Crafting for all Seasons #82 "Christmas in July"

Good morning all.

Having a lovely relaxing holiday, weather has been great although a little muggy at times....although Saturday night we had the mother of all storms which cleared the air slightly.

It's time for a new challenge at CFAS and this time the theme is "Christmas in July". We're  looking forward to seeing all your makes. We're being sponsored by Meljens who gave the DT images to work with. 

I've used "Frosty Face" and coloured with promarkers before die cutting. Dies from Spellbinders. Background is Diesire "Softly Falling" template from Crafter's Companion. Card is finished with some stickles and a tag from my stash.

Flat for posting and finished inside too!

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see the rest of the girls inspiration, you won't be disappointed.

Challenges entered:

CHNC Extra - anything Christmas goes

Crafting for all Seasons #70 "Show us Some Romance"

Good morning all.
Gosh it's chilly, although we have had a nice couple of dry days.

Gary appears to be enjoying his Wwoofing (unpaid work in exchange for bed and board). So far he's sorted out sheep's wool and levelled land!

Today it's time for our next challenge at CFAS and this time the theme is "Show us Some Romance". We're  looking forward to seeing all your makes. We're being sponsored by Meljens who gave the DT images to work with.
 Hubby's gonna get a new Valentine card this year lol!!

I've used Little Art Mouse and XOXO Stitches coloured with promarkers and highlighted with a gelly roll pen. Dies are from Spellbinders. Embossing folder from Cuttlebug and ribbons from my stash.

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see the rest of the girls inspiration, you won't be disappointed.

Challenges entered:

Cuttlebug Mania - red

Fan-Tastic Tuesday - anything goes

Cheerful Stamp Pad - love/valentine

Craft-Dee Bowz - anything goes

Crafting from the Heart - anything goes/use red

Craft your Passion - love is in the air

Lexi's Creations - valentine/love

OLLCB - use a heart

The Crazy Challenge - love is in the air

Dream Valley Challenges - no designer paper

That Craft Place - valentine

The Crafting Cafe - embossing

Meljen's - time's up 

(it probably took the full 30 minutes but this card came together without a battle and didn't require much matching up of colours....plus I was making dinner at the same time!)

Carol x

Christmas Crafting (with sketches) #96

Good morning all.

It's time for another challenge over at CCWS and we hope you're playing along with us this year and stocking up on those Christmas cards and projects. It's the turn of the Snow Angels to inspire you this week and Diana designed the sketch. We are being sponsored by Meljens.

I've used Bitty Christmas Tree Bears from Meljens, coloured with promarkers and highlighted with glamour dust. Papers and sentiment are from Pink Petticoat. Dies are from Spellbinders. Ribbon and gems are from my stash.

You will have to pop over to the challenge blog to see the sketch for yourself, remember to check out

 the inspiration of the other DT members whilst you're there. 

Challenges entered:
CHNC Extra - anything goes
Polka Doodles - Christmas is coming

CRAFT - Christmas

Crafty Little Fairies - Christmas in October

ABC Christmas - under the tree

Papertake Weekly - oh Christmas tree

Party Time Tuesdays - glitter

Merry Monday - Carol inspired (Oh Christmas Tree)

Sparkle and Sprinkle - anything goes with glitter

Carol x

Crafting for all Seasons #35 Stitching real/faux

Time for a new challenge at CFAS and this time the theme is Stitching and we don't mind whether it's real or faux, we're  looking forward to seeing all your makes. We're being sponsored by Meljens, The Stamping Boutique and A Day for Daisies. I've used an image from Meljens on my card.

I've part digitally paper pieced the image then reprinted and coloured the mice with promarkers and decoupaged them. Card is simply finished with some faux stitching and pearls and a sentiment from my stash.

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see the rest of the girls inspiration, you won't be disappointed.

Challenges entered:

Bearly Mine - anything goes

Tuesday Throwdown - use squares

Forever Friends - anything goes

Hooked on Challenges - let's celebrate

Lollipop Crafts - anything goes

Stamp and Create - stitch it up

The Crazy Challenge - anything goes

Carol x

Christmas Challenges (with sketches) #22

 It's time for our next challenge over at CCWS and we hope you're playing along with us this year and stocking up on those Christmas cards and projects. Monique has designed the sketch this time. We are being sponsored by Inky Impressions.

