Oops!

I know I promised to show the remaining cards I made last Saturday whilst crafting with my best mate, Nikola. They all needed final touches to them before being photographed but, unfortunately, I've been so busy at work this week, I've not had the energy when I get home. Jon and I have got 2 weeks off after today, so I've been desperately trying to get everything in order before I finish, that meant I even took my work laptop home with me last night so I could spend 3 hours formatting spreadsheets correctly!

Hopefully, whilst I'm off, I'll get plenty of time to craft and show more cards, so please keep popping by on the off chance!

xx :0)

Beautiful Blogger Award

I have been given this lovely award by Natalie. She makes such amazing cards so if you've not been to her blog before, you must stop by and pay her a visit!

I've now got to choose five people to pass this on to and that's not an easy choice! I will choose:

Stacey

Michelle

Claire (Claire Ellis)

Clare (Littlebear)

Liza

Apologies for not putting more cards on today but my sister has been round and the 3 of us have been playing on the Wii most of the afternoon!

xx :0)

A productive craft day!

I hope everyone is having a lovely Saturday. We've had some lovely weather here today which makes a change to the rain we've had most of the week.

Anyway, I've spent the day with my best friend, Nikola crafting away in her conservatory. I managed to make 5 Christmas cards amidst the chatter and cats! Rather than post them all today though, I thought I would spread them out over a couple of days.

I've used my cute Forever Friends Santa stamps again, isn't he adorable?!? I'm hoping that this is acceptable for the Winter Wonderland Challenge which is Santa Claus is Coming to Town. I know it's a little late!

Supplies:

Stamps: Santa - Forever Friends; Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics & Rangers Inkessential White pen

CS & DP: Papermania card, DCWV The Christmas Stack

Tools: Swiss Dots CB Folder, Circle nestabilities

Embellishments: Gems - Papermania, Sentiment - CWC oval; Anita's peel off borders

I was really happy with the colouring and shading of this image, I'm finally starting to love my pens!

The second card uses the really sweet Reindeer & Robin stamp from Elzybells. I was inspired to get these stamps after seeing some amazing cards by Michelle last Christmas. He is so sweet!

Supplies:
Stamps: Reindeer & Robin - Elzybells; Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics & Rangers Inkessential White pen;
CS: Bazzill Basics and CWC white card;
Tools: Snowflake CB Folder, Square nestabilities
Embellishments: Gems - Papermania, Sentiment - CWC oval; Anita's peel off borders

I know the cards are fairly simple, but that's my style!

I'm just sitting down now to watch Marley & Me so I will see you later! Thanks for stopping by and for any comments you may leave, they are greatly appreciated.

xx :0)

Nikola

My very good friend Nikola has been making some great cards just recently using this embossing paste and glitter. It looks really effective.

Her blog doesn't seem to get many visitors or comments so I know she'd really appreciate it if some of you lovely people would stop by and give her some encouragement.

xx :0)

Cute Mojo Monday

I was dreaming about cards last night and so wished I could've stayed at home to make them but, alas, work called! However, once home I was straight in my craft room and whipped up this cutie! I recently purchased the exclusive Forever Friends stamps from The Glitter Pot and they are just gorgeous so had to ink one up. After my comment yesterday about not starting my Christmas cards, I knew which one I would use first.

This card fits the Cute Card Thursday challenge - Xmas in July and I've used this weeks Mojo Monday sketch.

Supplies

Stamps: Santa - Forever Friends, Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics

CS & DP: Papermania, SU! Whisper White & Doodlebug,

Tools: Circle & Pinking Nestabilites;

Embellishments: Ho! Ho! Ho! ribbon - Papermania

I left the bow off the card as it hid the ribbon which I thought suited the image and I didn't think it was right on a Christmas card. In hindsight I guess I could've cut out a snowflake to put in it's place. I hope it's still acceptable for the sketch challenged

Hopefully this is the first of many Christmas cards now! I'm off to finish my book now, not many pages left. I'm reading The Kite Runner and would recommend to any of you out there that have not read it. It's a very powerful and emotional read.

