Sundays are for crafting!

Hi, hope you're all having a lovely weekend! Well despite it being a lovely sunny day in France today, I still managed to make two cards! The first one is for A Spoon Full of Sugar Challenge, where you have to add lace to your card...


The image is an Elisabeth Bell design from Sugar Nellie. I also used DP from Stampin' Up (Summer Picnic), Bazill red card, sentiment from Cuddly Buddly and rest is from stash. The image has been coloured with Distress Inks...


The second card is for the new Passion for Promarkers challenge blog...


It's my second Promarker card, I'm still getting used to my new pens. I'm finding that they bleed a little depending on what type of card the image is stamped onto, I suppose it'll be a case of trial and error with this. Anyway, the image was a RAK, I think it's from The Greetings Farm, all the papers are from a pack I got in Aldi (France) a while back, the charm is from the Hobby House and sentiment done on Cuttlebug. The Promarkers I have used are: Pastel Pink, Magenta, Blossom, Cool Grey 1 & 2, Gold and Yellow.

Off for a relaxing Sunday evening, hope you enjoy it too!

First attempt with Promarkers!

Good evening everyone! Hip hip hooray, it's the weekend (well almost) and I've got two whole days off work! The housework is crying out to be done, and I just can't ignore it anymore, but I am definately going to give myself some "me" time this weekend. That means crafting, and maybe a tad of gardening too!

Ok, now for my card...and it's my first using my new Promarkers (I'm liking them... a lot). So here it is...


And a little close up of the image...


I used a fabby Miss Anya image kindly sent to me by Vicki (thanks hun), coloured with my new Promarkers. The colours I used are Pastel Pink, Grass, Magenta, Vanilla, Yellow and Cool Grey 3. I also used Cuttlebug Embossing folders for the swirly background and the sentiments. The coloured card and heart brads are from my stash. I'm entering my card into the Passion for Promarkers Challenge, which is "Anything Goes" for the first week. If you haven't already popped by this new blog and have some Promarkers, then do it quick as there are some fantastic prizes up for grabs for the first challenge! Congratulations to Denise and Gina on the launch of this great new challenge blog!

Well that's enough from me, off to get myself settled ready for Britain's Got Talent! Have a fab evening!

Yeay, I've Won!

Oh I'm so chuffed, I won the challenge this week over at a Spoon Full of Sugar! There were several prizes and I won the Whimsy stamp, Mother Goose and her babies! And guess what, the stamp has arrived today, all the way from the US! I can't belive it's only taken 3 days! I'd just like to thank the girls over at ASFOS, as well as the Whimsy Stamp Company for sending me such a lovely prize, and in super quick time! I'll be putting some ink on my lovely new stamp soon!

The Sugar Bowl - Sketch by Kathy

Hi all! Firstly thanks for the advice about Internet Explorer, at least I'm not the only one who's having problems (makes me feel better). I've had some success today and have been able to visit a few blogs, but IE has started playing up again so will call it a day (Mmmm...for a minute I thought I'd cracked it). So instead I thought I'd share my card with you, it's for The Sugar Bowl Challenge - a lovely sketch by Kathy...


You have to include pearls on your card, so I've used a little pearl brad...


Ok, the image is of course Sugar Nellie (Leanne Ellis Design) coloured using brush markers, the papers are Stampin' Up "Tea Party"...I just love these, green card is embossed using the Cuttlebug Perfect Paisley embossing folder, brad is Papermania, spacer is from The Hobby House, rest is from stash.

Last night my gorgeous hubby surprised me with some lovely Pro Markers, my very first! I was so chuffed, but as it was around midnight and I had to get up early this morning I haven't had a play yet...so I'm off to have a half hour with my new markers! I'm not sure how to use them yet, so if anyone has any tips or knows of any tutorials I'm all ears...thanks!

Help! Problems with Internet Explorer

Please please can anyone help? I've been having problems visiting your blogs, everytime I want to visit a blog the blog comes on the screen then a message pops up from Internet Explorer saying it cannot open the site and the operation is terminated!!! I have to click OK, and then that's it, no blogging! It's driving me round the bend and I don't have a clue how to fix it! So until I know what's wrong I can't visit anyone's blog! WHY? If anyone can help, please leave me a comment, thanks!