Papers are from Crafty Ann's Christmas digi scrap kit and have been layered digitally. Doiley is a Cheery Lyn die and is cut from vellum. Image is from Delicious Doodles and had been coloured with promarkers and a gold gel pen. Sentiment is from Meljens. Pearls and gem from stash. Ribbon is recycled.

You will have to pop over to the challenge blog to see the sketch for yourself, remember to check out the inspiration of the other DT members whilst you're there.

Challenges entered:

OSAAT - use a digi

ABC Christmas - E is for evergreen

Totally Papercrafts - my favourite things (Christmas, pearls and ribbon)

Sweet Stampin - lots of layers

Dasiy Doodles - tie it up

The Stamping Booutique - use gold

Carol x

Crafting for all Seasons #21 Shaped Cards

Time for a new challenge at CFAS and the theme is Shaped Cards. We're being sponsored by Meljens, The Stamping Boutique and Jelly Park Stamps . I've used an image from Meljens.

Made for my football mad nephew who's allegiance changes according to whose top of the league lol. Happy birthday image from Meljens, coloured with promarkers. Football, name and number all generated on the computer. Shirt is his pressie - a £10! Ribbons and button from my stash.

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see the creations of the other Design Team girls.

Challenges entered:

Cardmad Fairy's Digi Days - not square

Wags n Whiskers - male birthday

Dream Valley Challenges - just for men

Incy Wincy - birthday

Pollycraft - ribbons and buttons

Lollipop Crafts - anything goes

Meljens - anything goes

Glitter Geeks - girls and boys

The Pixie Cottage - buttons and bows

My Mum's Craft Shop - buttons and ribbons

Carol x

PS Don't forget I have blog candy up for grabs!

Christmas Challenges (with sketches) #20

 It's time for our next challenge over at CCWS and we hope you're playing along with us this year and stocking up on those Christmas cards and projects. Marga has designed the sketch this time and we are being sponsored by Crealies.

Image from Meljens, coloured with promarkers. Backing papers from My Minds Eye, ticket from Crafty Ann's, ribbon and gems from my stash.

You will have to pop over to the challenge blog to see the sketch for yourself, remember to check out the inspiration of the other DT members whilst you're there.

Challenges entered:

Digi Doodle Shop's Best - one for the boys

Sweet n Sassy - include a hat

Allsorts - free and easy

Di's Digi Designs - snowtime

Ditsy Craftyness - winter + snowmen

OSAAT - anything goes

Carol x

PS Don't forget I have blog candy up for grabs!

Crafting When We Can #10 Something None Crafty

Time for a new challenge at CWWC and the theme is to use something none crafty on your creation.  We're being sponsored by Spesch Designer Stamps who supplied images for the Design Team to use, I've used Lemonade Girl.

I've made a lovely cheerful wall hanging for my craft room and my none crafting piece is a CD. 

• Image: Lemonade Girl
• Medium: promarkers 
• Dies: Spellbinders
• Flower from my stash.
• Sentiment from Meljens

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see the creations of my team mates.

Challenges entered:
Incy Wincy Designs - bold and bright
Creative Inspirations - white + favourite colour
CES - anything but a card
OSAAT - round and round

Carol x

Christmas Challenges (with sketches) #18

 It's time for our next challenge over at CCWS and we hope you're playing along with us this year and stocking up on those Christmas cards and projects.  Janneke has designed the sketch this time and we are being sponsored by Judikins.

Image and sentiment both from Meljens and coloured with promarkers. Papers are called Cosy Christmas and were free from Quick Cards magazine. Red lace from Costo and holly is recycled from wither a cracker or a Christmas cake!

You will have to pop over to the challenge blog to see the sketch for yourself, remember to check out the inspiration of the other DT members whilst you're there.

