Monday 29 July 2013

With Sympathy

Never anyone's favourite card type to make, but sadly they are needed from time to time.

My CAS card is made with another of those hand-made button/twine flowers that I so love.

Hope you are all enjoying your Sunday.  A quiet day here as it is pouring with rain and the boys are both working.



Challenges;
My Time To Craft - Sympathy
Aud Sentiment - Sympathy
Glitter n Sparkle - CAS
Charisma Cards - Make Your Own Embellishments - My flower
Papertake - Die-ing for a punch - My leaves are cut by a die
Crafting When We Can - Floral

Thursday 25 July 2013

Croatia 2013

Another year & another holiday ticked off.  Croatia was our destination this year and a fantastic resort run by Radisson Blu. The apartment we stayed in was beautiful, 2 en-suite bedrooms and an open plan kitchen /lounge.

Breakfast was served daily in the outside dining area for guests, then there were a variety of eateries to pick from at night.  At lunch we tended to snack on items from the grocery store on site.

Overall the temperature was hot - high 20's- low 30's daily - too hot to do anything major, so we chose to relax by the pool, read, and swim.  We also used the leisure club for table tennis and Alan went to the gym daily.

One day we did bus into Dubrovnik, to visit the old town.  It was incredibly picturesque, but I have to say, we found the heat too much and didn't explore to any great extent - instead we headed back to the resort & the cool waters there.

The View From Outside the Apartment.


 Swimming in the sea - off rocks.


A meal out.


Colin being ...Colin!

Where ever we go, we always find TT!

A Sunset To Close

All in all, it was a lovely holiday and I would certainly recommend it to anyone who likes it hot.  The sea swimming was brilliant & it was nice to spend family time away from computers and phones (briefly boys!)  For me however, much as I enjoyed it, the best bit was coming home to a cool grey day in Aberdeen! There's no pleasing some folk!!! What am I like?

And that's it for my take on Croatia.  Finally, a big thank you to everyone who continued to visit my blog and leave comments while we were away.  As always, your comments were appreciated, & I hope to get round all your blogs before the weekend's through. Jx

Wednesday 24 July 2013

Anything Goes

Quick post as we are still away.

Back to DT work and today sees a new challenge over at Diva's By Design.

Today we have an

Anything Goes Challenge

So I think we could have a few entries here!  The sponsor this time around is the fabulous Dilly Beans who are offering the winner the prize indicated on the Diva's blog.   Us DT girlies were also lucky enough to get some images to play with - thanks for these as they are lovely images to colour.



I chose Anna Framed available here.

Hopefully you'll be able to join us on this challenge & for more inspiration please head back to the Diva's blog.

Challenges;
Crafty Cardmakers - Birthdays
That Craft Place - It's A Girl Thing
LCI - Birthdays

Friday 19 July 2013

Bugaboo Christmas In July - Day 7

So today is the last day of the Bugaboo Christmas in July event.  As I'm away, this is my last scheduled post and I managed to use the Friday Freebie - available on the Bugaboo site as Tammy was kind enough to send me the file ahead of the challenge when I explained my absence - thanks Tammy.

So today the challenge was to follow the 4 step recipe, using a bow, layers, glitter and cream, all of which are evident below!




Challenges;
Bugaboo Christmas in July Day 7 - Follow the recipe
Fab & Funky - Christmas in July
Allsorts - Fun or Feathers - Bear fur!
Card Mania - Pearls or Gems
Cutie Pie Challenge - Cute & Cuddly

So that's it from me today from sunny Croatia.  Before I go, I'd just like to thank the Bugaboo team for putting together an amazing week of challenges.  Having been on the DT the last time they ran a week long event, I know how much work goes into it and what a huge star Tammy is for co-ordinating it all.  Well done the Bugaboo DT, you have done an amazing job again,

Also, for any of you thinking of Christmas cards & selecting images, have you considered shopping at Bugaboo?  Throughout July, all Christmas stamps are half price so why not begin early and take advantage of this great bargain, Jx


Thursday 18 July 2013

Bugaboo Christmas in July - Day 6

A change from a card today - it's a tag! I was going to make a gift tag as Bugaboo have some great circular stamps, perfect for the job but at the last minute I decided to go for a bottle tag instead as they are so handy.  Who needs to wrap awkward shaped bottles when you have a supply of these to pop on the neck of bottles?


So, a very simple design, a strip of card - scored on the 3 & 6 lines and a circle cut out using a Spellbinder die.  The neck hole was then finished off with a scalloped ring also cut using dies.  The front of the tag decorated with this Bugaboo Snowman Broom, and the back left blank for a personalised message.

