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)

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)

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)

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)

Everybody Art GDT - Christmas

Hello everyone :o)

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

What tends to happen with me is that I'll make a reasonable pile of 'general' Christmas cards, and then realise as it looms closer that I haven't made any of the more specific/ special ones that I need for family members.  I have obviously done exactly the same this year, so I'm trying to catch up now - this one's for my auntie (and her husband), who prefers very simple cards, so I've tried not to go overboard with stuff.

Items Used

Digi stamp - Robin Cracker - LOTV Etsy Shop

Colouring - copics

Papers - Scandi Christmas - LOTV

Rectangle Frame Die - MFT Die-namics

Sentiment - Tonic Modern Merry Christmas die

Hessian (stapled into place) - Crafter's Companion

Glitter - clear Glamour Dust + Nuvo Clear Sparkle Pen (on the sentiment)

White textured + navy cardstock - Papermill Direct

I'm entering my card for the following challenges

Crafty Cardmakers - Christmas

Cutie Pie - add a little sparkle

Crafty Calendar - it's Christmas time

Card Mania - Christmas

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

LOTV - Kitty Wishes

Happy Saturday :o)

Have you seen the new Simply Sweet digi sets released over on LOTV's Etsy shop last week?  You can see them all HERE.  Perfect timing for me, as I needed a card for a birthday party Dex was invited to.

I used the fab Kitty Wishes set (I really do LOVE these cats!), along with the 9 very cute images, you also get loads of sentiments to add to them, and they're super quick to colour.  The papers are from the Galaxy Stars set - if you want these don't hang around because once they've gone they won't be restocked unfortunately.  The star is an old punch, button and twine are from my stash.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges

Cute Card Thursday - anything goes (2nd entry)

2 Crafty Critter Crazies - anything goes (with a critter)

 Animal Friends - anything goes

Little Red Wagon - purrs & wags

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

As You Like It DT - favourite Christmas animal

Hello again :o)

I'm here with my DT card for As You Like It, where our challenge is 'your favourite Christmas animal'.  I couldn't decide on one animal - I like anything cute really, so could have picked just about any reindeer, penguin, polar bear... and then I remembered James, so I've gone with my favourite Christmas bear!

The image is James - Pile of Presents, coloured with copics.  I used the old stamp version, but you can buy him as a digi in the LOTV Etsy shop HERE, or if you prefer stamps you can get a similar image (with just one present) in this set.  The papers are a mix of a recent Christmas pack that seems to have sold out and been removed from the LOTV shop now, plus the Watercolour Dots Cool Sunset set.  The sentiment tags are from this set, stamped in Memento Sweet Plum ink.  Added a Memory Box banner, a pearl from my stash and some Glamour Dust clear glitter.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges

Cheerful Sketches - fab sketch

Cute Card Thursday - anything goes

Dream Valley - Christmas

CRAFT - Christmas - the last stretch

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

Hunkydory Review

Hello everyone :o)

I had an email a while ago asking if I'd like to review some products from Hunkydory, which I was very happy to do.  I'm going to split my review into a few posts, so here's my first one.

I make very few shaped cards (partly due to my inability to take half decent photos of them, as you can see!), so I thought I'd pick out something different for me and chose a pack of Box Stepper cards.  They could obviously be left plain or inked to decorate, but I made a rough template so I could use some of the pretty papers from the gorgeous Tons of Fun Craft Stack... I also added an image and sentiment from the Craft Stack, and there are loads more cute images included that suit all different occasions, so I'll show more makes later in the week.  The heart dies are Memory Box, flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts and leaves cut with an old Woodware punch, the blue enamel dots are Doodlebug.  The stepper cards fold flat to fit into a normal 6" square envelope (included in the pack).

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

Everybody Art GDT - grey & green

Hello everyone :o)

I'm here with my Guest DT card for Everybody Art, where our challenge for this fortnight is 'grey & green'.  It's not a colour combo I'd generally think to use, but really like it now I've tried it.

I used a shaped card blank (from Craftwork Cards, years ago probably), with papers from the Winter Woods set, plus a spotty piece from Frosty Christmas - Grey from Lili of the Valley.  The stamp is also LOTV from the Carol Singing set, which is currently out of stock, but you can now buy them in the LOTV digi shop on Etsy, along with lots of other lovely digis!  The image is coloured with copics, with some Glamour Dust for sparkle, the sentiment stamp is from this set, and I popped some sparkly enamel dots on some dark green circles, just because I liked how it looked... possibly taking my obsession for everything being matted onto darker colours too far lol.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges

Sketch Saturday - sketch (turned)

Crafty Cardmakers - lots of layers

Cutie Pie - winter layers

Crafty Catz - anything goes + optional getting ready for Christmas

Dex left for his first residential trip yesterday, so I've been keeping myself busy in the craft room trying to take my mind off him not being here... the house is so quiet, and he's not even a particularly noisy child!  The school have put a few photos up on twitter and they all look SO muddy, dread to think what state he's going to come home in lol.  They're back tomorrow evening, so won't be away from home too long.

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

Sweet Stampin' - trees

Happy Saturday :o)

Our challenge for this week over at Sweet Stampin' is 'trees'... so I thought I'd grab the opportunity to add to the (tiny) Christmas pile.

