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.

Christmas Birthday's

Today I'm away...but hopefully Mr Blogger isn't!  Not on my holidays though, no I'm on a course, learning all about Spirometry, and tomorrow I sit a test! Then tomorrow night, hopefully I will be celebrating passing said test, along with my hubby's birthday!

So, the latest challenge over at MAWTT really came about at a good time for me, the theme is...

Christmas Birthday's

And by my reckoning, a birthday on the 12th falls into that category!  So here is my card, not exactly festive I know, but hopefully all wintery and warm!

The stamp is by Inkadinkado, coloured with Promarkers, Glossy Accents added to the glass pieces then the edges distressed using my ink dusters in TH Distress Pumice. The paper is a double sided Bo Bunny sheet (Back to Backs) and the charm from ebay.

Challenges;
Chocolate Coffee & Cards - Use a charm
Ribbon Girl - Anything Goes
Party Time Tuesday - 193 - Anything Goes
Artistic Inspirations - Anything Goes
TopTipTues - Inspiration from the home - Pic below!

...he he he, the wine bottle is already squint and it's not even open! sorry for the horrid photo - but I'm revising...right!

I'm Not Really Here

For those of you who think I'm revising, I am - I don't know how this card got made this week and uploaded???

Anyway, it follows a great sketch by SSW2 and uses a lovely Milk Coffee Design image of Tiffany.  Papers are Pebbles - Special Delivery.

Back to the books now, test Fri then hopefully normality will return.

Challenges;
SSW2 - Sketch

I Love Promarkers - Travel - Well she is stepping out on foot? Maybe that will count???

In Him Our Hearts Rejoice

Just a quick post as I'm supposed to be revising just now, but as this card was already made I thought I could just pop it on!

Lot's of dies in action here, inky edges and then a sentiment as the main focus. (It's by From the Heart)

Challenges;
Digitally Sweet - Sentiment as main focus - image is a digi
Crafty Sentiment Designs - Anything goes
Creative Card Crew - Birthday with sentiment
Papertake - Anything goes

Do You Want To Build A Snowman?

I watched Frozen last weekend with my nieces, and we had a good giggle at the various funny bits.  Still to watch Brave with them, so that's lined up hopefully for the next sleep over.

So obviously my title came from Frozen, and my card from Ooh La La - Say It With Words.

Everything apart from the ribbon came from the CD.

Sorry I'm not round much just now, Dec is a busy month with work and I also have an exam in a couple of weeks time. Jx

Challenges;
Glitter n Sparkle - Add Some Snow
Ooh La La - Christmas
My Time To Craft - Snowmen
Crafty Catz - Anything Goes

You're My Best Friend

I should probably have made another Christmas card for this weeks challenge as next week we are into December and Christmas cards will need to be written and posted - but that would have been the sensible thing to do! Instead, for this weeks challenge over at Moving Along With The Times, the theme is set as

Inspired by a Song

& my song is You're My Best Friend by Queen.  Obviously the card is not for me as it has a woof as the best friend, but I know loads of people who fall into that camp.

Papers today are Bo Bunny and Papermania I think.And the card is finished with LOTV tags, twine and another favourite of mine, that La La Land heart banner.

Challenges;
Card Mania - Use a digi
TPE - Anything Goes 278
Glitter n Sparkle - tag it - sentiment tags
Robyn's Fetish - Use a digi
Sweet Stampin - Birthday Card
Doodle Pantry - Any digi - DPDC52
Fab n Funky - Die Cuts
Simpn Says Stamp - Anything goes
Digitally Sweet - Opposite - Circles & Squares (Best friend dog - but it's actually my cat!)

Finally a tale with a happy ending...
Alan's iPad broke at the weekend, the screen went all funny - white with a grey bar across and ceased to work properly.  Despite it being out of warranty I took it back to Apple to see what they suggested, and they replaced it FREE OF CHARGE!!! You can't get better service than that so I'm super impressed and obviously Alan is mega happy. Thanks Apple, Jx

Happy 50th Birthday

Hi everyone, hope you are all cosy and crafty - I have been and am just posting this card before I head out for a spot of babysitting.  Not that my nieces are babies any more, but I'm looking after them while their Mum & Dad are on a night out. So look out for more crafty projects from them next week!

Back to today's card now and it's a special one for a close friend who is having a big birthday this coming week.  I do so love including an old photo on my card instead of a stamped image - it makes for a more personal and individual card.

Old photo's can however be quite hard to source when it's not a family member, but with much pleading and pestering I usually get there!

Once I had my image, my next problem was to get papers to match, I went through my numerous pads & sheets, but nothing suitable, the photo was quite pale and my blod papers tended to swamp the image.  Then I thought of my Ooh La La CD and it came up trumps - loads of pastel/neutral sheets to pick from!  Finally, my card has Magnolia cut flowers, a ribbon from the Papeterie, pearls and is easel style to accomodate a larger sentiment.

Femo checking it out!

