Snow Fun Again!

Good Morning... just a quick hello today and a card. It's yet another card using my Wags n Whiskers stamp, I promise this will be the last for a while...


I've made this card with three challenges in mind:-

Passion For Promarkers Challenge where we can use any colours but the theme to follow is vintage (I've used Cobalt Blue, Powder Blue, Arctic Blue, Cornflower, Chestnut, Cinnamon and Tan as my main colours). I've distressed, inked and chalked to create a vintage look. The sentiment stamp is an old one from See D's, I think it fits nicely!

A Spoon Full of Sugar Challenge, which is a colour challenge, Brown and (in my case) Blue.

By the Cute & Girly Challenge is Winter Wonderland, which I think fits well with the image.

Well, that's all for today, I hope you have a lovely weekend!

My Favourite Christmas Stamp

Since I received my new Wags n Whiskers stamp (Zoe & Gemma's Snow Fun) last week I just can't get enough of it! I think it has to be my fave Christmas stamp this year, especially as there's a little cat on it! So, even though I have lots of stamps worthy of using for my Christmas cards, I've once again turned to this stamp! I think maybe because it's a good size too, so I don't have to think too much when putting a card together with it as you don't need much else, the stamp is more than enough to dress a card. So my first card with this stamp is for The Wags n Whiskers Challenge which is "Buttons Galore"...


I've changed the colours for the second card, I kinda like the pinks and lilacs, what do you think?


On both cards I've used Promarkers to colour the image, I'm loving colouring with these now, I find it really therapeutic. I have to be careful though as it's addictive, I tend to hide myself away in my craftroom for hours on end colouring!

The second card is for the Simon Says Stamp challenge, the theme this week is "animal antics". They're also asking people to think of the animal charities this week, it's a difficult time of year and they need all the help they can get. In the little town where I live we have a Cat Charity, where the stray cats are neutered and rehomed. It's run by the grounds keeper in the hospital (which is an old abbey), and this week he's collecting food for the cats in the supermarket my hubby manages. It's an annual thing, which brings in lots of much needed food for the cats over the winter months. Now, on a personal note, my little cat Réglisse was abandonded at the side of the road when I found him, flee ridden and starving, I just had to take him in. He was only about 6 weeks when I found him, and it was touch and go at first as he was fairly ill (emmaciated and weak) but slowly he pulled through and now he's the most loving cat ever! He's a real little character, my mam say's he's part human! Here he is on HIS chair (I woke him up from his nap to take the photo so he's not too chuffed)...


Well, thanks so much for popping by today! Maybe you'll be able to help an animal charity near you?

One More For Christmas...

I've managed to get another card done for Christmas, still need to do LOADS more though! I had better get a move on 'cos I've gotta post these in good time otherwise peeps might not get 'em what with the postal strikes etc...


The cute image is from Mo's Digital Pencil, I've coloured it with Promarkers...


Ok, there's a recipe I've followed for this one from Mo's Digital Challenge: 3 papers, 2 ribbons and 1 decorative edge. My papers are a mismatch from my stash as I've used up bits I had in my scrap box, the ribbons are actually Christmas red & green although they look dark on the photo, and the decorative edge was done with my SU scalloped edge punch. Finally, I've added a little brad which reads "Merry Christmas", it's from Papermania last year.

Well, the weather is howling outside, and the rain is here with a vengance, although we haven't had anywhere near as much as the UK. I feel so sorry for all those people in Cumbria who have lost so much, the weather can be so devastating, I only hope that we've seen the worst of it (for a while in any case)!

The Creative Cottage - Cards & A Reminder

Hi! Well I'm not feeling too good today, I feel rotten in fact! I've a really awful head cold, which people automatically assume is Swine Flu! Anyway, I just wanted to share this little card with you that I made the other day with the "Christmas Wishes" digi set from The Creative Cottage...


I've given Sherbet the Bear some dimension, you can see him better here...


This is a really cute kit, and it's just perfect for making cards with children (I have tested this)! The image and papers are from the kit, the sentiment is a stamp I had in my stash. I'm entering this card for this week's Colour Create challenge as it's Red, Green & White! Fits perfectly!

I also want to remind you of the fab BLOG CANDY from Tracy at The Creative Cottage (click on the picture in my sidebar to enter my candy for this), where each DT member is giving away 4 Digi Kits, and also there's another chance to win on The Creative Cottage blog until Dec 11th.


There's also a new kit out called "Something Sweet", which is all about cupcakes! It's on special offer at £1.99 this week so don't miss out! Check out the blog to see the DT cards for this kit! Here's just one of the cards I made with this kit...


Well, off to make another Lemsip, hope to be back later in the week!

