Everybody Art - wood

Ok, let's see if I can get back into this blogging lark.... apologies for disappearing!  I haven't made anything for at least a month - Dex got flu, I caught it, we were both really ill and then mine turned into pneumonia... sigh!  It's not been much fun, but I'm more or less better now.

Anyway,  I'm here with my DT card for Everybody Art, where our challenge is 'wood'.

I've kept this fairly simple and easy - I haven't felt like picking up the copics yet, so I used some old-ish Craftwork Cards goodies.  The image, papers and and card candy are all from the Enchanted Woodland set, added a sentiment and some punched leaves and that's about it.

Thanks for popping in, hope you have a lovely evening :o)

Everybody Art - wedding

Hello everyone :o)

Over at Everybody Art this week, our challenge is 'wedding'.... I don't actually need any wedding cards at the moment, so I've made a general one that I can personalise later if needed.

Items Used

Stamp - Congratulations set (retired) - LOTV

Stamped in Stampin' Up ink in Baked Brown Sugar

Papers - LOTV (retired)

Creative Dies Plus Stitched & Pierced Nesting Squares - Craft Stash

Congratulations stamp - DigiStamp Boutique (now closed)

Memory Box Precious Hearts die (cut up)

I'm entering my card for the following challenges

Cute Card Thursday - celebrate

Crafty Catz - anything goes + optional spring

Happy Little Stampers - anything goes with dies

Sorry things are a bit quiet on my blog at the moment, it's such a busy time with Dex's SATs and Y6 events, plus Morgan's GCSE preparation and Y11 meetings, plus basketball games/ training, plus Morgan's college events (he's been accepted on a sporting excellence course, specialising in basketball... he's hoping to add a psychology A level to that too if he gets the grades he needs).  So, yeah... it's busy!!  I'm also doing a course myself, that I've wanted to do for ages, so things are likely to stay fairly quiet on my blog for a while.

Thanks for popping in, hope you have a lovely evening :o)

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge GDT

Hello :o)

I'm a bit late posting this, but I'm Guest DT over at CRAFT Challenge this week... there's a fab sketch to follow.

I've used a super cute image from the sponsor Sweet n Sassy Stamps - isn't he sweet?  I've used papers from an old Basic Grey pad, the sentiment is from Digi Stamp Boutique (now closed) and the little tab die is MFT die-namics... finished off with a sparkly Doodlebug enamel dot.  Oh, and a little Paper Smooches dotty border stamp that I added to the coffee cup label.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges

Cute Card Thursday - anything goes

Kitty Bee - animals

2 Crafty Critter Crazies - anything goes with a critter

Little Red Wagon - lions & lambs (and other animals)

Thanks for popping in, hope you have a lovely evening :o)

Everybody Art - anniversary

Hello everyone :o)

Our challenge over at Everybody Art this week is 'anniversary'.

I fancied making something a bit different for a change, so I got out my neglected alcohol inks (bought years ago, used a few times, forgotten about...) and some distress inks and had a play.  I can't seem to get the photo to show the true colours for some reason, but the panel and the background match better in real life.

Items Used

Stamp - Statement Stamps 'Congratulations' - LOTV (retired)

Stamped in Archival Ink in Jet Black

Alcohol Inks in Mountain Rose, Sunset Orange, Peach Bellini + tiny bit of Gold

Inkssentials Gloss Paper

Distress Inks in Tattered Rose, Abandoned Coral, Ripe Persimmon & Frayed Burlap

White textured card - Papermill Direct

Anniversary stamp - Wplus9 Basic Banners

Penny Black Wavy Stitch Edges die

Whimsy corner die

Doodlebug enamel heart + Craft Consortium enamel dot

I'm entering my card for the following challenges

Simon Says Wednesday - anything goes

Inkspirational - use your stash

Mix It Up - anything goes + optional inked background

MAWTT - sentiment only, no image

Thanks for popping in, hope you have a lovely evening :o)

**oops... forgot to hit publish lol!**

As You Like It - one or many layers

Hello everyone :o)

Over at As You Like It our new theme is 'layers - one or many'... which, if you're at all familiar with my blog, was obviously an easy choice for me!  I do love my layers of paper, and a one-layer card never feels quite finished to me... looks gorgeous when other people do it though.

