Minkie's Paper Paradise

Alternative Valentine

2012-01-28T12:05:00.002+01:00

Hello everyone! It's the weekend!

I have to say I have been a little absent on the blogging front lately... no real reason apart from I've still got a bit of a crafty block... my mojo really has left the building! I have managed to come up with a little DT card for today's new challenge at Digi Designs Challenge Blog... our theme this fortnight is VALENTINE'S!

I've not gone with the traditional red, but have used more an alternative colour scheme and sentiment. The card is made using two wonderful digi images from Di's Digi Downloads... you can check out all of her fabulous designs over on her site! Lots of digi's to chose from for Valentine's and much more! I've also used scraps from My Minds Eye 'Bloom & Grow' paper pack... I always end up with bits so when I saw a fab card by Faye HERE I thought what a great idea to use up paper scraps, thanks for the inspiration Faye! Colouring is done with Promarkers & Flexmarkers, and the lovely little sentiment was from the net... I wish I could remember where I got it from so I could credit the person...

Our sponsor this fortnight is Joanna Sheen who is offering a gift voucher to use in her onling shop... and with so many goodies to choose from and free postage this is a fab prize! But you've got to be in it to win it so to speak! Also, if you make something using one of Di's digis you could be in with a chance of winning two images of your choice from Di's store! Hope you can join us ;)

Well, have a lovely weekend!

Shelly x

All You Need Is Love dee dee dee dee deeeeeeeeeeee...

2012-01-23T07:00:00.002+01:00

Good morning! Hope you all had a nice weekend... I actually got some crafting done! I don't know what it is but I just can't seem to get my act together, my motivation to craft just isn't there at the minute?!

Anyway, as the season for love will soon be upon us... we have a fab theme at Cupcake Craft Challenge this week... All You Need Is Love! Are you singing it yet? So basically all things love orientated will suffice! I have made a card using a cute Penny Black stamp... aren't these two kitties just so cute?! I coloured with Distress Inks (shock horror no markers), and added some sparkle to the roses. The hearts are from a Sissix die, the bow recycled from a present and the sentiment stamp is from Paper Make Up stamps. I bought the paper from Crafty Emma's store in the sale... it's GCD Chic Bebe.

Our sponsor at Cupcake this week is Tiddly Inks, who have the most adorable digi images! They are giving away a fab $10 gift voucher to use in their online store! Pop by to see all the details about the challenge and also to check out the LOVEly projects the other DT girls have made!

Thanks for popping by today!

Shelly x

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Penny Black & More @ Allsorts - Love & Hearts

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Crafty Bargains (my paper)

Snow Scene and Satellites

2012-01-20T18:43:00.006+01:00

Hi everyone! Not a lot of crafting going on for me at the minute... but here's a little card I did with a cute Mimi stamp (Penny Black) that i won before Christmas (thank you Penny Black & more @ Allsorts). This is from a T for Transparent set called Mimi's Christmas... you can find it at The Glitter Pot HERE, and I have to say it's just adorable! Even the little presents I used for the background are on this set, so you can do your own background paper too! And the sentiment is from the same set! I used my Promarkers and Flexmarkers to colour, and simply added a little snowflake for detail...

Right, now I have to warn you I have just calmed myself down after getting a bit of a shock... nothing nasty but the price I've just had to pay for my satellite dish to be re-positioned! The company that did it are only a few miles from our house... it took the man 10 minutes MAX to get his ladder off the van, go up his ladder, and realign the dish... there were no parts involved so the price was for call out and labour ONLY (a few miles and 10 minutes labour), and they were coming anyway to give me a quote for another, bigger job. I couldn't believe it when they charged me 70€ !!! I nearly choked! I made it clear that I wasn't happy but I still had to pay the bill! Flippin' heck, I think I'll buy myself a ladder and a little machine off Amazon for setting satellite dishes and go into business!!! I'll make a bomb! One of the excuses they gave me was that they have to go on the roof and risk their lives... urm yes but that's their choice, if they didn't want to do that they should have been a nursery nurse or something! Roofers go on roofs and "risk their lives" but they don't charge 70€ for a 10 minute job!