Thank You Somethings

Well, it's Friday again, can you believe how quickly the weeks are passing by! So, it's time for Stamp Something to give you a new challenge. This Thursday is Thanksgiving in the US, so we'd love to see "thank you" projects this week! They can be Thanksgiving themed, Christmas thank yous or just a little something to remind someone that they are appreciated. This challenge will run for TWO weeks.

We're lucky to have two sponsors for this challenge, Elizabeth from Soft Pencil and Jenni from Card Mad Fairy, who have both supplied digi images to the DT to have a play with. Here are my two cards...


This is my chosen image from Soft Pencil called "Sleeping and Dreaming", isn't it cute? I've used the sketch over at Sketch Saturday, and have added some glitter to the tree and gems as the theme at Basic Grey Challenges is Glitz & Bling. The paper circles are from Basic Grey Cupcake paper pack. The sentiment was done on the PC.


My second card is more of a girly card, I've used this lovely fairy digi image from Card Mad Fairy, she's called "Sweetheart Fairy". The papers are My Minds Eye - Wild Asparagus, flower is from Flora Doodles and the tassle was one I had in my stash. Again I created the sentiment on the PC.

Ok, there you have it, so now all you have to do is pop over to the Stamp Something blog and check out the other DT cards, they're sure to inspire you!

Wags n Whiskers and an Easel Card

Good Evening! I've just received my first Wags n Whiskers stamp today and it's a big 'un! I was lucky enough to win this stamp last week, and I didn't really know how big it was, but I have to say I'm delighted with it! The image is gorgeous and it stamps beautifully. Here's my very first easel card made with my new stamp...


A little close up of the image...


Here's a few details:

* Stamp - Zoe & Gemma's Snow Fun, Wags n Whiskers
* Promarkers to colour
* Paper is REALLY old, think it's from Do Crafts
* Merry Christmas Sentiment Stamp, Sugar Nellie
* Inside Verse Stamp, Elzy Bells
* Snowflakes, MS Punch
* Lace, Ribbon, Gems from stash

I've added faux stitching as the challenge over at the Wags n Whiskers blog is Stitch 'em Up! Check it out, the DT cards are gorgeous!

A Couple of Christmas cards...

Hi, hope you're all having a productive week craftwise! It's not always easy getting time to craft but I really have to crack on with Christmas cards so here's a few I've done lately...


This handsome fella is called "Happy & Cool" from Penny Black. I'm entering him into the challenge at Penny Black Saturday Challenge as it's "Christmas for the Guys". I've used the fabby sketch from Friday Sketchers this week, one I'm sure to use again (if I ever get round to drawing the sketches in my sketch pad...the odd pieces of paper lying around are starting to overtake the craft room)! Finally, the challenge at Colour Create this week is Blue, Silver and White. Sentiment is from Cuddly Buddly, snowflake is one I got from my friend Denise (lovely Martha Stewart punch) and the paper is Doodlebug from last year.


This little squirrel is called "Winter Delivery" and is a digi stamp by Mo Manning, from Mo's Digital Pencil. Coloured with Promarkers, papers are Dovecraft from last year. The tinsel bling is from Papermania and the snowflakes are as above! I've used the lovely sketch by Caryn over at Mo's Digital Challenge, and I have played along with the theme this week at Cupcake Craft Challenges which is "Digital Images". To be honest I'm not happy about this card, I think it's a little too dark, but as time presses on to Christmas I'll just have to go with it.

Ho Ho Ho!!!

Well, as the days are getting shorter and the weather colder it must mean we're getting closer to Christmas! So today I've spent some time using a few of my new stamps, one of which is this adorable Santa Claus from Magnolia...


I have to say, I had planned on doing this card for the distressing challenge on Just Magnolia but I just never got the time, so instead I've finally finished the card, distressing an' all but for three other challenges...Cupcake Craft Challenges where the theme this week is "Snow Much Fun", A Spoonfull of Sugar "Create a Scene" and Cute Card Thursday which is "Glitter Me Silly". I have to say it was pretty time consuming, what with the colouring, cutting out, distressing etc etc... so I won't be doing 10 like this one! Here's what I used:

* Santa stamp (Magnolia)
* Promarkers to colour
* Cuttlebug Embossing Folder (Snowflakes)
* Paper (3ndy Papier, Norway)
* Snowflake punch (Woodware)
* Sentiment from 99p set
* buttons and lots of glitter (although difficult to see on photo)
* Distressing Tool and Emery Board

Ok, better get back to the craft desk, I have a pile of DT cards and requests to do!

A Little Thank You

Good Afternoon! As the weather is HORRIBLE outside, I thought it'd be an ideal opportuninty to do a bit of crafting and blogging. Can't beat being nicely wrapped up in a lovely warm house when the wind is howling outside! And to cheer up my day I've used bright and warm colours on my card...


