Well, maybe not ....

.... tomorrow - what I really meant was "normal service will return in 5 days time"!!!

Hope everyone has had a lovely Christmas, is relaxed and happy and ready for a new crafting year!!!

I did intend to start doing a few bits yesterday, but spent the entire day first in a clinic, then hospital, with DS, who, with immaculate timing, got an infected tooth on one of the few days when there isn't a dentist open anywhere. Sigh. But we got prescriptions and he didn't have to stay in hospital (woohoo!). Once the infection goes, we'll have to go and get the offending tooth removed (not looking forward to that day!).

I made quite a few things for Christmas gifts this year, usually finished late at night and photographed with too much haste and bad light!! I had made a few of the post-it holder thingies for DD's girl-friends, this one finished the set:

For her boy-friends (friends who are boys - kwim!), I made these pouches and filled with chocolate snowballs:

Along the with the jam I made back in September, I made mince-meat for mince pies and decorated the jars:

And finally, to hold all the the jars, note-holders, etc., I made these gift-bags and tags (from the nice kraft insides of M+S bags),

And here's my Christmas card design for this year. I culled the list ruthlessly, and had to make 50 of them

I'm exhausted just looking at the photos. Such a lot of time spent, I've done no challenges, commented on no blogs, etc., for the whole month of December. I'm looking forward to some lovely blog-hopping now that I'm done with all this!!!

Thanks for looking.

Normal Service ....

.... will resume tomorrow!!

I can't believe it's been nearly a month since I blogged. I've been up to my neck in Christmas stuff since the end of November. All pressies and cards have now been sent to those who might see this blog, so I'll pop up some pictures tomorrow.

So happy - holidays started today!!!!! Yippee!!!!!

Naughty Girl ....

.... not me, I hasten to add!! Look at my new stamp, it's from a Canadian company called Kraftin Kimmie Stamps. I just love this girl, she looks like she is up to no good!!

Kimmie has a new challenge blog, Kraftin KimmieStamp Challenge Blog, and this week's challenge is called "Merry Christmas, Happy Winter", so I'm entering my card in that.

I've used this week's lovely sketch on Friday Sketchers. I'm also entering it into this fortnight's challenge on Basic Grey Challenges - which is called "Glitz and Bling". I've used BG Periphery, and I've stickled the edges of the image and the snowflake and popped some gems on too.

Sorry the photo is so dark, the weather is so bad here at the moment that skies are always grey. Bad time of year for good photos.

Thanks for looking!

Read ....

.... All About It!!! That's the name of my challenge this week on PaperPlay Challenges, and it's quite apt really. I had great intentions of making lots of things, but I got into a bit of a reading frenzy instead and spent several evenings sitting on the couch in front of the telly, book(s) in hand.

Anyway, back to the challenge:

"I want you to use some form of booktext, for example: vintage booktext, script background stamp, newspaper text."

Here's my DT sample:


I didn't have time to do any colouring, so went for some solid stamps, which I heat embossed with gold sparkly powder. Then I went mad distressing everything!!!

I'm also entering it into this week's Daring Cardmakers, the challenge this week is "scraplings", in other words, cards made with narrow off-cuts from scrap cardstock.

Thanks for looking!

Done and ....

.... dusted. Yup, got the teenage nephew's card finished!!!

It's for this week's PaperPlay challenge, set by Kate, and it's a recipe:

For this weeks challenge I'd like you to use this recipe for your project:
2 Patterned Papers
1 Ribbon
3 buttons
Add some creativity and mix it all together!

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I'm ashamed to admit that, yet again, I didn't read it properly, and I only have two buttons on mine. Can't think why this keeps happening - in real life, I'm a dotter of Is and a crosser of Ts!!!

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I'm also entering this card in this week's Daring Cardmakers - they're looking for cards using kraft cardstock (which I love!!).

And also Quixotic Challenges, this week they're looking for stitching. All my cards these days have stitching, I love the look it gives on cards. I really need to get into machine stitching, though, 'cos all that hand-stitching takes so bloomin' long!!!

Back soon with ..... cards for girls!!!! Woohoo!!!!

