MERRY CHRISTMAS & A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Hello peeps! This will be my last blog post until after the New Year so I'd like to wish you all a very

Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year 2011!!!

I'd also like to thank all the people who have visited my blog during 2010, I always look forward to hearing from you so thank you so much for taking the time to pop by and leave a comment! I will leave you with two Christmas cards that I made this week (better late than never)... the first one was an experiment using real stitching (I don't do REAL stitching, but gave it a go). The cute robin image was a freebie from Imag-e-nation, I coloured it with Promarkers and the ticket was a kind freebie from HERE...

I'm entering my robin card into the Mega Christmas Challenge 'Anything Goes' at Passion For Promarkers.

Papertake Weekly Challenge 'Anything Goes'.

Wags n Whiskers 'Snowflakes'.

The second card is a recipe card using this really cute Bugaboo snowman, again coloured with Promarkers. I found the recipe on the internet, I have included the preparartion method for the recipe inside the card, but my camera died on me before I could photograph it. The little ticket was a freebie from Jami, you can find them HERE ...

I'm entering my card into the challenge at Catch the Bug Challenge 'It's time to make cookies'.

Totally Gorjuss 'for Someone Special).

Simon Says Stamp 'Anything Goes'.

Best Wishes, back in 2011!

Cupcake Craft Challenge 122 - Thank You

Good morning blogging buddies! Well, what a weekend we had here with the bad weather... Saturday came the snow and quite a bit for us, then Sunday the rain and sleet which turned the snow to a yucky mush! And there was me thinking it looked all festive outside! Then this morning the snow started again, and it looked like a winter wonderland, until the temperature went above freezing and started melting the snow again! So... will it be a White Christmas?

Onto our Cupcake Craft Challenge this week, which has been chosen by Victoria... and the theme is Thank You! Lets face it, we'll be needing a few Thank You cards to sent out over the next couple of weeks! This challenge will run for TWO weeks instead of the usual one, and is sponsored by two craft companies... The Creative Cottage & Tickled Pink Stamps who are each offering a prize! Not forgetting our Cupcake Madness sponsor this month which is Wild Rose Studio, and of course our Top 5!

For my card I have used this cute digi called Mollie Mittens (coloured with Promarkers), kindly supplied by Tickled Pink Stamps. The papers are digi ones from The Creative Cottage (Little Monkeys Pirate Adventure kit), my border is done using my Martha Stewart punch, and my flowers are from Prima. The little ticket was a freebie I found HERE (thank you)! I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Passion For Promarkers Mega Christmas Challenge 'Anything Goes'

Crafty Catz 'Your Choice'

Please pop over to the Cupcake blog to take a peek at the other DT creations, they're all gorgeous as always! Happy Crafting!

While Shepherds Watched...

Hooray I'm on holiday now for Christmas!!! Phew, it's been a pretty hectic week but today I can relax (well I'm allowing myself today as I still have cards to send, presents to buy and wrap... basically everything to do)! I thought I'd share this little C & S card I did a while back but never got round to putting on my blog... my blog posts are a little thin on the ground at the moment! Anyway, it's a little image from Di's Digi Downloads... and such a cute image at that! I've coloured it with Promarkers as usual. No DP here, just the navy card cut with my Martha Stewart punch, and the ribbon and hessian to finish... voila!

This is for the following challenges:

Passion For Promarkers Mega Christmas Challenge 'Anything Goes'

A Spoonfull of Sugar - Christmas Card

Stampin For The Weekend 'Christmas'

I'd better go as I can hear the Christmas tree jingling... that'll be 'Spidercat' again... more pine needles to sweep up!!! Have a great weekend!

Cupcake Craft Challenge 121 - Non-Traditional Christmas

Good morning peeps! Cupcake time again! Before I get onto this week's challenge I just want to say a BIG thank you to everyone who joined in my Robin themed challenge last week! There were some really lovely creations... and so so cute! I had a hard time choosing my Top 5!!!

Ok, this week at Cupcake Craft Challenge our lovely Liza has chosen 'Non-traditional Christmas' as the theme! Well, I went with untraditional colours... and the image is not so traditional either (no santas or snowmen in sight). It's called Night Time Bear and is one of the lovely digi stamps from Mejen's Designs who is a fabulous sponsor this week! I've coloured him with Promarkers and added lots of glitter... shame it doesn't show in the photograph Hmmmpphhhh! The papers are from Dovecraft (Christmas Fancy), decorative corner is from Sissix and the sentiment is a fab freebie which can be found here (thank you). I shall be entering my card into the following challenges...

