Little Monkeys

Hi! What a rotten weekend weatherwise! The sun was shining this morning but slowly the rain crept in, and now it's so miserable outside! It's definately a cosy night in for me. Anyway, I wanted to let you know about a new kit that's available from The Creative Cottage called "Little Monkeys Pirate Adventure", it's just soooo cute!!! When I saw the kit I just had to do a few cards with it, I love the colours teamed up with the cute little monkeys and the skull and cross bones paper is fab! The monkey images are toppers, so you just have to print them out and then add them to your project, couldn't be simpler! Definately good when you need a card in a hurry!

Here's the cards I made with the kit...

This card is using the sketch over at Papertake Weekly Challenge. I've added a little Penny Black sentiment and the criss cross ribbon like on a pirate's shirt! I'm also entering this one into the Cute Card Thursday challenge which is "Ribbon-tastic"!

This second card is for the Stamp Something Challenge, a recipe where you have to use designer paper, ribbon and buttons. The sentiment is one of Lyndsey-Marie's designs, thanks hun! I've added a little map, it's a Kraftin Kimmie stamp coloured with Promarkers.

Well off now to see what I can rustle up for tea...I do wish there were more take-aways in France! Thanks for popping by!

In Distress...Sarah Kay that is!

Ok, hands up all of you who watched even the tiniest bit of Craft Day on QVC this week (I'm sticking my hand up)... to be honest I rarely watch craft on TV as I find some of the demos rushed (especially on QVC)... they're more interested in selling their product than showing people how to use it. But hey, didn't stop me tuning in a bit to watch Tim Holtz. I only have one of his products... Distress Inks... but I haven't used them for AGES! So you could say he's inspired me to get them out for a little play, hence my card...

I followed the sketch from Sketch Saturday, and have gone with the theme from Simon Says Stamp "Vintage with Flowers". I'm also just in time to enter the February challenge at By the Cute & Girly which is "Love". I'm not sure if there's a bit too much distressing going on, but I kinda like it! The little Sarah Kay stamp is one I won from Stampavie recently, isn't she pretty? I think this has to be one of my fave SK stamps (well I only have two lol)!!!

• Stamp "Lucy with Kitten" Sarah Kay for Stampavie
• Colouring Promarkers/Distress Inks (Old Paper & Frayed Burlap)
• Papers 6x6 Isabella Pad, K & Co
• Sentiment Stamp, Woodware Tiny Phrases
• Flowers Prima
• Charm, Bunny Zoe's Crafts
• Brads, lace from stash

So it's almost the weekend again, don't the weeks just seem to fly by! Thanks so much for popping by today, I appreciate all the lovely comments I receive from you!

Hello again! When will Spring arrive? It's so miserable here today, pouring with rain and dull! You even have to put the lights on indoors during the day, it's THAT dull! Anyway, I've done a couple of cards, the first one is in the hope that Spring arrives soon!

This little bunny stamp is from Penny Black (one of the older ones I believe - not sure of the details as it was a RAK from my kind friend Louby a while back). I've coloured with Promarkers (Baby Pink & Tulip Yellow mainly) so I'm entering this in the Passion For Promarkers Challenge this week (you also have to use stitching so I've stitched the button onto my bow). Last week my card was chosen in the Top 5 - how great is that!!! Also the Penny Black Saturday Challenge would like to see the colours Pink, Yellow & Green on your creations... so my card fits there too! Finally the challenge at Stamp Something is "A touch of Spring Somethings"...what could be more Spring than these lovely colours and cute bunny with Spring flowers?!

My second card is a Christmas one, I have to force myself to make this as I'm not really in the jolly Christmas spirit at the moment. It's for the challenge at Wags n' Whiskers, which is to use you favourite things. I'm not sure about this card, it's a little dull and plain, but I have added lots of my fave things... Sweet Danni & Bella stamp, Promarkers, charm, ribbon, pearls, MS punch...