A Spoon Full of Sugar - Celebration

Hi! Hope you're all enjoying the Bank Holiday weekend. In France we don't have the same Bank Holidays, shame as it's nice having that extra day off on BH Monday! Anyway, hope the weather is kind to you, it's so much nicer when the sun shines!

I've managed to fit in a card for this week's challenge over at A Spoonfull Of Sugar. They're celebrating their birthday so the challenge is to do a card for any type of celebration. I've gone for a new baby card, as a work collegue has recently given birth to a baby girl...


I stamped the image several time and decoupaged it, you can see the layers better here...


The image is Penny Black "basket case" coloured with w/c pencils, I've used Nestabilities and Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder. The papers, flowers and ribbon are from my stash and the sentiment reads "Congratulations" and is from Artemio.

Have a relaxing weekend!

Magnolia Mother's Day

In France, Mother's Day is in June this year, so for my MIL's card I decided to use the lovely sketch by Naoual from the Just Magnolia challenge blog...


I have added glitter to her wings and around the hearts, and gold in her hair although it's difficult to see from the photo...


Tilda is stamped in Versafine and coloured using Distress Inks. The paper (which we can see very little of) is from a K & Co pad and has "Mother" written on it in different ways. The sentiment stamp is from Artemio and reads "from the bottom of the heart". All other embellishments are from my stash.

Thanks for stopping by!

Can Anyone Help?

Well, would you believe it...I have LOADS of stamps and not a single one with a car or motorbike!!! And of course I need to make a card for my nephew (he's almost 11 yrs old) who's car and motorbike crazy! Does anyone happen to have a cute or witty stamp suitable for the occassion, and would you be willing to stamp me a copy or two? Of course I'd be happy to stamp something in exchange. If anyone is able to do this please could you email me (addy in the side column). If not it'll have to be a cutie image or something else? Thanks ever so much!

Brand New Challenge Blog

Hi! Just wanted to let you know all about a fab new challenge blog which is due to launch very soon...


The new blog will be run by Dawn (All Pink Girl) and Ann (Madgesty - love to Create), and will not only include challenges but also hints and tips on card making and papercrafting. They also have some fab blog candy on offer for their launch! If you haven't already checked it out pop over and say hi!

Hello, it's Monday!

Hi everyone! Well that's the weekend over again, time always flies when I'm not at work! I did have a tiny bit of time this weekend for crafting so I made this card for two challenges, Cute Card Thursday where the theme is "Letters & Numbers" and Penny Black Saturday Challenge, Recipe 3...2...1 (3 flowers but I used stars as the card is for a boy - hope it's ok, 2 papers and 1 brad/charm - you can see my brad better on the close up piccy...


Little brad can be seen better here...


I had to do a large card as the stamp is a big one (from Penny Black), first time I've made a card with it. Papers are Basic Grey Cupcake, used Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder to emboss, Sissix corner die, brad is from Poppicrafts, Sentiment is a stamp from Artemio. It's for my nephew's birthday, hope he likes it!

Thanks for taking the time to pop by xx

Football (don't groan please) and Clean and Simple!

Newcastle 0 - 1 Fulham!!! OH NO! I won't bore you with all the details but basically Newcastle haven't done themselves any favours at all! I can feel the breath of relegation on the back of our necks, it's not good! I'm glad I've distanced myself from all this living in France now, but I still like to see my team win, or at least not get relegated! Oh yeah, congrats to Man U AGAIN, it's getting boring...

So onto cards, obviously more interesting, I've made a couple of "Clean and Simple" cards as this week over at Stamp Something the theme is just that with a Thank You twist...



I've used my new Stampin' Up papers "Tea Party" that I got yesterday (my first SU paper!!!) and my SU scalloped edge punch. The sentiments on both cards are also SU, kindly loaned to me by my SU demonstrator Sylvie (thanks Sylvie). The cards aren't my usual style but I like them all the same. Not too much detail means they were pretty quick to make, unlike my usual cards!

