Christmas in July?

This years Christmas cards started off really well for me over on Do Crafts as Maureen, (Snoflake), set us a challenge to make one Christmas card a week throughout the whole year. I was doing really well till about June, then the amount of cards I was making for Alan & his Mombasa trip kind of took over & I stopped my Christmas challenge. It's therefore been nice to do another Christmas card after about a 6 week break.

Now as luck would have it, a number of blog challenges are also looking towards Christmas, so I can enter this card 4 times;

The Penny Black Challenge - Christmas in July
I Love Promarkers - Christmas in July
Snoflakes Christmas Challenge - Make a Christmas card a week for a year.
Sketch Saturday Challenge - To use their layout.

My stamp used is an all time favourite Penny Black called Snowball Fun.
The papers are Anitas Classic Christmas, Blue
& I also used my snowflake embossing folder with my bug.

Jx

Baby Boy

There are so many challenges out there & so many lovely stamps! Am I the only one that mixes them all up? Made a card this afternoon using a Sugar Nellie stamp, using the LOTV layout - what a twit!!! Doesn't meet the criteria for either of these challenges however I'm lucky that it does fit this weeks Allsorts Challenge which is Babies or Children!

And in a slight variation of the theme, here's the girls card to go with it.





Jx

Under The Sea

I've made this card, to enter 2 challenges this week, the first being The My Partner in Crafting Crime, where the theme was under the sea & also for the Pollycraft Challenge where you had to make a birthday card.

Can't tell you much else about the card, as the stamp was an Ebay America purchase & has no name & the paper was a single sheet which has long since had it's pedigree chopped off!

Jx

Summer Time

For this weeks Summer Time challenge on Crafty Catz, No 42, I've made this sunflower card using Basic Grey, Lime Rickey paper & an Anita's Sunflower stamp.

Jx

Laid Back & Late!

Well the dog in this card is so laid back - he missed the challenge (No 23) by a day!!! This was to be my entry for the I Love Promarkers Challenge, but I now see the challenge changed yesterday - woops!

Anyway it's last weeks lay out & doggy theme I've used for this thankyou card. The image is PB & the papers, My Minds Eye.

Woo - hoo ! In a stroke of true carding genius, this card now fits the challenge this week, wk 24... can you tell what the late addition was?

Jx

Pretty Lady

Well what a week I had planned... my other half & youngest were off on a trip to Hull so I thought, big crafty week... If only.

Here I am Thurs lunchtime, rushing to get my Friday Sketchers Challenge card in.

So here it is, a PB image & some doodlebug papers & voila!



As well as card making, the plan was to really boost Alan's Mombasa fund, & yipee, we're through the £1000 mark & almost half way! Really pleased with our progress, & as I'm on a roll, it's another car boot this weekend. Everyone has been so generous giving us stuff to sell. We really have got good friends & neighbours.

Jx

Play Station

For the Lili of The Valley Challenge I've used another new stamp and the given layout. Papers used are My Minds Eye. Sentiment done on computer.

Jx

The Return of Tilda!

Haven't made a tilda card in ages, so made this one for a challenge over on Docrafts along with the following challenges;

Allsorts 61 - where the challenge was "Summer Days" &
Crafty Creations Challenge - where the challenge was "Happy or Sweet."

Along with my Tilda stamp, I used Basic Grey, Lime Rickey paper.

Magna Fairy

Can you tell I'm going through a phase of Magna stamps?

This one is Magna Fairy & I'm using her for this weeks Crafty Creations Challenge.

Whilst I'm posting this I also want to say that this was a very good weekend for fund-raising for Mombasa. Alan & I both did some waiter/waitressing along with another car boot, & what do you know, the fund now sits at £973. - Hopefully we'll break £1000 this week.

Anything But A Card

This Weeks Crafty Catz Challenge was to make anything but a card, so I chose to make these little gift sets, (12 in total). I've dressed up these toiletries, in an attempt to make them more "sellable at this weeks car boot...you guessed it, in aid of Alan's Mombasa Fund. Jx

Open Season!

With the Scottish Open underway I thought a golfing card appropriate for this weeks Penny Black Challenge. Can't tell you about the spotty paper cause it was an odd sheet I bought. Also used candy dots and a PB sentiment. Jx

Anniversay

Well I made this other card tonight & used my wooden bits from Designs On Pine, a local shop which also does online orders.

