Round and Round

I seem to spend my life wandering round in circles, I swear one day I will meet myself coming back the other way either that or I will eventually get some organisation into my life of semi chaos, but things always sort of work themselves out so why change, it all adds to the excitement of a probably otherwise boring life, go with the flow as they say.

Well as I'm always running around the challenge we have at Penny's this time is perfect for me. Sorry about all the bad puns, it just seemed a good idea at the time. Our challenge is circles, anyhow any way. If they aren't obvious you'll have to point them out but it could be dots to a full circle card or circle embellisments like buttons or pearls. Me, I sort of went a bit more abstract, though I did start off on the right lines with a circle card so I am sticking to the theme really. Then I added a full round bodied red wine and my teddy's full rounded tummy, the fab image is one we were given to play with by our fab sponser this time Diane from Di's digi's, boy has she got some great images pop over you'll be bowled over by the choice and if lucky enough to win well hop over to Penny's for all the details.

My card, as I said a fab image, I chose this one as it reminded me of my father in law who whenever we had a big family get together before he and mum in law moved to Tenerife to live would end up like this after several glasses of red wine. My sister in law has been know to be quite naughty and one christmas got permant marker and drew him a big curly moustache whilst he was zonked out on the sofa, worst part her mum let her do it and just sat there and laughed.

I made a circle base card and covered with some think it's kay and co papers not sure as I've lost the pad front, I just thought they looked a bit mediterraneany . The sentiment is a stamp I won in a recent candy and I'm sure there are many who spend their retirement relaxing will think this would definitely be a life well spent.

I would like to enter my card for the following challenges-
Just scraps-round and red
Papercutz-critter on your project
Allsorts-plain and simple
CES-animal antics
Die cut dreams-teddy bears birthday (I think my bear certainly looks like he's had a birthday drink too many)
Craftilicious-autumn colours or harvest.
ISB-autumn colour
Pear tree designs-celebration

Glamour Puss

Inside every one I believe there is a glamorous person just waiting to be let loose. Now I'm sure there can't be many men who wouldn't love to think that they would make the perfect James Bond and probably feel like a million dollars when they don a tuxedo, even if they won't admit it.

Similarly what girl doesn't like to occassionally dress up to the nines and feels on top of the world and just that tincy bit a glamour puss, be it with a figure to die for in a slinky figure hugging dress(only in my dreams) or just in that special outfit for christmas or new year with a bit of bling. We all need a bit of glamour in our lives don't we. Well over at CREATIVE CRAFT CHALLENGES we have the purr fect( sorry bad pun) challenge for you this time and more than one way to interpret it too.

We want to see 'Glamour Puss' on your projects.

Now you will see what I mean about different interpretations when you hop over here to the challenge blog to see our design teams fab and fun creations, and everyone has a glamour puss on them, well of one sort or another so there is definitely no excuse for not joining in this time. I can't wait to start hopping along to your blogs to see all your glamorous creations.

For my card I decided to drop back to a time when all women seemed to be glamour puss's, I think it was just that type of era. Maybe in 50 or 60 years plus there will be those who say it of our era and dress style ,(lol) can't see it myself but you never know do you?

The image I used is from a stampman plate and I just used pastal promarkers to colour. Her beads I used sakura glaze pen. I put her behind some acetate and a card frame and then just added some peeloffs and flowers. Trying to keep the elegance and glamour going. Hope you agree.

So come on get all that glamour going and hop on over to join in.We are sponsered this week by Little Claires so it's sure to be a fab prize. There's still time for you to put in your application to join our design team too if you fancy joining our merry bunch.


I would like to enter my card for the following challenges:-

For fun challenges-vintage
Alphabet challenge-v is for vintage
Incy wincy-anything goes
One stitch at a time challenge-anything goes

October boys birthdays

What a proper horrible autumn day weather wise  bring back summer please.

Enough complaints and onto getting organised, mum asked for 2 cards for my nephews, her grandsons who both have birthdays in october and are both into bike road racing just like their Dad. It use to be BMX but now all 3 enter the same races and are all doing quite well apparently so mum tells me, not that I hear much from them but the info filters down eventually.

Mum asked for cards with bike racing on and initially I was going to do 2 the same but after making Joshua's card who will be 9 I decided to use a LOTV image for Dominic who will be 6 as the other image just looked too old, and I wasn't sure they would like having the same picture on their cards even if they were a couple of weeks between their birthdays, some one was bound to notice.