Brace yourself, it's a wee bit bright!!

I don't make many Easter cards, but always need one for Pav's family, so that's where this one's going.  Dex says he wants one this year though, so I might have to make another!

Items Used

Image - Easter Tree - Digi HERE

Digi Sentiment - Easter Eggstras set

Image & sentiment also available as rubber stamps - Easter Cuties set

Colouring - copics

Papers - Doodlebug 'Springtime'

Doodlebug enamel dot & hearts

Old butterfly punch

Thanks for popping in, hope you have a lovely evening :o)

Sweet Stampin - Graduation/ Happy Birthday Dr Seuss

Happy Saturday :o)

Over at Sweet Stampin' this week, we're celebrating Dr Seuss's birthday, so you could make anything inspired by Dr Seuss or you could follow the graduation theme (with or without a Dr Seuss quote).

I had a vague memory of a digi from Bugaboo Stamps, probably from years ago... looked through my digi files, and yep, I own it (probably never used, along with hundreds of other digis).  So what seemed like a bit of a tricky theme was made quite easy in the end... I really should make an effort to use more of those poor unused images!

Items Used

Digi stamp - Youer Than You - Bugaboo Stamps

Colouring - copics

Papers - random Doodlebug leftovers

Border die and stitched fishtail tab - MFT Die-namics

Enamel heart - Doodlebug

I'm entering my card for the following challenges

Crazy 4 Challenges - add a pet

Cute Card Thursday - buttons/ enamel dots

Crafty Catz - anything goes + optional for a boy

Watercooler Wednesday - masculine

Thanks for popping in, hope you have a lovely weekend :o)

Everybody Art - animals

Hello everyone :o)

Our new theme over at Everybody Art is 'animals'... not exactly a difficult one for me, I mostly prefer animals to people anyway lol.

I've used another of the super cute images that will be released at Lili of the Valley at the end of the month - I've used a digi version, but they'll be available as both rubber and digis.

Items Used

Image - Spring Rabbit Posy - available soon from LOTV

Sentiment - Spring Sweeties set - as above

Papers - LOTV (retired)

Colouring - copics, plus Posca white pen for detail on bunny's tail

Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels 22 dies

Buttons & red twine from my stash

I'm entering my card for the following challenges

613 Avenue Create - anything goes + optional use a critter

Dragonfly Journeys - gaga for gingham (2nd entry)

Crafty Catz - anything goes + optional keep it simple

Today would have been our 'middle' son Harvey's 12th birthday... it's the one day of the year I allow myself to wallow and generally feel as miserable as I want to.  The boys are off for half term this week though, so it's not been too bad really, it's nice to have some company.  I'm still in my pyjamas and we're having takeaway for tea, but there haven't been too many tears, so it could be worse!

Thanks for popping in, hope you have a lovely evening :o)

As You Like It - birthday or Christmas

Hello everyone :o)

Over at As You Like It, we'd like you to pick your favourite between birthday or Christmas creations. We're sponsored by the fabulous Lawn Fawn this time.

This was a fairly easy choice for me... I love making birthday cards, and tend to put off making my Christmas ones - I always leave them until the last minute and then have to make them in a mad rush.  So I'd probably enjoy Christmas cards more if I got a bit more organised, but that hasn't happened so far, so it's probably not going to happen this year either!

Items Used
Image - Spring Rabbit Daisies - will be released end of Feb, as stamps & digis - LOTV
Sentiment - from the Fluffy Birthday set - as above
Colouring - copics + small details using Posca white paint pen
Papers - MME Lime Twist
Memory Box Corner Bow die
Doodlebug enamel dots
Ribbon from my stash

I'm entering my card for the following challenges
Crafting From The Heart - anything goes
Incy Wincy - make it girly
Dragonfly Journeys - gingham (the ribbon)

Thanks for popping in, hope you have a lovely evening :o)

Sweet Stampin' - Valentines

Happy Saturday :o)

This week's challenge over at Sweet Stampin' is Valentine's, which means that for a change I actually have Pav's card made already, instead of my usual night before mad rush... yay!