I've used a little Sugar Nellie I've had for a while but don't seem to use much, I just love her pose. She's coloured with Promarkers, the papers are My Minds Eye Bloom & Grow (I love these) and I've added a few pearls, flower, charm and gloss to the heart for detail. The sentiment is a Penny Black one, I love this as it say's it all!

This card is for the challenge over at The Sugar Bowl, which is this fab sketch by Judy!

I just wanted to say Thanks to all the lovely people who take the time to visit my blog and leave comments! I don't always have time to reply and visit everyone's blog but I want you all to know I really appreciate your words of encouragement! Thanks so much!

Sketch Something

Hi! This week at Stamp Something we have a sketch challenge for you to follow. Our Guest Designer Ann has kindly created this fabby sketch for us...


So here's my DT card using the sketch, which I flipped on it's side to accomodate my turkey image...


This week our sponsor is Alison from Stretch n Bubbles, who has kindly donated 4 digi stamps of your choice to one lucky winner! I have used one of Alison's digi stamps for my card, Zeke the Turkey, which I shall send to my friend for Thanksgiving.

To be in with a chance to win you must follow Ann's sketch, so pop over to the Stamp Something blog to check out the other DT creations and for more info on this challenge!

The Creative Cottage Blog Candy

Good Morning All! I'm really pleased to announce that I have been given some lovely candy from The Creative Cottage to offer to one lucky blogger. I have not ONE but FOUR digi kits from The Creative Cottage to give away, Robbie & Roxanne, Come Rain Or Shine, Fairy Wishes and the soon to be released Something Sweet! If you don't already know these kits, they're just fab! Great for making quick, no fuss cards but equally good for making more elaborate cards. There's images, papers, ribbons, sentiments and more...all you have to do to be in with a chance to win is...

* Leave a comment on this post with a link to your blog

* and also if you could spread the word about this candy that'd be great

The candy will be drawn on 11th December so that still leaves time to make some last minute Christmas cards with the lovely Robbie & Roxanne kit in the pack! There's another chance to win this candy on The Creative Cottage blog and the other DT members are also offering this candy so check out their blogs too! You'll find them by dropping by The Creative Cottage, Good Luck!

Spreading the Love for Jaimie...Thanks and My Candy Winner

Good Evening All! This afternoon saw the end of our blog hop to spread the love for Jaimie, the little girl who was left for dead and whose mother was stabbed to death by a gang of teenagers in New Hampshire, USA.

Personally, I just want to say a HUGE Thank You to everyone that took part in this hop, and for all the people that took the time to make a card and post it off to Jaimie! I really hope that all the kindness and caring has helped bring a smile back to Jaimie's face, and show that there are some wonderful people in the world.

Click on the link above to see all the winners of the fabby prizes that were donated by the wonderful and generous sponsors!

I also want to thank everyone for the lovely comments that were left on my blog, I loved logging onto Blogger and reading all the nice things you had to say. So without further ado, the winner of my own mini blog candy (drawn by Random.org) is...

#27... that's Carol

Congratulations Carol! Please email me with your address (my email addy is in the sidebar) before Friday so I can get your prize sent out to you. If I don't hear from Carol I shall redraw this candy on Friday.

Come Rain Or Shine

Hi! I've some news of a new digi kit over at The Creative Cottage called Come Rain Or Shine. It features a little bear called Sherbet, in different poses, with lots of yummy papers, sentiments and ribbons. Here's a little card I made with just a few elements from the kit (the round sentiment is not one from the kit, it's from my friend Lyndsey)...



Isn't he cute? The colours in this set are so bright and cheerful, and as they're primary colours I've used here I'm entering my card for the challenge at Cute Card Thursday, where you have to use red, blue and yellow on your card.

I would also like to thank Sandra from Rose Petal Creations for a lovely award she gave me earlier this week...



Thanks ever so much for thinking of me, and for all the lovely comments you leave on my blog!

Stamp Something Recipe For Love And More Mo's Digital Pencil

Good Morning All! Firstly, sorry I haven't been around much this week, I've not had much time to craft or blog :( Hopefully I will have more time over the weekend to do a few cards and get round a few blogs so my friends don't think I'm neglecting them!

Today I have two cards to show you, both using two very different images from Mo's Digital Pencil, who happens to be our fabulous sponsor this week over at Stamp Something. My first card is my DT card for the Stamp Something challenge, a recipe for you this week that we're calling Recipe For Love in honour of Jaimie (see earlier post). Don't forget the blog hop for Jaimie is still live until Monday 9th November. Check out the "Stamp Something ... Spread the love for Jaimie" blog by clicking the link in my sidebar. So here's my card with the recipe, 1 ribbon, 2 papers and 3 embellishments...