Joshua's card I used a cyclist image I drew and had made into a stamp a couple of years ago and coloured in black and orange, the only colours I can remember my brother racing in when I use to take him to cycle races years ago. My colour scheme even fell in with a few challenges so that was an added bonus. Have to admit I did add a large number 9 to the top right of the image after I had taken the picture and I forgot to retake it , had to check I'd got their ages right before sticking numbers on a card as its very important when you are that young.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:-

CRAFT-card for teenager (although this isn't actually for a teenager I think any teenage boy would  be happy to recieve it)

Charisma-anything goes

The ribbon girl challenge-black orange and white

Simon says-sketch layout

Lollipop-it's a boy thing

My younger nephew who will be 6 , again I added peeloffs after I'd taken the picture what a dingbat am I ? Mum had said she thought he raced in red hence the red top and though they have 2 dogs I can't see either sitting on the back of there bikes as both are gernman shepherds and big enough to probably carry both a bike and child on their backs. I actually used some gift wrap ribbon as I loved the stars and thought it just tied the whole card together. Hope he likes it too.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:-

Cupcake craft- transport

Create for fun-sketch layout

Tuesday taggers-it takes all sorts

Papertake weekly-animal magic

A spoonful of sugar-anything goes

Crafty sentiments-use your scraps(all papers from my scrap bag)

Autumnal nuptial anniversay

Makes it sound quite grand really, but all it means is I have 2 wedding anniversary cards to sort out, one for my sis in law and one for my baby bro both of whom got married in october but a couple of days apart  by date and a couple of years in time. Quite funny really as at my own wedding my brother and hubby's sister started dating, oh how thankful I am that it never came to anything and I mean that in a nice way as both my sis in law and brother can be shall we say hard work at times and I don't think it would have lasted, and they both found their perfect partners later on. Funny how life turns out really.

Well I already had one anniversary card made and have previously posted , so thought I'd have a play and make the other, not yet decided which I shall send to which couple yet, but I've got a couple of weeks to decide.

I used my new loving couple magnolia stamp, which I bought with my step brother in mind as he and his girlfriend are planning their wedding on some warm sunny island next year, once their 2 children are a little older and can be looked after by grandma or my step- bro's older daughters. Long way off I know but it sounded a reasonable excuse to get the stamp to me, forward planning and all.

I decided I would use autumy colours as both brides had autumny themes with one having gold and cream bridesmaid dresses and deep red flowers the other burgundy dresses and pink flowers. I also noticed there are quite a few autumnal challenges around so thought I'd try and combine the two.

The papers are mostly scraps and from a scrapbook pack from costco, the scalloped thingy is a coaster I got from sainsbury's 99p for I think 100 which I coloured with dye ink and a bit of glitter glue. The paper edges I tried to distress not very good at this bit as I feel guilty doing it really daft I know.

The flowers I really enjoyed making as I've not done any ribbon embroidery for ages , and I love how easy they are to do and how effective they are. Have to say I'm quite impressed that it worked on paper. The leaves are just punched with a heart punch,creased and glued in place and finished with a peeloff sentiment.

I would like to enter this card for the following challenges:-

Cutie sunday-autumn colours

Paper sundaes-fall or halloween

One stop craft-sketch layout and autumn

Craft your days away-autumn doodles

Totally Tilda-make your own flowers

Elephantastic-handmade flowers

Scrappy frog-make your own flowers

The stampman-distress

My guest designer project

Oops I nearly forgot to do this. A couple of weeks ago Susie asked if I would like to be a guest designer for this weeks challenge using vellum over on die cut dreams challenge, how could I say no. It wasn't until I looked at the challenge about an hour ago that I realised I was guest designer this week as I sent Susie piccies of my little booties a while ago, trying to be organised you see, lol see how well that turned out....not.

Anyway fab challenge and look forward to seing what everyone comes up with , the design team have certainly given you a variety to look at.

My little boots are from a pattern I found in a cake decorating magazine years ago and  were to be made from pastilage or flower sugar. In fact I did make a pair in sugar for a work colleague when she had her first daughter who is now 14 and I haven't used it since. Instead of icing to stick the parts together I just used ordinary silk thread.It also uses some of the vellum I have had in the draw for like forever. I have to admit they are very cute though not one of the easiest things to put in the post so best hand delivered I think, then you would have chance to cuddle the new bundle that they were made to celebrate the arrival of.