Friday Sketchers - Sketch by Beatrix

Passion For Promarkers - Mega Christmas Anything Goes

ABC Challenge - J is for Jewels/Gems

Stamp Something - December Digi Day

We're sponsored this week by Meljen's Designs (my image was kindly supplied by them too) who are offering 4 digi stamps to one lucky winner! Don't forget we also have Cupcake Madness (you have to join in with at least two challenges in the month) which is sponsored by Wild Rose Studio... they're offering two stamps to the lucky random winner! Don't forget to check out the other DT creations too!

The Creative Cottage Challenge 29 - Christmas Card & Gift Bag

Good morning! Today we have a new challenge at The Creative Cottage, and this time my teamie Lindyloo has challenged us to make a christmas card and matching gift bag! This challenge will last 4 weeks instead of the usual fortnight, giving you plenty of time to join in with our challenge at this very busy time of the year! You could win yourself a FAB £10 Gift Voucher from The Creative Cottage! Pop over to the challenge blog for more details and to see the other fab DT creations!

For my DT card and gift bag I've used the super cute Snow Much Fun kit from The Creative Cottage, I just ADORE this kit! How cute is that snowman paper? And the little toppers are perfect for quick, last minute cards as there's no colouring! I've also added a few extra details with the punched snowflakes, decorative border (MS punch), hessian, silver cord and charm, not forgetting the sentiment which is from Lili of the Valley. I'm entering the Simon Says Stamp Challenge 'Christmas but NO red or green', Winter Wonderland Challenge 'Penguins & Polar Bears'.

This month over at The Creative Cottage blog we have a really cute FREE digi kit for you to download called Christmas Hoot... be sure to get yours! There's also a Pre-Christmas sale with 30% off everything in the shop, for more information check out the blog HERE!

Warm Wishes on a Cold Day

The snow has gone only for the rain to arrive, and it's a cold, dull, wet day! I struggled to get a decent picture of my card, which is why it's a little fuzzy (I don't like to use flash). It's the kind of day where you just want to curl up on the sofa with a hot chocolate and forget everything that's going on outside!

So, my card today... well I coloured this cute Bugaboo image a couple of weeks ago but never got around to making a card with it... I thought it was a shame not to so I've made a fairly clean & simple card using my Martha Stewart Punch Around The Page punches. The image is done with Promarkers... I love these browns and blues! Finally I stamped the 'Warm Wishes' at each side of the image and added the little buttons. I'm entering it into the Catch The Bug Challenge which is 'Anything Goes', Passion For Promarkers Mega Christmas Challenge which is also 'Anything Goes', Paper Take Weekly 'Red & Green MUST NOT be seen' and A Spoonfull of Sugar 'Christmas Cards'.

Ok, better get on with some work now... take care!

Cupcake Craft Challenge 120 - Little Red Robin

Are you feeling hungry? Ready for another cupcake? This one I can guarantee has NO CALORIES!!! Yup because it's time for this week's challenge at Cupcake Craft Challenge, and it's lil 'ol me who has come up with the theme... Little Red Robin. I'd like you to incorperate a robin in your project/card. I've used a gorgeous stamp called 'Milton with Sledge' from Wild Rose Studio for my card, which I won not too long ago (thanks ever so much for this Faye)! Here's a close up of the image...

I've used my Promarkers again to colour... I just love the brightness of these pens! The layout of my card is from the fab sketch over at Papertake Weekly Challenge, and I've included 'HO HO HO' as my sentiment to fit in with the challenge at Aud Sentiments Challenge, Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge is Christmas, at Stamp Something they'd like to see a Christmas Colour Combo and at Kort O Mania it's 'Christmas'.

This week at Cupcake our sponsor is Simon Says Stamp who are offering a lucky random winner a $20 gift certificate with free shipping, plus our monthly sponsor for Cupcake Madness is Wild Rose Studio who are giving away two fabulous stamps! Don't forget to pop over to the Cupcake blog to check all the other lovely DT creations!

Now, I have to show you just one of the little birds that have been visiting my garden recently, isn't she such a cutie? I've been feeding the wild birds for a few weeks now and I finally took a few pictures the other day...

I think it's important that we help out the little birds during winter, especially considering the awful weather we're having! But hey, they really can eat! I can't believe the size of some of the nuts etc the littlest of birds fit into their beaks! Poor Mrs Blackbird hardly gets a look-in! Hope you can join in the fun this week! Thanks for dropping by my blog!

A Touch Of Pink

Good evening blogging buddies! Brrrr HOW cold is it?! I was watching the news earlier... it was showing the state of things in the UK... oh dear you definately have had a lot of the white stuff! Hopefully things will get back to normal soon!