The moral of the story is always get a quote before! I have learnt the hard way!

Shelly x

I'd like to enter my card for the challenge at:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Anything Goes
I love Promarkers - Anything Goes

Born on a Winter's Day

2012-01-16T07:00:00.003+01:00

Good morning to you all! Our new challenge at Cupcake Craft Challenges this week has been chosen by the lovely Louise, and the theme is BORN ON A WINTER'S DAY. Fairly straightforward really, you need to do a birthday card, but with a winter theme.

For my card I used this cute Stampavie stamp, coloured with markers... I added some snowflake details and some white tulle to reflect the winter theme.The papers are from an old Papermania stash, and the sentiment was a freebie from the net (sorry but I can't for the life of me find where it came from).

Our fabulous sponsor at Cupcake this week is My Mum's Craft Shop, who are kindly donating a £10 Gift Voucher to one lucky winner. Pop by the Cupcake blog for details, and to see all the other lovely DT projects!

Shelly x

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges:
Stampin for the Weekend - Out with the Old (Papermania papers are from AGES ago, also fancy paperclip)
Crafty Catz - Use Something New (snowflake charm and stamp I got in December)

A little Thank You...

2012-01-14T09:55:00.005+01:00

Brrr what a frosty morning it is here... probably the coldest it's been this winter! We've had virtually no winter in the part of France I live in, the temperature has rarely gone below 10°c!!! Even my tree in the garden is in blossom (bet it got a shock today)! Today it's COLD, but very crisp and bright... I love this kind of day!

Well there's a new challenge today at Digi Design's Challenge Blog, where we'd like to see all your THANK YOU cards... perfect at this time of year! I have done my DT card using a cute little hedgehog from Di's Digi Downloads, coloured with Promarkers. The papers, which I LOVE, are Pink Petticoat, a freebie in a magazine last year. The cute crocheted flowers are from my stash... unfortunately I haven't done these but would love to know how (urm I don't know how to crochet, shame). A few pearls and a bit of raffia ribbon, and of course the lovely sentiment finishes it all off.

The prize this fornight is a $10 voucher for Michelle's Srapbooking... yummy! Pop by the Digi Design's Blog to see all the details about the challenge and also to feast your eyes on the gorgeous cards the DT girls have made!

Hope you have a lovely weekend, and the sun is shining where you are!

Shelly x

Challenges I'd like to enter with my card:
I love Promarkers - Cute & Cuddly
Passion For Promarkers - Inspired by a Song (Wildflower by The JaneDear Girls)

We're back... with a NEW Cupcake Craft Challenge!

2012-01-09T11:35:00.006+01:00

Good morning my lovelies! Well, it's been a little while since I've posted a DT card for Cupcake as we had a little bit of time off over the holidays (thanks Faye), but now WE'RE BACK with a fab NEW challenge for you! Liza has chosen 'SOMETHING NEW' as the theme for our challenge this week, which can be interpreted as you wish... I have gone with New Baby but you could have anything really, including stash, as long as it's NEW!

For my card I've used this really sweet Lili of the Valley image, I think this is just TOO cute! It's probably one of my fave LOTV images, and I have a few! I coloured the little tot with Promarkers and used my Cuttlebug embossing folder to create the background. The little sentiment is also one from LOTV. A ribbon, button and a few card candy et voila! Clean and simple!

We have two generous sponsors... Sew Sweet who are giving away a £10 gift voucher, and Squiggle Stamps who are offering 3 digital images to one lucky winner! Pop by the Cupcake blog to check out all the details, and also take a peek at the other DT girls' creations while you're there, they're gorgeous!

Ok, that's it for me today! Tarah for now!

Shelly x

Challenges I'd like to enter with my card:
Lili's Little Fairies Challenge - New Beginnings
Cute Card Thursday - What's New?
By the Cute & Girly - New Beginnings

Until Next Christmas...