The box pattern not sure where that came from but the hardest bit was cutting out.

I would like to also enter my wee project into the following challenges:-

incy wincy-all white except the image(can my fasteners on the shoes be the image please?

CES-baby bonanza

sweet stampin-stitching hope I can still play even though I didn't stamp
The Corrosive challenge-use something unused and dusty

A rumble in the jungle

Well i thought I might try and get ahead of myself and get on with some of the cards I will need for october as I didn't realise there are so many coming up events, I have 2 wedding anniversarries, 2 nephews birthdays a bro in law and sis in law birthday and then at the begining of nov a niece and my bro's 40th and halloween between.

i made this as a birthday card for one of my nephews not sure which yet, one will be 6 the other 9, think it might be for the younger of the 2.

I used high hopes images of the lion and jungle background. For some daft reason that I did regret a couple of times I decided to stamp the background on acetate as I could then have mirror images , well it seemed a good idea at the time. I tried colouring with promarkers but they weren't bright enough so then went with sakuras some of which worked better than others and non liked glue so after redoing the colouring I went with brads to fasten them on to the base. The cute sentiment is one elainwe from technophobes blog sent me when she was having a craft clear out very kind lady and it works so well with these images so BIG thankyou Elaine.

The papers are scraps from my stash and the fluffy twiney not sure what to call it I thought just finished it all off like a jungle vine. The paw print is from a see dee set of dogs but I won't tell the lion if you don't.Looking at my card now it looks a bit as if the lion is levetating but never mind I'm sure my nephew won't even notice my design flaw.


I would like to enter my card into the following challenges;-

Totally gorjuss-wild thing
stampin for the weekend- tag it
Alphabet challenge-u for unused stash (first time I've used either stamp and had them ages too)
Polka Doodles-easel card
Totally papercrafts-birthday
really reasonable ribbons-jungle inspiration
Bunny Zoe monthly challenge-sketch layout

A first play with my sweet candy win

I was so lucky a couple of weeks ago to win the new mangas from sugar nellie's a recipe for all seasons blog hop,have to say that sugar nellie stamps have to be my favs followed by lili of the valley and magnolias and high hopes. i am so looking forward to the sassy collection if the teasers are anything to go by they will be absolutely fab, I have some birthday money to spend from august and I keep hanging on. I had planned on getting these cute manga christmas stamps but then saw sneaks of the new ones so waited and was lucky enough to get the mangas in candy form, fate really was smiling on me.

Well my card I used the sitting elf and of course the sugar bowl sketch, had to check I could combine challenges and silly me if its not in the rules off course you can so there will be some other challenges my wee elf will be popping in too ,providing I've not missed the deadlines of course.

I decided to use my fav colour other than white which is turquoise (promarkers) and was amazed how when I teamed it with red it actually made it look more green well I suppose turquoise is a mix of blue and green. I embossed the sentiment a couple of times and just added dots of red and blue as if a little pixie or elf dust was floating around. The papers were from my scraps stash and to finish some tiny snowflake buttons.

I will be entering the following challenges:-
The sugar bowl-sketch layout
sketchy colours-turquoise and red
The playdate cafe-colour challenge
Sew many challenges-embossing
saturday challenge-anything goes

An autumn walk

Well I have really enjoyed myself today as I have managed some crafting in fact I have made 2 cards. Might not get around to posting both as still have the pictures to take and the sunshine doesn't know quite what to do but if it stays out long enough for me to get  both cards piccies taken I might even get both cards posted before son is home from school and then there is no peace. I swear he has an inbuilt sensor that tells him as soon as I sit down to do something even if I'm in another room as as soon as I do he shouts to ask something that he can't do and I have to get up, but I wouldn't change him and as time just seems to disappear I'm making the most of having him around . Before I know it he'll have left school and I won't see much of him unless he wants something of course, well I imagine anyway.

My first card is for the new challenge set by Spyder. This talented lady gave everyone a freebie to enter a not mushroom challenge she set and she said she had so much fun she has set another. There are a few freebie digi's on her site so why not pop across and join in the fun, you might win a custom drawn digi.

I decided that after being outside pegging out the laundry it felt really autumnal even though the sun was shinning and the sky clear blue , there was just no warmth in the sun outside, behind glass is another matter. The leaves on the trees are just starting to change colour so there is green smattered with oranges and browns and the grass has that tired look, quite beautiful really. I decided to couor the freebie woodland from Spyder in these colours and turn it into a thank you card.
I coloured my images with promarkers and then cut out the mouse and stuck him on with foam squares as I wanted some dimension as though he was walking out of the woods. I finished off with some candy brads from craftwork cards and a ribbon from my stash. The papers are all from my scrap box so sorry but unsure of the makes.

