Just Cute Bears #2 - Congrtatulations

Wow, a BIG thank you to everyone who took part in our first challenge over at Just Cute Bears. There were some amazing cards and cute bears out there! Needless to say that some of them have been added to my ever growing wish list!

This weeks Challenge is

"Congratulations"

This can cover a multitude of occasions so I can't wait to see what you come up with.

This weeks fabulous prize is this gorgeous stamp which has been kindly donated by

Cuddly Buddly Crafts

I chose to go for a wedding card as I don't make nearly enough of these and, ashamedly, it gave me my first chance to use this cute Forever Friends stamp. I've gone for a CAS style card again using just an embossing folder for the background and my MS Valentine Lace Punch again. I'm really starting to love this punch!! I also used some swirls as accents in opposing corners to balance it out. You can't see it, but the card is Bazzil Bling and it has such a lovely shimmer.

Supplies:

Stamps: Bride & Groom Toast - Forever Friends; Inks: Copics & Memento Tuxedo Black;

CS: Bristol Board, Bazzil Bling & CWC CS;

Tools: Love Language - CB Folder, Nestabilities, MS Valentine Lace Punch & Sizzix Swirls

Please check out my amazing DT Buddies fabulous creations. They are fantastic and so inspirational.

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

xx :0)

Mega Candy & Blog Hop

I think I'm a bit slow with posting about these amazing candy on offer. One 1st Feb there will be a one-off challenge with some fab candy as the main prize! Check out Brenda's blog and get your name down for the first draw!

Apologies for my lack of action this week. I've been suffering with a touch of eyestrain so have been taking things easy and trying to remember to wear my glasses when using my laptop (and at work!)

I will be back tomorrow for the next challenge from Just Cute Bears so hope you will join us!

xx :0)

Just Cute Bears #1 - One For The Girls

I can't believe it, my first card as a DT Member! I'm so excited!!

Today is the first challenge of the Just Cute Bears challenge blog and it's One For The Girls! We want to see your girlie creations whether it be a card, ATC, gift etc.

We're extremely lucky as we're being sponsored by the fabulous Cuddly Buddly Crafts

I used one of my Forever Friends stamps for this card. This stamp was part of an exclusive range from The Glitter Pot (I think they currently have it half price!). Before I stamped the image, I created a word circle for my sentiment to surround it. You can find instructions on how to create a word circle here.

Supplies
Stamp: Daisy Bear - Forever Friends; Inks: Copics, Memento Tuxedo Black;

CS & Paper: Bazzil Basics, Bristol Board;

Tools: Nestabilities Swiss Dots & D'vine Swirls CB Folders, MS Doily Lace punch;

Embellishments: Prima flowers, gems & brads

I made this card for the lovely Michelle who has been feeling under the weather just recently and I knew purple is her favourite colour.

So, what are you waiting for?! Dig out those cute little bears and join in the fun!

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

xx :0)

Crazy 4 Challenges #20

Please Scroll Down For Last Nights Late Post

I thought I had better post this card quickly before the next challenge is set for tomorrow, especially after the howler of my previous post!

Yes, I've entered another sketch challenge! The third in a row! This one is for the Crazy 4 Challenges.

I've made another romantic card and used one of my favourite images from last years Elzybells Valentine release. I've used red and white as my colour scheme again. The red is from Stampin Up! which I get from the lovely Jules. The background has been embossed using the Heart Block CB folder and then edged using the MS Valentines punch. I think I'm making up for lost time with this, what do you think?!? The ribbon is from my stash and the sentiment is a CWC oval.

Sorry for the quick post but I've got to finish getting ready for work!

Hope you all have a great day. Thank you for stopping by and any comments you may leave, they are greatly appreciated.

xx :0)

Purrfect Valentine

I've been having one of those days today where nothing seems to go right and that includes this card! Don't get me wrong, I LOVE this card but I thought the layout I was using was for this weeks Mojo Monday Challenge. However, on checking again just now, it would appear that I'd had a go at last weeks sketch! What an idiot!

I want to apologise in advance for the photo. As you all know, it's a nightmare taking photos during the winter and, like most of you, I spend all my daylight hours at work so never get the chance to take decent photos.

Enough of my whinging, onto my card! I thought for a bit of elegance, I would use red and black together and this would also compliment the cute image I've used. I'm in a bit of a romantic frame of mind at the moment, so am creating plenty of Valentines cards. The stamp is from Whipper Snappers and is adorable. I could just see my little Bozzy dressed in a tuxedo! I've also taken the opportunity to use my MS Valentines punch again. I'm really loving this and it was well worth the wait!

Supplies:

Stamps: Tuxedo Kitten - Whipper Snapper; Inks: Copics, Memento Tuxedo Black;

CS & Paper : Core'dinations, Bristol Board ;

Tools: Love Language CB Folder Nestabilities,MS Valentine Lace Punch, ribbon slider, CWC Oval

Don't you just think he's cute?! I don't know what it is, but I just love everything about this card. Isn't it great when that happens!