The urge to add 'stuff' was strong, but I resisted because Pav isn't one for lots of fuss... I still spent far too long trying to add stuff and then taking it away though!  Love these cute cat images, and I've coloured him to look a bit like our Boris.

Items Used

Digi stamp - Simply Sweet Kitty Wishes set - LOTV Etsy Shop

Colouring - copics + Nuvo clear sparkle pen (on the heart)

Papers - Basic Grey (old ones)

I'm entering my card for the following challenges

Snarky Stampers - K is for Kitties

Craft Rocket - Valentine

Dream Valley - love & kisses

Dragonfly Dreams - include a heart

Thanks for popping in, hope you have a lovely weekend :o)

LOTV sneak peek...

Hello :o)

There are loads of super cute new Lili of the Valley stamps being released towards the end of this month.  They'll be available as rubber stamps and digis, and they're all gorgeous!

Here's a sneak peek of one of them...

I needed a birthday card for my mum, so the arrival of the new images was perfect timing for me, she loves anything cute.

Items Used

Image - Love Tag, available end of Feb - LOTV

Colouring - copics

Papers - Bonnets & Bowties (retired) - LOTV

Cardstock - Core'dinations

Flowers - Wild Orchid Crafts

Memory Box Macarena Corner die (cut up & placed around flowers)

Lettering - Memory Box Parker alphabet dies

Buttons from my stash

I'm entering my card for the following challenges

Sketch Saturday - sketch (although I have adapted it a bit!)

Cute Card Thursday - anything goes

Addicted to Stamps & More - make your mark

Crafty Catz - anything goes + optional hearts & flowers (hearts on paper)

Thanks for popping in, hope you have a lovely evening :o)

As You Like It - favourite shape or fold

Hello :o)

Over at As You Like It, we'd like to see your favourite shape or fold... we're sponsored by Fantastic Ribbons with a £10 voucher for the lucky winner.

I'm not usually a 'fancy fold' type of cardmaker (I think I'm a bit lazy for all that faffing lol!)... I do quite like a shaped card base though, and use this Grand Nestabilities Labels set quite a lot when I want something a bit more interesting than a plain square.  For the stamped feet, I inked up the whole stamp in Memento Ink in Summer Sky, and then dabbed Distress Ink in Blueprint Sketch around the outside of the stamp, mainly because I didn't have a blue ink that was quite right on its own.

Items Used

Stamp - old one, but think it's Personal Impressions

Papers - Doodlebug 'snips & snails'

Inks - Memento Ink in Summer Sky, Distress Ink in Blueprint Sketch (plus some that I smudged around the image, can't remember which ones!)

Frame die - Grand Nestabilities Labels 4

Scalloped frame die - MFT die-namics

Baby die - Simon Says Stamp

Star punch

Doodlebug enamel dots

I'm entering my card for the following challenges

Simon Says Wednesday - anything goes

Use Your Stuff - enamel dots

Addicted to Stamps & More - anything goes

Thanks for popping in, hope you have a lovely evening :o)

Sweet Stampin' - hat tip to Burn's Night

Happy Saturday :o)

I'm here with my DT card for Sweet Stampin', where we'd like to see all things 'Burn's Night' inspired... so anything with a Scottish flavour - tartan, whisky, thistles, etc.

Mine is not a brilliant take on the theme to be honest!  I needed this card for Pav's Grandad, and thought I'd team the image with some tartan paper... think this is maybe more 'plaid' than tartan though?

Items Used

Pre-coloured image - not currently available in a pre-coloured sheet, but available as a digi stamp HERE

Tag stamp - Sentiment tags (family ones retired)

Papers - Country Gentleman (retired) - LOTV

Twine & buttons from my stash

Thanks for popping in, hope you have a lovely weekend :o)

Everybody Art - anything goes

Hello :o)

Our new challenge over at Everybody Art is 'anything goes', and as I'm still not feeling very inspired, I've kept this one simple.