Well, that's all for now, don't forget to check my previous post about the new Creative Cottage Challenge blog, and the super candy up for grabs!

New Creative Cottage Challenge Blog & Candy

Hi! Over at The Creative Cottage we have some great news!

We are very excited to announce that The Creative Cottage is starting it's very own Challenge Blog on Wednesday 10th March at 7am and we are giving away some blog candy to celebrate!!

We are calling it the 4 for 4 candy as 4 lucky people will win all 4 of the following kits!!

Our challenge blog will be open to everyone as there is no need to use Creative Cottage products to take part, so what are you waiting for??

Hop on over to the new Challenge Blog to enter the candy and we look forward to you joining us on Wednesday 10th March!!

Cupcake Craft Challenge #79 - Friends

Good morning! Another Monday and another chance to join in the fun at Cupcake Craft Challenges! This week the lovely Catherine has chosen the challenge, and I for one tend to make lots of cards with this theme in mind! It's "FRIENDS"... we'd like to see "Friends or Friendship" on your cards this week. Here's my DT card...

I've used this sweet little image from Stampavie... I love these little characters from Tina Wenke. Why are there so many lovely stamps out there for me to spend my money on? Too much temptation aaarrrgghhhh! Here's the details of what I've used...

• Stamp "Mouse & Rabbit with Sunflower" Tina Wenke for Stampavie
• Sentiment Stamp - Paper Make Up Stamps
• Colouring - Promarkers
• Paper - My Mind's Eye 6x6 Pad - Bloom & Grow
• Scalloped Border - Martha Stewart Punch
• Rectangular Nesties for Frame
• Lace, flower, charm, buttons & pearls from stash

I'm entering this card into several challenges, Passion For Promarkers "Buttons & Bows" challenge, ABC Challenge "O is for One Paper" and Cute Card Thursday "Metal Mania" challenge. I think it covers all of those nicely :)

This week our sponsor over at Cupcake is The Creative Cottage, who are offering a lovely prize to one lucky random winner. There's a set of Hattie Digi Stamps AND a Party Nights Paper Pack up for grabs! These are both gorgeous (I'm on The Creative Cottage Design Team and have both of these) but don't just take my word for it, pop over to check out all the lovely kits that are available over at The Creative Cottage!

Time Flies...

When you're having fun! It's been a whole week since I've done any blogging or crafting! I've had a surprise visit from my family, which was lovely, so I've had no spare "me" time this past week. My guests have left now (sob sob - I can't believe how the time has flown, I miss my family lots, living in a different country makes any time we spend together precious) so I've made a little card this afternoon to keep my mind off things. This one is using some of my new stamps from Kraftin Kimmie... I'm loving these quirky little characters...

This little lady is called "Genevieve" from Kraftin Kimmie, isn't she gorgeous! The sentiment is also a stamp from the same range. I've created a little scene by adding a hand drawn plane in the background (quite proud of myself lol) as the challenge over at Kraftin Kimmie is to "Create a Scene" and also use two stamps. I've also followed the colours from the Colour Create challenge which are "Red, White/Off White, Chocolate & Pink". Here's more details...

• Stamp "Genevieve" Moonlight Whispers Collection, Kraftin Kimmie Stamps
• Sentiment Stamp from same range by Kraftin Kimmie
• Colouring Promarkers
• Paper "Sugared" Basic Grey
• Ribbon Bazzil Basics
• Heart Brad from stash

Well, I'm off to watch a bit of Dancing on Ice, be back tomorrow with my DT card for the new Cupcake Craft Challenge! Have a lovely, cosy evening!

Keep It Simple...

...is the challenge this week at Cupcake Craft Challenges. This week it's Victoria who has chosen the challenge, and I have to say I found this quite challenging as I wasn't sure how "simple" to keep it. Here's my DT card, hope this is what you meant Victoria...

I suppose I have kept it simple but I just had to add a few embellies, ribbon, buttons... and of course a sweet image and sentiment. Here's all the details...