Thanks for looking!

November ....

.... Birthdays. We have a lot of family birthdays this month, one of the first is my husband's. Then we move on to the difficult teenage nephew card - heaven help me!! Here's the card I made for DH:


I used a lovely sketch from a few weeks back on Friday Sketchers, I didn't get the chance to use it at the time though.

I'm entering this into a new challenge blog, Quixotic Challenges, which, very conveniently this week, is looking for birthday cards!!

I'm also entering this in this week's Basic Grey Challenges, which is to use the following interior photo as inspiration:

Nice room!! I used Basic Grey Wassail papers, Doodlebug brads and Pink Paislee rub-on.

Thanks for looking!!

Oops ....

.... nearly forgot to post last week's DT entry for PaperPlay Challenges.

Elisa set the challenge, it's called "Parlez Vous":

"French or Spanish, Greek or Japanese, Irish or Catalan, use any language other than English."

As happens way too often, I read it way too quickly and made a little mistake, in that my card does have a little bit of English on it, but hey, there are enough other languages in there too to get away with it, I think!!

It's not quite my usual, and I'm not sure if I really like it, but it fits what I needed it for to a tee!!

My teenage daughter was away in Belfast with her school for a few days recently, at a conference. The card was made for her team to give their teacher as a thank you for giving up his time to bring them away and supervise them (rather him than I!). Her team were representing Indonesia, so the first two words, "Terima Kasih", are "Thank you" in Indonesian. As Indonesia is a Muslim country, I thought the BG Marrakech papers were particularly appropriate. I hand-stitched the "thank you" (sorry, Elisa!!!) to make it stand out and that was a fiddly, awkward job and a half!!! Won't be doing that again in a hurry!!

The kids had a wonderful time, the teacher loved the card, so we're all happy!!

Thanks for looking! Hope you get a chance to join in this challenge - and I'm dying to see who gets the new DT positions on PaperPlay - all will be revealed later this week, I think.

Happy Hallowe'en ...

.... to one and all!!!

I love Hallowe'en - everyone on the estate where we live goes in for it in a big way, and it's always trouble-free and fun for all ages. We've just handed out the last of the treats, and so now I can post the pumpkin pictures:

My children did this one, well, my son chose the subject (Patrick from Spongebob) and then disappeared when all the work had to be done, so his sister did all the carving:

This is mine - I like to carve something a bit ghoulish and very detailed - then it goes outside on display. This one is Mr. Bonejangles from The Corpse Bride:


And I have to show you my newest Hallowe'en decoration - a very very early birthday present from my friend, Lisa. Her friend, Carol, makes the most extraordinarily detailed clothespin dolls (amongst other things), and has an Etsy shop to sell them. And here's my little Hallowe'en sweetheart made by Carol - isn't she perfect, with her little broom, witch's hat and spider.

And here's a slightly closer view:

Thanks Lisa and Carol!!!

My first card ....

.... using my Promarkers. I've been fiddling about with them, and this is the first image I've coloured. Few observations, first being that I used the wrong paper, it was quite difficult to blend the colours and they bled a bit too, but I'm happy enough with it as a first experiment.

I've followed the lovely sketch on this week's Sugar Bowl - I've used their sketches before, but hadn't used Sugar Nellie stamps, so couldn't enter the challenge. Well this week, as I've got my Gorjuss Girl image, I can enter - here's my card:

There was an extra requirement to use lace. Well, I don't have any lace, so I used my MS Doily "Lace" punch, hope that fulfils the brief!! The papers are Cosmo Cricket Lil Man - I love 'em!!

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Thanks for looking - and thanks for lovely comments left on my last post.

Mojo back ....

.... I hope!! Another card, this one is for a friend at school whose position has just been made "permanent and pensionable".

I used the sketch on this week's challenge on Simon Says Stamp - it was a good one for a card that has no image, just a sentiment. The papers are Cosmo Cricket "Everafter" - I absolutely love them - gorgeous papers to work with.

I used my new Ruby Promarker to colour the pearls, it worked a treat.

Thanks for looking.

