Taking a little break

Evening all, I hope you are well.

I'm taking a little break from blogging and card making for a few weeks whilst I'm away. I've had a bit of a busy and stressful few weeks with work and other things and I need to charge my recharge my batteries. Card making hasn't seemed so enticing the past few weeks with so much going on and, couple that with not having had a proper holiday for two years, I feel physically and mentally exhausted.

I hope after getting a couple of weeks sun on my body and soaking up the vitamins and just relaxing with some good books that I will feel refreshed and raring to go for the build up to Christmas.

There might be at least one card that will pop up in my absence as it is my wedding anniversary whilst I'm away but I've not yet made it!

I would like to thank all of you that stop by regularly and comment and apologies for the lack of comments in return. I hope that this will be rectified too once I'm back.

I would like to thank Karen and Sarpreet for the awards they have left me on their blogs and apologies too for not passing them on.

Many thanks again.

xx :0)

Just Cute Bears #31 - Pink & Brown

Woohoo!! I'm back!! I bet you didn't think you'd see a card from me again after my self-enforced exhile. My room is now completed apart from some finishing touches which will be completed after my hols.

I'm on my way to Kintbury now for my second day of Copic courses that are being run by Stamps & Memories and led by the lovely Karen Watson. I was at the Introduction course yesterday and today is the Next Step and concentrates on shading (my weakness), skin colours and hair among other things.

Anyway, enough waffling, it's time for another Just Cute Bears challenge. This week's challenge is Pink & Brown and we are being sponsored by the amazing Dulcie Jackson and

Wild Rose Studio are the creators of the adorable Milton & Co range, and we're delighted to sponsor you this week! If you like bears, you'll love the Milton & Co range - there are lots of cute designs that you'll use over and over again. Our first ever Milton Christmas collection is out now, where Milton and Millie get ready for the festive season with stockings, winter flowers, poinsettias and more. So if you'd like to make teddy-themed Christmas cards make sure you check it out!

Dulcie is offering 2 stamps of your choice to one lucky person.

Pink and Brown isn't a combo I have ever used before although I've always thought it looks amazing, so it was slightly out of my comfort zone. As we're being sponsored by Wild Rose Studios, I just had to use one of my cute Milton Bear stamps and coloured him with Copics. My brown c/s is called Cookie Dough which I purchase from Elzybells in their closing down sale (sniff!). The DP is from the WRS pad Candy Stack. I've used my new Daisy Martha Stewart punch (yes, I know have another one). I've finished off with Wild Orchid flowers, some ribbon and gems.

This is a close up of cute lil Milton.

I apologise for the darkness of the photos, they were taken late last night as I quickly finished if off!

I hope you will join us this week. I'm sorry I've not visited you all in my absence, but I can't wait to jump back in and check out all your brilliant entries.

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

xx :0)

Work in Progress Part 2

I thought I would show some photos of the state of my craft room/spare room at present! The painting was completed yesterday thanks to the help of my sister and my hubby! I'd managed to get all the walls sanded and first coat of paint and the ceiling and coving had been completed prior to that so it was just doing the second coats and the skirting boards/door frames!

I need to thank my dad too for his advice and help as well!

My poor desk!!!

Just some of my craft stash scattered about the place! There is also a box and some bits in the garage. I'll be glad to get it all back in it's place later on today.

I have some final touches that I would like to add but they will have to wait until I get back from my hols!

Anyway, I'll be back with the Just Cute Bears gang next week. I want to thank them for allowing me to have a break whilst I've got my room decorated.

xx :0)

Work in Progress

Hi All,
I'm sorry I've not been around or made a card for this weeks Just Cute Bears challenge. Please stop by to see the girlies fab cards for this weeks challenge of Bear and Me.

All my crafty goodies are packed up in boxes whilst I decorate my spare room which is also my craft room. I've painstakingly removed two walls of the woodchip wallpaper but we have decided to leave the 3rd wall with it on because it was just so difficult to remove and I'm short on time to get it completed before I go away! The coving has been sanded down, just need to do the skirting boards and window sill before tidying the walls up and then the painting can begin! It is my mission to get it finished next weekend with lots of work when I get home from work and also maybe a couple of days leave.

Anyway, all this will probably mean that I will be away from blogland for a little while. I hope you will all bear with me and be here when I return.

I hope you are all having a good weekend.

XX :0)

Just Cute Bears #28 - Anything but square plus...oops!

Morning all, sorry I'm late!t I completely forgot to schedule my post for today's Just Cute Bears Challenge! I'm trying to decorate my craft room at the mo but it's not easy as some silly person decided it would be a good idea to paint over the woodchip wallpaper which is making it a right so and so to get off! Boy do I ache this morning!

This weeks challenge is Anything but Square plus a tag, unfortunately I suddenly realised that I'd missed this element off; that'll teach me for rushing!

I've made a very simple circle easel card this week and used another Forever Friends Christmas decoupage image and sentiment. As I said, very simple. I'm sorry about that but I have so much going on and my craft room is looking a bit of state when I'm trying to decorate (any volunteers??)
Please check out the rest of the teams cards and our new guest designer for this month, Vicky.

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

xx :0)