Jack & A Frog (Not A Beanstalk)

Today has been a crafty day for me today.  I was working yesterday then had to take my hubby to the train station later on as he's away on a course the next few days.  After all the business of yesterday I thought I should have a quieter day today - catch up on housework tomorrow before he gets back!

So my card uses a Jack image from Ladybug Craft Ink - one of many I got at Christmas last year, so prepare to be LCI'd over the next few weeks!

Papers are Basic Grey and the punched leaves done using my MS lever punch.  This is the only card I'll post today, the others may follow but they were more made to fill up my card box as sales in aid of the Multiple Sclerorisis Society have been good, so I don't want a lack of cards to prevent sales!

Challenges;

LCI - Spring - Maybe stretching it a bit, but it's bright Spring colours and perhaps in all the heat we're having this baby frog has awoken from hibernation? Good story if nothing else!

Sweet Sketch Wednesday - Turned the sketch (197-67), but I think that's allowed?

Little Miss Muffet - Boys Only - Challenge 56

PB & More@Allsorts - One For The Boys

Creative Card Crew - Ribbon

Critter Sketch - Twine

Glitter n Sparkle - Go Green

Stamping Sensations - The Great Outdoors (This is a cling stamp not a digi) 

Crafty Ribbons -  (41) One For The Boys Jx

Baby Oliver

So how is everyone today?  I can't get the heat up - it's just so cold, but at least the snow isn't hanging about and we don't have it as bad a those further south.

I even made it out for a walk the last couple of days, and bumped into a neighbour yesterday who told me there was a new baby on the street, so Oliver, this one's for you!

The image is a  Meljen Little Donkey and the papers Craft Creations.

Challenges;
Meljen's - Sketch
Cards For Men - Monochrome
Sweet Stampin - Males - Baby boy
Papertake - 1-2-3 - 3 Papers, 2 Flags, 1 Image

WoW Milk Coffee Charlotte

At the beginning of the year, I was lucky enough to win some Milk Coffee stamps, and I have to say, they are fast becoming a favourite.  There are just so many digi's of theirs that I really like, I am constantly dipping back to their store to add more to my basket!  My most recent purchase was this little cutie called Charlotte.

I've kept my card quite simple so that the image is the focal point.  The flowers are made using a Magnolia Die and the butterfly a punch.

WoW cards are never the easiest to photograph so I've taken a 2nd shot to show the card dimension and give a close up of the image.

Colouring as always done by Promarker.

Challenges;
Pan Pastels - Girly
Milk Coffee Challenge - WoW
Bunny Zoe's Crafts - Girly
Addicted To Stamps - Bring on Spring - Flowers - On image & die cuts.
Stamptacular Sunday - To Die For - Doo Hickeys Flower Dies
Delicious Doodles - Use Die Cuts
Cute Card Thursday - Spring Fever
My Mum's Craft Shop - Spring Has Sprung

Uptown Girls

Remember the Billy Joel song, Uptown Girl, it was in the charts in the late eighties - just as I started dating my hubby.  It was forever playing on juke boxes and in night clubs, then it was taken back into the charts more recently by Westlife.

Anyway, I'm drifting off topic! Back to my card & my fantastic new Stamping Bella stamp from my lovely friend Laurie.

It's such a great stamp and one I'm sure I'll use loads as it's great for girls and perfect for 18th's!

So the paper is Doodlebug, the dresses paper pieced, the glasses glazed and the colouring by Promarker.

Challenges
Sketch Saturday  - Nice easy one this week
Pin-siprational Challenge - Purple No 47
2 Sisters - Pastels
Totally Papercraft - Punch It - MS Doily Punch

FINALLY - Just got to tell you all about the film we watched last night. Hope Springs with Meryl Streep & Tommy Lee-Jones.  Absolutely brilliant chick flick.  Funny, sad, moving, just a delightful watch, so if you need a feel good film, this is where you should put your money.  Enjoy your evening, Jx

12th March
This has been a good week for me, hadn't won anything in ages or made any Top 3's, then THREE in the same week.  Today it's Top 3 at Pin-spirational Challenge. Thanks ladies, Jx

Harry Potter

I so love the Bugaboo Har Reporter image series, and they were just perfect for the sketch over at Sketch n Stash this week where the sketch kinda needed 2 images.

