Happy Anniversary - Cats

I have been tidying our loft this past week and am beginning to see floor space again.  I had a load down to the recycling centre today and I have a load more stuff to go to various friends & charities.  Hopefully this year I will actually complete the tidying process and have a respectable loft at the end of it...which may ultimately give me a bigger craft room!

So today's card uses another lovely pair of kitties from Meljen's Designs.  Paper is a Bo Bunny sheet and the sentiment LOTV.

Challenges;
Sunday Sketch & Stamp - Lovely sketch
I Love Promarkers - Love

Tiffany Street Walking

On with my mission to use new digis and today's card uses a beauty from Milk Coffee Stamps.  This image is called Tiffany Street Walking, and as soon as I saw her she was in my basket!

So, I've coloured her with 2 of my favourite shades of Promarkers, namely blues and yellows.  I love these two as I have ranges that blend well, and for that reason I often pair them.  And another favourite combo mixed in with these shades is Kraft.

As for papers they are lovely MME ranges called Everyday Flair & Be Amazing.  Flowers are Wild Orchid Crafts and button from...the drawer of my desk!

Oh yes and there is a smidge of glaze on the glasses & phone - obviously!

Challenges;
Sketch Saturday - Sketch 243
Passion For Promarkers - Favourite colour combo - blue+yellow with Kraft
Stamptacular Sunday - Spots & Stripes
That Craft Place - New Year Goodies - New papers & image
Crafty Catz - Cute As a Button - Heart button
Jelly Park - Button Up - Heart button
QKR Stampede - Pastel Colours
Stampin For The Weekend - Something Girly
Paper Crafting Journey - For A Girl
Stampavie and More - Spots & Stripes
Little Miss Muffet -Hearts & Flowers - Button heart


All this week Debbi is giving you a chance to win Flex Markers to celebrate her birthday.  Head over to her blog to enter, Jx

I Miss You

On with my mission to use different stamp suppliers and another new company for me today.  This card uses an image by Meljen's Designs.  Now I did enter their challenge last week, then I read the rules... use one of their images! Oops! Sorry you lot, my first entry is invalid... cause I didn't read the rules - something I think we are all guilty of now and then!

So, I popped over to their shop, made a couple of purchases and stocked up on their lovely freebies - thanks for the freebies!

So this card does in fact use a lovely freebie. (Available here.)

It was quick to make and fits their challenge.

Challenges;
Meljen's Designs - Make it Square - square image, mount & card.
Cupcake Inspirations - I picked up on all the white in the image
Speedy & Friends - Doodle a frame
Cark Makin Mammas - CAS
CASual Friday - Use markers & CAS - Colouring with Promarkers

All this week Debbi is giving you a chance to win Flex Markers to celebrate her birthday.  Head over to her blog to enter, Jx

Last Post as Bugaboo Guest Designer

So the end of January is in sight - wish the end of the snow was in sight too!

... And all too soon this is my last post as Guest Designer over at Catch The Bug.   It really has been a joy working with them this month and I'd just like to thank Tammy for all the work she does each week in collating cards and preparing posts and to Jodie for her amazing art work and generosity. Finally I'd like to thank the rest of the DT for sharing their bloggy space with me and letting me join in the fun.

Now onto today's challenge its Sketch 129 over at Stella Says Sketch.

So my card uses a new image to me and a fabulous bunny, available here.

Colouring by Promarker and papers by Craft Companion.  Flowers by Wild Orchid Crafts.

Challenges;
Addicted To Stamps - CAS
DL.Art - Use Red or Pink
Paper Crafting Journey - For A Girl
Nutcrafters - Cute & Girly
Creative Card Crew - Girly

Jx

Christmas Card No 4

Well my month as guest designer at Bugaboo is drawing to a close as the end of January approaches.  There are however 2 more challenges this month the first being at Catch The Bug today and it's a

Photo Inspiration Challenge

and here's the photo.

So I had two ideas looking at this picture, either go with snow or reindeer and as I am sick of snow at the moment, (we still got loads!) I went with my favourite reindeer.

So, obviously its a Bugaboo reindeer, (available here) coupled with LOTV papers, which I adore so much.  (Thanks Mum & Dad - great present!)  The stripe ribbon is from Germany and the bow off a cracker last year.

Challenges;
Christmas Challenges with Sketches - Great sketch, and I'll try to stick with you this year as I love this challenge.
ABC Christmas - Boys or Bows - I chose bows
I Love Promarkers - Anything Goes
Meljens Designs - Be a square - Square card.

Anastasia Appears Again!

Just a quick post today as I really should be hoovering and making tea.