LOOK ....

.... what was waiting for me when I got home today. A big, fat parcel!


And look what's inside:

A forum friend, Annika, was selling her 76 (that's right, SEVENTY-SIX!) pro-markers, as she hadn't really made use of them. I jumped at the chance, I had been checking them out earlier in the year but didn't have the funds, and Annika was selling for a very reasonable price. And what's more, she told me she had added a few "sweeteners" to the pack also. Oh my goodness, look at all that stuff. Stamps, flowers, lace, rub-ons, bling. Very nice doing business with you, Annika!!! Thank you!

Dry spell ....

.... around here, I hadn't made a thing in over a week. I didn't even get to Mandy's challenge on PaperPlay last week - it was a lovely sketch and I would have enjoyed it.

But after a late night frenzy last night, I've managed this week's challenge on PaperPlay Challenges, set by Sandie:

For my challenge I'd like you all to use your favourite embellishment on your project... whatever it may be :)

I've used brads and stitching, both of which I love, on my card, I'm also very fond of organza ribbon, but I felt there was enough on it already!!

I'll also enter this on Stamping for the Weekend, their challenge this week is to use the colour combo of orange, brown and leafy green (Hello, BG Archaic!!). It's hard to see them properly in the pic, I took it at 7am this morning when it was still dark, but those are indeed the colours!!!!

And the lovely sketch that I've used is from this week's Sugar Bowl, but I haven't used a Sugar Nellie stamp so I can't enter it!!

Thanks for looking!! And thanks to all those lovely readers who leave nice comments too!!!

Pale and ....

.... interesting (just like my legs in summer - ha ha!!!!)

No, seriously - it's the title of this week's PaperPlay Challenge, set by Dei:

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"I would like to see you use predominantly white with just one colour as an accent!"

Here's my entry, my accent colour is gold. I've used a lovely dandelion stamp, and heat embossed it with gold sparkly embossing powder - only two sparkles can be seen in the photo, but it is a lot more sparkly in real life!!

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I used this week's sketch from Friday Sketchers so am also entering it in that. The new stamp I've used on this card is one I got with my winner's prize from there a few weeks ago!!

There's a very sweet story behind this card. It's for a couple who have been married for a long time, but the wife had a stroke a few years ago. She made a very good recovery, but her long-term memory is impaired, and one of the things she has no recollection of is their wedding. She can remember nothing about it, even looking at photos doesn't bring it back. So they decided to get married again by renewing their vows, he proposed, they had a church blessing, reception, photographer, etc., so she has a wedding to remember. Isn't that lovely.

Thanks for looking!

Julie

Just call me ....

.... Felicity Kendall!!

We went up the mountains on Saturday and picked blackberries. It was a bit late in the season but we got enough to make some jam (also using apples from the miniature tree in our miniature back garden) and freeze some for using in baking through the winter. (For any American readers, jam = jelly!!!)

I decided to decorate the jam pots to make them into Christmas pressies. Kept up with the blackberry theme by using some purple bazzill that I bought a long time ago and never used and ditto some Christmas themed 12" x 12" paper that I got in a kit.

I think they look very festive!!!

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Thanks for looking!

Bit of repetition ....

.... going on here, now that I look at my last few blog entries. Seems to be a preponderance of spots and Sugar Nellies!!! Maybe it's something to do with this being my week to set the challenge on PaperPlay Challenges, I've called it "Spot This":

"Pretty self-explanatory really. I am a sucker for buying spotty paper (and stripy - but we won't go there!), then I don't use it up because I don't want to cut into it. So this week, I'd like everyone to make spotty things (using paper or indeed anything else spotty you wish).

Have fun (I, on the other hand, will be weeping with a pair of scissors over my lovely spotty darlings!!!)."

So here's what I made:

Yes, it's my lovely Gorjuss Girl, coloured with Prismas and distress inked to within an inch of her life!! Papers are Crate Paper Avenue - I soooo love this line - the colours are my favourite dusky blues, creams, and dark browny/black.
I am also going to enter this card in this week's Simon Says Stamp challenge, which requires stitching. Seeing as I was insane enough to be sitting doing hand-stitching and cross-stitching on this one at 12.15 last night, I think it might just fit the bill!!!
Thanks for looking!