Challenges entered:

ABC Christmas - A for anything goes

Meljens - anything goes

Moving along with the Times - spots and/or stripes

Fussy and Fancy - let it snow

Stamp Man - red

CHNC - use digi

Crafty Sentiments - anything goes

Daisy Doodles Creative - anything goes

I Love Promarkers - anything goes

Carol x

Crafting for all Seasons #16 Christmas Cards and Projects

We saw some wonderful WOW creations last time at CFAS but it's time for a new challenge and we'd like to see your Christmas projects - dippy me didn't read the instructions properly until after I'd made a gift bag then found the challenge was to be Christmas cards! Luckily Dawn was very understanding and my mistake is your gain lol. We're being sponsored by Meljens and The Stamping Boutique and the DT were given images to use, I've used Holly Christmas Fairy from Meljens.

I've up-cycled a gift bag for my project. Backing papers and ribbon from Papermania. Image is coloured with promarkers and a white gel pen then cut with a square nestie and layered onto a scalloped nestie mat. Poinsettia from WOC. All other components are recycled or from my stash.

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see the inspiration of my team mates.

Challenges entered:

Crafty Ribbons - traditional Christmas

Crafts 4 Eternity - red, cream, green

Crafty Catz - anything goes

CHNC - traditional Christmas

CBGM - red and green

One Stop Craft -  traditional Christmas colours

Sweet Stampin - things with wings

Dream Valley Challenges - Christmas

OSAAT - use a digi

The Squirrel and the Fox - Christmas

Heidi's Hobbystuggu - Christmas

Crafty Boots - Christmas

Hooked on Crafts - Christmas

House of Gilli - red and gold

Lollipop Crafts - happy holiday

Ooh La La Creations - anything but a card

Stamp with Fun - gift wrapping

Victorine Originals - Christmas

Anything goes - anything but a card

Party Time Tuesdays - red and green Christmas

Stamp n Doodle - metallics or traditional Christmas

Use it Tuesday - holiday creation

Cards and Me - Christmas

Divas by Design - Merry Christmas

Little Darling Challenges - Christmas

My Mum's Craft Shop - cute and funky Christmas

Pixie Cottage - anything goes Christmas

Meljens - use green (a little or a lot)

Carol x

Happy Fall

Image from Meljens coloured with promarkers cut with a circle nestie and distressed with bundled sage and tea dye DI then matted onto a scalloped circle. BP is a free download from Crafter's Companion, distressed on the edges with a bread knife. Card is finished with a bow, a pumpkin and some pearls.

Challenges entered:

Bows n Berries - colour challenge (I used orange, kraft and green)

Get Hippity with Ippity - fall colours

Victorine Originals - fall

Stamps R Us - natures gifts

Victorine Originals - fall

For Fun Challenges - pumpkins

Wags n Whiskers - fall colours

Crafty Emmas - forever autumn

Cooking it up with Katie - colouring, circles and curling

Pile it on - fall theme

Carol x

Crafting for all Seasons #10 Sunset/Fall Colours (No 1)

It's time again for a new challenge over at CFAS and the theme is Sunset/Fall Colours. We are being sponsored by Whimsy Stamps and Sweet 'n Sassy who both gave the Design Team images to work with. I've made two projects - the first a card using Acorn Mouse by Meljen:

The image is coloured with promarkers and mounted onto orange then brown Papermania card stock. Backing papers are from Milton and Co. Picture corners are from Kanban. Card is finished with some gems and a handmade ribbon and button flower.

Challenges entered:

Lothian Crafts - handmade flowers

Digi Doodle Shop - autumn colours

Kaboodle Doodles - lots of layers

Shelly's Image Blog - anything goes

Ladybug Crafts Ink - animals

Tuesday Throwdown - fall

Anything goes - anything goes

Crafty Purple Frog - fall into fall

Crafty Ribbons - anything goes

Reasonable Ribbons - autumn

Paper Pretties - fall

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see what my team mates have been up to, I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

Carol x

Christmas Challenges (with sketches) #9

Another fortnight flown in so it's time for another challenge over at CCWS. We're loving seeing your takes on the sketch each week but please ensure you're following the rules to be in with a chance of winning the prize. This week we're being sponsored by Inky Impressions Rubber Stamps and it was the lovely Marion's turn to design the sketch. Here is my card:

I've combined two digi images (star string from Meljens and dog from Sliejke's Stamps) and coloured them with promarkers and a gold gel pen. Swirly backing card is from  Kanban and red paper is from Papermania. Embossing folder is Stars from Crafts Too. Card is finished with a bow, sentiment and stars from my stash.

