SAILING AWAY ...

Well I can't believe it's Thursday already but then again with the extra day at the weekend I guess that's where the days have gone!

I finally got to a bit of crafting this afternoon and I'm hoping I'll be just in time to enter this card at Sketch Saturday Challenge plus I've used the colour combo from Color Throwdown so off there too. This means another play with that turquoisy colour even though I said I'd put it away! Hee Hee!

Whoops also heading over to Papertake Weekly where it's anything goes with an option of NOT using patterned paper.

Card Recipe:

Image & Sentiment: Clearly Besotted - Going Places set and I've die-cut the boat 3 times and glued together to make it stand proud of the card.
Background: Memory Box Stencil - Wave (mounted on foam pads for added dimension)
Tools: CBS Scalloped border die, MFT Die-namics Sentiment Strips, Distress Inks and to finish off a couple of sequins by Doodlebug and a Winking of Stella to the boat.

   

Catch you all soon and thanks for stopping by.

STARS AND BUTTERFLIES X 2

Back again with another quick post to enter a few more challenges; some being double entries to the same challenges as the previous post.

So here's the card

Yes it's those Clearly Besotted Elegant Butterflies sneaking in again! Can't resist 'em!

I'm heading over to the following challenges with this card:

CASology - Garden theme

Papertake Weekly - White + 1 other colour

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Keep it CAS

Card Recipe:

Image & Sentiment: Clearly Besotted (Elegant Butterflies & Fresh Flowers)
Papers: from my stash
Tools: MFT Die-namics sentiment strips & Darice embossing folder
Gems and twine from my stash
PLUS a good drizzle of Wink of Stella to add some subtle dazzle!

  

Ok catch you again soon. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy your evening.

STARS AND BUTTERFLIES

Happy Weekend

Had a little bit of crafty time so I've 2 quick posts to enter a couple of challenges so first up is my 'stars' card. I'm always short on masculine cards so when I saw the sketch at Sketch Saturday and the colours at Colour Me card challenge this week I decided to combine the two.

I'm also heading across to Papertake Weekly where the theme is White & 1 other colour or shades of that colour plus Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge where it's a 'Keep it CAS' week.

Just realised I used tonnes of snippety bits on this card so as soon as the gates open at Pixies Playground I'm going to drop this in there too.

Card Recipe:

Papers: From my stash plus Papermania textured cardstock
Sentiment: Clearly Besotted
Stars: Memory Box

    

JUST IN THE NICK OF TIME ... I HOPE

Happy Thursday Friends

Yippee - no work today BUT I've a load of internet type chores to do before a busy crafting session can commence! AND why does my computer decide to go slow when I've loads to do???

Anyway I've been wanting to make this card all week to enter the CAS(E) This Sketch challenge along with A Gem of A Challenge, where the theme is use black on your card. Last night I had a tiny little crafty session and this is what I came up with and having just looked on the CAS(E) This Sketch site I've got less than 2 hours to post my entry!!! Hence the quick post!

There's an Anything Goes challenge on at Papertake Weekly too so I'm popping over there with my card too.

Sorry it's quick, hope you are all well and enjoying some crafty time.





PS. Looking at this photo I've not done a card recipe as it's a computer generated sentiment with sparkly silver and black papers from my stash, some silver pearls from The Hobby House which I bought at Port Sunlight last week and the zig zags are made using my MFT Die-Namics chevron dies.

ANOTHER PIXIE AND COLOUR COMBO

Hey it's Sunday

I've been up and about a while but have a last minute visit from the I-L-s later so been running about the place doing the usual and itching to get in the Crafty Cupboard so just posting a very quick one this morning to enter the Colour Q Challenge and Pixies Crafty Snippet Playground.  Although it's CAS again I think I've 'played ball' with the snippets as I did have to dig and delve for scraps to make this one! LOL!

Oh I've just realised it's Anything Goes over at Papertake Weekly this week so I'm going to drop it in there too as I've missed that challenge for a few weeks.

Having uploaded this photo I must apologise for the naff photography.  It was taken in daylight yesterday but it was so dreary here that we had to use additional light. The top band of spotty pink is much darker in the 'flesh' and a much better match for the challenge than the photo implies.

Please, please if anyone has any tips on getting good quality pictures in poor light let me know. I'm sort of dreading blogging in the next few months wondering what sort of quality the pictures will be, especially when my in-house photographer (Mr Dazzle) leaves for work in the dark and gets back when it's dark! Hmmm will I have to learn to use his hi-tech camera! URGH! Yes tips would definitely be appreciated.

Catch up with you all later and enjoy your day.