Image - "Henrietta" Digi stamp (Pink Petticoat)

Colouring - Promarkers

Sentiment - Paper Make Up Stamps

Ribbon/Buttons - Artemio

Scallop Circle Punch - Stampin' Up

Pink Cardstock - Bazzil

This week our sponsor is the fab Soft Pencil, who are offering a $20 gift certificate to use in their online store to one lucky winner!

I'm entering my card into two challenges, Totally Papercrafts has a "Buttons & Bows" theme this week, and Stamp Something would like to see "Something Cute" on your creations!

Love is in the air!!!

Hello! I know I'm early but I just wanted to wish you all a Happy Valentine's Day... I have been a very lucky girl and have been given an early Valentine's present from my lovely hubby! He's once again spoiled me with some crafty goodies... lots of pearls and charms plus some lovely new stamps... I shall be back over the weekend with some more cards using my new goodies! I also have a little card to share with you, it's a while since I've used a Penny Black image but this one was crying out to be coloured...

It's for the Penny Black Saturday Challenge which is "Pins & Pearls" (I've used my new red pearls) and I've also used the fabby simple sketch over at Papertake Weekly Challenge. The image is of course Penny Black and is called T.L.C. I've used Promarkers to colour. The background paper with words is K & Co and the little hearts were hand drawn onto plain red paper. The little sentiment was cut from the K & Co paper.

Well I shall have to have a little try of my new goodies! Have a lovely Friday evening, back soon!

Charming!

Good evening! Firstly I have to say I haven't been the best blogger this week... sorry if I haven't visited you but I really haven't been on the computer much... or done any crafting for that matter! Sometimes we need a little time out!

However... I have done one card... it's for the Wags 'n Whiskers challenge which is "Charming"... the W & W team would like to see some metal on your project. Here's my interpretation...

I've used "Bear Hug" stamp from Wags 'n Whiskers, coloured with Promarkers. I have to say I think she's sweet as a red head! The papers are Basic Grey "Cupcake", the sentiment is part of a Penny Black stamp (You are in my heart & thoughts), ribbon is Papermania and the border is done with my MS punch. The metal elements are the heart charm (from Bunny Zoe's Crafts) and the little paw brads I found in my stash.

I've also used the recipe from Totally Papercrafts Challenge " 3 embellishments (ribbon, charm, brads) , 2 papers and 1 image.

Finally there's a fantastic challenge over at Brenda's blog to make a card with the theme of "Moving"... this can also be interpreted by a moving object on your creation so I've chosen to add this sweet heart charm. The challenge is to celebrate the recent move of Sir Stampalot to larger premises, and they're offering some super prizes!

It's totally freezing here... hope you're all wrapped up warm! Have a cosy evening!

Kreative Blogger Award

Finally, I've gotten round to putting this award on my blog! I have my lovely blogging friend Sandra to thank for this award, thanks so much for thinking of me hun! Ok, here's what I have to do...

* Thank the person who gave it to you.
* Place logo on your blog.
* Link to the person who nominated you.
* Tell seven things about yourself.
* Choose seven bloggers to recieve this award.
* Send them a message

Seven things about myself... here goes...

• I studied Photography at Uni
• I support Newcastle United
• I'm married to a Frenchman
• I'm a vegetarian
• I don't smoke
• I'm a competent horse rider
• I love indian and chinese food

Ok, so there's a few facts about me. I'm supposed to send this award to seven other people, but I know most of my blogging friends have already received this so I'll forfeit that part. But feel free to take the award if you wish! Have a lovely evening!

Cupcake Craft Challenge #76

Good afternoon blogging friends! Well another weekend over and another Monday comes around... so it's time for this week's Cupcake Craft Challenge... but before I tell you about this week's challenge I just wanted to thank you all for playing along with my chosen theme last week "Four Legged & Furry", I was amazed at all the beautiful cards/projects you created and I sure had a hard time picking the Top 5!!!