My Recipe:
Image - Winter Delivery from Mo's Digital Pencil coloured with Promarkers
Ribbon - Well it's lace actually from my stash
Papers - Dovecraft Victorian Christmas (last year)
Embellies - Flowers from Flora Doodles and Prima
Sketch is from Cupcake Craft Challenges this week, isn't it fab?!

I'm entering this card in Mo's Digital Challenge as you have to add three sparkly elements to your card, I think this qualifies!

Hop over to the Stamp Something blog to see all the other fabulous DT cards, and to check out this week's fab prize from Mo's Digital Pencil!

My second card for today is also one I did with an image from Mo's Digital Pencil. I used the sketch from Cupcake Craft Challenges again, and also the theme this week from Stampin For The Weekend " Back to the 80's with a twist". You have to use the colours Purple, Orange and Blue and choose a song title from one of three choices, I chose Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun"...


Thanks for popping by today, have a lovely weekend!

Spread the Love for Jaimie Blog Hop

Hello and thanks for hopping over! There's a very good reason why we are organising this blog hop today, but it's also a very sad reason too. Recently, something absolutely dreadful happened to a mother and her 11 year old daughter Jaimie, who live in New Hampshire (USA). Erin and Denise, my Stamp Something Team Mates (and co-founders of Stamp Something) wanted to do something to raise awareness and send love and hope to the family following the terrible ordeal. Here's a little about what it's all about...

"On October 4th, 4 teenagers armed with knives broke into a home in a small town in New Hampshire. Alone and sleeping inside were a mother and her 11 year old daughter. These 4 boys broke into this home with the intent to rob and kill anyone inside. They stabbed the mom, Kimberly Cates, to death and left her daughter, Jaimie, for dead in their driveway. It was a completely random act, their home was chosen only due to its secluded surroundings."

Our hope is that everyone hopping around today will stop for a moment and think about Jaimie and her father and what life must be like for them now. One moment in time has changed their lives forever. We are asking that everyone reading this message please take a moment to make a card and send it off to Jaimie. You can make something very simple or much more involved, but please share some words of hope and love and let her know that people do care and want the best for her. Please send your card to the address below:

Jaimie Cates
c/o Mont Vernon Fire Station
Main Street
Mont Vernon, NH 03057

So here's the card that I've made for Jaimie, I know she likes hot pink so I've gone for bright and colourful...


I'm sure you'll all agree that this is just so sad and tradgic, I can't begin to think what Jaimie and her father are going through right now. No one can bring Jaimie's mam back, but at least we can let her know there are people thinking of her. This is why Erin and Denise have set up a new blog called "Stamp Something...for Jaimie: Spreading Love and Hope" where people can read more about Jaimie and have all the info to send a card as well as join our special Card Drive Challenge. We have generous sponsors who have kindly offered up some prizes to anyone who makes a card, posts it on their blogs, and lets us know they mailed it out.

If you've followed the hop from the beginning you will have come to my blog from Lorraine's blog and your next stop is Jay Jay's blog. You should have started the hop at Katharina's blog, so if you haven't started there then you need to go there now. The blog hop will run for one whole week, and ends on Monday 9th November at 10am ET (3pm GMT). The last stop on the blog hop is at Stamp Something...for Jaimie: Spreading Love and Hope.

As well as the prizes offered by our kind sponsors, I shall also be offering a mini blog candy of my own to one random winner. If you wish to be included in my mini blog candy you must leave a comment so I know you've been here. My candy will be drawn after the blog hop ends next Monday.

Thanks to everyone for all the support!

Cold, Windy and Some New Rubber!!!

Well it's the 1st November and don't we know it! The weather here in France has drastically changed overnight! It's wet, cold and windy...just the type of weather to stay indoors and craft! Here's a little card that goes well with today's weather (although it's snowing on the card and not raining)...


I've used one of my new Magnolia stamps that my hubby bought me, isn't she lovely! I don't envy her out in all weathers though! She's coloured with my lovely Promarkers, the papers are Papermania Venetian Skies, and I've used some Martha Stewart snowflakes (thanks Denise). The theme for this week's Just Magnolia challenge is 'Monochrome', so I've gone for a frosty blue look! I've also added lots of sparkle as the theme at Simon Says Stamp is 'All That Sparkles', here's a close up of the sparkle...



Well that's all for today, apart from a little bit of info I have to share about tomorrow. I'm part of a Blog Hop that will be going on tomorrow and is for a very good, but sad cause. To find out more please pop back to my blog at 3pm (GMT)tomorrow, thanks in advance for your support.

O Christmas Tree Mini Kit & Freebie!

Check out the latest addition over at The Creative Cottage, a mini kit called O Christmas Tree. There are a range of images and papers to use for your last minute Christmas cards, in the most gorgeous colours, and all for a snip at £1.00. There's also a little Christmas tree freebie, a taster of what's in the kit. Here's a little card I made with this kit...