Challenges;

Wednesday 17 July 2013

Bugaboo Christmas in July - Day 5

How's everyone today?  Well I hope & still enjoying the sun.  Today is my jetting off day as we head to Croatia with the boys for our summer holiday.  As this post goes live I think I'll be flying high - but hopefully not as high as the reindeer below!


Before I go on, this is the intended format of my card  - let me explain!

The challenge today at Bugaboo is make a funny card, so in keeping with the Blitzen theme and the "Spirit of Christmas!" I thought the upside down papers would be the perfect match!  My image, Christmas Blitzen is available here.

A simple card, full of the "Spirit" of Christmas, he he!

Challenges;
Bugaboo Christmas In July Day 5 - Funny Card
Here Come The Boys - Anything Goes
ABC Christmas Challenge - N -No embellishments



Tuesday 16 July 2013

Bugaboo Christmas In July - Day 4

Missing mojo?  Shortage of Christmas cards??

READ ON...

Why not kill two birds with one stone, (what a horrid expression!) and join in the Bugaboo fun with their Christmas in July - Week long event.

7 Days, 7 cards - you up for it?

Today's challenge is to work from a bingo grid whilst making your card.  In my case I went for the option of using a ribbon, a Bugaboo image & a sentiment, and here's my card;



And the best bit about this for me is that these are all scheduled posts!  I did all the hard work last week and Mr Blogger is taking over running the show!

My image choice today is Winter Bird - Friends available here.

Challenges;
Bugaboo Christmas in July - Day 4 - Bingo
Sketch n Stash - July sketch No 13, (this is a new image for me and old papers from last year.)
Addicted To Stamps - Lots of Layers
Paper Players - Christmas in July
Merry Monday - Anything Goes Christmas

As for my holiday destination - tonight we drive to Edinburgh - fly out tomorrow... to?


Monday 15 July 2013

Bugaboo Christmas in July - Day 3

So, Day 3 of the Christmas in July Challenge over at Bugaboo - any of you keeping up & joining in?  This is my 3rd time I've done their week long challenges & I have to admit I find them loads of fun and enjoy the challenge of a card a day for a week - even though these were made on a different week!

I have a good reason though for jumping the gun and that's cause we are all on holiday now...to...
on second thoughts, I'll tell you tomorrow!

Back to today's challenge which was Chocolate cream and raspberry - a brilliant combination for a Christmas card not to mention a rather scrummy desert suggestion!

So, here's my card;


This Bugaboo Reindeer is called Rudolph - Ornament String and is available here.  Papers are the lovely St Nick by Fancy Pants and the baubles & nose have been given a blob of glossy accents to make them more prominent.

Challenges;
Bugaboo Christmas in July - Day 3, Chocolate cream & raspberry.
A Gem of A Challenge - Spots/Stripes
My Craft Spot - Christmas in July


Sunday 14 July 2013

Bugaboo Christmas In July - Day 2

Today's Christmas in July challenge with Bugaboo stamps is to use the sketch provided for your project.  Now, as is often the case with me and bold coloured Bugaboo images, I tried a variety of papers on my card, and in the end thought the best look was to go with white - in this case embossed.  So here is my card,



The image is available here, JJ Christmas Cheer - Me Naughty

Challenges;
Bugaboo Christmas in July - Day 2 - Sketch challenge
Simply Create Too - Christmas in July
Crafting When We Can - Christmas in July
Charisma Cardz Challenges - No design papers
Holly Jolly Christmas - Tic-Tac-Toe - Embossing, Ribbon & Die-cuts
Christmas Card Challenges - CCC33 - Embossing




Saturday 13 July 2013

Bugaboo Christmas In July - Day 1

How are your Christmas cards getting along this year? My supplies are shocking and it is for that reason I'm using the Bugaboo Christmas in July week long event to kick start 2013 production.

The last 3 years, I have made Christmas cards throughout the year, but by this New Year I felt I needed a break and would be fresher for my Christmas projects if I left them till later in the year, so this is it, the start of Christmas 2013 with the help of Bugaboo.

The challenge today was to take inspiration from a sunbathing Santa picture.  I went along with Santa & used an AKV Santa - Snow image I won last year in the Christmas in July event by completing the blog hop.




So, my card is actually a gift wallet - a simple design, but I have to say a very popular one and one that sells very well at craft fairs when people want to gift money or gift cards.

Challenges;
Bugaboo Christmas in July - Day 1 - Inspiration from Santa picture.
CAS on Sunday - Christmas in July
Crafty Sentiments - Christmas in July
Christmas Cards All Year Round - All about Santa


Wednesday 10 July 2013

Simply Charming

I can't seem to get my timings right at the moment with all my DT cards - I either make them way in advance or it's a rush to get them finished! No rush job however this week for Diva's as we switch back to Team B and a new challenge of

Charming

This week we are sponsored by the fabulous Stamp & Create.  To find out the prize on offer, hop back to the Diva's By Design page.

