Sugar n Spice

& all things nice, that's what little girls are made of.

However, it's my little boy I'm off to visit as he finished his exams yesterday and said we could meet up for lunch... oh yeah Mum, & while you're in, could you clean the bathroom!

Anyway, a scheduled post to share a couple of baby cards with you.

My cards are made using Pink Gem images and Craft Creations papers and the current Papertake sketch.

Challenges;
Papertake - Sketch
Crafting For All Seasons - Girly

Vintage With Lace

On Sunday it rained and snowed on and off all day, so I went upstairs to make my latest card for Diva's By Design.  Today we follow the theme of;

Vintage with Lace

Not a particular favourite of mine, but as it was a DT card I had to get on with it!  Firstly I had the problem of an image.  Initially I was going to use an old photo, but in the end I went with a digi from Free Vintage Digital Stamps - think the name there says it all, and if any of you haven't checked them out I urge you to do so as they have some super images.

So, onto my card...

The colours haven't photographed too well, but I think you get the general idea! Papers are Bo Bunny Avenue Collection then the card is finished with Hobbyhouse pearls and gems, some lace and punched leaves.

Sponsoring us this time are the fabulous Live & Love Crafts, with our lucky winner getting?

Challenges;

Sketch Saturday - Struggled a bit with the embellishments this week!

Allsorts - Vintage

Fussy & Fancy - Vintage

Fantastic Tuesday - Make it Cute or Sweet - or both!

Christmas Cards 2014 - Card 4

Yeah, back on track, a Christmas card a week all 2014.

This card uses a lovely Di's Digi image called Penguin's Visit, and was one of four images I chose as a prize this year from the Cutie Pie Challenge - thanks to all, Jx

Challenges;
Christmas Challenges with Sketches - Lovely sketch
Dream Valley Challenges - No designer papers
Glitter n Sparkle - Bling it up - glitter trim on Santa suit
Catch The Bug - Inspirational pic of penguins
ABC Xmas - B - bare minimum!

Christmas 2014 - Wk 3

Just a quick post today as I spent most of yesterday crafting - tidy up time required!

Here is a simple, thin Christmas card using that fab Memory Box die and a Snowy snowman by Magnolia.

Challenges;
ABC Xmas - B for bare minimum of embellishments.
Kaboodle Doodles - Baby it's Cold Outside

Will probably be back later with another Christmas card as I'm not quite hitting at card a week production yet! Jx

A Stitch In Time!

Well it's Saturday morning again, and this is my last Guest Designer post for Sweet Stampin.  It's been such a quick month working with them and I've really enjoyed it.

Today, the challenge is

Stitching - Real or Faux

For my card, I went with a whole sewing theme.  I bought a new digi from Milk Coffee Cards, used LOTV patchwork papers and Memory Die sewing die cuts.

Challenges;
Bunny Zoe Crafts - Stitching
Sketch n Stash - 131 - Love this one so much!
Sweet Stamps - Anything Goes
Top Tip Tuesday - Favourite Sketch - them all really, but I do Sketch n Stash most times!

Passion For Promarkers - Ribbon Lace or Twine - I chose ribbon
Glitter n Sparkle - Stitching real or faux
Crafty Girls - Anything goes

Prizes over at Sweet Stampin for this challenge are a weekly prize of a $12 voucher from Di'sDigi's

And then there's the monthly prize of a £10 voucher from Cuddly Buddly.

Finally I'd just like to thank Sweet Stampin for having me and if you too would like to work with this great design team, well they are having a DT call right now - details here!

Oh yeah, and I did sign up for Race For Life - now all I have to do is start training!

Cats!

Well anyone that follows my blog will know I'm a cat person - I realise not everyone is, but loads of you crafters are, that's why I chose

Cats

as the current challenge over at Moving Along With The Times .

I hope you can join us on this one, there are loads of cat stamps out there - the hard bit is deciding on which one to use!  The prize this time around is this is this wooden Hampton Art Stamp

So I went with a new PB called It's Your Day, I got it from Sam as she won it in a prize from Laurie when she did an earlier MAWTT challenge - so I guess it's thanks to both of them that I now have this little beauty!

