Spring/Easter

So, Spring has sprung and we are now into British summertime, brrr! Hope you all remembered to change your clocks.  Not so hard to remember nowadays with mobile phones automatically moving the time over for you, but I know in the past, when the boys were little I was caught pretty and couldn't understand why Corrie wasn't on at it's usual 7.30pm - so it took me till then before I noticed! Oops

Anyway, back to the latest challenge over at Ooh La La and this time it's Michelle in the driving seat, and she has chosen

Spring/ Easter 

as our theme, and as I'm doing a Birthday card I chose lovely tulips, they are a Spring flower right??? Hmm, will have to check that actually cause that's us into Summer and still no tulips, so forgive me if my gardeners world facts are not quite accurate!

My card today uses a gorgeous Shawn Jenkins art set again from his lovely Collection CD.  All that was added was a ribbon, pearly flower and sentiment.

Challenges;
Crazy 4 Challenges - Lets think Spring
Speedy Fox & Friends - 255 - Birthday card with butterflies
Creative Corner - Spring has Sprung
Crafty Ribbons - Anything goes with ribbon
Creative Knockouts - Spring is in the air
In The Pink - Lots of layers - The layers aren't pink but the paper & flowers are, hope that's enough?
Crafters Cafe - Spring flowers
Crafty Creations - Chevrons or stripes - stripes
Paper Shelter Challenge - Blooming
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Add A Little Dazzle - 67 - Spring Inspiration
Jx

Crafty Creations Challenges Winner! Thanks ladies and thanks Beccy's Place for my prize.

Tag You're It!

Hi everyone, it's me who's hosting at MAWTT this week, so I'd love it if some of you would join us in my

Tags Challenge

A simple one really, stemming from my love of those little LOTV sentiment tags - Debs, you get the blame for that!

For my card, I went with my new All Dressed Up digi called Little Bookworm, a 12x12 double sided DP, some ribbon and obviously my tags!

Really pleased with the end result - as was my niece as it was for her Birthday this month!

Challenges;
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
Chocolate Coffee & Cards - For a Child
Papertake - Happy ...Anything
Passion for Promarkers - Check it out
I Love Promarkers - The Beatles - Paperback Writer
All Dressed Up - Challenge 31 - Anything Goes  Jx

She's In Fashion

Today sees the start of a new Ooh La La challenge, this time set by Lynn, and our theme is...

She's In Fashion

Think it will be a popular one, and I can't wait to see all those lovely ladies in the coming two weeks.

My ladies would have probably been in fashion in the 1930's .  They were pulled from the gorgeous Yesterday's Memories CD by Ooh La La, (of course!)

Co-ordinating papers also came from the CD then the card was finished off with a die-cut bow, HobbyHouse pearls and my La La Land filigree corners, (I do like them!)

Challenges;
Through The Purple Haze - For Mum/Lady
CHPP - Patterned Paper
My Time To Craft - 283 - Special Lady
CD Sunday - Shabby Chic - Never quite sure what this means, so I may not fit the challenge? Jx

Show Us A Bunny

It's challenge day again over at MAWTT as well as my birthday and with team A at the helm, Judith has chosen

Show Us A Bunny

So it was a tough call between a PB or an LOTV stamp this week - both do delightful bunnies, but in the end I went with PB for the stamp as I've not coloured this one up before - and LOTV for papers, from the Nit-Wits, Country Meadow pad. Also in action were my lovely Simon Says Stamp stitched dies again and an old favourite, my Magnolia flower dies.

Challenges;
Artistic Inspirations - Anything Goes with a twist of green - Ivy!
Sentimental Sunday - Anything Goes

Happy BIG Birthday Liz!!!

What am I like, no cards in over a week then 2 in the same day!  There is however a reason for such over production, it's my sis's birthday today...

Happy Birthday Liz!

Hope you love being on my blog - I know the girls will love seeing you here, he he he! And I also hope you have a really lovely Birthday!

And for the ones that know me well, you will have therefore concluded that it is in fact also my birthday as we are twins!

So, my card for Liz - uses a family photo lots of dies and a special 50th ribbon - in case that had gone un-noticed!  You actually are lucky to see this card, as it was handed over before I remembered to photograph it, however John cane to the rescue and took me a quick snap - that's why the photo isn't to the usual high standard!!! Lol!

Finally, another old photo taken on a disposable camera, massively over exposed, but of such a happy day out!  Before either of us had kids, we took the ferry and went on a day trip cycling round Millport (Isle on the West coast of Scotland).  We had such a laugh that day, it was really sunny but also really windy and we giggled and carried on the whole time then arrived home rather red and rather sun burned - but it was still a great day out!  Thought Liz would like to see this one too to bring back some memories. (...of the bus!)