I've been using my Lili of the Valley stamp again, but this time for a little girl... this has to be one of the cutest babies ever! Just for a change (not) I've used my Promarkers, the papers were freebies from a magazine ages ago. Little flowers are Prima, sentiment is Artemio, and I've used my nesties to frame the image. The sketch is from Simon Says Stamp Challenge and the theme at Lili of the Valley Challenge is to use 'A few of my favourite things'... well this stamp for one, my Promarkers and buttons (little heart ones on here).

Well, hope you have a lovely, relaxing weekend... I'm working boo hoo :(

Bright Little Boy

Hello peeps! Just a very quick post as I'm rushing to do things outside before the light fails me, but I wanted to share this little boy card with you. I've followed Bev's lovely sketch from Lili of the Valley Challenge, using the cute little baby stamp from Lili of the Valley coloured with Promarkers! The papers are from Papermania, sentiment is from Artemio and the zig zag border is done using my Martha Stewart punch! I'm also entering my card into the Sweet Stampin Challenge Blog 'Buttons & Bows' challenge. Have a fab evening, keep safe & warm!

Kraftin Kimmie Tag

A quickly made little tag for a friend's birthday present , I've used a cute Kraftin Kimmie image coloured with Promarkers, my Cuttlebug 'bubbles' embossing folder, paper roses and lots of glitter! It's for the challenges at Kraftin Kimmie Stamps 'Seeing Spots' and Wags n Whiskers 'Wrap It Up' where you have to make a tag, box, gift etc. Thanks for popping by!

Cupcake Craft Challenge 119 - Light It Up

Good morning Cupcake lovers! I hope you're all surviving the snow and cold weather! Well, get yourself a nice, hot cuppa and sit back and relax... it's time for another cupcake!

The theme at Cupcake Craft Challenge this week has been chosen by the talented Kathrin... she'd like us all to 'Light It Up'... in other words there has to be a candle on your card/project! I've interpreted this into a birthday card for my friend... we always have a cupcake with a cup of tea when we get together so I thought I'd stick with cupcakes as the basis of my card. I've followed the recipe at Basic Grey Challenges - 4 embellishments (Pearls, ribbon, spiral clip & candle button), 3 papers (from the BG Sugared Pad) and 2 images... my cupcakes (coloured with Promarkers) and at Mark's Finest Papers you have to 'Add a Bow'.

Our sponsor this week at Cupcake is The Character Cafe, and our monthly sponsor for Cupcake Madness is Some Odd Girl! There are some fab prizes up for grabs so get crafting! Don't forget to take a peek at the other DT projects... fab as always girls!

The Creative Cottage Challenge & Another Free Digi

Hiya blogging friends! I've been MIA on the blogging front for a week or so, so apologies for not having had time to visit you all lately. Consequently I have a little surprise to offer you at the end of this post as a way of an apology for my absence. First things first though, we have a new challenge over at The Creative Cottage Challenge blog, the theme this fortnight has been chosen by our lovely DT member Carol, who would like to see your 'Untraditional Christmas' colours on your projects... that means NO reds, greens & golds!

For my card I've used the gorgeous Lavendar Sky Paper Pack from The Creative Cottage, I think this works so well for wintery scenes! The little snowman image is my own drawing which I made into a digi, I've coloured him with my lovely Promarkers and added glitter for a bit of snowy bling. The little stars were cut (with scissors cos no start punch... will have to ask santa for that) from some of the papers, and I added the raffia and the pearls to finish off. I'm entering my card into the Passion For Promarkers Challenge 'Old & New'... my digi is new and my raffia has been in my stash for ages, A Spoon Full Of Sugar 'Anything Goes', Simon Says Stamp Challenge 'Let it Snow', Stampin For The Weekend 'Winter' and finally ABC Challenge I is for Ice & Snow. Here's a closer look at the image on the card...

Don't forget that there's a £10 Gift Voucher up for grabs from The Creative Cottage for one lucky winner, and I can assure you that you won't have trouble spending it in the shop!

Ok, the surprise is this little snowman digi, I've called it 'Snow Hello'... so if you'd like him just click on the image to make it larger then right-click and save to your computer. All I ask is that you give me credit if you use the image. This freebie is for private use only and still has my copyright, it may not be used commercially and turned into a rubber stamp or sold in any other way. Please let me know if you use him, I'd love to see any projects you make!

It's snowing outside so I'm off to make a nice hot cuppa before I get started on cooking the tea! Thanks so much for visiting!