The card I've made will go into this weeks Allsorts Challenge where you have to "Show Your Heart" - Not sure if mine are big enough but they are the biggest I have!

The card is also being entered into this weeks Pollycraft Challenge where cards have to be "Bright & Bold" again I'm not sure if I'll be allowed as I'm defo bold - but not very bright! (My hubby says the latter too, so that's my excuse if I'm not quite meeting the challenge!)

TFL

Jx

Happy Anniversary

Today was a good day & I set off with my hubby & son to find the Papercraft Shop in Elgin - you know the one - it does the Funky Kits / Sugar Nellie stamps - & the Magna Girls. Anyway I bought some new stamps - all 2009 designs, but when I got home my hubby said he preferred this years stamps with the rock chick & her fella. So poor me, I'm just going to have to go back for them next week!!!

The other thing I learned was that they are holding a Craft Day in Ellon. Now I don't know if any of you that jump on here are from the area, but if you are, & you fancy going, let me know cause I think I'll be going.

Now, the other reason for the post, the Papertake Weekly Challenge using the given layout & obviously one of my new stamps - minus misletoe - as it's a Christmas one really! I just thought it was too nice to wait till then to use it! Jx

Holidays 'r' Here!

Well the schools broke up with us last Friday so we're now officially on holiday - well my boys are anyway. Sadly they are passed the beachy days where you jump around on rocks, pick up shells & prod at crabs! This stamp however sums up happy childhood holidays for me. We stayed on the coast, & if it was sunny, (& sometimes even when it wasn't) we headed for the beach.



Anyway enough of a story, & onto the card. Using the layout on the Sugar Bowl Challenge & a Funky Kits stamp called Rockpool Fun, this card has appeared!

I'm also entering this card for the challenge on My Partner In Crafting Crime, where the theme is summertime.



I'm actually quite pleased with my choice of papers on this one too. I used Basic Grey Cupcake Papers. Normally I really struggle with cards requiring 3 papers, but this time, the orange represents the sun, the wavey blue the sea, & obviously we all have an ice-cream on a sunny day at the beach!

Finally, the challenge is called Scallops - so I had to include a little charm of one on the side too.
Jx

Lovely Lady

This is one of my new LOTV stamps & I love her. Made her up for the Pollycraft Challenge using Wild Rose Studio papers. Jx

Dog Gone

Made this card for the Sketch Saturday Challenge using a PB stamp and some of my new basic grey papers.

All Stitched Up.

I initially made this card for one of the other challenges this week, then realised the image was too big for all the bits to fit in, so in a change of plan, I've included faux stitching & will pop it into the Papertake Weekly Challenge. No I won't - Sadly I'm a week out posting it!!!


On a different note, those of you who read my blog will know that the door of my fridge snapped off last month then there was a burst to the water mains, so I was waiting for No 3. Well it happened on Sun, the central heating / hot water packed in. So with a new circulation pump fitted we can once more shower, & hopefully that's my bad luck passed for a bit.

Jx

More About Mombasa

Just had to post this to tell you all what a fantastic day we had today - despite the terrible weather...

Was up at 5.30 this morning to get ready for a local car boot sale which began at 8am. Woke to pouring rain & would definately have called off were it not that this was a fund raiser for Mombasa & others were going too.

& boy oh boy was I glad we went - we all made over £100 to go towards the trip & we had a great clearance into the bargain. It was so much fun, I can't wait for the next one!

Anyway, the highlight of the day was when a family stopped & asked about a sit on tractor toy with trailer. Before the deal was sealed, the little boy was on the seat & scooting happily off with it - needless to say we had a sale! The picture above is of Alan & the 2 other boys who are going on the trip + the little toot on his tractor.

Fund total now stands @ £647
Jx

Eye Test

I bought this PB stamp at the beginning of the year & haven't used it too many times, but I still think it's a clever image & I'm glad I got it.

I've used it for this weeks Red, White & Blue Penny Black Challenge, & for that American theme I've included stars & stripes.

Jx

In The Jungle

Made this card tonight using an image I'd coloured during the week whilst out in the sun. I'm never always too keen on multi-layered cards, I much prefer simpler designs, but as always you have to try!

Anyway this is my this weeks attempt at the Friday Sketchers Challenge. My papers are Basic Grey Archaic & the stamp is a PB.

Jx

Tee -Time!

I've used one of my favourite Penny Black stamps to do another card for this weeks Friday Sketchers. I so love this layout, & may even use it again before the week is out!