I hope you're all having a lovely evening. Thank you for stopping by and any comments you may leave. They are greatly appreciated.

xx :0)

The Pink Elephant Challenge #50

I think I really need to try and conquer my "fear" of sketches this year! I don't know what it is about them that I'm not keen on, maybe it's the fact that I just don't get on with patterned paper which is a big requirement for the sketches with numerous layers. I'm very much a "Clean & Simple" kind of girl. Anyway, I had a look around at some of the current challenges and thought I'd break myself in gently with the sketch at The Pink Elephant

I had been colouring up a batch of "romantic" images at the weekend including some that had not seen ink before. I'm ashamed to say the stamp I have used for this card was one of them! it also gave me the chance to use my MS Valentine Lace punch for the first time (which offence is worse?!)


I went for this lovely purple BB CS as I thought it complimented the colours of the image really well. I also didn't want to get stuck in the rut of always using red for these types of occasions.

A close up of the image. I'm really pleased with how the mice look,

Supplies:

Stamps: Cupful of Love - Penny Black; Hero Arts Sentiment; Inks: Copics, Memento Tuxedo Black, Lilac Brilliance Ink;

CS & Paper : Bazzill Basics!, Bristol Board ; Tools: Sizziz D'vine Swirls CB Folder Nestabilities,MS Valentine Lace Punch

Just seen that this is also eligible for a couple more challenges:

Crafty Ann's Challenge - Embossing

Your Next Stamp - Embossing

If anyone can give me some pointers or tips on how I can overcome my fear of sketches, they would be greatly appreciated!

I hope everyone is having a lovely evening. Thank you for taking the time to stop by and any comments you may leave.

xx :0)

Yayyyyyyy!!

I can't believe it! Ali has asked me to be part of her Design Team for the new Just Cute Bears Challenge! I am so happy and can't wait to start!

xx :0)

Just Cute Bears - New Challenge!

The wonderful Ali is setting up a new challenge blog dedicated to Just Cute Bears and the is a DT call on at the moment. The first challenge is due to start on Sunday 24th January.

This is the perfect challenge for me as I adore teddies and have loads of teddy stamps and CD's and as one of my New Year Resolutions was to try and get on a DT I just had to give it a go!

I have too many favourite stamps to choose from and they would get upset if I singled one out of all the rest, however I have gone with a Forever Friends stamp for my card. I thought it would also be a good chance to make a start on some Valentines cards.

The small heart embossing folder is from the Love Language set and the sentiment embossing is from Sizzix. I thought I would finish the card off with some small and large heart gems.

I'm sorry about the darkness of the photo. I don't really get a chance to take photos in natural daylight at the moment so have had to use my daylight lamp but it's still not good!

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

xx :0)

So Much Snow!!

In my 31 years, I don't recollect seeing snow like this!! I guessed we were in trouble last night when we had a good few inches in just over an hour and ithas hardly stopped snowing since! Nearly 24 hours now!

Jon and I made the trek into work as some of the trains were still running and we walked through 12 inches. My little legs didn't know what had hit them! My Dad told me that he had measured the depth of snow in his garden and it was at 16 inches (40cm!) Our office was only just open and the decision was taken at 10:30am to close the site as it just wasn't safe to be there. Only 7 people managed to make it in! We have to wait until the morning to see whether they decide to open again but I have my fingers crossed that they don't!

I thought I'd share with you some photos I took when I got home. It was still snowing when I took them but it doesn't show up.

The first photo is outside our front door. You normally don't get this vien as we have a large bush, but he has been flattened by the weight of the snow.

I can't believe that people are attempting to drive in these conditions. Most people we saw either abandoned their cars or were skidding and slidding all over the road. Do they not listen to the warnings??? They're putting so many people at risk. Sorry, rant over!

I hope everyone else is safe and warm.

xx :0)

Happy New Year!

Wow! Where did that year go?? It only seems like yesterday I remember sitting here promising to be a better blogger, but that sort of went out the window again!

I would like to take this opportunity to wish everybody a very Happy New Year and I wish you all health and happiness for 2010.

Thank you to everyone that has visited my blog this year and left comments, they are greatly appreciated and you support means so much.

I guess my crafty New Years resolutions are pretty much the same as last year:

1. To try and make at least 2 cards a week
2. Not to mention to try and make a Christmas card every week
3. To tidy up my craft room as it has got VERY messy this year
4. To be a better blogger and visit all your fabulous blogs once a week.
5. To partake in more challenges this year.
6. To try and make it onto a DT (not sure that will happen).

I have said about visiting everyone's blogs once a week (maybe twice) as I feel that I spend so much time on my laptop these days that I don't actually spend anytime crafting. I know I'll need to keep checking for challenges though.

I would love to hear what your New Year's resolutions are.

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

Here's to a fantastic 2010!

xx :0)