I'll need to raid my parents photo albums for more childhood photos tomorrow, so if you pop back at the weekend hopefully I'll have a few more photos of us up loaded by then. 

And in case any of you are wondering who's who...I'm the more active child in all the pics, poor Liz just had to put up with me - still does!!! Jx

Lots of Folds

Today Julie has picked a fantastic challenge theme for us over at Ooh La La - I say fantastic, but normally I shy away from this challenge as it's

Lots of Folds

Again it's up to you what you make as long as you follow the theme, and I knew from the off, loads of my teamies would make fancy cards in all sorts of shapes and folds - but I find them hard! I'm a square/easel girl and that's kinda it!

But, as it was a design team theme I had to think of an easy alternative and not skip it.  This is what I found...

Paper Gift Bag Tutorial - On YouTube

Simples!

I'll make you a paper bag!!!

These are made from an A4 sheet of printed paper - that's it.  Just fold away, no measuring involved and pick a closure of your choice - I did a variety.

So, I pulled out my Ooh La La CD's, printed off a couple of sheets of paper and got some ribbons and started folding...the results are below.

These are sooo easy - honestly, I'll never buy a little gift bag again!  Perfect for cream eggs, jewellery and other little treats, so once I'd mastered the art I couldn't stop folding!

So now my gift bags can co-ordinate my cards...

Challenges;
Crafty Calender - Anything Goes
Brown Sugar - Anything Goes
Crafty Gals Corner - Fancy Folds
Creative Moments - 62 - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Jx

Butterflies

Hope you're all well today and ready for the latest challenge over at MAWTT.  This week it's Wendy in charge, and she has gone with

Butterflies in Pink or Lilac

Now as soon as I saw the theme, I grabbed my Ooh La La - Shawn Jenkins CD as I knew it had the perfect file on it.  Papers and image all came from the CD and here is my card;

Challenges;
Creative Card Crew - Birthday with sentiment
Come and Get It - Birthdays
CD Sunday - Floral Frenzie - maybe not a frenzie but there are little flowers and pearl flowers!
Lil Patch of crafty friends - anything goes
Pile it On  - Butterflies
The Corrosive Challenges - Things with wings - butterflies
Crafty Calender - Anything goes
Southern Girls - Winged things - butterflies
Jx

Big Birthdayzzzzz!

Today is a very special day, in a very special year!  It's Colin's 18th Birthday today...

Happy 18th Birthday Colin, hope you have a fantastic day!

... with more big birthdays to follow soon with me & my twin sis celebrating our 50th next month then Alan celebrating his 21st in October - we couldn't have planned that better if we'd tried!

Anyway, back to today and Colin's card and a favourite little digi of mine, my Digi Stamp Boutique beer tankard.  This time I've shrunk it to mini size and printed 18 (obviously), again, coloured them with Promarkers and added glossy accents for glass effect.

The card is then finished with a Budweiser bottle top and a sentiment.

Challenges;
Crafty Catz - For the boyz
Digi Stamp Boutique - February Challenge

Add Something Green

Morning all, and it's time for another new challenge over at Ooh La La.  Today Avril would like to see that you...

Add Something Green

to your creation.  In my case however I just made a green card!

I found a fantastic image on the Ooh La La - Boys to Men CD - It's called Sniff.  The file had all the co-ordinating papers I needed, so all I had to do was design and add a ribbon.

I also layered up a few sections to make the joke stand out!

Quite pleased with how this one turned out, so I think I'll make up a few more in a similar style using more of the Boys to Men funny images.  Jx

Challenges;
Crafty Catz - For the boys
As You Like It - CAS 0r Fussy - I'm defo on the side of CAS, don't like busy cards as much I'm more a plain Jane and CAS is defo more in keeping for male cards!
Throwback Thursday - Anything green
Simon Says Stamp - All creatures great & small - the bear!
Come and Get It - Birthdays
Jx

Share The Love

This is a rare occasion - a new card on my blog that isn't DT work!  It is however to let you know of a little deal, which I though was rather nice... and rather than keep it all to myself I thought I'd share it with you and share my love for A Day For Daisies!

A Day For Daisies are currently running a promotion for valued customers whereby each month you get a $2 gift voucher to spend in store - that gives you a half price digi coming in at about £1.64 when I shopped, not bad eh!

To become a valued customer all you need to do is stop by their shop monthly to make a purchase. Downloading a freebie or using store credit also counts, so it's easy to qualify!

So obviously I made a little purchase to maintain my active customer status and so receive another $2 coupon for next month!

This month I chose this gorgeous hedgehog stamp called "Love Hurts" - how could I resist him, remember my month of the hedgehog last year!