So onto this week, our theme chosen by Tammy (who is sadly leaving us) is "Red & White All Over"... perfect for Valentine's Day but you don't have to have a Valentine's theme. Here's my little DT card...

I don't often do red & white cards, but I kinda like this one! I've used some of my stash that I haven't used yet (MS Punch Around The Page set I got for Christmas), and this little Gorjuss Girl I received from my friend Tracy back in September... scandalous that she hadn't been inked up until now! It's a plainish card... no patterned paper in sight! Here's what I used...

• Stamp - Just a girl (Gorjuss - Sugar Nellie)
• Colouring - Promarkers
• Scallops - Martha Stewart Punch Around The Page Set
• Embossing - Cuttlebug Hearts
• Sentiment - Cuddly Buddly
• Scallop Circle Punch - Stampin' Up
• Glossy Accents on boots, hearts, hair clip
• Ribbon/button from stash

The challenge is sponsored by Sassy Studio Designs this week, who are offering 4 digi images to the lucky winner! But you've got to be in it to win it! Check out the other DT cards, they've done a fab job this week again!

I thought I'd enter my card into the challenge at Stamp Something which is Love Somethings and ABC Challenge which is N for New (My lovely Martha Stewart punch and Gorjuss Stamp)!

Kraftin Kimmie & a Surprise!

Hello, hope your weekend is going ok! Mine started with a surprise... my hubby "went to work" as planned, me thinking that I was once again going to spend another Saturday alone... expect that he was only pretending... he'd gone to get fresh croissants from the boulangerie and was actually off work! It was a lovely surprise... so we're spending the day together... although he's gone out on his mountain bike for an hour. Oh well, gives me a chance to share my card with you all...

I got this little Kraftin Kimmie stamp over a month ago, but just managed to do a card with her! She's called Charlotte, don't you think she's just such a yummy mummy? I've kept the card really simple as I wanted to make the most of the image (coloured with Promarkers). I thought she'd fit the challenge at Cute Card Thursday which is "Spots & Dots" and also Sussie's Sassy Designs which is "Red, White & Blue".

Have a lovely afternoon and evening! Mine will be spent with hubby!

An Award!

I received a sweet award last week from my lovely friend Catherine. I've only "known" Catherine a few months through Blogland, she makes the most beautiful cards! Thanks so much for thinking of me! As part of this award I have to list ten things that I am thankful for and that make me happy... I must admit when I read Catherine's responses it made me think a lot of me, maybe because like Catherine I live in another country to my family and friends? Well, what am I thankful and happy about...

- Firstly I have to mention my hubby... he's very tolerant of my crafting obsession and even encourages it. Living far away from my family and friends he'll go to great lengths to cheer me up when I'm feeling down, and I have to admit he's the main "buyer" of my crafty stash (he knows it makes me happy).

- Thankful to have a nice warm roof over my head (especially at this time of year - I can't imagine what it must be like to be homeless).

- Thankful that I have a loving family and friends who care.

- My little cat makes me so happy (he purrs - a LOT), he's so loving and is a real character... my mam says he's part human!

- I love crafting, I'm so lucky to have a craftroom where I can shut myself away and think nothing but creative thoughts (at least for an hour or two). Not forgetting the lovely crafters I've met through Blogland!

- Seeing the first spring flowers makes me happy.

- When Newcastle United win (we're winning 4 - 0 tonight)!

- The fact that I can speak fluent French... it helps living in France!

- When I travel the very LONG journey "home" (I'll always call it that) and see the Angel of the North... I know I'm almost there!

- "Comfort" fabric softener... I know I'm wierd... but it makes me think of "home".

I'd like to pass this award onto lots of people... although I'm sure some people have already had this... so I shall pass it onto four lovely, talented ladies who regularly visit my blog...

Sandra

Donna

Denise

Tracy


Just copy and paste the award. In your post, mention who gave it to you with a link to my blog, list 10 things that you are thankful for and make you happy and give the award to the friends of your choice !