Papers by My Mind's Eye.

Jx

Happy Anniversary

Well it's another day, & another card! This one is for Friday Sketchers Challenge along with the Allsorts Challenge. (It's also been made to order so this card serves many purposes!)






The paper used is Papermania, & the stamp is an Anita's.

TFL

Jx

Cheers!

Made this card using a digi image from "Digi Stamp Boutique", using this weeks Sketch Saturday Layout. I used Basic Grey Archaic Backing papers.



I will also enter this card into the Digi Stamp Boutique monthly challenge.
This is a great image to have for all those very difficult male cards we have to make - when all else fails they are usually happy with a pint!

TFL

Jx

Baseball Cat

This is my effort for the Penny Black Challenge this week. It was to do with patchwork, hence all those little squares!

Jx

Save The Children

Using my current favourite stamp, I've done a red & white card for the Charity Challenge at Simply Create - a local craft shop in Alford Aberdeenshire. They are doing a charity event next Saturday to raise money for the charity Save the Children. We've all been asked to make something to take along on the day to be sold for the charity & this is my offering.

Can't wait for next Saturday to visit the shop & meet everyone there who, up until now have just been blog buddies. Jx

Play Station

Today I have been busy making cards like a mad thing as I sprained my ankle yesterday & am therefore a bit lame. What can I say, I have to sit with my foot up and let everyone run around after me - for a change!

Anyway onto my card & my new Lili of The Valley stamps - no I didn't fall deliberately before any of you ask! Made this card using my new stamp, My Minds Eye paper & the layout of the Papertake Weekly Challenge.

Jx

Farming Fun

A friend at work asked me to make a card for her Dad's birthday, with a tractor image. As I loved this weeks Sketch Saturday layout, I've used it again- well almost!

The image is from Hobbyartstamps stamp called Tractor, & the papers are Basic Grey, Cupcake & My Minds Eye.

Jx

It's That Stamp Again!

I'm sorry, I so love this stamp by Sugar Nellie. Last week she was pastel & pretty, but now she's bold and with attitude!

Used her to make my card for this weeks Friday Sketchers Challenge. Changed things a bit as I prefer square cards, & my scallops have points! Apart from that I've used the basic layout...ish!

Jx

Do They Have Giraffe's in Mombasa?

I love this Penny Black stamp, aptly named, Longing.

Well longing for the better weather is what I'm doing as it's just been so cold here this weekend - the central heating is even back on!!!

Anyway, onto this weeks challenges, & as I've been a bit pushed for time, I've had to roll 2 into 1, something I don't really like to do.

The layout I've used is from the Sketch Saturday Challenge, & the theme to tie in with travel/holidays is for the Penny Black Challenge. Now I hear you all asking what a giraffe has to do with holidays..? Well, sadly nothing to do with my holidays, but hopefully something to do with Alan, my son's holiday in October, when he heads off to Mombasa for a charity trip abroad. (Lucky him!)

Charity Begins @ Home!

Tonight, instead of fund-raising for Mombassa, I'm heading for Macduff...why I hear you ask? Well it's for the annual "Pink Slink". A ladies event, where we all dress up in pink, & walk either 5 or 10 miles in aid of Breast Cancer & the associated wards at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary & Dr Gray's Hospital, Elgin.

Well I've got my pink togs, my trainers are looked out & I'll be ready for the off about 9pm tonight. I'll be walking the full 10 miles & should finish around 1am this morning. Wish me luck folks as it's a rather cold & windy North East night! Can't complain though, it's not raining...YET! Jx



Saturday Morning - I did it, & it stayed dry! Had a lovely evening walking the streets of Banff & Macduff last night with friends. Finished the 10 miles at around 1 o'clock last night, so I'm a bit tired & stiff today, but all for a good cause, so well worth it.

Simply Create, Alford. Blog Candy!!!

This is my first post advertising blog candy, so I hope I do this right! It's from a lovely new craft shop in Aberdeenshire called Simply Create. The shop celebrated it's 1st Birthday recently, & to mark the occasion Jacqui is offering 4 new sets of Hero Art stamps along with some exciting goodies to go with them. Anyway I thought some of you guys might be interested, both in the shop & the candy. Here's a pic of what's on offer...



So if you want to be in with a chance to win, get linking!

Flower Power.

For the 2 Sketches 4 You Challenge (No 55) this week, I've used Inkadinkado Blooms stamps & Doodlebug paper.