I've used my very old favourite butterfly die (can't remember the brand, but I've had it for years so probably isn't available anyway... ah hah!... see below lol!), along with my newest sentiment die that I treated myself to before Christmas.

Items Used

Papers - MME Lime Twist

Butterfly die - Quickutz rev-0165

Birthday die - Lawn Fawn Happy Birthday Line Border

Glitter dots - Papermania

Keeping this brief because I'm running late (backwards and forwards running kids to various things!).  Thanks for popping in, hope you have a lovely evening :o)

As You Like It - pearls or buttons

Hello everyone :o)

Our challenge over at As You Like It this week, is to choose between 'pearls or buttons'... my embellishment of choice is usually enamel dots, but I do like how a button looks in the centre of a flower, so I chose buttons.

As I'm working almost mojo-free at the moment, I thought I'd have a look back over some older creations on my blog and remake something, so this one is a similar idea to this card.  I might go back even further and do some more remakes, maybe I'll make it a regular thing.

Items Used

Papers - MME Lime Twist

Flower - MFT Blueprints 14 (cut from an old roll of blind fabric)

Sentiment stamp - Clearly Besotted

Buttons & bakers twine from my stash

I'm entering my card for the following challenges

Simon Says Wednesday - clean & simple

Addicted to Stamps & More - clean & simple

Simon Says Monday - recycle something (the fabric)

Crafty Calendar - make it flowery

Thanks for popping in, hope you have a lovely evening :o)

Sweet Stampin' - anniversaries

Happy Saturday everyone :o)

Our new challenge over at Sweet Stampin' is 'anniversaries'... I've completely lost my mojo since Christmas and seem to be struggling to make anything at all, but here's what I eventually came up with.

Items Used

Digi image - Simply Sweet Foxes (image flipped to create two) - LOTV digi shop

Colouring - copics

Sentiment + die - Basic Banners - Wplus9

Papers - Basic Grey (very old ones found in stash)

Heart die - Crafter's Companion

Silver hearts (pinched from Dex's craft box... the shame!!)

We've more or less finished Dex's new room, apart from the minor disaster of the bed that was supposed to be delivered on Monday, that we were informed by email at 10.30pm Sunday night was cancelled!  When we rang them the following day, we were informed that it was discontinued (they've had our order for two weeks, and we've had the same delivery date from the start), and that we'd have to choose a different one.  Spoke to the manufacturer instead, and it's not discontinued but out of stock until the end of the month.  So sorted a refund from the original company, ordered elsewhere, and now Dex is sleeping on a mattress for the next 2-3 weeks, poor thing!  Nothing's ever straightforward, is it?!

Thanks for popping in, hope you're having a lovely weekend :o)

As You Like It - anything goes

Hello!  Hope you all had a fabulous Christmas, and Happy New Year to you too :o)  My blog's been a bit on the quiet side, and it'll probably stay that way for the next week or two - it's Dex's birthday next week and he asked for his room redecorating as his main present.  We're dismantling everything tomorrow, painting all weekend, new bed and carpet arriving on Monday, and then we've got all his new furniture to put together... not looking forward to it at all, but it'll be worth it when it's done!

Anyway, I'm here with my card for the new challenge over at As You Like It, where our challenge is a super easy 'anything goes' theme, and we're sponsored by Lili of the Valley's digi shop.

I always feel like a big cheat when I use a pre-coloured image, but they do come in very handy when you're short of time.  This particular image doesn't seem to be available in the art sheets, although there are similar ones in this set and this one, but you can find it in digi form HERE.  I (whispers...) actually tore paper for this card... very rare for me as I find it a bit scary, but really like it when I can bring myself to do it!

Items Used

Image - pre-coloured art pad (retired, see above) - LOTV

Papers - Watercolour Dots Warm Sunrise - LOTV

Ribbon - Stampin' Up

Sentiment stamp - Clearly Besotted

Old star punch and button from my stash

Hopefully I will at least manage to catch up with some of your blogs, even if I don't manage to blog much myself... thanks for popping in :o)