Made this card using the Saturated Canary image and really old Papermania papers.  Ribbon bought locally and flowers, Wild Orchid Crafts.

Challenges;
Sunday Sketch & Stamp - Sketch. Jx

Bling It On!

I can't believe it's 2 weeks since I last posted a card for the Moving Along With The Times challenge, but 2 weeks have passed and we are onto a new theme and back to design team A.

This time it was set by Sue and she has gone with the theme

Bling It On

So we are looking for bright and sparkly creations this week and our great sponsor is Digi My World.  This is another new digi store to me, and they have some lovely images so I recommend you check them out. They kindly gave the DT some super images to play with and will also be giving the winner $10 to spend on digi's in their store.

So, my image is of Russian Dollies and is available here.

My card has a simple layout and relies on about half a bottle of 3d gloss to add bling along with a sparkly little bow and some yellow glitter card.

Take a look at the MAWTT page to see what everyone else made before joining in with this weeks challenge.

Challenges;
Papertake - Tie up your loose ends - A bow
Sketch n Stash 1 - Lovely sketch

Knitty Kitty

There really are some great new digi stamp companies out there, and if like me you get stuck in your ways and keep going back to the same old, same old, then challenge wins can really open your eyes to what's out there!

A new company to me was 2 Cute Ink, and it was a challenge win at the end of last year that took me to their site.  Once there, I was really pleased I had stopped by, they have some lovely stamps and the image below really caught my eye.

I printed it twice, cut out the ball of wool then covered it with the real stuff then hand made the knitting needles from cocktail sticks and brads!

I'm really pleased with this one and have someone special in mind to send it too! Jx

PS. I added some snow photo's last night to my yesterdays post, in case any of you haven't got and felt left out!!!

Challenges;
Sketch Saturday - Their lovely sketch
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
Simon Say's Stamp - What are you known for?  Well that's easy, my love of cats!  My boys fear I will turn into an old lady living in a house full of cats. Doesn't sound too bad to me!
Dutch Dare Card Challenge - Buttons
Tuesday Throwdown - Furry Friends
Cutie Pies - 3 different textures - Wool/Wood/Plastic/Metal/Paper - take your pick!

Glitz & Glam

Just before Christmas the lovely Lisa and terrific Tracy sadly left our little design team here at An Oldie But A Goodie which means we are now two people down.  For this reason, Francesca has decided to put out a call for new DT members.  So, if you ever fancied working on a DT or if you already do and are looking for another, please get in touch.  Full details on the Oldie But A Goodie Blog.

Now onto other business and the current challenge, chosen by Claire as;

Glitz & Glam

Remember as well as following the theme in this challenge, you must use something older than 6 months and tell us what it is.

I chose an older stamp of mine by Victoria Case for this one.  I so love this image, and it's ages since I last used her.  She is combined with Basic Grey Little Black Dress papers and some lovely Wild Orchid Craft flowers.  All of these items are over 6 months old.

Now the DT have excelled themselves with this challenge, there are some great creations over on the main blog.  Go check them out then join us in our current challenge.

The prize this time around is a surprise box of crafty goodies.

Challenges;
Sweet Sketch Wednesday - Brilliant sketch 189
Crafts & Me - Something new - ribbon specially bought for this card.
Diva's By Design - Make It Girly
Winter Wonderland - Vintage
Card Crafters Circle - Layers
My Mums Craft Shop - Anything Goes/Lots of layers
Avenue 613 - Kraft
Paper Playtime - Brown

Finally, snow update - think the snow factory was running overtime last night - we have awoken to several inches today, with school buses cancelled and many schools in the area closed.  Luckily for us, Colin doesn't have an exam today so it will be a quiet day in with his books, I hope!  Jx

Christmas Card No 3

With all the snow that's flying around I had loads of inspiration for this weeks Christmas card!

The image is a digi by Sj's Little Musings and the paper Craft Companion.

Challenges;
CRAFT - Christmas In January
Gingerloft - Let It Snow
Christmas Challenges With Sketches - Sketch & Doily
Christmas @ Sweet Stampin - Cold & Frosty
Delicious Doodles - Winter Themed
Digi Haven - Winter/Snow
Papertake - Baby it's cold outside

Cupcake

Well, two questions today, firstly, do you have snow, I am always fascinated by the weather and secondly, did you join us at the Bugaboo Birthday Bash?  What a fun week that was, a card a day for a full week and a variety of themes to follow.  This is my second year of playing along at these week long events at Bugaboo, and they really are a lot of fun.  