Card Recipe:

Papers: The Paper Mill Shop & Pink Petticoat
Sentiment: Memory Box Die
Flower Die is from Joy Crafts and the 'lollipop sticks' (sentiment banners) are MFT die-namics
Button and Gems from my stash

CHRISTMAS ON MY SUMMER HOLIDAYS!

I am addicted to card making ... in case you hadn't realised and love all things crafty BUT I have to fess up and hold my hands high in the air as I don't enjoy colouring. I know it's very popular but I don't think I'm very good at it.  I shy away where possible.

Luckily help is at hand as there are so many beautiful pre-coloured images out there.Yippee for me! LOTV's fantastic pre-coloured sketch pads are simply perfect. I waited with baited breath throughout the build-up to their recent release of Christmas goodies and I wasn't disappointed. I adore these little cuties, young, loved up and blissfully happy - just like me!

So couldn't wait to get cracking and here is my first dabble with the new sketchpad. I'm going to enter it to the LOTV Monthly challenge where the theme is 'Make it Festive'. So with all those pressies, mistletoe and snow what else could it be. I think the image stands out well enough on it's own with just a few embellishments.

I'm also going to pop this in at the Papertake Weekly Challenge where the theme is occasion-ally. So Christmas is my occasion as I just love all the magic of the festive season.

Card Recipe:

Image: Lili Of The Valley
Papers: Freebie from Quick Cards Made Easy
Sentiment: Pink Petticoat
Button, Nailheads, Gem and Twine from my stash
Plus - that old glamour dust for added dazzle and a drop of liquid pearls for the mistletoe

HOW OLD ... 97!

Happy Sunday

Another scheduled post I'm afraid but I will be trying to view your blogs from abroad, fingers crossed the WiFi connection will be playing ball - especially as I'm heading to Pixies playground with this creation along with a couple of other challenges.

You might be wondering who is 97 and whether you've read it wrong.  No you haven't!  My dear Nanna will be this ripe old age whilst I'm on holiday so had to whisk this into the post early.  She is such a fun lady despite old age and declining health; she's always got a giggle up her sleeve and a song on her lips. Fantastic spirit for an oldie so just hope her genes pass my way!

Card Recipe:

Image & Sentiment: OLD and I can't remember - should fit nicely with the Creative Inspirations Challenge!
Papers: TK Maxx & Glitter card from my stash
Buttons, bakers twine and pearls from my stash
Dies used Sizzix Framelit Banners & Ovals plus Martha Stewart Butterfly punch
and the background die was a lovely freebie from Dies to Die for and I couldn't resist leaving the centre piece in too and just removed the butterfly pieces.

Challenges:

Pixies Snippet Playground - Week 85
Papertake Weekly: Anything Goes (optional extra of Vintage)
Creative Inspirations: Something Old (Teddy bear and Glitter Papers)
Something New (Dies to Die for oval florish Die and TK Maxx papers)
Ready Teddy Go Monthly Challenge - Dies, Cuts & Punches (see above recipe list for what I've used)
Deconstructing Jen #112 - A new one for me and here's the sketch

GRANDAD'S BIRTHDAY

Hello fellow crafters

What a weird day of weather we are having today...I think it belted down with rain all night as it woke me at 3.30am then again at 6.00 and didn't let up (on and off) until lunchtime.  BUT now the sun is 'crackin' flags'! At least we can give the hosepipe a well-earned rest today!

So onto today's post which I almost finished yesterday BUT made the mistake of sitting down for tea and watching 'Your Face Sounds Familiar' and guess what ... I never went back to the cupboard!

It's my Dad's birthday on Thursday and this is the card I've made for the kids to send him which I'm going to enter into a couple of challenges.  Hoping to take him out for a day out in Liverpool on Wednesday so he'll get his card then.

Card Recipe:

Image: Vintage Boys pre-coloured sketchpad from LOTV
Papers: Pink Petticoat
Sentiment: Computer generated
Punches & Dies: Sizzix Framelit Circles, X-cut corner punch, MFT Die-namics Party Banner
Buttons, Charm and Bakers twine from my stash

Challenges:

Pixies Snippet Playground - daren't tell you how long some of these snippets have been in the box!
Gem of a Challenge - How Charming
Allsorts Challenge - Kraft it
Sketch Saturday
Papertake Weekly - Die-ing for a Punch (2nd Entry)

GLAMOUR CHICK

Today is the first day I've had no visitors at my house in almost 2 weeks so my plan was to enter loads of challenges and craft away until the sun goes down ... why don't things go as planned??? I have been crafting but very slowly.

