapbook #6, fabric - I've used ribbon

The Pink Elephant - favourite colour and favourite embellishment, for a girl who changes her mind by the minute it's a tough one, but I'm in the red zone at the moment and my bows are never far from a layout or a card

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - #100, sketch

I'm hoping to have a second layout to share with you tomorrow along with a card made from the scraps.  I like my kit to go a long way.

xxx

Leaving Loviness

Today we're leaving Nokomis, Florida, to head to Tampa for our flight back to the UK.  I love being on holiday so much that it's always sad when it comes to an end.

But to cheer me up, I've won a prize over at Meljen's Designs, so I get to go and choose 3 images as my prize.  Thank girls.

Before we tidied the house and packed I managed to make a couple of cards and catch a couple more episodes of Law & Order.  This card was inspired by challenges at:
Clean & Simple - FTL #104
Cupcake Craft - Blue and green
I used some more of my gorgeous Papertrey Ink supplies and some Making Memories buttons.  I'm loving the blue and green together.

My last card until I get home was inspired by the challenge at:
Card Patterns - Sketch #78
The papers and die cut  are from Le Chateau 6 x 6 pad from Kaiser - these little pads go a long, long way.

It wouldn't be the last day of our holiday if I didn't have some food to share with you!  Today we found an amazing burger bar, called Five Guys, where you got to choose all your own toppings and the fries were like chips - fantabulous.

I've kept up with my steps whilst we've been away but normal Slimming World eating will be immediately reintroduced on my return home.  I'd better pack up my laptop and get ready to board my  flight, unless there's time for a last snack!!
Goodbye Florida.

xxx

Complete Chillout

As today was our last full day we spent it just chilling out at the house.  I think we'd done so much earlier in the week we just needed to chill.  Although the weather was a little iffy we decided to head to Siesta Key to see if the drum circle was on and it was.  As we were there early we got to see the opening dancing and I even got a flower for my hair.  As it began to rain we decided to head into town and for some dinner.

We headed for the Hub and had a great dinner.  We started with the nachos as an appetizer as well as it being gorgeous it was huge!

Fish tacos for Steve and grilled talapia for me to follow -yum.

As it had been a relaxing day I've made a couple of cards:

This first one was inspired by challenges at:

Sweet Stampin Challenge - sketch #40

Saturday challenge - blue and cream

This next card was inspired by the challenge at:

Get Sketchy - sketch #52

Most of the supplies for this card are from the Kaiser Craft Le Chateau 6 x 6 pad - can you tell it's my new favourite.

This last one was inspired by challenges at:

Allsorts - minature 3"

The Crafty Pad - 1 Circle, 2 Squares and 3 Brads or Buttons

Get Sketchy - sketch #52 - I loved the sketch so much I had to use it again but this time turned it 180 degrees.

Back to my Papertrey Ink goodies for this one.

In the morning I'll have to pack up my crafting goodies along with my clothes and get back to reality!  Don't worry I'll still enjoy every moment that's left of my holiday.

So "Cheers" as I raise yet another glass of White Zinfandel.

xxx

Goodbye and Good Day

We said goodbye to Jo and Ian this morning as they are going home but first Steve had to have a quick sit in the Mustang.

So we didn't miss them too much we headed towards Nokomis and Pelican Alley for lunch.  We both started with a cup of seafood chowder, totally yummy

I then had the prawns, scallop and squid in red pepper alfredo sauce over linguine and Steve had Baked Bayou Casserole with rice.  There wasn't much left on our plates.

We weren't going to have dessert but having talked to the waitress it appeared we had ordered a portion of key lime pie!  I'm sorry that's there only a photo of half of it, but we attacked it before I could get the camera out!

We then drove up to St Armands Circle for a wander around the shops.  As there was a Brighton shop there, I came away with a new key fob, featuring 5 hearts and a T-shirt.  On the way back we passed a great sculpture, it's called "Unconditional Surrender" and is 26 foot high!