Here's my card,

Paper - Basic Grey, Urban Prarie

Challenges;
Sketch n Stash - Sketch
Catch The Bug - Anything Goes
Cutie Pie - Magical
Make It Monday - Anything Goes

And now I must magically put pastry on a steak pie and have it cooked for tea! Time is now of the essence!!!  Have a great weekend everyone, Jx

11th March
Made Top 3 at Sketch n Stash - Well chuffed!


19th March So it's not just my son that is a huge Harry Potter fan then!  This card was also the winner over at Cutie Pie Challenge on their magical theme.  Thanks ladies, & thanks Jodie for my Bugaboo prize. Jx

Cuddles

What a lovely name for a stamp, Cuddles by Docrafts, and it features the lovely Tatty Ted with a floppy rabbit.  A perfect image for a little girl who wanted a teddy card for her Mum in purples!

So Amy, here's your card - hope you & your Mum like it.

And as I'm in to my silicone glue at the moment, the rabbit was double stamped & raised!

Papers are Doodlebug and the colouring by Promarker.

Challenges;

Fab n Funky - Cute & Cuddly

Creative Craft Challenges - Mother's Day

Papertake - Anything Goes

Passion For Promarkers - One for the Ladies

Stamptacular Sunday - Sketch

One Stop Crafts - Mother's Day

Orchid

Can we say we're in Spring now, it certainly seems like it?  The weather has been so good of late I've been out in the garden having a tidy and I've also started running again.  (Too cold for that in Winter!)

In between gardening & running I've manage to find a little bit of time to craft - there's a surprise eh!  Here's my card for this weeks challenge over at Moving Along With The Times.

This time around it was Judith who chose our theme and she's gone with

The Birds & The Bees

By that she means anything nature inspired, so your card doesn't actually have to feature a bird or a bee - phew for me!

Once again, we are sponsored by the fabulous A Passion For Stamps and our lucky winner will get a great prize from their store.  My card was made using the Orchid image available here.

Please also check out the rest of the DT's fabulous cards on the main MAWTT Blog.

Challenges;
Cuttin & Stampin - Use Flowers
Digital Tuesday - Buttons or Bling - Buttons for me
Bunny Zoe Crafts - Flowers & Pearls

Feeling Floral

A special day today, not only is it the start of a new challenge over at An Oldie But A Goodie - but it's also my twin sister's birthday!  Happy Birthday Liz if you're reading!

The challenge this time has been set by Helen who has chosen

Feeling Floral

& the prize is this lovely collection of hand-made flowers - perfect to embellish your lovely cards with.

So, onto my card, below,

The stamp here is the oldie, and is by Stamporium, no name or date on it but it cost £6.95 and you don't get wooden stamps this size at the price any more!

Papers are Papermania Capsule collection also 6 months+ and the lace & pearls are from my box of bits!

So that's my floral offering, now check out the rest of the DT's lovely makes on the main blog.

Challenges;
LCI - add a number
Craft Us Crazy - Anything Goes
I Love Promarkers - Lace & Pearls
Addicted To Stamps - Bring On Spring
Glitter n Sparkle - Mother's Day/ Ladies Cards
Pile It On - Happy Birthday
Allsorts - For A Lady
Bildmalarna Challenge - Yellow

PS Did I forget to mention it's also my birthday today too! Thanks to all my crafty buds who sent me such lovely hand made cards, you are all so kind and thoughtful. Jx

Little Miss...

Will have to look up the name of this Little Miss Muffet stamp, she's from the hatter range but that's all I know!

Anyway she's coloured with Promarker then set on LOTV/Nitwit paper and old Tim Coffey paper.

The flowers are made using a Die-namics die with a brad centre and the webbing from Germany.

Challenges;
Little Miss Muffet - Yellow & Blue
Papertake - Lovely sketch
Fab & Funky - Pastel Colours
Digital Tuesday - Birthday
Love To Create - String Twine or Fibres - the webbing behind the image & flowers is a stringy fibre
Pause Dream Enjoy - Use A Hat
Cute Card Thursday - Something Old - The Tim Coffey yellow paper - had it years!

7th March
What an honour, my Hatter card above has been Spotlighted on the Little Miss Muffet Blog, yipee!

The Window Cat

Most of you probably know I own a grey cat called Femo.  Femo just loves to sit on the window ledge looking out - especially when it's dark for some strange reason!

Anyway, when I saw this Meljen cat image I immediately thought of Femo and obviously had to get it!  The rest of the card is made up of a brickwork embossed background made using a Tim Holtz folder and the window is glazed with acetate.

I raised the window off the brick work, then further raised the cat for a bit of depth to my card.