I have found the following challenges that deadlines not missed I will enter my card into;-

Spyders challenge-didi digi challenge
Craftilicious-thankyou
Pollycraft-autumnal colours
Creative card crew-autumn/halloween
The Pixie cottage-sketch and autumn colours
Wild flower patch-stripes
Pixie Dust challenge-fur and feathers
Stamp something-use a digi

Zoom zoom splash and a DT call

Well why when you wash your car does it seem to rain almost instantaneously and cover your beautiful hard work freshly polished car in splogy dots of dirty rainwater, never seems to fail. In fact the last time I tried to wash and was mid polishing or waxing whatever you want to callit my car the heavens opened after the sky suddenly darkened and I looked like someone had turned the hose on me.

Well my card, many men are more in love with their cars than anything else in their lives and lovingly spend hours cleaning when the thought of cleaning the house wouldn't enter their heads, not that I'm saying this is the same of all men. My hubby wouldn't think of washing his car, or cleaning up come to that but hey if I said I wanted a cleaner he'd willingly agree and has been know to suggest it in the past. Me I refused as to my way of thinking it means less pennies for craft supplies, and a little housework never killed anyone did it.Sorry rambling and waffling again.

Try again, my card, I made with my brother in law in mind, not sure if he's a car washer or not but the sentiment is there and he does like playing zoom zoom in his cars, a sports car and a range rover so why not wash it.

Hs birthday is in early october so thought I'd get ahead a little whilst doing some challenges, hope he likes it. I used a fab cute LOTV stamp and coloured with promarkers and sakura glaze pens. The background is just splodged alcohol inks gotta love that shine and shimmer, but definitely not a girly shimmer. I added a bit of blue miiri card and some brown paper just for a little intrest , all topped off with a trio of buttons and a peeloff.

I ould like to enter my card for the following challenges:-

The Creative cottage-birthday boy
Simon says-move it(I know my car is stationary but hey it looks like it would move like a rocket!)
For fun-glitz and shine
Cards for men-transport
crafty cardmakers-use alcohol inks
just cute bears-picture inspiration
LOTV-one for the boys
stamp with fun-layout

Oops I nearly forgot, hope you are all still with me. We have decided to add to our merry little bunch of design team members over at creative craft challenges. There isn't alot of work involved and you get to visit loads of new blogs, and we have some fun along the way. If you fancy joining us why not pop acrosss to the creative craft challenges blog and find out some more, they are a friendly lot and even take on folks with no dt experience. I know 'cos I didn't have any and they picked me, so there is hope for everyone. Come on you never know unless you try.

Ah ... shh...rock a bye

All babies are so cute when they are asleep no matter how grumpy they are when they are awake and the challenge we have at Penny's this time is all about babies, everything and anything. That means cute little shoes, knitted and crocheted clothes and shawls toys and mobiles aswell as cards and scrap pages, the sky is the limit of your imagination, perhaps you have just painted a mural on you new bundles nursery wall, I can remember doing that in my sons scenes from Beatrix Potter and once completed and it took me ages I actually found some wall stickers that could have saved me hours, but I wouldn't have been so proud of myself would I or had the fun memories either. Now my baby is sat typing up note for his A level business studies boy how time flies!

We have a fab sponser again SEW MANY  and they were kind enough to let us all pick an image from their store to use on our projects to try and inspire and delight you lovely crafters into joining our challenge to win a fab prize, more details here.

I decided to be very traditional and chose this cute sleeping baby girl cuddled up on a cloud. My moon I covered in stickles for moon beams , my star is coloured in sakura glaze and the rest with promarkers. I went over the cloud with swirls of clear sakura glaze to add texture. I also used white sakura pen for my stitching on this fab downloadable free papers from the CRAFT blog site as they are in the colour palatte of their challenge aren't they fab so a big thankyou for them.
I finished my card with some pink ric-rac and a peeloff tag and sentiment.

I would like to enter my card for the following challenges:-

Stamp something- spots and stripes (stripes of spots)
Totally papercrafts- lets go dotty
Papercutz-tags
CRAFT-colour pallate
sunday sketch and stamp-layout
Scrap creations going grey-use a digi image
Die cut dreams -sweet little girl

See you all over at Penny's and we all look forward to seeing all your fab projects!