Cupcake Craft Challenge 118 - Fairy Tales

Good morning all you Cupcake lovers! I'm hoping you're reading this post as I've scheduled it... I'm off for a bit of retail therapy in the UK! Anyway, fluffy Faye has chosen a lovely challenge this week at Cupcake Craft for you, seeing as we're into Panto Season... and theme is 'Fairy Tales'. My card has been inspired by 'Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs'... I was thinking 'Mirror, Mirror on the wall...' you know the witch with the poison apple etc! I remember this story as a kid... I had a Disney fairy tale book which had a picture of the witch... it used to really scare me! But I loved the story!

For my card I've used a Lili of the Valley cutie, coloured with Promarkers. The sentiment is from a Stampavie Rachelle Anne Miller stamp set. I've not used patterned paper but instead went for my swiss dots embossing folder (Cuttlebug), and to finish some flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts and a cute bow! Have a look at the other DT cards, there's not an 'Ugly Duckling' amongst them!

We're sponsored by Digital Delights this week, and our monthly sponsor for Cupcake Madness is Some Odd Girl... don't miss out as there's some fab prizes to be won!

The True Meaning of Christmas

Here's a little card I made last night, using this cute Bugaboo digi (I love this stamp... and it's lovely to colour)! I used my trusty Promarkers to colour the image and the papers and stars are from The Creative Cottage Little Monkeys Wild West digi kit, I think they go so well with the image! The sentiment is one from Lili of the Valley, and the pearls are from Quixotic. I'm really pleased with the finished card, I wasn't sure at first about the colours cos my hubby said 'Urgh... brown on Christmas cards'... but hey, what does he know! I'm entering my card for the Catch the Bug Challenge this week, which is a sketch for World Kindness Day.

Cupcake Craft Challenge 117 - House Warming

Good morning! Ok I'm officially sick of the wind & rain, it hasn't stopped for over a week now! I think what makes it worse is that the weather isn't often like this, unlike when I lived in the UK where I think I must have gotten so used to it I didn't notice how CR*P the weather was! I'm going to have to focus on Christmas now to try to cheer myself up!

So, this week at Cupcake Craft Challenge Donna has chosen a great theme for us... House Warming... we'd like to see your new home cards! I've used another fab digi stamp from Bugaboo for my card... isn't she a corker this little old lady?! I'm entering my card in the following challenges: Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes, Stamp Something - Something Digi.

One lucky winner could win a fab festive prize from Black Leaf Studios. Oh and don't forget our Cupcake Madness, sponsored by Some Odd Girl this month! Pop by the Cupcake blog to see all the creations from the talented DT girls! Hope you can join us this week!

Image & Sentiment - Stella Junk, Bugaboo

Colouring - Promarkers

Papers - Dovecraft Fancy Christmas

Punches - Stampin' Up, Martha Stewart

Pearls - Quixotic

Perfect Couple Freebie...My 1st Digi Stamp

Good morning to you all (well technically it's the middle of the night)! Ok... here goes... after thinking about trying to do my own digi stamps for a while I have finally took the plunge! I used to draw when I was younger but then life took a different path and I just didn't have the time or motivation anymore! Then I got into crafting and slowly (very slowly) the urge to draw came back... so here is my very first digi... the drawing was the easiest part... but making it into a digi was a real headache I can assure you! Being a novice with graphics programmes etc on the PC I've taken a while to get to grips with things, well enough to make my digi anyhow! It's still very early days but I wanted to share this with you, so any feedback, good or bad, is greatly appreciated! Feel free to take my digi stamp for your own personal use (left-click on the image then right-click on it and save it to your computer), all I ask is that you leave a comment and let me know if you use it. Thanks for your support.

I Can't Help It!

Right, I've decided I'm officially addicted to making 'boy' cards... so for good measure I've made a quick one for the new Lili of the Valley Challenge... Anything Goes! I must apologise for the photograph though as it looks as though the card is wonky, bit like my brain really! Anyway, there's also a blog hop over at LOTV as they've launched some new stamps which are lovely as always! And the DT cards show the new stamps off to perfection, well done ladies! So for my card I've used a LOTV image coloured with Promarkers, the papers are Basic Grey & Paper Mill Shop. The little sentiment was a freebie from Lyndsey Marie Designs. Thanks for popping by!

Bah Humbug...Scrooge Cat

Winter weather, winter card! And about time too... I'm gonna have to buy cards at this rate! Anyway, last week I won second prize in the Catch the Bug Challenge, so I got to choose 4 fab Bugaboo images (thank you), this little cat being one of them. I don't think he's meant to be a christmassy image, but I kinda liked the idea of turning him into scrooge... I think it suits him! So here's my offering for the Catch the Bug challenge this week... Anything Goes! I'm also entering it into the Sweet Stampin Challenge who have a photo inspiration challenge, here's the piccy...