The papers today are LOTV and the colouring by Promarker.

Challenges; (Think I've missed quite a few of the ones I'd aimed for!)
Chocolate Coffee & Cards - Love is in the air
Fussy & Fancy - It's all about love
Wags n Whiskers - For someone you love
Crafters Cafe - Hearts
Crafting for All Seasons - Have a heart
Simon Says Stamp - All Creatures Great & Small
Passion for Promarkers - To someone I love
Crafty Cardmakers - Love

Jx

Pastels

Challenge time again over at MAWTT, and today Hazel has chosen

Pastels

as the theme.  Now for some strange reason I keep thinking of fruit pastels, but I've a feeling that may not be the path she wants us to follow!!!

Instead I'm thinking pale colours, so it's an ivory lily I share with you today set on lovely Bo Bunny - Primrose Collection papers.  Nothing too fancy about todays card - but that's kinda how I like them!  Oh, and did I mention my new stitched dies from the fab Simon Says Stamp - Got them at Christmas (Thanks Mam & Dad x) - love them already and this is their first use!

Sorry about photo - Winter light is****e!

Challenges;
Allsorts - Flower Power
Crafty Catz - Stitching - real or faux - stitched dies
Polka Doodles - Flower Power
Clear it Out - Anything goes - Nothing new here. Last years papers & an even older stamp
Loves Rubber Stamps - Anything Goes
Papertake - Anything Goes
Party Time Tuesday - Anything Goes

Love

With Valentines Day just around the corner, it's not a surprise that the latest challenge theme over at Ooh La La has been set as...

Love

by the lovely Anne!

So having sifted through a variety of files and papers, I eventually decided on this Love file from the Shawn Jenkins Collection CD.

It's a simple layered card finished off with a ribbon and a heart button and I think I know who will be getting it!

Challenges;
A Gem of A Challenge - Lots of Layers
Di's Digi Designs - Include a heart - Wooden heart button
Sweet Stampin - Love
Wags N Whiskers - Hearts - button
Winter Wonderland - Lots of Layers

The Shawn Jenkins Collection - CD Available here

DT Call

 We are looking for some New Design Team Members. 

If you would like to join our Friendly team can you say YES to the Questions Below??????

Can you work well in a Team?

Can you make a Card/Project once a fortnight for the challenge?

Can you Comment on a set amount of entries every fortnight?

Can you host a Challenge once every 6 months?  (This means choosing a theme and writing the blog post for the challenge that week)

If you are interested email me (Hazel) at didosdesigns@yahoo.com with Design Team Call in the Subject Line.

In your email can you show me 1 of your favorite makes, your blog address and WHY we should pick you to be in the Team. 

The DT Call is open until 2nd February 2015. We will let everyone know if they have been successful by 5th Feb. 

Good Luck

This is the post from the MAWTT blog and I just want to add that this is the friendliest most fun DT I've been on and one that I will never leave - unless they kick me off, lol! Jx

Button It

Today sees the start of the new challenge year over at MAWTT and this week it's Debs who's hosting, she's picked

Button It

So after starting off with the intention of making a baby card, I coloured my image, picked my papers then die cut said image's ear off - so that was that!

Card 2 involved using a sentiment stamp from Bugaboo, some brown card and some buttons obviously!

The result was...

Challenges;
Top Tip Tuesday - Something new - a new Bugaboo image, well new to me!
Bunny Zoe's Crafts - Heart - in kraft
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
Fab n Funky - Button it
Jx

Once Upon A Time

Morning all and welcome to another challenge over at Ooh La La.  Today it's the turn of Allison to pick our theme, and she has chosen

Once Upon A Time

By that she means childrens stories and the likes.

Well once upon a time, there was a little girl called Emily, who owned a toy cat called Bagpuss, and upon hearing this verse

Bagpuss, dear Bagpuss

Old Fat Furry Catpuss

Wake up and look at this thing that I bring

Wake up, be bright, be golden and light

Bagpuss, oh hear what I sing

Bagpuss came to life and his adventure began!  Not quite sure what story unfolded that he ended up hanging from a washing line, but I think you get the general idea!

So here is my Bagpuss inspired card!

Ok, so he's not pink, but he is a stripey catpuss!

Papers and image all from the Ooh La La CD - Everyday Occasions, available here.

Challenges;
Chocolate Coffee & Cards - No circles
Wags n Whiskers - Anything Goes
Creative Knockouts - Birthdays
Fab n Funky - Something new - New Ooh La La CD!
The Paper Shelter - Dies/Punches - Fishtail die, leaf punch
Simon Says Stamp - For a guy - a little guy!
Cardz 4 Guyz - Happy Birthday
Papertake  - All new - New craft CD Ooh La La - Everyday Occasions
Party Time Tues - Anything Goes

For more inspiration, pop over to the Ooh La La blog where the rest of the team have come up with some super cards, Jx

Inspirational Challenge

So, it's back to the "A" Team over at MAWTT and Carole is hosting this week with a lovely inspirational photo for us and here it is,

It's up to you whether you use the colours or image as your inspiration... or both!