Late nights and ....

.... early mornings. I'm soooo tired today, had a very very busy weekend, most of it same old same old and some unbelievably boring (committee meeting - blah!). When I got home last night I stayed up quite late getting this card for my friend's daughter finished. Then my mind was buzzing and I couldn't sleep, so I was not at my best this morning!!!

I've used this week's sketch from Friday Sketchers and I'm also entering it in this fortnight's challenge on Basic Grey Challenges - which is to incorporate embossing - I've embossed the oval panel and I've used papers from BG June Bug and Mellow and a teeny Ambrosia button. Sorry the light is bad - I took the photo early this morning as I had to get it in the early post to make sure it arrives on time - fingers crossed anyway!!

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Thanks for looking!

Tag It ....

.... that's the title of this week's challenge on PaperPlay Challenges, set by Jackie:

I would like you to use a tag or multiple tags on your creation .. any size .. any shape!!

Here's my DT entry:

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I used one of my favourite BG paper lines, Skate Shoppe - an old 'un but a good 'un!! The image is my Leanne Ellis for Sugar Nellie cutie - you can't see in the photo but I've highlighted the flowers and leaves with glossy accents.

Thanks for looking. Next week it's my turn to set the challenge - eeek!!

Not so very ....

.... productive, after all. I ought to have known better than suggest I'd get lots of things done at the crop on Saturday!

I did talk a lot, though!!

And I made another of those post-it note holder thingies for the Christmas pressie pile. Here it is, along with another one I did a few weeks ago.

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They are just so easy to make - and a great way to use up odd half sheets of 12" x 12".

Eeek - No Patterned ....

.... Paper. That's the name of this week's challenge on PaperPlay Challenges, set by Kate:

You are not allowed to use any patterned paper in your project. You may however (if you wish) make your own, out of card stock, for example, using whatever techniques you want ! You can use paint, you can emboss or stamp it's entirely up to you or you can just use different colours of plain cardstock if that's what you want!

Crikey - that one pulled me right out of my comfort zone, as I do lurve patterned paper! So out came the distress inks, Cuttlebug embossing folder, needle + thread and Co-ordinations cardstock and I made this card (thoroughly enjoyed it too!!).

I used a sketch from CraftyCardmakers so I'm going to enter it there.

I've been a bad crafter the last few weeks, have been painting DD's room among other things, and simply haven't got myself organised at all after going back to school. But I'm going to a crop on Saturday - I've got a few ideas in my head that will hopefully become reality and, all going well, will post them after the weekend!

Thanks for looking!

I love ....

.... Earth Love (by Cosmo Cricket, that is!). I won a prize from Cosmo Cricket of their new Earth Love line and this is the first time I've used it. Gorgeous paper to work with.

This week's PaperPlay Challenge was set by Elisa and it's called "Letter Leftovers": "Isn't annoying that if you buy alphabet stickers - or rubbons or chipboard - at some stage you will be left with lots of letters which can't make any word anymore? My challenge this week is to use letters from at least three different sets. If you don't have any of the above, use stamps or fonts."

I'm afraid I was naughty and didn't read the challenge properly, I only used letters from two sets. Oops!

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I stamped the stamp with Hero Arts shadow ink, highlighted with coloured pencils and then used crackle glaze to age it. Used a button to get the holes for the cross-stitching perfect - worked a treat, must remember that!!

Thanks for looking.

Poor sore ....

.... throat! My friend's teenage son J had his tonsils removed at the weekend. DD asked me was I making a card for him, but I wasn't going to initially, as he's absolutely not a cutesy-card sort of person!! Then I had an brainwave and made this card really quickly - it made him laugh!

Got some exciting news over the weekend - the baby card I made last week won the prize on Friday Sketchers - it's a $25 voucher so I am very content indeed with that!!

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And today, it was back to school for me and DS. Boo!

Back to ....

.... early mornings, packed lunches, after-school activities. Oh, just take me out back and shoot me!!!