Challenges;
Allsorts - Animals
Lawnscaping Challenge - Stamp a Scene
Lexi's Creations - Monochromatic
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
Stamping Sensation - Fur & Feathers
Crazy For Challenges - C4C174 - Texture - Embossing & Acetate
Clearly Inspired - Black White + Another - Grey
Cute Card Thursday - Simplify
Milk Coffee Challenge - Make It Cute
I love Promarkers - Four Legged Friends

A Daytime shot of Femo as the flash bounces off the window at night! Jx

Get Well With Chicken Soup

This Bugaboo Chicken soup image is another great one for get well cards.  Today it's coupled with MME papers called Be Amazing.

Challenges;
Sketch Saturday - Sketch 247
Alphabet Blog Challenge - A - Anything with wings
Milk Coffee Challenge - Make it Cute
Created With Love - Things That Fly

Shell's Sketch

I'm scheduling this post a bit earlier than normal cause I'm off in to Aberdeen today and don't want to get bogged down on my blog before I go!

I also think that it's better to be early rather than late although you wouldn't think it as I'm always chasing my tail!  Today however see's the beginning of another challenge over at MAWTT and this time it is Shell who is hosting and she has done us a fabby sketch to follow - I've included it below.

So make us a card, using the basics of the sketch and you could be in with a chance of winning four lovely Meljen Design images - as Meljen's is our sponsor this week.

...so I think that is enough of a reason to get crafting - like you need an excuse!

For my card I went with the lovely Soda for Two image available here.

It's coloured with Promarkers, then the glass given my favourite - a glossy accents finish!

I struggled a bit for papers with my card as I coloured in my image without first checking I had papers to match, but I wanted those colours so I just went online till I found papers that matched.  They ended up being "Whoo's Having A Party - Dot's & Solids" by Raspberry Road - our last weeks sponsor!

So that's what I did with the sketch, now check out what the rest of the team did before joining us in our current challenge over at Moving Along With The Times.

Challenges;
Cutie Pie Challenge - Pretty Pastels
Digi Darla's Challenge - Food For Thought
House of Gilli - Anything Goes + Pastel
613 Avenue Create Challenge - Use set colours - Pinks & Brown
Addicted To Stamps - Use Kraft
Meljens - Seeing Spots
Mema's Crafts Challenge - February - Hello Doily - Use a doily

24th Feb
One of the newer challenges to me is 613 Avenue Create, but I'll certainly be playing along with them again.  Today I spied a top 3 placing for my card above in their colour challenge last week - thanks ladies, Jx

Get Well Soon

As I continue my trawl through the web for new stamp companies, I came upon this freebie but twit that I am, I never noted who it was by!  Do you recognise it, if so let me know so I can add details to this post!  Anyway,  as I need to make a get well card I snapped it up!

Flowers are by WOC and leaves MS punched.

On the subject of get well - that's as good a link as any, I'm fund raising again this year.  Two years ago it was for The British Heart Foundation, then last year for Cancer Research UK.

This year, my chosen charity is The Multiple Sclerosis Society, so for the next couple of months I'll sell my cards with all monies going to them.

Challenges;
Creative Craft Challenges2 - Sketch

Bright Colours

Craft's& Me have some wonderful stamps, and one of my favourite ranges is by Hannah Lynn.  I just love this mermaid image and loved colouring her tail then making it all sparkly.

And she's perfect for the current challenge over at An Oldie But A Goodie which begins today.  Francesca has chosen

Bright Colours

as the theme this time round and back sponsoring us again this time are the fabulous Iva Nova Chest and they are offering our challenge winner this prize from their store.

So here is my bright & sparkly card!

Papers are again by MME, this time it's my Be Amazing Pad and the flowers are by Mulberry Crafts out of a prize I won earlier in the year. (Thanks Bev.)

Please check out the rest of the DT makes and leave them some love before joining us in our Bright Colours Challenge over at An Oldie But A Goodie.  To enter our challenge remember you must follow the theme and use an item of 6 months or over and let us know what it is.  In my case it's the lovely image.  I've noot used it before but I've had it for over 6 months.