Classy lady

I love this stamp to me it just epitimises an era of elegance and class. My card is stamped and embossed with an image from the stamp man as is the backing paper just plain in black ink. The image is mounted on black card and then on gold from a bought christmas card that I was sent. the ribbon is also recycles it's some of those ribbon things you get in clothes to help them stay on their hangers oh well never mind I'll just put the dress back on the hanger when I go in the wardrobe.

All this just to entice you lovely crafter over to creative craft challenges to join in with the latest challenge of black, white and one other colour the choice is yours. You will find full details here along with lots more inspiration from the fabulous design team ladies and a fab prize from our super sponser The Crafty Pad. Please come along and join in.

I would like to enter this card for the following challenges:-

for fun challenges-black,white and one other colour
Playdate cafe-black white and one of pink, copper or gold
treehouse thursday-recycle
Fab n funky-whateva
One stop craft challenges-fashion through the ages
Paper make up-sketch layout

Goth chick for a worthy cause

Just trying to sneak in a quick post of my super quick card this morning before our lunch quests arrive. My card is to help out fellow blogger who volunteered to make some cards to help a friend raise money for ovarian cancer awareness appeal, but things snowballed somewhat and now she needs a little help, find out more here. In return she is offering some fab blog candy as way of an incentive, not that we kind and caring bunch need an incentive but sweet stuff is always nice when its free isn't it, and even better when you know it's all in aid of a good cause .Please pop over and offer Sue your support.

My card includes the all important colour of teal and even better when I found a couple of challenges to enter too.

For my card I used the manga goth girl image from sugar nellie, and stamped her in versamark and embossed with black sparkle powder as I did with the lace stamp from the stampman. I colored the goth girl in a mix of promarkers and sakura pens and added teal dye ink over the lace and rubbed off the excess so it still sparkles. Unfortunately the sparkle doesn't show well in the sunshine no matter what angle I take it on but it is sublte but it does glint honest. I mounted my girl on some brown wrapping paper nearest thing I have to kraft improvisation and all that and then added to a plain white glossy card. I decided to add a peel off happy birthday and thought it went with the funky design by adding it at right angles, hope Sue likes it and it can help raise her some money for a good cause.

The challenges I hope to enter deadlines permitting are:-

There she goes- black, teal and kraft
Sue's ovarian cancer challenge- use teal
Magical monday-lace (Does my manga girl count as she is from a make believe place manga land)
Creative inspirations-lace and sparkle
Friday sketches-layout that I've rotated and jiggled a little hope you don't mind.

Grand parents day card for granddad

Well I finally got around to finishing my Dad's grandparents day card from my son. The image is from designed 2 delight but sadly I have missed the deadline despite having had the image coloured for days.I painted the image with mica paints I got from the stampman they are fab as they have two tones and shimmer though the piccy doesn't show this well. I decided to keep the card simple and just mount on green card but hanging over and just wrote the sentiment in the centre, in sakura glaze pen.

I would like to enter this card for the following challenges:-

Paperplay-autumns coming

Allsorts-colours of autumn

Raise the bar-orange,brown and green

Incy wincy-celebrate

Crafty cardmakers-clean and simple

Paper romance-clean and simple

Christmas made easy

I bought this kit from Kanban last year and decided I would have a little play and make a christmas card for one or two challenges. The kit was so easy to use as everything co-ordinates and are die cut so it's really quite quick and easy, all I did was add sticky pads and some stickles.

I think this will make a great card for one of my nieces or nephews or even one of my neighbours daughters, but then what adult wouldn't smile at this cute image.Don't know why I didn't make them last year, probably too busy playing with the patchwork pals stamps I got, so easily distracted, maybe I should revisit some of the other kits I've bought and not done anything with so far.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:-

Simon says - celebrate christmas, thanksgiving or halloween
Die cut dreams christmas-childrens christmas card
Fussy and fancy-christmas colours do blue and white count if so I'm ok
Sarah Hurley-snowflakes(printed on my card)
A spoonful of sugar-animal crackers
Pollycraft-christmas no red or green

Recipe for all seasons challenges combined

Hi again 2 posts in quick sucession, I got all the housework finished this morning and made some bread too and Andrew still wasn't home from his first day of sixth form so had time to play and do a couple of cards, I think I like this back to school thing though I'm sure all this craft time won't last and there will be loads of housework house jobs and definitely gardening to get in the way but for now craft.