And as if a week of activities wasn't enough, Bugaboo are back today, Saturday, with their regular challenge over at Catch the Bug, which this week is a bingo grid. 

Full details over on their blog.

So for my card I chose the strawberry cupcake image and combined it with Dovecraft paper, gems and a ribbon.  Sentiment LOTV.  the bingo line I went for was Sentiment, Bugaboo Image & Ribbon.

Challenges:
Forever Friends - Favourite embellishment - Ribbon or glaze if glaze counts as an embllie!
Card Makin Mammas - Clean & Simple

As for snow, we seem to have escaped the worst.  There must have been a small shower overnight, but nothing too drastic however I now see that there is more forecast for Sun/Mon night, so we'll just have to wait and see. Have a lovely weekend & keep cosy, Jx

Bugaboo Birthday - Day 7

Have you kept up?  A card a day for 7 days over at Catch The Bug?

This is my last entry into the Bugaboo Birthday week of Challenges and today you must use the Friday Freebie on your entry - available here.  The challenge today is to

Use the Friday Freebie and to add TEXTURE to your card.

So what a great stamp to close the Birthday week on - hope you have enjoyed the party as much as I have and good luck on getting your hands on some of the great prizes.

As this image was really busy, I coloured it mostly in shades of grey and added the gold for the flames & stars.  For my texture I have used glaze, added candi and the Bazzill card stock is also quite textured.

Challenges;
Stamptacular Sunday - Sketch

So that's it for the Birthday week.  To see what the rest of the DT made hop back to the Catch The Bug blog, and if you are still raring to go with Bugaboo there's the new Sat challenge over at Catch The Bug, beginning tomorrow.  See you there!

I'd also like to say a huge thank you to Jodie for creating so many fabulous images for us each week over at Bugaboo, and to Tammy who has co-ordinated the daily challenges.  A huge amount of work indeed!  Well done ladies, you do a brilliant job. Jx

Bugaboo Birthday - Day 6

So, onto Day 6 of the Bugaboo Birthday Bash Challenges and this time the team at Catch The Bug are asking for a

Masculine Birthday Card

A perfect or should I say purr-fect challenge for me as I need a male card next month for my younger son's 16th birthday.  As soon as I saw this challenge, I knew which stamp I wanted to use.  It's a new one for me but one I really love cause if there's one thing I love as much as Bugaboo, (& glaze) it's cats!  As our cat is grey, this guy had to be grey too!

Challenges;
Sunday Sketch & Stamp - Sketch
Here Come The Boys - Sketch
Come and Get It Challenge - Tie A Ribbon Round
Bunny Zoe's Crafts - Anything Goes
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
Paper Playtime - Pets
Tip Top Tuesday - Fur or Feathers
De Creative Zebra - Anything Goes
Creative Moments - Monochrome
Paper Pretties - Challenge 241 - Use Ribbon

& what a day today has been!  Two boys, two sets of exams!  Alan sat his first uni degree exam today & Colin sat the first paper of his higher maths prelim.  Unfortunately however the 2nd maths paper which Colin was to sit, also scheduled for today was postponed - school heating broken! Jx

21st Jan - I was winning comment on Make it Monday - Yipee!  This won me 3 lovely digi's from Milk Coffee.

Bugaboo Birthday - Day 5

Today's challenge at Catch The Bug is

Humour Me Wednesday

A challenge perfect for at least 50% of Bugaboo images - if not more!  The characters over at Bugaboo and the sentiments to go with them really do make Bugaboo images a joy to work with.  How could anybody not just love Stella and crack up at her sarcastic comments?

So with Stella in mind, I made this card

Papers today are by MME - Everyday Flair, the mounts are Kraft and colouring by Promarker, and if you look closely, you can see the glaze on the puddle and Stella's glasses. (I do love my glaze!)

Challenges;

Sunday Sketchy Colours - Loved the sketch

Glitter & Sparkle - Use a digi
I Love Promarkers - Layer It Up
Sandy's Crafty Creations - Blue and/or white
Pile It On - Happy, Funny Birthday

Thanks Bugaboo for placing me in the Top 3 at Catch The Bug with this card.

Bugaboo Birthday - Day 4

So how you guys getting on with the week long challenge over at Catch The Bug?  Joining in on all the fun?  If not, there's still time to join in and possibly win some great prizes.  There's also the blog hop if you fancy your chances there instead.

So, today's challenge was

3 in a Row in the cupcake tic-tac-toe, 

(I know, I should have been a poet!)

For the full grid and to see the DT creations refer back to the Catch The Bug Blog. I went with a diagonal line which was cupcake/free/Bugaboo.