Papers again are LOTV, as is the sentiment and the card is decorated further with ribbon, glossy accents, pearls and heart diecuts.

Challenges;
Hobbycutz - Lots of Layers
SSW2 - Another beautiful sketch to follow
Deep Ocean Challenge - Birthdays
Shopping Our Stash - Winter Blues
Cutie Pie Challenge - Cute & Blue
Kaboodle Doodles - Use Blue
Make It Monday With Kraft Outlet - Kraft & Winter Blue
Make My Monday - Kraft Card
613 Avenue Create - Winter Blue


And now a story that happened a few months back, which made this stamp so perfect.  When Merlot had only been with us a few weeks, he followed me about like a shaddow - still does when he's in the house!  Anyway, one night I went for a bath and you know whats coming... little Lotty jumped up on the side and was happily patrolling the perimeter when the inevitable happened and he went for a dip.  Strange thing is he wasn't that phased, just soaked thru!

And this is my shaddow before his op as I upload cards!

Cheers

It's time for a new challenge over at an Oldie But a Goodie, and this week it's my turn to set the theme, so, I've chosen...

Recycle

(Remember also to use an item older than 6 months on your project and to tell us what it is.)

This was my cheeky little recycling idea for a male card the other day!  The idea came to me after a lovely glossy magazine came through the post advertising Tesco's wine range.  The magazine was such good quality it seemed a shame to throw it straight in the bin, so instead, I set about it with scissors!

 The Front Cover

 The Back Cover

 The Bottles Pages

The Final Card!

Quite a quick and simple card really once I had the initial idea.  It's finished off with a flower of un-known origin, but it was perfect for the job along with a ribbon & sentiment.  (The flower is also very old!)

Challenges;
A Gem of a Challenge - One for the boys - my hubby to be precise!
Daring Cardmakers - What's your tipple - guess it's red wine!
Stampin For The Weekend - Happy Birthday
Charisma Cardz - It's a boy thing
Crafty Creations - Something To Drink
Make It Monday - Anything Goes

For more inspiration and details of the prize this time around hop over to the main OBAG Blog. Jx

Christmas Cats - Card 2

Quick post today to try and keep going with Christmas 2014.  This card uses a Day For Daisies stamp and the Sketch Saturday sketch and lots of embossing.

Challenges;
Sketch Saturday - 293 - Lovely CAS sketch
Simon Says Stamp - Emboss it.

While The Cat's Away...

The mice will take advantage!

Yup, little Merlot is out of action at the moment, recovering from his op.  He is doing well, and each day we see a big improvement in him.

However as he's still sleeping heaps, I fear the mice in the area could take advantage of the situation!

Today's card uses a fab Penny Black Mousie image and some Bo Bunny paper that Colin gave me for Christmas - that boy picks well!

Challenges;
SSW2 - sorry it's taken me so long to join in, just been a bit busy, but I'm pleased to be using this fab sketch.
Stampin For The Weekend - Anything Goes
PBSC - New - New papers from my son at Xmas

Your Favourite Style - CAS

Today see's another new challenge begin over at Sweet Stampin, and Abi has chosen the theme this time.  Today we are being asked to create using;

Your Favourite Style

Now after thinking about this, I decided on CAS - I never seem to manage to pull off the mega embellished look without my card looking cluttered, so instead I prefer the other extreme!  A good sentiment and a bold well coloured image &...that's it!

So here is my card for the occasion;

Sponsoring us this time are Stix2 who are giving away a goodie bag to our lucky winner,

and as well as this we have the monthly sponsor of Cuddly Buddly who offer the overall monthly winner a £10 voucher to use in store.

Challenges;
As You Like It - Favourite C&S design & why.  One image one sentiment and a border - simple as! I love this style as I'm not really into cards with loads on them - mine look to busy when I try.  Plus these cards are perfect to post and don't need a large stamp!
One Crazy Stamper - Anything Goes
The Paper Shelter - Winter Blue - got the blue, not sure about the Winter - but I guess people move house in winter too?
Top Tip Tuesday - CAS
Brown Sugar - Anything Goes

For more details & inspiration head back to the main Sweet Stampin page.