I went with the colours, and picked the following Promarkers as my starting point ;

Soft Green/Ivory/Baby Pink/Salmon Pink and Warm Grey 4/5 - not sure how helpful that was though as once the image was coloured, finding papers to match was a bit tricky!

Got there in the end though with a double sided sheet from MME - The Sweetest Thing and a sheet from my MME Lost & Found pad.  The image is a gorgeous kitty one from LOTV.

Challenges;

Glitter n Sparkle - Anything Goes
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
Stamping Sensations - Dies & Punches - Filigree and fishtail dies
Creative Card Crew - For a child
Papertake - Anything goes  Jx

Words To Inspire

Happy New Year everyone, wishing you all good health and happiness in 2015.

and to start the New Year, I have a bit of news for you...

I've been so excited to tell you this but I had to stay quiet about it till today, but now I can let the cat out of the bag (so to speak) and tell you all that I've now joined the Ooh La La Design Team!

Anne asked me at the end of last year, and because I so enjoyed working as a guest for them last Summer, I said yes!  Thank you so much ladies - it's a real pleasure to join you.

To open with the new challenge as been set by Wynn as

Words To Inspire

So I grabbed my "Say It With Words"  CD and out popped this card!

The image is called Be Strong, and the papers used are off the CD too.  Now I know I've said this before, but I can't stress enough, use good quality paper in your printer when running off DP's - normal printer stuff is so much inferior - well the stuff we have is!

Challenges;
Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
Polkadoodle - Tic Tac Toe - Sentiment/Image/DieCut
Crafters Cafe - New - New DT & New CD image & papers
Wordart Wednesday - Anything Goes

So that's my take on things.  You have 2 weeks to join us and if you need further inspiration, check out the main Ooh La La blog where the rest of the DT have made some real beauties and you can also read details of the prize up for grabs.  Jx

Say It With Words

My 5 Favourite Cards of 2014

Well if I thought picking my favourite Christmas cards was hard, picking my favourite other cards was so much harder.  In the end I have chosen the ones below, from a variety of stamp companies using both digi & rubber.  So here goes,

Again in no particular order, we start with a recent Bugaboo - got to include at least one!  This one was made back in April, using a 2014 Bugaboo image and old Basic Grey papers - really loved the sketch I followed on this one.

Next it's onto an LOTV stamped image, and another Spring card.  These papers were by MME and I so loved that pad!

Now the card above was entered into a GDT call over at Ooh La La, and was lucky enough to win me a one month spot working with that team.  Working off a CD was a new one on me, but I really loved some of the materials I was sent to work with and subsequently bought a Ooh La La CD and made many more cards including the one below;

Next we move onto an Art Impressions card - love these stamps and made quite a few this year after a couple of purchases.  So I've added the Grillfather to my favourites this year!

And finally, I've chosen a PB - how could I not - Sam would never forgive me!

So that's it, my top 5 for another year.  I always love doing this and thank Debby for running this challenge each year.  Jx

My 5 Favourite Christmas Cards 2014

With Christmas 2014 upon us it's time to look back on the years production and pick 5 favourites to enter Debby's annual challenge.

So, in no particular order, my top 5 are...

Yet again, there's a lot of Bugaboo images in my favourites, but as well as these, I've included this one, which uses a pre-coloured image from The Paper Shelter.

   The Paper Shelter Image & Papers - Nov 14

 Bugaboo Image - CAS Card - Nov 14

 Ooh La La - Precoloured image & papers - Oct 14

 Bugaboo Image - Jul 14

Bugaboo Image - Apr 14

So that's my favourites, can't wait to see yours.  Hopefully I'll be able to visit in the next couple of days and see.

Merry Christmas, Jx

Tis The Reason...

I've saved this Christmas card till last this year, to wish all my blog friends a Merry Christmas and to thank those of you who comment on my blog and sent me cards this year.

It's a simple CAS card using a Bugaboo image and a computer generated sentiment.  As always, colouring is done by Promarker.

Challenges;
Papertake - Last Christmas
I Love Promarkers - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp - Winter Inspiration
Choc Coffee & Cards - Christmas
Crafty Catz - Last Minute Christmas - quick card
CHCC - What ever's needed - more cards
A Gem Of A Challenge - Anything Christmas

PS Also, I'm pleased to report I passed my Spirometry assessment last week.