If you do enter this challenge today, remember to pick up the optional FREEBIE images from the Bugaboo store available here.

So my card is quite simple - the paper is a double sided Papermania sheet called Pink Floral Branch and the ribbon is off a Sainsbury's tag - but the question is did I buy the item as I needed it or cause I fancied the ribbon!!!

Challenges;
Sketch Saturday - Their sketch
Vintage Artesians - Anything Goes
Card Mania - Girly
Pause, Dream, Enjoy - Use Ribbon

Christmas Card No 2

Well it's still the 14th so I am still on track for one Christmas card per week throughout 2013 - for now!

This is another Bugaboo image - it was a Fri Freebie last year and is still available here to buy.  I coloured it before Christmas, but it never quite made it onto a card last year!

Papers are Craft Creations and the pearls from The Little Ribbon Shop.

Challenges;
Sweet Sketch Wednesday - Sketch 188-9
CHCC - No reindeer & sorry Hazel but Santa only got a short break!

I made top 3 at SSW - thanks ladies!

Bugaboo Birthday - Day 3

So the big question is...Do you have snow?  We do but not that much - well possibly 2cm, but its freshly fallen which has meant Colin's school bus has already got stuck twice and has needed tractor assistance to get moving again.  He will text me if/when he makes it to school ( - couldn't have him off as it would seriously affect card making!)

So it's now day 3 of the Bugaboo Birthday week and today's challenge is

Black, White & a pop of colour

So I went with this lovely floral jug image (available here) & my spellbinder dies.  My red "pops" have been given a glaze for added impact.

Head back to the Catch the Bug blog for more inspiration before joining in yourself.

Challenges;
Simon Says Stamp - Black White & a splash of colour
Challenges For Everybody - Anything Goes
Avenue 613 - Anything Goes

Bugaboo Birthday Day 2

I hope you all had a chance to play with us at Catch The Bug yesterday as Bugaboo celebrates it's 3rd Birthday.

Today I have another birthday card to share with you using the layout  from Stella Says Sketch No 128

This time I've gone with an Ava image, available here.  Again she's coloured with Promarkers but this time I've set her on a doily, used Papermania Capsule Collection paper and a Die-mamics die cut fence.  The card is finished off with candi & a computer generated sentiment.

For more inspiration check out the other works on the Catch The Bug Blog, then join us on Day 2 of our week long celebration, Jx

Challenges;
Willow Sketchie Challenge - In The Garden
Addicted To Stamps - Nature
Penny's Challenges - Anything Goes
Flutter-By Wednesday - Anything Goes
De Creatieve Zebra - Flower/Stamp/3 Layers

Girl's Birthday Cake

Another birthday card tonight using the Bugaboo Birthday Cake image.- It only costs $1 so a bargain I'd say!

Papers - Dovecraft & colouring by Promarker.

Challenges;
Cutie Pies - Sketch
Quirky Crafts - Something new with pink - new image Jx

This card won me a goodie bag from Mulberry Crafts over at Cutie Pies, thanks guys.

Bugaboo Birthday Bash - Day 1

Today sees the start of the Birthday Celebrations as Bugaboo celebrates it's 3rd birthday.

"Happy Birthday Bugaboo!"

So the challenge over at Catch The Bug this Saturday is

Birthdays

but the fun doesn't end there - there is a week long celebration planned, with daily challenges and loads of prizes to be won, so it's well worth a visit to the Catch The Bug blog this week!

I've made this boys birthday card to celebrate, using a lovely Theodore bear image available here.  I printed him directly onto my card and made him nice and big.  Gave him a quick 90deg rotation and then coloured him with Promarkers and added glaze to the balloons and wording.  The balloon in the corner is cut using a dienamics die and the sentiment computer generated.

This is the first time I've printed a Bugaboo directly onto my card and not mounted the image in any way and I have to say, I'm quite pleased with the result as I think children love big bright images more than layers & embellishments!

Any way that's my first card for the Birthday week, hop on over to the Catch The Bug Blog for more inspiration then join us in the fun, Jx

Challenges;
Charisma Cardz - Happy Birthday
Cute Card Thursday - Beat The Blues
Paper Crafting Journey - Anything Goes
Stampavie & More - Blue & White
Crafts For Eternity - Moody Blues
Cupcake Craft - January Blues

Floral Delights

Well today has eventually arrived! My first active day on the MAWTT blog, when I post my first DT card for them which follows the theme of

Floral Delights

and was set by the lovely Hazel.  Thanks ladies for having me on your team, should be lots of fun working with you all over the coming months.