Challenges;
Ooh La La - More than one fold
A Creative Romance - Something Old - Old photo
Wags & Whiskers - Add some leaves
CCEE Stampers - Photo or photography
Crafters Cafe - Anything Goes
Crafting For All Seasons - Birthdays
Papertake - So girly
Crafty Catz - Winter theme - Dressed up for winter - she was actually sat on Santa's knee in the photo till I cropped it!
The Kraft Journal - thought I'd give you a mention as it was your sketch I followed, but sadly I didn't use kraft cause in the end the image suited grey better. (But I loved your sketch!) Didn't enter challenge!

Bottoms Up!

Quick post today as I'm heading in to Aberdeen to clean Alan's flat then get him home for an appointment tomorrow morning - it's all go!

Anyway, today's card was made for my neighbour for her brother,  It uses a fab Digi Stamp Boutique digi, made nice and big, double printed and layered then finished off with glossy accents!

The tiles are Doodlebug and so is the DP.

"decoupaged layers"

Challenges;
Digi Stamp Boutique - November Challenge
Fan-tastic Tuesday - Anything goes with a male twist
Party Time Tuesday - Anything Goes
2 Cute Ink - Orange/Yellow/ Brown

Bee Happy!

Well it's Sunday morning and I'm first up, crafting away!  My card is all planned out but not stuck together, but I'm that pleased with it I thought I'd type up my post first!

So, it's a delightful PB cat - from my even more delightful friend Sam/Whisper!  I know how mad she is on PB and she knows how mad I am on cats - so we feed each others addictions! (Thanks Sam for another super cat to colour!)

My card is made using a rather lovely sketch from SSW2 - I do so love working from sketches!  Papers are Bo Bunny, Avenues Collection and colouring by Promarker.

& here is my little card!

Challenges;
SSW2 - Sketch 34 - a beauty to work with!

Papertake - 2/4 legged friends
PB@Allsorts - November - Anything Goes
Glitter n Sparkle - Cute
Robyn's Fetish - Anything with wings
Brown Sugar - Anything Goes
Crafting For All Seasons - Birthdays

Let's Celebrate Kindness

Morning all, how are you today?  Hopefully well and wrapped up cosy - don't know about where you are, but it's defo cooler here abouts and soooo wet ... Winter is on it's way!

Another thing that's on it's way is the latest challenge over at Moving Along With The Times, it's set by our boss lady, Hazel, and she's looking for projcts inspired by the theme,

Let's Celebrate Kindness

It's up to you how you interpret this one, but the most obvious way is with a thank you card & I needed one of these a couple of weeks back to give to the vet who sorted out Merlot Mogs.

Now Merlot is a fun lovin, playful adventurous cat and as it's Autumn, I thought this Stampendous Fluffles image would suit him perfectly.

Fluffles himself was double stamped and set on gel to raise him above the leaves.

Papers are LOTV and colouring by Promarker.

Challenges;
Papertake - 2 or 4 legs (and an old sketch of yours too!)
My Time To Craft - Farm Yard Animals - well most farms have a cat... don't they?
Cheerful Stamp Pad - Cats/Kitties
Eureka Stamps - Four legged friends
Party Time Tuesday - Anything Goes

And for those of you who have been following Merlot and his health issues, well I'm pleased to report he is doing well.  He's back to his normal self again, up to his old tricks and it's just amazing how well he's adapted to loosing his eye.  As I was told at the onset - cats are amazingly resilient creatures! Jx

Snowmen

It's getting to that time of year again when panic sets in and the number of Christmas cards to be sent still exceeds the number made!  In order to rectify this, a quick card is needed and as it's to be posted far and wide, it must be skinny to avoid a bigger stamp.

The result is below.  The text was generated (with Colin's help using Serif Draw.)

& I've even done a sentiment inside - that doesn't happen very often!

Challenges;
Winter Wonderland - Snowmen
CHCC - Keep it flat
Crafting When We Can - Use Markers - Promarkers
Stamping Sensations - Christmas
Kraftyhands - Christmas Cheer
Artistic Inspirations - Anything Goes/Stars - well there is one on top of the tree!
TPE - 276 - CAS

Tomorrow is a busy day for me as I'm off to get Spirometry training as part of my new job.  It's a technique used to assess lung capacity and function and can be used to help in the diagnosis of some lung conditions, or as in my case, for occupational health screening.  This will be the easy bit, further training and a competency test next month! Jx

"Rub Noseies"

A similar card to the last one I posted, again using a super pre-coloured Paper Shelter image.  Papers by LOTV and a few dies in action!

Challenges;
SSW2 - Another super sketch

Creative Corner - Christmas
RRR - Winter Holiday
Crafty Ribbons - Christmas Creations with Ribbon
Creative Card Crew - Christmas Joy

Till Next Year...

I'm sure I should have been doing something else today, but instead I was making cards!  I bought a couple of new Paper Shelter images at the weekend after seeing them on their challenge blog, and as they were pre-coloured I thought I'd make a quick card! (Are they ever quick?)

So the stamp is called December 26th - available here both coloured and black & white.

Santa's set upon LOTV papers, with a couple of die cut corners a a ribbon to finish.

Challenges;
Papertake - Free sketchie, but I used the one shown
The Paper Shelter - Christmas
ABC Christmas - V - A Very Merry Christmas (Thanks for the sentiment Samantha)