I also made a card for A Spoonfull of Sugar challenge which is "Buttons Galore"...


Peter Rabbit stamp is coloured using Distress Inks, papers are Basic Grey and buttons etc are from my stash.

Well I shall go and have myself an "apero" (they love this in France...basically a drink...usually alcoholic...before having a meal) to help erase Newcastle's dissmal performance today.

Rumbles of Thunder!

Whaaaa! Last night I didn't get a wink of sleep due to the extreme weather. The thunder and lightening here was impressive, it kept me awake to the point where at 4am I was actually watching the storm through the window. It doesn't scare me, I feel safe indoors but the rumbling thunder and lightening strokes were enough to keep me from sleeping. I did think about doing a card but as I had to get up for work at 6am I decided that maybe it wasn't the best idea! However, I managed to do this little card last night...


The close up shows the details better. I've used glossy accents on the WISH and on her hair. The glitter stars are done using a dot of glitter glue then dragging away from the middle with a pricking tool...


I'm entering the card in the Stamp Something challenge, which is "Pink Birthday Somethings". They're also looking for DT members so maybe I'll put myself forward?

Ingredients:
* Stamp by Leanne Ellis from Sugar Nellie (coloured with markers/chalks)
* Sentiment stamp is from Penny Black
* Paper is from Rayher
* Ribbon is from Dovecraft
* Flower is made using Woodware flower punches

Thanks for popping by, better dash as loads to do before I'm off to work again!

In your thoughts

Good morning and hello to all my blogging friends! I have two cards to share with you today, both with a "Thinking of You" theme. The first one is for this week's Just Magnolia challenge "In Stitches" where you have to include stitching, faux or real on your card...


The stitching around the edge is real and took ages to do, and Tilda also has some stitching on her dress. You can see better here...


I've also tried my hand at decorating the inside of the card, not sure about this one, but there is some stitching (faux) on the square message panel and also on the cherries, although it's hard to see from the pic...



Tilda has been watercoloured with brush markers, papers are Doodlebug, sentiment is Penny Black and charms etc are from The Hobby House.

My second card today is also a thinking of you card, although less cheerful. It's for my friend who has recently lost a relative. I'm not good at sympathy cards, but thought this would be ok...



Tilda is coloured with w/c paints, sentiment is Cuddly Buddly, papers are Basic Grey Sugared and ribbon is Doodlebug.

Well, no sunshine here today, hope Mr Sun comes back for the weekend as I've got the full weekend free, no WORK! I'm hoping to get lots of crafting done, and also prepare my blog candy.

Thanks ever so much for popping by, I know how time is scarce so I really appreciate it all your nice comments!

Touchy Feely Card

Good afternoon everyone! The challenge over at a Spoonfull of Sugar is called "Touchy Feely" where you have to make something with texture. So here's my card for this, I kinda struggled at first as I don't have any puffy paint etc, but got there in the end...


I've used an Elizabeth Bell image from Sugar Nellie, coloured with watercolours (haven't used them for ages). The green paper has a velvet texture (not seen on photo) and the stitches are real! I've also added the sentiment which is embossed on the Cuttlebug using the "YOU" embossing folder. I've tried my new spacers from The Hobby House, which I love! I also added a little charm from my stash. Ribbon is Artemio. I've decorated the inside but forgot to photograph it, durghhh!

Happy Mail

Good evening! This week's challnge over at Cute Card Thursday is "Happy Mail" where you have to make a card to cheer someone up or make their day. What a great challenge! We could all do that for someone, I know I for one have just a few cards lying around which could be put to good use. I made this card with my new Cuddly Buddly stamp...


The papers I used were Basic Grey Sugared, flourish stamp is from Autumn Leaves, and the main image and sentiment is Cuddly Buddly, ribbon is Doodlebug.

There is another reason for this challenge, as Vikki who runs Post Pals contacted Cute Card Thursday and said...


Hello, I read that you do card challenges and I wondered if you would consider doing a challenge with a twist.