Challenges:
Little Miss Muffet - Sketch
No Matter Which Challenge - Ribbons & Bows
The Ribbon Girls - Torquoise/Aqua
Crafting When We Can - Birthstones - My Birthstone for March - Aquamarine
Pin-spirational Challenge - Photo Inspiration
Craft Your Passion - Glitter - On Tail
Whoopsi Daisy - Make It Girly

10th March
Really pleased to placed in the top 3 of Crafting When We Can. Thanks ladies, Jx

Colin's Camera

Colin got a new digital camera at Christmas, then for his birthday we got him a zoom lens.  As it was a lovely day on his birthday, he was keen to try out his new toy so we headed to Fraserburgh so he could take some beach/harbour shots.

He snapped loads in the afternoon - of things I would never have thought worthy of photographing.  He then used photo shop to create some special effects, and these are some of my favourites so far;

Girls Love Shopping at Jack Wills!

Yesterday it was Nikki, today it's Gorjuss - is there a sale on? No that's not it, it's cause the new Spring collection has just been released!!!

So, like yesterday, it's the catalogue cover + gems, buttons & a ribbon.

Challenges;
Cupcake Craft - Sketch
Sugar Bowl - Anything Goes
Shopping Our Stash - Birthdays
Paperplaytime - Border Punch - MS Doily

Nikki Shops at Jack Wills

For months now I've held onto the Jack Wills catalogue and fliers just cause I love their bold pink/blue stripe design.  I knew they would have their day, and today is that day!

The image is the lovely Nikki from Lady Bug Crafts Inc, the pink paper is Craft Creation and the colouring, by Promarker.

This is what I made this morning while waiting for the slater... still waiting!  He said he's call so hopefully he will soon!

Challenges;
LCI - Laurie's Pink &... Navy
Sketch n Stash - Sketch 3 - (wish I did them all first time around so I could compare my old & new cards!)
Charisma Cards - Anything Goes
Crafty Ribbons - Button Up
I Love Promarkers - For Girls
7 Kids College Fund - Happy Birthday

25th Feb 13
Thanks Kerry and the team at LCI, this card won their colour challenge with use of an LCI Image.

To My Valentine

I'm so into my Meljen images at the moment and I just love this curvy beauty!  She is perfect for my this years Valentine.  She's set on lovely heart papers by Craft Companions and the ribbon down the side was purchased last summer when we were in Berlin having a great time together.  That holiday was spent rooting out Mango stores all over Berlin and tracking down crafty shops on the way!  Boy did we explore Berlin and  boy did I make some super purchases!

Anyway, back to the card, nothing much more to say about it really, so here it is,

Challenges;
Allsorts - Valentines
Crafty Creations - Love/Hearts
Divas By Design - Love/Romance
Crafty Sentiments - Valentine
Papertake - Hearts & Flowers
Come & Get It - Show Us Your Heart
Sentimental Sunday - Love is in the air
Stamptacular Sunday - From The Heart
A Gem of a Challenge - Hearts/Valentines
Meljens - All You Need is Love

Other news... we have a leak!  The bad news is it's right above my craft table and has been dripping on to my desk for a good part of today.  The good news is, I just tidied my desk yesterday so nothing was damaged.  Had it happened a couple of days ago I think I may have cried as there were loads of half finished projects and coloured images just sitting around awaiting completion!  So today I'm on the hunt for a slater!

Christmas Card No 6 - Christmas Pudding

This is a really old stamp, one of the first ones I bought off Ebay in my early crafting days.  I think it's Anita's and today I've coloured it with Promarkers and combined it with LOTV papers.

This is my 6th Christmas card so far, not a huge start, but as they say at Tesco - Every Little Helps!

Challenges;
CCWS - Sketch + Staples - (Mine are on the edges of the black snowflake strip. Jx

Little Donkey

Must make this a quick post to catch cup cake challenge, but I so must get cracking with tea!

Time is not on my side and tatties need to be peeled!  More details after tea.

Challenges;
Sketch Saturday - Sketch 245
Cupcake Craft - Yellow & Grey
Papertake - Anything goes, with optional yellow
Meljens - KISS - Just say if it's too fussy, wasn't sure?
Glitter & Sparkle - Female Cards
Crafty Ribbons - Anything goes with ribbon

Jx

Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen

I don't have that many House Mouse stamps, not because I don't like them though as the ones I do have are lovely, and a lot of them bought with specific people in mind.

The stamp I have used today is case in point, I saw the image and immediately thought of Colin.  Granted I have had the stamp for about a year and never used it, but I knew, it's day would come...and today is that day!

The stamp is called Computer Tutors - not that Colin would ever need one of those - he is defo the tutor in this house and I think that would be him standing on the jug, not believing how thick I can be when it comes to all things computers.  Many is the time he's said, "Mam, you can do this already, I showed you last time."  To which I reply, "Show me again" and so he does it for me, again!