After doing the blog hop at the weekend and finding 2 challenges along the way i decided to have a play and combine the two.

The card style is a joy card something new to me and a fab tutorial by Sarah over here on her blog though I did change the dimensions slightly and the number of layers hope she doesn't mind too much.

The colour scheme was for the other blog challenge I found at Ali's here, it's to use blue ,white and one other colour and keep it clean and simple. The example card is a fab snowman image but as I am still expanding my nellie stamps I don't have any snowy ones yet that would be good in all blue and white so I really had to think hard as to which of my images to use. I came up with Caitlan and my one other colour is dusky pink for her skin. I added some punched daisy flowers and a mix of papers all shades of blue onto some white rib embossed card finished with pale blue buttons and blue ribbon. I haven't added a sentiment as not sure what it will become, a birthday or new baby card or just a hello friend card to make someone smile will have to see what lies around the corner of life but hope neither lady minds me sharing the challenges and approves of my card, and thanks for great inspiration too.

DT call at the sugar bowl

Oh this would be my dream come true design team position as I love their stamps, not all of them though have to be honest and some I love far more than is healthy to but it wouldn't do for us all to like and love the same things would it.

I think of all their stamps my favourite ranges have to be sweet home ebony, home grown and the gorjuss girls and within these sets I have favourites too and how can I forget the mangas too, so much sweetness from one store is heaven in rubber.

Whats more they are having a design team call and anyone can apply but I hope none of you really clever crafters do as if you all stay away and the nice peeps at the house of sugar are feeling all warm and generous and perhaps totally chilled out to the state of uncaring I might stand a chance of getting on their dream team with all their wonderful clever design team members.

They have a sketch to follow and you have until the 18th to apply, so no hurry. I have to say I had real problems deciding which of my yummy images to use and I stamped and coloured 3 before making my card, and all would have made very different looking cards too, but I opted for one of my very favourite girly stamps, this is about as girly as I get and tried to use colours that might make an impact but stay true to my comfort zone clean and simple. Hope they like it, fingers crossed .

Anyway all I can say is good luck to everyone who enters here and hope they find just the right person for the style they are looking for and who will fit into their fab team, me I'm just going to keep day dreaming about what it would be like, happy crafting all.

And they call it puppy love,

or even how much is that doggy in the window. I can't decide which song is most appropriate as both kept popping into my head whilst colouring Tilda's cute little dog.

The papers are a mix of forever friends papers and some I go in a pack from costco hough I haven't seen them for a while, but thought they all went quite well together. My wee dog is coloured with promarkers and built up with foam 3d. The sentiment I played with for the Just magnolia challenge of cracked glass as I just couldn't bring myself to doing it to my dog, but I think thats why I kept thinking How much is the doggie in the window, obviously wanting to break through the glass.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:-

Just magnolia monthly special-cracked glass or anything goes

Meljen-stripes not alot but there

C.R.A.F.T.- dogs

Sarah Hurley challenges-3D

Chaisma cardz-song inspired

Magnolia down under- feather, fur or fins

Ooh la la-stripes there  but not alot

Cowgirls sunday challenge-anything goes

Pear tree designs-animals
Auds sentiments-best wishes
Totally gorgeous- layout flipped

Anniversary circle slider card

Hi all well two posts in quick sucession but this is one I made earlier and entered into the simply create dt  but as I didn't get on the team and when you see the team its easy to know why I thought I could now post it as it fits a couple of challenges.

I had great fun making my first slider card a little while ago and once I'd mastered that I decided to do a circle slider for my anniversary card for my hubby a week ago. It had it's own problems but I sorted them and was quite pleased with the result too. It made a change dong a card without an image and as I had this fab rub on, quite soppy I know but I liked it. I added punched daisies as we had gerbras for our wedding flowers as we couldn't get proper daisies and our bridesmaids wore royal blue.

I have to admit I did add some acetate to the bottom so it would stand up but the look of the card remained circular. The words on the slider say 'always and forever'.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:-

Creative Inspirations-anything but a square or rectangle
Secret saturday craft challenge- clean and simple, well my design is even if the card takes a bit of messing, but once you've done one it's easy
Treehouse thursday-circle card
The ABC challenge-C is for charms
Crafty creations-white plus one other colour

For Gran

Well as Grandparents day is coming up it was nice to see a couple of challenges that have embraced the day, it is such a shame we don't all make more of the day especially in the uk, same as celebrating our siblings  and offspring, it's always nice to feel special to someone and a card just makes it that bit extra special too.