I hope you are all enjoying the rest of your evening and thank you for stopping by. Any comments you leave are much appreciated.

xx :0)

Confessions of a Shopaholic!

Afternoon all! Have you been enjoying your weekend? Jon and I have been having a slight sport fest with The Open and The Ashes on, flicking back and forth between the two! I have managed to make a couple of cards too.

I was asked to make a card for someone who loves shoes and the first stamps that came into mind were the Retail Therapy set from Elzybells. With that thought came the fantastic card that Michelle made during the sneak peek releases for this set and I just had to CASE it! I didn't have any black Bazzil Swiss Dots card, so I went with this gorgeous pink. The stripped ribbon across the centre is from SU! which I acquired from the lovely Jules. For a change I have also included a picture of the inside. I don't usually do much on the inside, but I wanted to include a couple of the images from the set without cluttering the front of the card.

When I finished the card, I realised that it fitted this weeks Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge which this week is to include spots (card) and stripes (ribbon).

I do plan to start making some Christmas cards now, although one of my new years resolutions was to make a couple each week. Didn't quite keep that one! I don't want to leave it too late and then just not enjoy making them. Have you started yours yet?!?

Thanks for stopping by and any comments you leave, they are greatly appreciated.

xx :0)

More cards for the fete

Thanks for all the kind messages regarding the fete, they are much appreciated. As I said, I've not let it get to me this time as I receive so many lovely comments on my cards from all you wonderful people.

I've a few more cards to show you that I made. Please accept my apologies for not posting what I have used for each individual one, but if you have any questions, just drop me a message and I'll do my best to help.

Sorry about the darkness of the photo's in some of them. I hope you like them as much as I enjoyed making them.

Thank you for stopping by and any comments you leave, they are greatly appreciated.

xx :0)

Win $1,000 at The Cuttlebug Spot.com!

I have just discovered that The Cuttlebug Spot is having a contest - "The Journey to 1,000"! They are trying to reach 1,000 followers by the end of July and need your help. To enter all you have to do is go to their site, sign up as follower and complete a few easy steps and you could win a $1,000 gift certificate to Custom Crops (www.CustomCrops.com)! GO NOW and check it out at www.TheCuttlebugSpot.com

Hurry thought as they are virtually there....!!

xx :0)

Papertake Weekly Challenge - My Favourite Things

Well, the fayre (school fete) wasn't the success that Nikola and I were hoping for. For some reason we, and a couple of other people, were placed away from the main area and because of that, people bypassed us. I only sold 3 cards, but I'm not going to let it get me down this time. It was an experience and I've come away with some more ideas of other projects that I can do.

Anyway, another card I knocked up yesterday is eligible for this weeks Papertake Weekly Challenge. The challenge this week, My Favourite Things, is to use your favourite items on your card. I had so many cards that could have fitted this challenge, but I settle for this one. My favourite items on this card are my swiss dots embossing folder and my MS lace doily punch! Penny Black stamps are also one of my favourite stamps, but then I have too many to choose!

Supplies:

Stamps: A Gift For You - Penny Black; Inks: Memento TB, Copics

CS: Craftwork Cards, Bazzil Basics; Tools: Swiss Dots CB, Oval Nestabilities, MS Lace Doily punch, Scor-Pal

Embellishments: Ribbon - Stash, Gems - Papermania

The inspiration behind this layout came from the wonderful Sue Nelson over at Heart Prints. If you've never visited her site before, you must check it out!

Thanks for stopping by again and for any comments you may leave, they are greatly appreciated.

xx :0)

A Spoon Full of Sugar - Hearts

I made this card yesterday and found out that it fits this week's A Spoon Full of Sugar Challenge which is to include hearts somewhere on your creation. Mine might not be so easy to see, but the embossed background is hearts from the Love Language cuttlebug combo.


I just love this stamp, it's so cute and was one of the first Elzybells stamps I purchased before they launched their online store.

Supplies:

Stamps: Baby Teddy Towel - Elzybells; Inks: Memento TB & Copics

CS & DP: Craftwork Cards, Bazzil Basics & Hugs & Cuddles - Forever Friends

Tools: Label 1 - Nestabilities, Love Language CB combo, MS Doily Lace Punch

Embellishments: Sentiment - CWC Oval; Ribbon - Stash

I hope this card fits the challenge okay. Thank you for stopping by and for any comments you may leave, they are greatly appreciated.

xx :0)

Popcorn Bear Gift Set

I told you I would be back again!