Anyway I'm loving the shoes over on the Less is More Challenge this week, not that I own a pair THAT high any more ... might break my neck!  So I decided to grab the inspiration and combine it with the CAS(E) This Sketch and Papertake Weekly Challenges too.

Enjoy the rest of your Saturday and catch up soon

        
       

Card Recipe:

Memory Box Dies used: 'Thanks' and the 'Bow' from Heart Bow set
MFT - Die-namics Die used: Banner for Sentiment
Papers: Pink Petticoat plus cream linen card stock from The Paper Mill Shop
Sentiment: Memory Box die
Plus a few gems from my stash

SOMETHING OLD, NEW, BORROWED & BLUE ...

Evening all

Hope you are having fun in the sun and not melting away ... looks like it's going to hang around for at least a few more days so plenty of blue skies for the weekend eh!  I've changed my days at work this week so working tomorrow instead of next Tuesday :-( BUT on the plus side my Crafty American Auntie is coming to stay for a few days so hopefully plenty of ideas to share.

Here's my card for today to enter into the Papertake Weekly Challenge.  I've seen all these beautiful old, new, borrowed and blue themed creations on my read list and couldn't wait to join in.

So ... in keeping with the theme I've made a Wedding Congratulations card but it could also pass for engagement I guess. My old is ribbon & cord, my new the ombre papers from Pink Petticoat, which I've had a couple of weeks and my heart charm, blue as in the colour of the card and borrowed is a superb idea which Jules at Always with a Heart posted yesterday by printing the Dandelion Clocks onto Ombre coloured paper.  Never mind always with a heart, Jules always has fabulous unique ideas too - hope she doesn't mind my creation.

Card Recipe:

Image: Dandelion Clocks - Pink Petticoat
Papers: Ombre Papers in Ocean Breeze - Pink Petticoat
Sentiment: Pink Petticoat
Pearls from The Hobby House
Ribbon, cord and gems from my Stash

WELCOME IN A BOX LITTLE ONE

Can you believe it's Thursday again ... and not only that it's Thursday evening too?  I don't know where this week has gone.

But I have something to show you today as it's my first day off work today and I can't say I was too upset by the change in the weather!  At least if it's raining I don't feel too bad at hiding away in the cupboard!  So after a quick walk with the dog and a flick around here and there with the housework I set to.

I may even get chance to show 2 posts tonight but will see how it goes.

My first isn't a card - it's a box.  I make quite a lot of memory boxes for special occasions and this is one a friend at work asked me to make.  It's basically like making an extra large card.

I've used this weeks sketch from the Papertake Weekly Challenge and I'm going to enter it into the Simon Says Stamp Challenge where the theme is Anything Goes with optional card candi (yes to that tick box)  and Creative Inspirations.  Another Anything Goes week with a ribbon option (so a yes in that box too).

Here's the sketch:



Baby Arthur's Memory Box Recipe:

Image: Bambino Bear Die Cut
Papers: Pink Petticoat
Sentiment: Computer Generated
Arthur and tags cut with Cricut
Josy Rose nailhead stars
Card Candi, Bakers Twine, Ribbon from my stash
Keepsake Box: Box&Wrap

Star Border: Marianne Creatables
Sizzix Star Framelits

SWEET DREAMS

And one more quick post and the last one for today as I need to catch up on some ironing ... urgh plus a bit of TV!

I'm entering my dreamy boy into the following challenges:

Papertake Weekly: Hello Boys
Creative Inspirations: Father's Day
Crafting By Designs: Anything Goes with a Twist - Father's Day, Men, Male
Freshly Made Sketches



Card Recipe:

Image: LOTV - Vintage Boys Sketchpad
Papers: Pink Petticoat
Sentiment: Pink Petticoat - from the brand new Tiny Celebrations sentiments
Bit of dazzle with some Josy Rose nailheads

GET WELL SOON LITTLE FELLA

And last but by no means least - third card created today!  Phew must be a record for me.

My son's girlfriend has a little brother who has been in hospital this week so I decided to make him a little card to cheer him up and amazingly the image I chose has the colours featured in this weeks colour challenge over at Creative Inspirations.

Now I need help ... a non-essential element of the theme at Creative Inspirations is any card but square so I thought right I'll have a go.  And I've been having a go all afternoon with my Personal Cricut Elegant Edges cartridge which features a 'book' setting but could I get it to work? NO!  In the end the centre of my card is shaped as I wanted but I'll have to hold my hand up defeated and the rounded corner punch came out.

With all this stress I couldn't begin to put a fancy design together so I popped across to Papertake Weekly and grabbed one of their sketches.  Their challenge this week is Anything Goes so my Get Well Soon Fella can have a go at competing there too I think.