This is from my son to his gran, he remembered sending cards last year and loved the idea one off the few times when I said he had cards to write that he hasn't moaned about leaving his beloved computer game, boy is he going to be in for a shock when it's back at school all day. Home education is great for him as we set out what had to be covered and he just got on with it no distractions and he so hates it in school when he wants to work and others in class don't and distrupt. I keep telling him 6th form should be different and have my fingers crossed behind my back.

The card as I said is for my mum and her favourite season is autumn, so an autumnal card for her, I like a sap posted my in laws cards without taking photos so only one grandparent card so far to show till I've done my dads.

The layout is from the pixie cottage and the image is a magnolia I got in a rak I think or won not sure which but one or the other as I don't have this image but it is on my list.I coloured in my promarkers just love how they blend together, I'm sure copics do too but I don't have any of them so can't say for sure.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges;_

Sew many challenges-grandparents day
Playdate cafe-colour challenge
the Pixie cottage-layout and optional family theme
Magnolia stamp lovers-fall colours

Pretty liliac Tilda

Many of you who visit regularly will know I am not a girly girl and struggle with lace and lots of embellishments but I keep trying and am quite proud of my first card with lace on. Purely fluke really as I found this lace along with some other bits stuffed into a bag that must have been there for like forever when I was looking for my sewing machine foot to repair sons trousers and then there are 2 challenges wanting lace, hows that for fate.

My card well the image I have had coloured for ages and it has been sat on my desk ontop of a piece of butterfly paper ever since , so when I found a challenge at Totally Tilda that wanted liliac how could I not enter and use this cutie?

I decided to make a birthday card for an old school friend who I got back in contact with last year, she now lives down south but birthday cards and christmas cards are a good way to stay in touch, and her birthday is in september.

The card is a bit fancy for me but a change in style outside your comfort zone is always good , well once in a while so I used a pearlised base caed and the papers are both forever friends I think but as they are from my scrap folder not 100% sure ...sorry. The flowers are made from ribbon using a tutorial atr really reasonable ribbons with ribbon from my stash. The lace as I said I found, can't think where it's from but it's quite pretty with the little bit of sparkle. The flat back pearls are from hobby craft and the other pearl blobs are liquid pearls. The roses are from my stash and Tilda is coloured with promarkers and stickles for extra sparkle.

I would like to enter my card for the following challenges:-

Totally Tilda-liliac and lace
Stamp with fun-fab layout might have miseed the deadline though
Craftilicious- purple and green
ISB- girlie
Crafty cardmakers-glitter and sparkle
Really reasonable ribbons-flowers and ribbon
Fab n funky-material
Simon says-pearls and lace
Stamp something-cute
Crafty Emma's store challenge- floral frenzy
craft your days away-girly and glitter

Never thought I'd give my hubby...

...a pink card.Well i guess there is a first time for everything. I also never thought I'd complain about the sunshine either but it plays havoc when taking photos , the colours just aren't right, but if I get chance I'll retake them and edit the post.

This is a set of forever friends stamps I bought a while ago and haven't used ,but found them again the other day so thought I'd use them on hubby's birthday card as I do love him soppy though it sounds I know.


The card is mostly white embossed like a quilted pattern and backed with deep pink and I used irridescent white wrapping paper for the punched daisies, the stamped ribbon is on textured pearlised white card.All topped off with a peel off and some sticky gems.

I'd like to enter this for the following challenges, deadlines permitting:-

Forever friends-an easel card
TPE-mostly white
Creative cottage-celebrations
Just cute bears-embossing hope my card is ok to count

Clinging on to the summer we still haven't had

Ok so I know some of you lucky people out there have hasd scorching temperatures and days with hours of glorious sunshine but here in my little corner we have had lots of rain, and muggy temperatures or dry and winter temperatures and a complete mixed bag when it comes to the weather, though today is fairly nice. Not a proper summer of lazy hot sunny days.

My card reflects what summer should be and I'm obviously not the only one who is clinging onto the hope of summer as there are a few challenges out there with a similar theme.