Anniversary Card - PB Style!

Well this has been a funny old week, they say bad luck comes in 3's so sadly I'm waiting for the 3rd "Nasty" to come my way!

It all started off last week, when I nipped home between shifts at work, to pop some shopping in the fridge...BIG MISTAKE!!! Opened the fridge door & the whole thing flew off & landed on the floor! So we're talking big mess - eggs, jars, milk - all the items you store in the door, SPLAT!!! on the floor. It turned out, the door pin had snapped, hence nothing to hold the door to the fridge! (Why do these things only happen to me?)

Then 2 days ago, disaster No 2... burst water mains into the house. After much digging, we found the burst & luckily with the help of insurance that has now been put right.

So what's next?

On a brighter note, I'm well pleased with the card I put together this morning. I've made it for a friend at work's wedding anniversary, & used the layout in this weeks Penny Black Challenge. Papers used are by Doodlebug & Southfield, & the rest of the bits were just hanging about the craft table! Love the PB image, aren't those bears cute! Jx

Sugar Nellie - Sketch Saturday 107

This is my newest favourite stamp - for this week anyway! Have made 3 cards with it so far, including this one for the Saturday Sketch Challenge. Have made the card with Doodlebug papers & card stock. Jx

Friday Sketchers 106

Using a PB image & some doodlebug papers I've made this "Pretty In Pink" card for this weeks Friday Sketchers Challenge No 106

Guitar Man

For the Friday Sketchers Challenge No 105, I have used my new Edwin, haven't used this stamp before, so it was nice to see him on a card. My paper choice was basic grey for this one & I added a sentiment & card candy to finish off the job. Jx

Father's Day Pixie

I had a visit from my neighbours daughter last night, asking me to make her a father's day card - told her she should do it herself, but she said she didn't have time! So in the end, she picked the stamp she wanted, & I set to work.

The image was a perfect size for this weeks Saturday Sketch Challenge so off I went to work. This is such a lovely layout, I'm going to use it again & again.

The stamp was bought in Germany & hasn't got a make stamped on it, the paper used is Basic Grey.

On a side note, the Mombasa Fund shot up this week when I paid in a further £122 from the Body Shop Party, £27.50 from waitering & £8 from card sales. Jx

TFL

Jx

Wedding Acceptance

I've used the sketch in the 2 Sketches 4 You challenge No 54 for this card, along with an Anita's stamp & some Papermania, creative tones papers.

PB Bears

I am so loving these new PB stamps, so decided to make another challenge card with them - only trouble is, I missed the closing date, AGAIN! Never mind, the sketch still came in handy for the card. Jx

Mission To Mombasa

Other than the side column, I've never updated you on our progress with "Mission To Mombasa," & my son's charity trip with Books Abroad in Oct this year.

Things are now taking shape and a total of 22 people have now signed up for the trip. Alan I think will be the youngest at 15 as most of the group are adults. Now that his exams are over, we are stepping up his fundraising campaign & he was busy writing letters last week looking for sponsorship & trying to arrange a date to do a bag pack at a local supermarket.

On top of this, we now have raffles to sell, offering a £500 first prize, & I held a very successful body shop party last week so we're hoping to have made quite a bit there too - final sales tally still to be revealed!

9/6/10 - The Body Shop Party raised a fantastic £122 so thanks to everyone who came along and supported us. Jx

Christmas Crafty Catz

As I'm a bit behind with the Snoflake Challenge on Docrafts, I've combined it with the Crafty Catz Challenge No 35 to make this card. Sorry it's a bit un-seasonal, but I thought that you might just accept it, cause it has a cat image!

The theme was black & red, so I made my card to these colours & used a Penny Black stamp, card from our local papermill shop & added some card candy dots.

More Cute Teddies

A couple of weeks back, I was lucky enough to win the Penny Black Challenge, the prize was 2 lovely teddy stamps. I have stamped the smaller of the two stamps twice, to make last weeks card for the I Love Promarkers Challenge No 16, which was to use a given sketch when creating your card.

Meow

You'd think I'd only just got my circle nesties this week as they've been used on my last three cards!

This time they are in action on the Allsorts 54 Challenge which was to make a black & white card & include one other colour. Clearly I chose orange!

Anyway, the card is core'dinations & the stamp, a Delafield. For an added dimension to the card I decoupaged the fish bowl, which hopefully you can see from the second picture.



TFL

Jx