Anyway he will be 16 mid-feb so this card is for him.  Colouring by Promarker & the papers are Lilybee Design, Memorandum.

Challenges;
House Mouse - Anything goes with a special cut - number dies & my current favourite, the fish-tail banners
Sunday Sketch & Stamp - A brilliant sketch, just made for this stamp
Passion For Promarkers - Boys & Their Toys - Colin's favourite - his computer
The Crazy Challenge - Birthdays
Crafting When We Can - Cards for Boys
Allsorts - Let's Get Cute

Only Girls Allowed

So how's everybody's week going?  Can you believe we are on the 7th of Feb already?  Time is whizzing by and we are on yet another new challenge and back to team A at Moving Along With The Times.  This time it's Pami who is setting the theme and she's picked

Only Girls Allowed

A fabulous theme don't you think so I have a feeling we'll have quite a few entries this time around and even more fabulous is our sponsor this week who is Kenny K and our winner will get a prize of 3 digi images.

So on with the challenge, & us DT girls were given a choice of images to play with for our cards. (Thanks KK as they are brilliant.)  I went with this beauty called Happy Hour available here.  Now this is the first time I've used a Kenny K digi, they are one of the stamps I have avoided in the past as I always thought my colouring wasn't up to the job, but after much DT coaching I'm rather pleased with the end result and urge the rest of you to give them a go if you haven't to date as the images are fantastic.

Papers this time are the fabulous MME Six by Six Paris & Co - my all time favourite I think!  The pad I bought last year was all but finished so I started dropping heavy hints to Santa and guess what - my lovely hubby bought me another TWO pads - something I would never do, but I'm really pleased he did!

Can't tell you about the flowers cause they are so old I have forgotten but the leaves are MS punched and the sentiment LOTV.

So that's my take on the challenge, now it's over to you, but I strongly recommend you check out the main blog to see the rest of the DT's great cards first.

Challenges;
Bunny Zoe Crafts - Anything Goes
Stamp With Fun - Brown
Crazy Challenge - For A Birthday
Catered Crop - Polka Dots
I love Promarkers - Happy Birthday
Crafts & Me - Favourite Colour Combo - Brown & Green
Sketch Saturday - Sketch 244

Christmas Card No 5 - Snow White

Ok so there is no Snow White on the card or dwarfs, just plenty white snow!  We don't have any lying on the ground just now, but we are still having the odd flurry.

So the second card of the day, my weekly Christmas effort and it uses a Bugaboo, lots of Stickles and a heart ribbon - well it is February!!!

Challenges;
CHCC- PPP - Penguin
Catch The Bug - Anything Goes
CCWS - Carol's sketch
Crafty Ribbons - Anything + Ribbon
Winter Wonderland - Monochrome Christmas
Christmas Stamping All Year Long - Anything

Red & Pink

What a great weekend I've had!  Started well on Friday when I met up with a friend I used to work with and haven't seen in 5 years.  We had a great day and pretty much camped out in the John Lewis cafe.  Then on Sat night it was round to a neighbours for some lovely food at a Burns Supper. Always a good laugh when the neighbours get together so we weren't in bed till late. Then Sunday was a bit quieter, but really good too as I managed to sell a whole load of crafty bits in my ongoing attempt to tidy our loft. Yesterday it was back to domestic duties and cards ahead of the post below.  hope you all had a good weekend too.

So, today sees the start of a new challenge over at an Oldie But A Goodie, & this time it's Laurie who has chosen our theme of

Red & Pink

Obviously with Valentines day just around the corner this challenge is perfect for your Lovey Dovey cards, but you don't have to make a Valentine card just make something with plenty red & pink and remember to use an item older than 6 months on your card.  This time it was an old doily & old gems for me.

The sponsor this time around is one of my favourites as you all know, it's Bugaboo, & they are offering the lucky winner 7 digi's of their choice from their online store.

My card uses the image Valentine Jar available here.

For more inspiration head over to the main blog before joining us in our current challenge.

Challenges;
Stampavie & More - Love
Catch The Bug - Anything Goes
Di's Digi's - Love
My Time to Craft - Love is in the Air
Sweet Stampin - Love is all Around
Card Makin Mammas - Love
QKR - Love is in the Air
Milk Coffee - Valentines
Sketch n Stash - Sketch 106 - Uses my newest Valentine digi from Bugaboo & old gems that have been on the go for ages.