I run Post Pals, we feature seriously ill children (most have cancer or are going through transplants) and their siblings on our website www.postpals.co.uk and invite members of the public to log on from around the world and send a card to a child. The aim is to make the child smile, but we have found it also helps their self esteem and parents often open them with a child during a procedure to distract them.

At the moment we are helping 120 children but they aren't getting much post.

I was wondering if you would do a challenge, instead of people just scanning in their card for the theme but they actually make one for a Post Pal child and send it off.

I can't begin to tell you how much receiving a card means when your ill and isolated.

Thank you,

Vikki



ps)You can see a video about what we do here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l42sKtdPXrw

I've just been onto the Post Pals website, and read a few of the stories (although unfortunately there are lots of ill children), which brought tears to my eyes. So if you can spare a card, then it might just make someone's day!

Just Magnolia & Penny Black Challenges

Hi everyone! Just a quick post tonight as off to bed, promise I won't go on! Just thought I'd better post my card for the Just Magnolia Challenge, a fab sketch from Bev this week! As usual at the moment, it's last minute for me yet again...


I must apologise for the awful photo, but I have to blame the camera and rubbish lighting...nothing to do with me of course! Tilda is coloured with Distress Inks, papers are Papermania Creative Tones Venetian Skies, buttons are from my hubby's shirt (well it was getting thrown out so I couldn't waste the buttons), wool from stash. I shall put a sentiment on it at a later date.

The second card is for the Penny Black Saturday Challenge, where you have to use 3 shapes on your card. Well I think I have safely covered that what with the Nesties, die-cuts, buttons etc...


Image is of course Penny Black, paper is DCWV, die-cuts are Sissix, sentiment Cuddly Buddly, rest is from stash.

Hope to get time to do a bit of blog hopping soon! Almost the weekend, hope you have a great one.

Charming Butterflies and Bank Holidays!

Hello everyone! Well firstly hope you all had a lovely Bank Holiday weekend, especially for those of you who were lucky enough to be off work. Now there's something that gets me on my soap box, why do we call them Bank Holidays? I don't mean literally the meaning of this, but the fact that although the original reason for these days was to have a day's holiday, we seem somehow to have lost this along the way. How many of you end up having to work on a so called "Bank Holiday"? In May there are 3 (French) Bank Holidays, and although I would love to spend them with my o/h, I find myself working 2 out of 3 of these days! The only B/H I didn't work was the 1st of May, but only because it happened to be during my week's holiday. Our employers seem to be getting more demanding, and more of us feel we have little or no choice to say NO! STOP! If you choose to work the B/H then that's different, it was YOUR CHOICE, not an obligation! Work can be hard to come by nowadays, and so those of us who have jobs are like puppets, where the employer pulls the strings and we dance...ok not all employers are like this but I feel the more tolerant ones are in the minority. Sorry to go on about this but I think it's a shame we no longer have a right to a day off! There, that's said, I'll get down off my soap box now!!!

On the subject of lack of time off, I thought I'd do a card for the Stamp Something Challenge this week, which is "Something for a mom", as a mother never seems to get time off!


And a close up of the charm...


I used:
-Image and Sentiment stamp (both Penny Black)
-Brush Markers to colour
-Paper is Daisy & Dandelion "Pumpkin Patch"
-Charm etc from stash

I've not done many cards with charms, but love the effect so I've ordered a few goodies for myself, so hopefully will be back later in the week with another "charming" lol card!

Take care and thanks for popping by!

Anything Goes

Just a very quick post tonight, have been out gardening all afternoon (it's Bank Holiday in France - May Day) and so a relaxing evening is in order! I have planted loads of seeds that my SIL sent me over from UK, so hope they'll germinate ok - I'll keep you posted!

Here is my card for the Penny Black Saturday Challenge, I'm just in the nick of time as the challenge is due to change tomorrow. The theme is "Anything Goes", so I used a couple of PB stamps I've had for a few months but not used yet...


I used:

-PB "Friendly Surprise" stamp
-PB "Heart & Thoughts" stamp
-Paper and ribbon from Papermania
-Sissix Corner Die
-Flowers from Prima