For my card, I went with a gorgeous Hannah Lynn image from Crafts and Me.  I really am trying to work on my inner diva here and have tried to banish plain Jane in favour of a more decorated card.  So not only do you have lots of layers and a flower, you also have a charm, twine and die-cuts!  Papers are by MME, my favourite Paris & Co pad. And, I even managed to paper piece her clothes!



So that's my take on this Charming challenge.  For more inspiration, head over to the main Diva's By Design page where you can feast your eyes on some gorgeous cards, then hopefully join us in this challenge.

Challenges;
One Crazy Stamper - Kraft
Allsorts - Favourite things - Hannah Lynn Stamps, MME paper and paper piecing
Di's Digi Challenge - Paper Piecing - her outfit
A Gem Of A Challenge - Lots of Layers
Papertake - Old, New Borrowed & blue - Well I got 2! Old papers and a new stamp for me.  The blue could even be the bird... and the borrowed, my time as I really should be holiday packing not card making!!!
Crafting For All Seasons - Bingo - Digi, Flower & pearls

Tuesday 9 July 2013

Heather's Leaving

One of my husband's work colleagues is leaving this month and so my husband asked for a card, last minute, as they do!  Anyway, thank goodness for pre-coloured images and sketch challenges - makes it as easy as 1-2-3!



So here's my card, using a Paper Shelter image and Craft Creations papers, quite pleased with it actually!

Challenges;


In The Garden

Hi there everyone, Summer holidays in full swing in Scotland, the sun is in the sky and most days I'm in the garden.  That's why I chose

In The Garden 

as the current theme for the Oldie But Goodie Challenge.
(Remember when entering to follow the theme and to use something older than 6 months on your project and  tell us what it is.)


Sponsoring us on this challenge is the super Ivanovachest, where the lovely Natali is offering our luck winner
the prize shown on the main blog.

For my card, I used a lovely new image by Digi Stamp Boutique, available here.  It's coloured with Promarkers, & the carrot border was made using a DSB image which Colin resized and flipped for me (- he's  a good lad!)  So, my oldies - struggling a bit here as my card is pretty CAS, but I'll go with the orange card & glossy accents, both much older than a year.



So, that's what I did - check out the rest of the DT works here then I'd love it if you joined in with this challenge over at an Oldie But A Goodie.

Challenges;
Digi Stamp Boutique - Use a DSB image
Digi Sketch Challenge - Summertime
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
Creative Card Crew - The great outdoors
Shopping Our Stash - Summer theme


10th Aug
Was delighted to see my card won the July DSB challenge and I was to get a super prize of £15 to spend in store - thank you so much Sally Ann, Jx



Monday 8 July 2013

No Stamps!

This is a rare type of card for me - one without stamping, but because I love these twine flowers so much I thought it could be the focal point instead.


Papers today are by Basic Grey from my Granola pad, using the organic and honey pages.

Challenges;
Basic Grey - No stamps allowed
Dream Valley - Make your own flowers
Squigglefly - Thank you
The Crazy Challenge - Without Stamps Jx

Saturday 6 July 2013

Boy Birthday

How's everyone today?  It's all sunny in our house today - both inside & out! The school holidays have now started, the sun is in the sky, and after a busy week, a relaxing weekend ahead looks like a good plan!

Ahead of that, a card post and an apology to my normal blog followers - sorry I haven't been visiting your blogs quite so often of late, but with a full household again and taking the boys here there and everywhere, blogging has been sidelined a bit!

Today's card was made for a neighbour and here it is;


Paper is Basic Grey and the image a digi by Teddy Bo.

Hope you all have a lovely weekend what ever you decide to do, & I'll be back next week with my regular DT posts.

Challenges;
Papertake - Anything Goes
LCI - Birthday
Here Come The Boys - Use a digi

Monday 1 July 2013

MSc

Can you believe it, 1st of July already!!!

I can't, honestly it's been such a fast year, not long till the holidays now and before we know it... Christmas! Must start those cards soon!

Anyway, back to today, and this time it's a congratulations card I have for you - made for my husband to give to a work colleague - well done Elaine!


As always, I coloured with Promarkers, added glossy accents to the glasses and used Doodlebug papers.  The image is a Sugar Nellie and the graduation bits are from an Elzybells stamp.

Challenges
Sketch Saturday - Sketch 265
Sugar Bowl - Anything goes