Finally, a tale of woe... Merlot Mogs is poorly!

He went for his "little boy" op on Thurs only things did not go to plan.  His bits weren't both to be found so he needed a much bigger operation with his tummy opened up.  Eventually things were located and removed and he's now home recovering poor love.

Use Ribbon

Today it's back to Team B at Diva's and we have a new challenge for you sponsored by Crafty Ribbons.

The theme this time is

Use Ribbon

So without further-a-do, here's my card;

It uses a lovely Saturated Canary image available to buy here.  Paper is LOTV Nitwits and the flower done with a Marianne Die and finished with a super Hobby House button.

Challenges;
Hobby House - Use Ribbon and a Hobby House item
Sketch n Stash - Sketch 130
Allsorts - Use ribbon - no bow
Hobbycutz - Something new - first time I've used this stamp - new to me
Sweet Stamps - Winter Blues
Papertake - New Year, New Stash - First outing of this lovely Saturated Canary image

Get Well Soon

Today I share a card with you that I made for a bloggy friend who recently has had a stay in hospital.  Think she's on the mend now - I do so hope so.

Anyway, my card uses a lovely image from ADFD - available here.

I paper pieced it after seeing this done on another blog - only I used real paper where as the other one was done graphically, I think - looks that way to me.

Papers this time are Papermania from a few years back, then my fish-tail dies were in action to create the banners.

Challenges;
ADFD - Yellow - and thanks for a great freebie
Sketch Saturday - Sketch 292 - but I made it square not rectangular - but I guess you clocked that!
Just Us Girls - Paper Piecing
Word Play Saturday - Yellow
Fussy and Fancy - Monochromatic - Yellow
Glitter n Sparkle - Bingo - Die-Cuts/ Digi/ Buttons

Christmas 2014 - Wk 1

Right, I know we are now almost at the end of week 2 of 2014, but at least I have started card production again.  Last year I didn't work on Christmas all year long and that wasn't the best, so I'm back to a card a week for the year.

Today's offering is a Bugaboo snowman and my super new Memory Box Christmas die.

Challenges;
ABC Xmas - Anything Christmas
Winter Wonderland - Monochrome
CHCC - Winter Weather - Snow obviously!

Girly But NO Pink...& THAT CAT!

Hi everyone, Saturday again and the second of my post's for Sweet Stampin.  Hope you are all well and settling back in to the normal routine of things.  Yesterday I took my eldest son back to Uni, so I have to say I'm a bit sad at the moment. That's him in 2nd year now and it's still hard to say bye as he heads off for another term.  Glad he's only an hour away though as I can always visit!

Right' back to Sweet Stampin business, today the theme is;

Girly but no Pink!

Not too hard a theme for me as I quite often don't do pink girly cards.  That said, because I was told not to this time, it kinda made me want to use it - how bizzar!

So, here's my card -

My card uses a fab Bugaboo image, MME Be Amazed papers and dies - Die-namics Retro Squares again for the middle strip and I think, a Marianne Flower.

Again there are a few sponsors for this challenge - Cuddly Buddly are offering the monthly winner a £10 voucher whilst the weekly prize winners will get a £10 voucher from the Ribbon Girl.

Challenges;
Polkadoodles - Anything goes - girly
Charisma Cards - Birthday
Digi Galore - Girly
Natalie & Amy's Challenge - One for the girlies
One Crazy Stamper - Anything Goes
Fab n Funky - Lets Celebrate
Fantastic Tuesday - Anything Goes
Krafty Girls - Anything Goes
Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Blog - Cute & Sweet

Finally, a couple of cat pics.  For those of you that follow my blog you will know I have a 6 month old kiten called Merlot who loves to climb trees.  So, the latest adventure, my neighbours tree, here he is,

... he was up there for over an hour jumping about on the stumps till I eventually got the ladders out - again.  How many times does he need to get stuck in trees before he'll learn? Jx

New Beginnings - New Job

Today we have a new challenge over at Moving Along With The Times, we want to see your projects to do with

New Beginnings

And as I have to make a leaving card for one of my husbands colleagues, I have gone with a new job card.

My card uses a super Mo Manning digi, specially bought for the occasion. Papers are LOTV and then I used a border die and some bits and bobs to finish things off.