Finally I would love to know if any of you intelligent crafty people can give me any hints and tips on how to achieve a shaped card with a Personal Cricut Machine before I kick the machine around the room!!! LOL!

Enjoy the weekend and hope to catch up with you all over the weekend too. x

So here's my card followed by the sketch:

       

Card Recipe:

Image: Ron Leishman Cartoon
Papers: Studio Calico & bits and pieces from my stash
Sentiment: Computer Generated
A bit of dazzle with a couple of sparkly gems

BRING ON THE SUNSHINE WITH PAPERTAKE WEEKLY

Evening all

Hope you are having fun despite the dreary weather.

I was hoping to get a few posts in tonight but the day hasn't just gone as planned so I'm rather late now BUT I decided the 'Bring on the Sunshine' theme at A Gem of a Challenge this week was a priority - if only we could bring it on!  Everything crossed and double crossed here hoping that summer hasn't been and gone at the weekend.

The Papertake Weekly Challenge have a sketch challenge too so decided to team the two together.  I think I've started to rely on the terrific sketch challenges but can't seem to get my brain into gear to create something solo so having to search around hoping to find a nifty sketch all the time... thankfully there's plenty about.

Enjoy the rest of your evening, I'm off for a little TV catch up now.

Here's my card and let's hope the sun comes out tomorrow - it is half term for the kiddies!

And here's the sketch if you fancy playing along:

Card Recipe:

Image: Ice Cream Ellie Digistamp from Pink Gem Designs
Papers: Lilly Bimble
Sentiment: Digistamp Boutique
Added sparkle with pearls from my stash and a sprinkling of glamour dust ... can't resist it!

Tools:

• Cricut
• Sizzix 

SKETCH SATURDAY MEETS PAPERTAKE WEEKLY ON THE SOCCER FIELD

Hello All

Sorry I've been absent for almost a week...where does the week go? I've basically had a hectic week at work then playing catch up when I'd much rather have been crafting. AND now the sun has come out so torn between the garden and the craft cupboard.

Anyway I've had a little playtime today and decided to enter my hubby's birthday card into two challenges; the Sketch Saturday and Papertake Weekly Challenges.

Over at Papertake Weekly the theme is 'if the paper fits' so hope you like the way I've paper-pieced my soccer nut! When hubby isn't at the office or taking my crafty pics he can usually be found on a footy pitch ... either playing or coaching our footy-mad daughter and her team. I thought the cones and whistle fit in perfectly for a coaching session.

So here's the card:

And here's the sketch I was following if you want to play along:

Card Recipe:

Image: Soccer Nut from Bugaboo Stamps
Papers: Studio Calico from TKMaxx - I adore these papers and certainly getting my money's worth
Sentiment: Bugaboo Stamps
Ribbons from my stash
Football related die-cuts from my fabulous crafty Aunt in America

FRESHLY MADE SKETCHES GOES ROCKIN' & ROLLIN'

Evening everyone

I'm quite late today so just a quick post.  I've had quite a productive crafty day but how come it takes until almost tea-time to get my ideas coming to life???  This card is for my Uncle who hits a certain age next month.  I doubt he'll be blogging so I should be safe uploading this one in advance.

So I'm entering another new challenge, for me, at Freshly Made Sketches with my Rockin' Dinosaur from Pink Petticoat although it could well be a 'retired' image as I can't seem to find it on the site anymore.

The theme at the Papertake Weekly Challenge this week is 'Sound of Music' so I'm going to pop my card over there too.

Hope you've all had fun at the craft station today and see you soon.

Here's the sketch I was following if you want to have a go

Card Recipe:

Image: Pink Petticoat
Papers: Freebie from a magazine but sorry can't remember which one
Sentiment: Pink Petticoat
Tools:

• Promarkers
• Circut numbers
• Sizzix Stars, 

Ribbons from my TK Maxx stash and a bit of dazzle with the old glamour dust

PAPERTAKE WEEKLY AND ROMANTIC MOMENTS

Hi Everyone ... Hope you are enjoying the Bank Holiday Weekend.  I'm hoping the sun is going to put in a proper appearance sometime soon as it's been iffy so far today.

I've been asked to make a wedding card this week and when I saw this week's challenge at Papertake Weekly I decided to give it a go as it fitted nicely with the layout I was aiming for.

These LOTV images are great, they're so cute and there's always something for any occasion.  They are fast becoming my favourite images.

Well that's all for now as I'd like to get down to entering a few more challenges so perhaps see you later.

Card Recipe:

Image: LOTV
Papers: Wild Rose Studio - I think these were a freebie from QCME a while ago
A little bit of dazzle from Glamour Dust and pearls from my stash