For my card I used one of the fab LOTV images, just how my hubby gardens only it wouldn't be pop as his choice of drink more like cold larger or red wine and definitely no physical effort involved. I love this freebie paper from one of the magazines a bit like my garden wild and in desparate need of attention as there are loads of weeds and twitch grass and a battle I am loosing at the mo,but wait till my son is back at school come the revolution!lol.

The dotty paper is just a scrap I found no idea who or where from sorry and a peeloff and a few childrens sticky bugs to finish off.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges providing I've not missed deadlines as I do seem to have lost track of days, don't know whether to blame the bank holiday of having toothache from my broken tooth which I thankfully got fivxed about 2 hours ago so have a very numb and bruised mouth now and am talking more rubbish than usual.

Charisma-make a summer card
Lili of the valley-lets get dotty
Allsorts-inspired by the garden
Cards for men-long summer days
Everybody art-layout
By the cute and Girly-indian summer


My second card is using a fab digi design by Spyder who not only gives you the chance to win a challenge but you get this digi image to use too. I think this is a fab summer image but would also make a new home card too,what do you think. If you would like the image yourself just pop along to Spyders corner and join in the fun.

I would also like to enter this card into the following challenges;-

A crafty little place-anything goes

Raise the bar-a living area

EDIT

Lisa left me a comment to suggest my toadstool could enter her celebration candy challenge over on her blog here, she has some fab candy and a fun challenge too and you have until 13th september to enter. I have also posted a link in my side bar with a piccy of the candy if you are feeling idle , but I'm sure you are going to want to hop over and see what she has and the challenge for youself. Thanks Lisa and congratulations on your latest DT position.

A birthday card for DAD

My hubby has a birthday on saturday and though I've not yet made a card for him my son put his order in early. The remit, not fussy and he picked the image from some I got in a rak and told me what colours , ruby top and azure bottoms with a soft lime stripe oops I forgot that bit, never mind it has already been given approval so don't need to make another. Boys can be so boring wanting plain sometimes, I mean I don't exactly do fussy and fancy cards or masterpieces comer to that not like some of the clever crafters out there who make things with so many layers and flowers and lace and sparklew and it looks so beautiful, when I have a go it looks a bit like a bad pizza.

Oops digression keep to the task in hand.

My card, well as I said a birthday card, everybody needs some in stock so something you can all make and then come across to Penny's and join in as that is our challenge this time. We are so kind to all you busy crafters getting back into the school routine and those who have babes who have flown the nest or just don't have babes now have to suffer the increase in traffic on your way to work once the schools are back.

Just think cards for those at work, cards for new friends made at school when your dear offspring come home and say, 'I need a birthday card for... tomorrow'. Don't you just love it when that happens, and how good would it be to say there you are with no stress. Come on we all need a little help to get organised as I know I live in a world of semi organised chaos and I can't be alone, there must be others like me.

I kept to my remit not fussy and the colour scheme, so there isn't really alot to say about my card. Image coloured with promarkers, papers I think are docrafts, and the 'DAD' is cut out freehand in metalic blue card and a peel off happy birthday to finish. 

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges;-

Meljen-happy birthday
Craft-milestone birthday/anything goes Dad's a big whopping 45 any birthday is a milestone in our house!
Crafty Emma's store-anything goes
Friday sketches-the layout
Sew many challenges-happy birthday
The corrosive challenge-masculine card

I'm a tiger , I'm a tiger

Oh I had great fun making this fun card, not sure what sentiment to add though and I took some liberties too as I missed off some embellishments that were on the layout, so I'm open to suggestions as to what to use. I did try flowers but they just looked a bit odd, suppose its the kind of flowers I've got although I did try making some pleated ones and some punched ones but they still just looked as if I'd just put them there for the sake of it. I thought about the word 'Roar' but again why?

The image is one of dustin pikes from his zoo collection that I was lucky enough to win and their challenge is no designer papers. I decided to use paw prints from a see d set of dog stamps for my backing and that and the tiger just led to the autumnal colour scheme and the passion for promarkers layout. The ribbony bits well the broad one was from a small towel bundle I got from asda and was used to tie them together, the narrow one is from some scrapbooking set from costco. The paw prints small were stamped in cocoa momento ink, the large in versamark powder embossed with clear powder and the paper then coloured in momento cocoa ink so all matched.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges;-

Dooodle dragon studios-no designer papers
Passion for promarkers-fall colours and sketch layoutoops missed the deadline
Treehouse thursday challenge-fall colours
The stampman-musical can't get this song out of my head , from lady gaga to lulu!