I was very naughty the other week and couldn't resist the adorable Popcorn Bumper Pack that was released by Crafters Companion. If you've not seen him yet, he's the cutest bear on the block! My resolve weakened when I saw the fabulous cards that Jacqui revealed on her blog before the launch. Aren't they just gorgeous?!

When I met Stacey at Newbury on Saturday I was talking about ideas as gifts for teachers. On Monday Stacey very kindly lent me the Desk Tidy designed by the very talented Lauren Meader for Papertry Ink. I immediately had an idea of what I wanted to create.

What do you think to this Notepaper and Envelope gift set? I am so pleased with how this has turned out. It surpassed even my wildest dreams when I'd finally finished it! Jon was blown away and said "You've never made that!" All the elements are taken from the Florals CD rom.

I've enclosed a few more photos below from different angles.

I would love to know what you think about it and even what price you think I should charge for it. I don't know if I have enough time to make a second one in time for tomorrow, so just hope that the one on it's own will be okay.

Thank you for stopping by and for any comments you may leave, they are greatly appreciated.

xx :0)

CCT 68 - Thank You Miss

Okay, so I'm a bit later than I originally said I would be in posting, but you know what they say, all good things come to those who wait!! I'm going to have a few posts for you today as I've finally got round to photographing some bits that I've made for tomorrow.

I was very lucky that this weeks Cute Card Thursday Challenge was to make a Thank You card for a teacher! This one I've made is similar to the others that I posted last week, but equally as cute I hope!


I've again used the sweet sheep from the Elzybells clear set as I think he is perfect for this sentiment.

Supplies

Stamp: From Me to Ewe - Elzybells; Ink: Memento TB, Copics;

CS: Papermania, CWC & SU!; Tools: D'vine Swirls CB Folder, Oval Nestabilities, Tag Nestabilities

Embellishments: Sentiment - PC Generated, Ribbon - Meiflower

I hope you like it as much as I do. Thanks for stopping by and for any comments you leave, they are much appreciated.

xx :0)

Sorry for being MIA.

I know, it's been too long again! In my defence I have been trying to prepare for this fayre on Saturday, although not very successfully. I do have some baskets to show you lovely people when I get round to photographing them.

I did have a lovely weekend thought. I got to meet the lovely Stacey at the Newbury show on Saturday and then we met Bev who was demoing for The Hobby House. I was a bit star struck and didn't actually introduce myself as I was too busy admiring her handiwork!

I'd better go and finish getting ready for work. Hope to post something later on this evening.

xx :0)

Happy Birthday Stacey!

It's the wonderful Stacey's birthday today and hopefully she's received this card ok (sorry if you've not!). I thought it was about time that I christened my new Miss Anya's and, with the weather we're currently experiencing, what better one that sunshine from the latest set!

I've also been using some of my SU! goodies from the lovely Julie and was really pleased with how this turned out. I can't tell you the colours though as I didn't make a note so I apologise for that. I can tell you that the DP is from the Rainbow Sherbet set. The image has been coloured with Copics and cut out using the Label 4 nestability dies.

You can't tell from this photo, but I've put some glossy accents on the sunglasses for a bit of sparkle. I must also apologies for the colouring of the hair. I've not quite mastered this technique yet, so must practise some more.

I hope you have a lovely day Stacey!

xx :0)

It's too hot....

I have to apologise for my lack of card making this week. It's just been too hot in my craft room when I get home from work to be able to stay in there for any length of time. I'm also really tired when I get home from work as it gets very hot in my office during the day and saps my energy. I must get back in there soon though to get prepared for the fayre on the 11th July.

I do have a scheduled post for you tomorrow, so please pop back for that!

On a happy note, I finally received a MS Valentine Punch today from the Hobby House! I'd placed my order in March and had given up hope of them ever returning, so that really made my day!!

Hope you're all okay.

xx :0)