Image - Bugaboo, Crabby Cat - All About Me

Colouring - Promarkers

Paper - Dovecraft, Fancy Christmas

Sentiment - LOTV/Hand written

Embellishments - Pearls, Glitter and Anita's Gloss

Got five minutes? Watch this!

I came across this video when I was on the Tiddly Inks blog... I have Bad Romance as my ringtone on my mobile phone and this version just creased me up... they're really pretty good in a wierd way! Miles better than Wagner for sure! Check it out!

The Creative Cottage Challenge 27 - Someone Special at Christmas

Good morning peeps! It's my day off today but I'm up bright & early as I'm not feeling too good :( Maybe it's a case of the winter blues? Well, if it is then I'll have to wrap up and stay indoors, the perfect excuse for a bit of gentle crafting!

Ok, today see's the start of a new Creative Cottage Challenge, and this fortnight Anne has chosen the lovely theme 'Someone Special at Christmas'. So get christmas card crafting for all your loved ones and you could be in with a chance to win a fab prize from The Creative Cottage!

For my card I've used the Ginger Bread Lane kit (again... what can I say... I like it) from The Creative Cottage... and this time I got a bit technical cos I used my graphics programme on the pc to make the sweetie border and the topper... although there's loads in this kit already to just print out and get crafting with! I added the sentiment from an old See D's set, and finally the ribbon and pearls for a little extra. I'm having a go at the ABC challenge 'H is for Holidays' and B Crafty Challenge 'Christmas' with my card. Thanks for popping by today!

Aud Sentiments November Blog Candy

Aud Sentiments have a super giveaway for November... they're sponsored by Annabelle Stamps this month and so you could win two fab Lil Belle stamps... click on the link for more info!

It's a Jungle Out There

Good afternoon peeps! Urm well seeing as I haven't done hardly any Christmas cards yet, I thought I'd better not break my tradition of doing them all at the last minute so I have this cute unchristmassy (not a word) offering for you. I thought if worst comes to worst I could just send this card after Christmas saying I'd forgotten to send out the Christmas one lol! Only kidding! Anyway enough of my babbling... I've used a digi topper from The Creative Cottage called Jungle Fun and the vine paper is from the matching paper pack... oh I so love these they're so so cute! The rest is from my stash, I've doodled around the edge and the sentiment was done on the pc. This is for the challenges at By The Cute & Girly (Jungle, Jungle) and Papertake Weekly (Penny for the Guy... man's/boy's card). There I go again with my boyish cards...

Cupcake Craft Challenge 115 Thank You

Hello! Well, it's Monday again and time for another cupcake... yum! This week our challenge has been chosen by the trés créative Catherine la Chic... and the challenge is Thank You with Autumnal Colours! For my little offering I have chosen a free digi stamp from Meljen's Designs (hope you like this cute cat with her kittens Catherine... the little black one is Réglisse)! I've coloured with Promarkers. The sentiment stamp is Penny Black. My background paper is from Basic Grey, Archaic paper pack. Finally I added some ribbon and a wooden flower embellishment. My card is for the following challenges:

Catch The Bug - Autumn/Fall

Crafty Creations - Halloween or Autumn

Aud Sentiments Challenge - Thanks

We are sponsored this week at Cupcake Craft Challenge by Simon Says Stamp who are offering a $20 gift voucher and free shipping to one lucky winner!

Don't forget we also have a new monthly sponsor for November, that's Some Odd Girl, who are giving away a $9 gift voucher to spend in their store! And last but not least, we have off course our Top 5 to chose each week! Don't forget to visit the other Cupcake girls, they're such a talented bunch they're sure to insipre you!

The Creative Cottage Challenge 26 Embossing

Helloooo, phew I'm cream crackered... just home after a 13½ hour shift at work, and I'm back again tomorrow for the same so this'll be a very short post!

Before I mention the challenge I just want to wish Teri all the best, sadly she's stepping down from the DT so this will be her last challenge! Pop by and say hi, her cards are top notch! Ok, our new challenge at The Creative Cottage Challenge Blog chosen by the lovely and super talented Tracy is Embossing! I've done my card using the Robbie & Roxanne kit, and I've used my Cuttlebug for the embossed border. There's a £10 gift voucher from The Creative Cottage Shop up for grabs so be sure you have a go!

Off to bed now peeps, I can hardly keep my eyes open! Good night!