So with a day filled with food we bought a rack of ribs for dinner, that Steve cooked in the oven before finishing the on the BBQ.  Look at least there's a bit of salad on my plate!

Then it was time to relax with a glass of White Zinfandel and make a couple of cards whilst watching Waterboy on the TV.   This card was inspired by challenges at:
ICS - Sketch #79
Daring Cardmakers - material girl - my card was inspired by my new T-shirt.  I've used the swirl on the main image and also on the layers underneath.

This card was inspired by challenges at:
Charisma Cardz - die cuts
Crazy 4 challenges - sketch #51 
For this card I used another 6" x 6" paper pad from Kaiser, this time it's the Le Chateau Collection.  It's filled with 24 papers, then there's speciality papers that include flocking and vinyl finish and 4 sheets die cuts.

I also had a message from the fabulous Katina Killey, if ever you've bought a UK cardmaking magazine you've probably seen her gorgeous work.  We were buddies on Beautiful Cards and it was great to receive a lovely blog award from her today.

This does mean that I can now pass this award on to 7 people who have lovely blogs, pop over and see what gorgeous things they make.

Debbie
Katie
Jane
Jo
Leann
Nets 
Soo 

So although we started the day with a goodbye we still had a good day.
I hope you had a good day too.
xxx

Cards and Cocktails

Today was chill out day, mainly due to the fact that a rather large amount of alcohol had been consumed by all of us last night.  It did mean I got to make a couple of cards.  This one was inspired by challenges at:

Stamp with fun - sketch # 72

Meljen's Designs - brown, teal and orange

Stampin' for the Weekend - anything goes 
Embellish - quirky, cute, clean style in seafoam, kraft, peach and cream

This one is made with a mixture of supplies from Papertrey Ink and the little Lush paper pack from Kaisercraft. 

This one was inspired by challenges at:

Tuesday Taggers - messing about in boats

Totally Papercrafts - Summer Fun 

It was made with bits left over from the ruffle rainbow card I made earlier in the week.  I love using scraps up.

We managed to gather enough energy to go out at night and headed into downtown Sarasota.  We wanted to go somewhere a little bit special as it was our last night with Jo & Ian.  We spent the evening at Ceviche, where we started the evening on the roof top terrace with a cocktail or two.

We then went downstairs where we had fabulous tapas and an amazing paella.  Our server Dave was great fun and looked after us and even got our British sense of humour.

Even the drive home was fun - it was so warm we still had the roof down on the car even though it was dark outside. 

We did try to have a drink when we got back but generally we all just fell asleep, so headed off to bed.  Thanks for a great week Jo & Ian - we love you lots.

xxx

All in a days shopping

We headed back separately from St Pete's this morning and Steve and I made a stop at Ellenton Outlet Mall, where we did a little bit of shopping including 3 pairs of trainers, flip flops, T-shirts, vest tops and even a new jumper - yes in 97 degrees Fahrenheit I bought a new jumper!

We then headed across to Anna Maria Island, which is really chilled out.  We got to see the Sunshine Skyway Bridge from across the bay.

Then it was time to eat again and I decided to take it easy today and have a small but perfectly formed and rather delicious prawn salad.

So then it was back to Ian's for more chilling out and my latest vice - White Zinfandel!!

Whilst the others watched a film, I watched from the kitchen table surrounded by my crafting supplies and made a couple of cards.  This first one was inspired by challenges at:
Totally Gorjuss - aqua
Twisted sketches - sketch #20, fabric - I've used felt flowers for the fabric and turned the sketch 90 degrees
CRAFT - photo inspiration - it was the colours that inspired me
I'm still surprised I've managed to walk away from this card and not add more to it!

Next is a card inspired by challenges at:
One Stop Craft - Oriental Delights
CPS - Sketch #180
I was lucky that the Lush pad from Kaiser had some Oriental designs in or I'd have been scuppered.