Pop over to the challenge blog to see the sketch for yourself and enjoy the delightful cards my team mates have produced.

Challenges entered:

Cutie Sunday - Christmas Card

Daisy Doodles - raise it up (embossing)

Stamps and Fun = Creativity - animals

Pile it On - lots of layers

CBGM - cute as a cupcake

Digital Tuesday - celebrate the season

CHNC - swirls

Creative Inspirations - anything goes

Simon says Stamp - song/film (How much is that Doggie in the window)

Carol x

Happy birthday

Image from Meljens coloured with promarkers, Embossed with a labels 4 nestie. Added some pearls to finish.

Challenges entered:

Meljens - no patterned paper

Birthday Sundaes - birthday card with sentiment

Bugaboo - anything goes

Stamptacular Sunday - anything goes

Carol x

Crafting for all Seasons #9 Birthday

We saw some great entries into our last challenge over at CFAS but it's now time for a new one and this time the theme is Birthdays. We're being sponsored by Meljen's Designs and the design team got to work with some of her gorgeous images. I used Birthday Cup Mouse for my card:

The image is coloured with promarkers then it's been layered onto pink and green papermania cardstock. the green cardstock has been edged with a Martha Stewart punch. Backing paper is from the Fairy Flora stack. Card is finished with some ribbon, a pearl heart, pearls, a sentiment and a fancy flower.

Challenges entered:

Cute Thursday - a pinch and a punch

Stamp Something - digi day

Bee Crafty - beautiful borders/fantastic frames

Crafty Purple Frog - birthday card/gift

DYSU - friendly critters

Desert Island Crafts - itinery (flowers, sentiment, green)

Cupcake Craftroom - pink and green

Card Makin Mamas - digital

Ribbon Carousel - anything goes

Lady Bug Crafts Ink - anything goes

Stamp N Doodle - anything goes

My Mum's Craft Shop - layer it up

Carol x

When Life Gives you Lemons

Had an evening in the craft room tonight catching up and getting ahead as I'm going out tomorrow night to celebrate the "big 50" which happens on Monday. It will definitely be a celebration as two years ago I spent my birthday preparing for major surgery to have a brain tumour removed the size of a tangerine, so I'm very grateful to still be here in good health and able to celebrate this milestone. 

Love this sentiment from Meljens, it's so appropriate in life.

Using another of my prize digis from the Waxfruit Company - lemon blossoms, the image is coloured with promarkers. I printed the gingham and sentiment direct to card then mounted the image on foam pads then a further layer with silicon glue. This has been layered onto lemon card and a white card base. Card is finished with a gingham bow and pearl.

Challenges entered:

Less is More - feeling fruity

Allsorts - free and easy

Card Makin Mamas - food and drink

Aud Sentiments - make someone smile

I Love Promarkers - anything goes

Carol x

Happy Birthday

Base card is ice white pearl, image is a freebie digi from Meljens which has been coloured with promarkers. Frame is a nesties label 4 (I think) which has been embossed by hand. Image has been highlighted with a gelly roll pen but I don't think this shows in the photo.

Beginning to enjoy doing these clean and simple cards and am building a nice stack of them to send to charity - which reminds me of why I was standing on the high street this morning wondering where I was going............wanted some small labels from the print shop........oh heck I'll have to go again now!!

(Note to Chrissie - the skateboarder card is for my daughter to give her big brother so no I wasn't having a moment (this time)..........but it happens frequently lol)

Challenges entered:

Less is More - OLC in the frame

DYSU - birthday

Digi Doodle Shop - no backing papers

Carol x