I've had very little time this week for crafting, so I used an old pre-coloured image from Lili of the Valley, which is still available as an art sheet HERE.  The papers are from the new Vintage Christmas paper pad and the sentiment stamp is from the Simple Festive Greetings set, also from LOTV.  I added some sparkle to the image using Glamour Dust, an MFT die-namics snowflake layered with a MS punched one, plus a brad I found in my stash.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges

Allsorts - pretty papers

Simon Says Wednesday - anything goes

Cute Card Thursday - anything goes

CRAFT - winter

The boys have been off school for half term, Pav had the week off too, so I rarely get much computer/ crafting time when they're all around.  We've been busy shopping for Dex's first residential trip - they're only away for two nights, but from the list of stuff they need, you'd think they were going for two weeks lol.  And today we're off to one of Morgan's basketball games again, this one's about 2hrs away, so that's most of the day gone (we'll be there by the time this posts, I scheduled it).  Better get a move on and get us all ready... thanks for popping in, hope you're having a lovely weekend :o)

Sweet Stampin' - chevrons or stripes

Happy Saturday :o)

This week at Sweet Stampin' our theme is 'chevrons or stripes'... I've got both on my card.

I've used a super cute stamp and gorgeous papers, both new over at Lili of the Valley... you can find the Carol Singing stamp set HERE and the Scandi Christmas papers HERE.  I coloured the image with copics, and added some Glamour Dust sparkle.  The stitched curved rectangle die is MFT die-namics, the red twine and silver note charm from my stash.  I added the charm because Dex spotted the card while I was making it, and claimed it for his piano teacher, so I thought I'd add to the musical theme for him.  The sentiment is from another LOTV stamp set available HERE.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges

Double D Challenges - stripes & dots

Simon Says Wednesday - animal antics

Crafter's Castle - anything goes + optional winter/ Christmas

We're off out tonight... well, sort of!  Some of Morgan's classmates are going on one of those trips, where they go to a deprived area (they're going somewhere in India) and work on some sort of charity project out there.  They have to raise several thousand pounds each in order to go, so they've organised a family quiz night tonight, and Morgan really wants to go.  I was quite looking forward to having almost nothing to do this weekend, as we had a rare weekend off from basketball games, but never mind!  Maybe it'll be fun, you never know lol.

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

Ted teacher thanks - Digi Stamp Boutique DT

Hello :o)

I meant to blog this earlier in the week but forgot as usual!  This is the card I made for Dex to give to his teacher, who has done absolute wonders for his confidence this year... he's one of those children who quietly works away, getting top marks without making a fuss and absolutely not pushing himself forward for anything.  His teacher has been brilliant at giving him a bit of a push, telling him his writing skills are amazing and that he'll be an author one day (not sure he actually wants to be, but that's beside the point lol), so much so that he started working on the school newspaper and has been given the 'Editor in Chief' position for next year... he was so pleased with himself!

I've used a sweet ted called First Day at School, along with the Teacher Thanks set, both available from Digi Stamp Boutique at LOTV.  I coloured Ted with copics, the grid paper is a really old one from Doodlebug, the dies are all MFT die-namics, and the 'lined paper' was stamped with a large MFT background stamp in Stampin' Up 'soft sky' ink.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges

Cute Card Thursday - too cute

Addicted to Stamps - make your mark

Simon Says Wednesday - anything goes

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

Hippo Tons of Fun

Hello again :o)

You may have already noticed that Digi Stamp Boutique have now moved to Lili of the Valley HERE... Sally-Ann decided to concentrate on drawing her lovely images, and released some very cute ones to celebrate the launch.

This one is Hippo Tons of Fun and I coloured him with copics.  The papers are Doodlebug, the stitched mats and the little tags are all MFT Die-namics dies, and I added some enamel dots and baker's twine from my stash.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges

Simon Says Wednesday - use a die/ punch

Dies R Us - birthdays

Crafting with Dragonflies - animals

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

Papercraft Challenges - Christmas in July

Hello :o)

I'm here with my DT card for Papercraft Challenges, where our theme is 'Christmas in July'.

The cute image is from the Reindeer Blocks set from Bugaboo Stamps, coloured with copics.  I used a couple of different embossing folders on white linen card, some purple Centura Pearl card and a sentiment stamp from Clearly Besotted.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges

The Holly & Ivy - anything Christmas goes

Creatalicious - anything goes + optional no patterned paper

Simply Create Too - no pattern paper

Cute Card Thursday - anything goes

I'm having a proud mum moment as I've had an email from one of the teachers who was with Morgan on his trip to France last week... it made me cry!  Here's part of it...

'I wanted to spend a bit of time to let you know that no other student has made me feel prouder of being a teacher than your son.

Every day during the trip Morgan was an absolute pleasure to have in my group and made the whole trip worth while. He had a strong phobia of heights and what impressed me more than any other student was the fact he did not let that stop him and ploughed through the activities regardless! 

Morgan has inspired me as an individual and I am convinced he will continue to inspire those around him as he grows up into an awesome young gentleman!'

 How lovely is that?!  And so nice of him to take the time to write to us.  Morgan told me about this particular teacher, and said he couldn't have managed some of the activities without his encouragement.

Thanks for popping in... back tomorrow with another card, that's quite productive for me lately lol.  Have a lovely evening :o)

Everybody Art GDT - birthday

Hello... apologies again for how quiet my blog is at the moment, I'm just not feeling all that motivated with crafting/ blogging lately.  Hopefully I will again soon, but I'm not going to force it... I'll just make/ post when I can.

I'm here with my Guest DT card for Everybody Art, where our theme is 'birthday'.  This one is also my 'annual pig card' for those regulars to my blog - one of my mum's friends loves pigs, so I have to find a new pig for her card every year!

This year's pig is a super cute one from Lee Holland, coloured with copics.  The papers are Echo Park 'Happy Summer', the sentiment is a stamp from Digi Stamp Boutique HERE.  I added a Whimsy corner die, some punched butterflies and Doodlebug enamel dots.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges

Cute n Crafty - birthday

Cutie Pie - spots & dots

Always Happy Birthday - birthday + optional summer birthday

Crafty Catz - anything goes

Crafty Gals - summer colours

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