Brining up the rear is this card inspired by challenges at:
2 Sketches 4 You - Kazan's Sketch #59
Stamp Something - Fairytale Somethings - my Fairytale is Chicken Licken
This uses some more of my Papertrey Ink stash and stamps.

Goodnight and sleep tight.
xxx

More food and more relaxing

I'm loving being on holiday and have relaxed into holiday mode very quickly.  We started the day with a walk (the boys took the bikes) and a swim (I managed 60 lengths this morning).

We popped out to Sharkey's at Venice for lunch, which meant a couple of cocktails too.  I was loving the Mango Bango and my Grouper with Macadamia crust topping with cocunet shrimp was totally yummy.

After walking along the pier we headed back via the supermarket.  I love that you can buy Beringer White Zinfandel in very large bottles!!

Now back to food again - tonight we had some of the fish the boys caught, we started with sea trout bites and then followed with mackerel (not oily like ours is) and shark with salad and rice.  Sorry about the half eaten plate of food photo but it was so good I nearly forgot to take the picture!

I even had time for some cardmaking today.  This first one was inspired by challenges at:

Crazy 4 Challenges - music - well as I have limited supplies I went for a song title and it's Let's Go Fly a Kite

Allsorts - paper piecing - look closely at the kite.

I used Kaisercraft Lush 6" x 6" paper pad and my Up, Up  & Away stamp set from Papertrey Ink

This next one was inspired by the challenge at:

Clean & Simple - Sketch #103
Saturday challenge - what are little girls made of

There's a mixture of Papertrey Ink stamps here - the swirl is from the Fancy Flourishes set and the text is from Up, Up  & Away and the paper is from the In Bloom paper pad - isn't it gorgeous.

Next up we have a card inspired by challenge at:

Get Sketchy - Sketch #51 and it's a fab sketch

The Pink Elephant - ribbon & sparkles

I think this card is my favourite from today's card making adventure. I used more of the lovely In Bloom paper pack from Papertrey Ink and the felt flowers are from Stamin' Up

Another sketch challenge inspired this card:
 Card Patterns - sketch 77
I'm not sure what I'm going to do when I run out of In Bloom paper!

One last one for tonight.  A little dinky card inspired by the challenges at:
Cupcake Craft - recipe - 2 papers, 2 flowers, 2 ribbons
The Crafty Pad - Glitz & Glitter

To get ready for our trip to the baseball tomorrow we watched some on TV tonight, as I was crafting I'm guessing I'll have very little idea of what's going on, but that's how things quite often are in my world anyway!!
xxx

Woo hoo – it’s holiday time

I know I've only just come back from Chicago but this time I'm going away on holiday. We're off to Tampa, Florida, where we'll meet up with my gorgeous sister and her fella. So when you travel to Gatwick the night before your flight, what do you do in the hotel, once you've had a glass of wine? Make a couple of cards of course! Yes, I've brought some card making bits & bobs away with me.  One of the things I've brought with me are the super cute 6" x 6" paperpads from Kaisercraft.  As well as the papers, which some have flocking and foiling on, they have die cut elements in them, like borders, tags and frames.

This first card was inspired by challenges at:

Daring cardmakers – Tree-mendous

Cute Card Thursday – Tree-mendous

 

This card was inspired by the challenge at:

Meljen's Designs - I see double
Sweet stampin' challenge - favourite stamp/image - well as you can see this set is my favourite today!

This cardwas made just because I was having so much fun with my Up, Up & Away stamps from Papertrey Ink and that lovely paperpad from Kaiser.  I love making a matching set of cards.

 

So tomorrow we have a nice relaxing start as we don't fly until lunch time.  I love being on holiday.
Plus Steve and I have been together 11 years - Happy Anniversary.  AS we're going away we thought we have the next week or so to celebrate - I know, any excuse!!
xxx