All Creatures Great & Small

Good afternoon to all my blogging buddies! Just a quick post today to share my little card with you. This one is for two challenges, Passion For Promarkers Challenge "All Creatures Great & Small"... as you know I'm a sucker for little creatures so had to have a go at this, and the Basic Grey Challenge is "Animals. Anyway, I thought I'd have a rummage around in my stamps, I wanted to use something different, and I found this little Rachelle Anne Miller stamp from Stampavie and thought it'd be just perfect! I also dug into my paper stack and pulled out this Basic Grey "Sugared" pack... I had forgotten about some of the treasures I have! I stamped the image with Memento ink and coloured it with Promarkers, I think it's quite sweet?! I've used my Martha Stewart punch (it's a punch around the page one but I haven't yet used it for this purpose), the sentiment is a Penny Black (love this so much). Finally I added the little heart detail, I just cut it out the old fashioned way (using scissors).

Wags 'n Whiskers Colour Challenge

Ok, here goes for my second post for today... just wanted to share my Wags 'n Whiskers Challenge card with you... this week it's a colour challenge using Blue, White & Brown...

I've used my new stamp called "Bear Hug", isn't it just gorgeous! I think this little image can be used for so many occassions... so I'm sure I'll be making lots more cards with this little beauty! I've used my trusty Promarkers again to colour, paper is from my stash and added a few little extras for detail. I have to say it took me AGES to get the ribbon and button done... there must be an easier way! I've not added a sentiment as I haven't decided what occassion this is for yet!

Thanks so much for popping by today, don't forget to check out my scoop below for The Creative Cottage!

New from The Creative Cottage

I just wanted to let you know that there are some new kits available from The Creative Cottage... and they're very pink and girly! Here's a little peek at the kit...

This lovely digi kit called "Bags of Style" is available to buy from The Creative Cottage... there's also a lovely paper pack and a FREEBIE, which is just perfect for Mother's Day in March! I've used parts of the kit to create some cards, here I've used the paper and flowers from the kit (image is Penny Black)...

Here I've used the paper from the Party Nights Paper Pack and flowers are from the Bags of Style kit. You need to check out the other DT blogs as they've done a much better job at showing off this kit than I have! They're cards can be seen on The Creative Cottage blog!

Cupcake Craft Challenge #76 - Four Legged & Furry

Hello! It's Monday and time for another Cupcake Craft Challenge! This week it was my turn to choose the theme for our challenge and as an animal lover I thought it might be fun to create something starring our furry little friends! So this week the theme is "FOUR LEGGED & FURRY" ... my little friend Réglisse who "crafts" with me influenced my choice of image for my DT card... so it just happens to be a cat...

I've had this Magnolia image for a little while now, and have never used it, so I thought it'd be a shame to keep it hidden away. Here's the detail of what I used to create my card...

Stamp - Tilda with Cat (Magnolia)
Ink to stamp image - Memento Tuxedo Black
Colouring - Promarkers and Distress Ink (Old Paper)
Sentiment stamp - Penny Black
Papers - Regency A4 Pack (Papermania Signature)
Heart - Sizzix Sizzlets Die
Pearls - Bunny Zoe's Crafts
Lace, Flower from stash

I'm entering this card into the Penny Black Saturday Challenge as the theme is "Someone Special"... I just love this Penny Black sentiment stamp! I'm also entering my card into the Totally Papercrafts Challenge - the theme for their first challenge is "Friends"... perfect! Finally, the theme at Just Magnolia is "Hearts & Flowers" so will have a go at that one too!

I hope you can join in with this week's challenge, so if you can make something with a little furry friend on it then why not have a go, there's a $20 gift voucher plus free shipping from Simon Says Stamp up for grabs for one lucky winner! Plus don't forget our a place in Top 5! I can't wait to see what furry little lovelies you'll come up with!