Challenges;

Crafty Sentiments - New
Ooh La LaCreations - Easel cards
Papertake - Anything New
Addicted Too Stamps & More - Use Markers
Crafters Caft - Anything Goes
Shopping Our Stash - Something New
Sweet Stamps - Kraft
Ready Teddy Go - New Beginnings
Winter Wonderland - Teddybears
Crafty Cardmakers - Bears
613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes

And the die that you are all asking about...

Die-namics Retro Squares - I got mine from Dies to Die For here. Jx

New Beginnings - Baby Boy

Well, the schools are back, Alan returns to Uni at the end of the week and things are gradually returning to normal.

That means Tuesdays, and another Oldie But A Goodie Challenge - the first of 2014, and like many other challenges out there, we've gone with the theme of ;

New Beginnings

(Please also use an item older than 6 months on your project and tell us what it is)

So here's my card,

It uses very old Craft Creations papers, an old pre-coloured Pink Gem image and my lovely La-La Land banner die.

Quite a lot of the DT also went with baby cards, but you don't have to.  Check out what they made here.

Challenges;
Glitter n Sparkle - Anything goes
Hobbycutz - Anything goes
The Corrosive Challenge - New beginnings
A Gem of A Challenge - Something new - new baby
Chocolate Coffee & Cards - New beginnings
Jx

Sport & Fitness

Today is a very exciting day for me as it sees the beginning of my month long stint as a guest designer at Sweet Stampin.  I am so pleased to have been given the chance to work with the SS team and I'm looking forward to joining in with all their challenges this month - thanks ladies for asking me along.

So, the theme of this first challenge of 2014 is;

Sport & Fitness
Do you think the DT ladies are trying to nudge us in to action with this one???

For my card, I went with a sport dear to my son's heart - football, and this was the card I made for his birthday.

The paper is Basic Grey and the image, a super digi from Just Inklined, called Football Crazy.  The colours of the football boots reflect the current ones Alan wears, (& I clean!) and the glaze helps them have that plastic appearance that boots have nowadays.

Sponsoring this challenge and offering some great prizes are

Flat Friends - £15 voucher prize

Crafty Devils - £15 voucher prize

And the monthly sponsor is Cuddly Buddly who are giving away a £10 voucher prize -  so lots of prizes to be won!

Challenges; 

Charisma Cardz - Birthdays
Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
Papertake - Sketch 42

Passion for Promarkers - Use a sentiment

Brown Sugar - Ribbon or Twine

The Hobby House - Ribbon - but no HH product used so ignore my entry!

Allsorts - Free & Easy

For more details on this challenge & to see the rest of the DT makes, head back to the main Sweet Stampin Page.  Jx

Finally, a decision, (I think!) Race for Life - Think I'll sign up for it again this year, I'll sleep on the idea, then hopefully before this challenge is through I'll have signed up for it - maybe???

Cats

Morning everyone, after what seems like a huge crafting break, I'm now back upstairs and 2014 production has begun!

Today's card uses a lovely " A Day for Daisies" image available here - really love their stamps and you'll be seeing a few more of their images this year as that's what Colin got me for Christmas - clever boy!

Papers are an LOTV pad then the ribbon & lace were from my huge ribbon box and the clouds, Die-namics die-cuts.

Challenges;
Sketch n Stash - 129 -mirror image of sketch - hope that's ok?
CRAFT - Anything goes
Crafters Cafe - Animal Friends
Paper Shelter - Anything Goes
Sweet Stampin - A little bird told me
Bunny Zoe Crafts - Wings
A Day for Daisies - Anything Goes

Top 5 2013

Happy New Year everyone, hope you had a good night last night and wishing you all the best for 2014.

Looking back at 2013 now and I'm picking my favourite 5 cards for Debby's end of year round up.

So here they are, in no particular order,

Designed To Delight - Autnmn Colours

LOTV - Baby Card

Stampelkallan - Shirt

Bugaboo - Twine Time

Crafts & Me - Simply Charming

Hopefully later on today I'll have time to blog hop and see everyone elses top 5, but for now I think it's back to bed! Jx