Animal Somethings

Hello bloggers! I've scheduled this post as I'm back at work today so won't get a chance to post this otherwise. The challenge this week over at Stamp Something is "Animal Somethings", and we're lucky enough to be sponsored by Digital Delights by Louby Loo who do a range of cute, affordable digital stamps. I've made my DT card with some of the new "Down on the Farm" digi stamps, I think they'll make perfect Birthday cards for little ones, although I thought of this after I'd stuck my sentiment down...


The images were coloured with Pro Markers then cut out and mounted onto my card with 3D foam to give a bit of dimension, this little cutie is called Hallie the Horse. I just had to add her little barn etc too!

All you have to do is make a card or other craft project and include animals on it, "Simples" as the Meerkats would say! Check out the Stamp Something blog to see all the other cute DT projects, and to see the lovely prize on offer this week!

Summer...where did it go?

Where has the summer gone? I can't believe that the weeks have passed so quickly! Why is it that we spend ages waiting for summer to arrive and then it's gone in the blink of an eye? I for one haven't seen the time go by! And we'll be into September soon and then before we know it it'll be Christmas (I should really get started on my cards). So I'm hanging onto summer for just a while longer with my card for today, which is for the Penny Black Saturday Challenge...


The challenge is to use stitching on your card, mine is faux as I didn't have the courage to get the sewing machine out. I've gone with a fun, summery PB image coloured with Pro Markers and fresh papers (Daisy & Dandelion Picnic Patch). The sentiment is from Cuddly Buddly.

Tomorrow I go back to work, I'm dreading it! All the holidays have just evaporated, I'm on such a downer! On top of that I'm having a few worries at home. Do I feel a little (very little) spend coming on to cheer myself up?

I hope you're all having a better week than me, thanks for dropping by, sorry to have droaned on a bit!

Busy Busy Busy!

Well I've even surprised myself this weekend with the amount of cards I've managed to get done! I think it's because I know I'm soon due to go back to work so all time is precious! I've completely thrown myself into the crafting over the last few days, I only hope this won't be the last time I'll have a chance for a while! I've had a right good play with my Pro Markers! And as I haven't entered many challenges lately, I've tried to cram a few of those in too...

Just Magnolia Monthly Challenge - 3D

Ok the first of my cards is for the Just Magnolia Challenge, this month it's to do a 3D card. I've gone with this image as it reminds me of summer (we have lots of sunflower fields here during the summer) and I'm hanging onto summer for dear life! I have to say I love the effect 3D gives, but despite being a patient person I just couldn't do lots of 3D cards as the cutting out would drive me up the wall. I hold my hat off to those people who make lots of these gorgeous creations (Debby4000 springs to mind, she's a real expert). This next pic shows Tilda in all her 3D glory...

The Sugar Bowl Challenge - Judy's Sketch

The next card is for The Sugar Bowl Challenge, it's a fab sketch by Judy. I've turned the sketch on it's side to accomodate my image, hope this is ok. The stamp is of course a Sugar Nellie, from Funky Kits. I've had it a little while now but alas had never inked it up - shame! So, as I'm a sucker for cute kitties I just had to use this one. The papers are Basic Grey Boxer (I think), the sentiment is from Clare Curd Clear Sentiments. An extra requirement on this challenge was to use hand made flowers, so I've tried my hand at that and actually quite like the effect...

A Spoon Full Of Sugar - Travel

My final card for the day is for A Spoon Full Of Sugar challenge, Travel is the theme. I made it for my BIL who is moving house, it's a Stampin' Up image (RAK from Vicki - thanks hun). I've kept this really plain and simple, hope he likes it...

Well, that's all for now on the card front, but I have one or two in mind for this week to do so I'll be back soon! Take care and thanks for popping by!

It's Saturday!

Hope you're all having a great weekend, next weekend I'm working so plan to make the most of this weekend (lots of crafting I hope)! I just thought I'd share another Birthday card with you I made this week, remember the Stamp Something theme is Birthdays this week...


The image is from Penny Black, the papers are K & Co. I've coloured this with Distress Inks, gave my Pro Markers some time off lol! I'm entering this card in the Stampin for the Weekend as the colours are Pink and Grey (my 3 little candy embellies are grey), hope it's ok that there's also blue on the card.

Well off to see what else I can make now (I have done a little bit of tidying up so merit some me time - right?)!!!

Birthday Somethings!

Firstly, thanks for all your lovely comments about my cheesecake, sorry it's all been eaten. The recipe was from the Somerfield Magazine (August) if anyone is interested. Ok, back to the cards. It's almost the weekend so time for this week's Stamp Something Challenge which is "Birthday Somethings", easy peasy!!! I did my card last week as it was my O/H's Birthday, so an excuse to make a card (like I need an excuse)...


I've used a Penny Black image that was kindly sent to me by a friend, coloured with Pro Markers. I have to say I'm enjoying using my Pro Markers, and for someone who struggled when I got my first few, I finding them hard to put down now! My poor Distress Inks will need a dust soon lol! The paper I used is Basic Grey Cupcake, not their newest pad but I like it! The little sentiment is a stamp from Cuddly Buddly.

There's a prize on offer for the challenge, so why not have a go, I'm sure you'll be able to put your card to good use afterwards! Pop over to the Stamp Something blog to check out all the DT creations. Looking forward to seeing your Birthday themed projects!

Penny Black Pony and Baa Baa Cheesecake

Hi! Hope you're all enjoying August, here in France the weather is so HOT! Anyway, as I've been hiding in the house due to the hot weather I thought I'd have a go at this weeks Penny Black Saturday Challenge, it's ages since I joined in! This week it's a colour challenge, you have to use blue, tan and cream...