Sandie set this week's sadistic challenge on PaperPlay Challenges - I was thinking of not doing it, as a kind of one-woman protest!!!! But then I gave in - I've made a card for the teachers in DS's school. I'm going to bring in some choccy buns and the inside will say ".... bet you'd all forgotten what chocolate tastes like!" (the staffroom is notorious for always having niceies to eat - they've probably all been on diets all summer!).

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I used Scenic Route Appleton papers, which are perfect for school themes, stamped the apples with Hero Arts stamps and coloured with prismas, then mounted them with foam to give a bit of dimension, hand-stitched the red lines, and printed and cut out the lettering.

This week's prize is sponsored by Crafty Alley and it's a stack of 12" x 12" papers.

Thanks for looking.

Yet another Baby ....

.... Girl! What is going on in the world - I don't know anyone who has had a baby boy recently - all girls. Isn't that supposed to mean a more peaceful time?!

Anyway, decided to incorporate this week's SFTW challenge, which is to use the colours pink and grey. I also used this week's Friday Sketchers sketch. Thank goodness for sketches, they can be great for kick-starting some inspiration.

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Isn't her name gorgeous? Have to visit her later in the week - pressie bought and wrapped too - I usually buy clothes, but when we were on holidays I spotted an Elmer toy and book in a shop window and I couldn't resist them.

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And a relative of mine is getting married at the weekend in Somerset. We're not going to the wedding, too close to back to school, but here's the card I'm sending. I don't really like doing "occasion" cards (apart from birthdays!), can't seem to think of anything and I don't have any wedding-y stamps either, so I always do a variation on this quilled bouquet for wedding cards. This time I've varied the background layers a bit.

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Thanks for looking!

Nose to the ....

.... grindstone. Nothing like a deadline to get going again!!

It's PaperPlayChallenges day again. This week, Mandy set the challenge with this sketch:

I made a thank you card for the owner of the cottage we stayed in. I wanted it to have a sort of "English country cottage" feel, and I'm very happy with the finished card, although I was tormented trying to get the three panels on straight!!!!

This week's prize is provided by Cardznscrapz and it's two cute Magnolia stamps.

Thanks for looking!

Back ....

.... down to earth. Sigh - just back from holidays in England. We had a fantastic time. But it's all over now, sob, weep, wail!!

Would you like to see my holiday snaps?!!!!! It'll only take three hours, I promise!!

We first went to the IMM (International Mini Meeting, for those who don't know!) in Birmingham. Over 3,000 classic Minis and almost 7,000 adults and kids camping in a park over a wild and sleep-free sunny weekend. Brilliant fun.

Here's the convoy waiting to get into the site:


A tiny portion of the site:


The ONLY way to get about at festivals:

Next came the civilised part of the holidays. We rented a cottage in the Cotswolds and toured with our Swedish Mini friends. Isn't this picture postcard perfect?

This is the front door of our cottage:

And the local pub two doors down (the village had houses and a pub, no shops, no post office, just a pub!):

Now back to real life. I must say I thought I'd miss crafting but, gasp, I didn't at all. (But I did manage to google the nearest scrapbooking store and pop round for a visit!!!).

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Normal blogging will resume soon - I just have to do the laundry, pack away the camping gear, find my mojo - and make something!!!

Blog Awards ....

.... I just love these!!

My lovely friend, Mandy, has given me these awards to add to the collection!!! Thanks, hun!!

To keep the Circle of Friends going I must do my part and pass it along.....Here are the rules for this award: To pick up the Circle of Friends Blog Award cut and paste the award logo and use it on your own blog. Nominate 5 other bloggers you feel have become part of your circle of friends. Link to your nominees within your blog post. Include these instructions on how to pick up the award in your blog post. Link back to the person who gave you the award in your blog post, to show your appreciation. Comment on their blogs to let them know they've received the award.

So here are my nominees, in alphabetical order 'cos that's the way I am! ................

Carol

June

Kelly

Liz

Lynn

Thanks girls, I love both to read your inspirational blogs, and to read the lovely comments you leave for me on mine!!