Today's challenge is sponsored by A Passion For Stamps, a company set up by the artist Ruth Hamilton, whom I first met and made friends with on Do Crafts many moons ago!  So one lucky winner will be getting a great prize from A Passion For Stamps.

Ruth was also very generous in giving all the DT a stamp of their choice to play with, thanks Ruth.  For my card, I chose the Thistle image coloured it with Promarkers and set it on a double sided sheet of paper from  the On The Edge range by Teresa Collins.  The ribbon is one I bought in Germany whilst on holiday last Summer and the doily & candi are just bits off my desk.

So that's what I did, now see what the rest of the DT made before joining us in our Floral Delights Challenge, the first of many great challenges in 2013.

Challenges;
Digi Galore - Something New - Image & paper
Tando Creative - Feeling Blue
Papertake - Happy New... Design Team, I'm now happy to be working with the MAWTT girls! (New image & papers too!)
Crafty Creations - Something New - New stamp, new paper & yipee...New DT!
Crafting For All Seasons - Something New - New stamp & papers & DT!

Today is also the day that Alan heads back to Uni to start Term 2 which begins with degree exams set on last terms work - good luck Alan, Jx

The Return of Magna Girl

It's ages since I've used a magna girl on a card, so when Karen at Funky Kits popped up this freebie last week I grabbed her quick!

She was perfect for the first challenge of the year over at an Oldie But A Goodie, where Debs has asked us to use

Lace Pins & Pearls

The sponsor this time is The Pretty Little Ribbon Shop and they are offering one lucky winner these lovely goodies!

As well as following our theme, please also remember to tell us what item on your card was over 6 months old - in my case it was the papers and the pearl heart.

So a little bit more about my card, well, the papers are Memorandum by Lily Bee Design, the lace pins and pearls were all bought from The Pretty Little Ribbon Shop before Christmas (My present to me!) & the sentiment is LOTV.  Finally all edges were inked with TH pumice distress ink.

Now check out what the rest of the DT made before joining us again this fortnight,

Challenges;
Sugar Bowl - A lovely sketch
Willow Sketchie - Anything Goes
Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
Cute & Girly - Cute & Girly

Christmas 2013

Well it's a case of start as you mean to go on!  One Christmas card a week between now and next Christmas and there is no mad panic in November!

The image is a Bugaboo called "Winter Circle Sentiment" and the papers are Craft Companion from a couple of years back.

Challenges;
CHCC - Give Santa a Rest - No Santa allowed.
Gingerloft - Christmas or Winter Jx

Brilliant Bugaboo

This is a very exciting day for me, a wish come true in fact...

In December last year, I joined in with the Christmas fun on the Bugaboo blog & was lucky enough to be picked as one of their guest designers for Jan 2013 over on Catch The Bug.

Can't wait to design for them, and the best bit is, it's not just for a week but for a whole month including their Birthday week which starts on the 12th Jan.  Hope some of you can join in with us then and now, as we kick off the 2013 Catch The Bug Challenge calendar with an easy one of...

Anything Goes

For my card I used this fabulous stork image called  AKV Baby Stork 2 to make a baby card.  Papers are Craft Companion & colouring by Promarker.  The border strip is from a MS punch and the tags cut with Dienamics dies.

So that's what I did, now check out what the rest of the DT got up to before joining us on this our first challenge of 2013. Jx

Challenges;
Crafty Sentiments - New??? - I went with baby
Digital Tuesday - Layers
Papertake - Anything goes
Passion For Promarkers - New Beginnings - New Baby

Year Of The Snake?

Well I'm guessing 2013 is Chinese year of the snake as that's the creature on another of the Bugaboo New Year images.

Loved using this one too and in contrast to my earlier monochromatic New Year Card, this one's bright and bold.  Again it wishes all my lovely followers

A Very Happy & Healthy New Year

Thank you all for following my blog and for leaving loads of comments throughout the year - I love hearing from you all & try my best to visit your blogs regularly too.

Challenges;
Sketch Saturday - With a 180deg rotation!
Catch The Bug - Seasonal/Holiday
Brown Sugar - Happy New Year
Polka Doodles - Happy New Year
Winter Wonderland - New Beginnings - New Year
Charisma Cards - Anything goes. Jx

Happy New Year

Don't know if anyone will be blogging just now, but if you are,

Happy New Year 

and Best Wishes for 2013

I don't normally make New Year cards, but this year I spotted this image from Bugaboo and thought I'd have a go.

Challenges;

Allsorts - Black & White

Sweet Stop Sketch - Sketch 191

Little Claire's - Happy New Year Jx