This is my card using Penny Black "Minding Shelty" stamp. I love this image, I have neglected my PB stamps recently so also used a PB sentiment stamp too, which I think goes perfect with the image. I've coloured the image using Pro Markers, I seem to be getting better at blending the colours. Don't you think these three colours go great together, I'll have to use this colour combo more often!

I'm feeling a bit frustrated today as I'm having problems with my internet/email account! And why is it when you ring the so called HELPLINE they never answer! Grrrrrr!!! I wish I could sort the bl**dy thing myself, it's driving me round the bend! Oh well, I'll just have to take a bit of time out and do a card or two!

On a better note, look how my cheesecake finally turned out...


... and it tasted good too! I surprised myself lol!

Finally, another quick card for Stampin for the Weekend Challenge which is "Days Gone By" - you have to distress to impress! So I did a quick little card using a Stampington & Co image that I've had for a while and never used. Not sure about this card, maybe it's a bit sad looking? It's definately plainer than my usual cards. Anyway, here it is...

Just Because and Cheesecakes!

Hi, hope you're having a lovely weekend! The sun is shining here in France, it's so hot I've been hiding in the house all day! So I've done a little card, using the hot sunny weather as inspiration...


I just love this Penny Black image, it was a RAK so I'll have to try to get my hands on the stamp, although I'm trying to be good at the moment. I've used Papermania Black Magic cardstock, and distressed it. The ribbon is from Doodlebug and the adorable bee charm is from The Hobby House. I'm entering this into the Lili of the Valley challenge, as you have to use a charm on your card.

Ok now for cheesecakes! Doesn't this look so yummy...
unfortunately it's not how my cheesecake looked like, mine was more of a runny mess! What a distaster! The recipe included 300ml of whipped double cream, but can you believe it, double cream doesn't exist in France! With all their lovely patisseries wouldn't you think they'd have at least heard of double cream! Nope! Even the local patissier didn't know what to use, and suggested I make a "French" cake instead! In the end I used another cream, with a lower fat content, and it just didn't do the job! So I ended up with cheese spread rather than cheesecake! Maybe I can find another recipe with creme fraiche instead? Well, just think about all those calories I didn't eat lol!

Vacation (Holiday to us Brits) Somethings

Another week gone, I can't believe we're almost halfway through August already! Friday of course is the Stamp Something Challenge and this week the theme is "Vacation Somethings". Self explanitory really, you have to create something with a holiday theme...


I wasn't sure what to do at first, but then I remembered this paper I had from K & Co which went perfectly with the little camping themed stamps. So basically I used the paper as a backgroud, then I stamped the images individually and cut them out. I layered them together using 3D foam pads to create a little scene. The little compass was stamped onto shrink plastic and heated to make it in proportion, I think it's kinda cute! And as I'm very into charms at the minute, so I thought I'd add one of those too!

Pop over to the Stamp Something blog to see all the other DT creations, and to check out the fab prize on offer. 3 sets of clear stamps to the lucky winner!

Holiday Photos from Cyprus

Sorry no cards, I promise I'll get my act together soon, just not today. But as I've been sorting a few photos from my holiday in Cyprus I thought I'd share a few with you...


Who could resist a dip in there?


The Tomb of the Kings site near Paphos, glad I had remembered to take a bottle of water that day!


The beautiful ancient mosaics at Paphos.


Stavrolisse (ok I got a bit carried away with the name), a little cat I adopted while over there!

I was only there a week but thoroughly enjoyed it, might just have to go back again. But maybe a bit earlier in the year as the temperature was 40° plus, VERY HOT!!!

Progress with my Pro Markers

Hi, hope you're all having a nice weekend! I've spent most of the day doing my post holiday washing etc, but I did give myself a little time out to do a card for the Passion For Promarkers challenge. I thought I'd give the sketch a go as there's no set colours this week, so here it is...


I've included a little detailed piccy of the image, I seem to be getting the hang of my markers a bit more, it's fun blending them to get different colours...


I can't tell you all the colours I used but I mixed them a bit...the boys jeans are done with Cyan, Cool Grey 2 & 3, Royal Blue and the blender pen. It's a case of trial and error for me, but I had fun doing it! The papers I used are Papermania.

Well off to get ready for the match, Newcastle start their Championship quest today (The Premiership is a distant memory now). I won't get upset if we don't win, but I hope that the team plays well, in memory of Sir Bobby Robson! What a wonderful man he was, I met him once when he managed Ipswich Town (my brother played for Ipswich in the 80's), but I don't remember much as I was only little. My brother always praised him. It's sad he's lost his battle with cancer, but he put up one hell of a brave fight.

Charmed Somethings

Hi everyone! Well it's Friday again and time for another Stamp Something challenge! This week you need to add a charm to your card (easy peasy) so here's my DT card...


We have a new sponsor this week, Quixotic Paperie, a new online craft shop based in the UK. They are kindly offering a £10 Gift Voucher to one lucky winner, so what are you waiting for, you can even combine the challenge as long as your creation is NEW. I hope you can join in with us at Stamp Something, looking forward to seeing your charming cards (sorry, I couldn't help it).

On another note, I know I haven't been around much recently, and I haven't done any blog hopping as I had no access to the internet whilst away, but I've just returned home so hopefully I'll have time to do a bit crafting over the weekend, and also visit a few blogs. Once I clear the way to my craftroom through the piles of holiday washing etc!!!