2012-01-05T18:32:00.003+01:00

Well that's it... the decorations are down until next Christmas. I believe that tonight is Twelfth Night which concludes the twelve days of Christmas, so I'm sharing a photo of the wreath I made, which until today was proudly displayed on my door (this was my first ever attempt so I was quite chuffed with myself). There's not only Kirsty Allsopp who can turn her hand to wreath making lol...

Take care, Shelly x

Happy New Year... Belated!!!

2012-01-03T23:05:00.006+01:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012!

Well, I'm back, eventually! I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and New Year... Best Wishes to you all for 2012, I hope it'll be a year filled with good health and happiness for all of us! For me personally, 2011 wasn't a good year at all, so I'm hoping that 2012 will bring me better things...

For me, the holiday period was lovely, quiet spending time at home with my hubby and my parents who were visiting from the UK. It was just nice to be with the people I love ;) I did, however, eat a bit too many chocolates, and I made some lovely mulled wine on Christmas Eve that had a kick with the brandy... it was definately not for the light weights lol ;) New Year was a quiet family night in, with lots of food and telly... I watched Alan Carr who had me in stitches... he is a funny 'un! And here we are 2012...

I do apologise for the latenes in posting my DT card for the NEW challenge at Digi Designs Challenge Blog, but lets just say I had a few technical hitches... anyway you have until Friday 13th (superstitious?) to make a card/project for the challenge and we want to see all things NEW! Our sponsor this week is Joanna Sheen, who is giving away a £10 gift voucher to spend in her online store! My card is done using a lovely digi stamp called New Home from Di's Digi Downloads, coloured with Promarkers. The paper is Basic Grey and the sentiment stamp is from Stampavie. It's a New Home card (obviously)... I would have used some new stash but I didn't get any (sobs, shock, horror), nope not a sausage! Well, I did buy myself a daylight lamp last week so I suppose I should count that as new stash... I have to say, it's fabulous!!!

Well, I'm raising my mug of tea in a toast to 2012, and to thank you all for your continuing support and friendship! Cheers!

Shelly x

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Allsorts Challenge Blog - New Beginnings
Basic Grey Challenges - Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly Challenge - Anything Goes/New
Stampin' For The Weekend - Anything Goes
ABC Challenge - G is for Green

Three Kings & A Camel

2011-12-21T12:30:00.003+01:00

Hi everyone! Not long now for Christmas! After today there's only 3 days to go... YIKES! I got my presents wrapped last night (well the ones I've got... I still haven't finished present shopping... yes I know I've left it a bit late but I'm just stuck for ideas). I hope you're all better organised than I am... all this preparation and it's over in a day! No I'm not turning all Scrooge on you, but Christmas Day just goes by so quickly ;(

I'm sharing a little card I made a few weeks ago, I just never got round to putting it on my blog! The image is from Digi Stamp Boutique, they are the cutest three kings ever! Coloured with Promarkers, papers are Anna Griffin from A Scrap Affair and the border is done with wool fibres. The little sentiment is from Cuddly Buddly, coloured with Promarkers.

I'm entering my card for the challenges at:

Digi Stamp Boutique - December Competition

Good luck with all the preparations!

Shelly x

Fabby Faye Sketcheroony at Cupcake

2011-12-19T11:24:00.003+01:00

Good morning! Well it's a dull and foggy day here... not very Christmassy at all, just grey :( But not to worry... I can play my Christmas CDs and pretend...

I got my Christmas cake made... and it's looking (and smelling) pretty good... even though I'm not a big fan of stuff with currants/raisins etc (nope I don't like Christmas pud, or sweet mince pies). I really made it for everyone else, and my hubby LOVES Christmas cake!

Enough of me rattling on about food, anyone'd think I was Nigella or something (ahem not quite)... but I do make a mean cupcake lol ;) Speaking of cupcakes, our challenge at Cupcake Craft Challenges has been chosen by the super talented Faye, who has made a lovely sketch for us all to follow...

For my card (above) I've used a cute Penny Black clear stamp from Mimi's Christmas selection, coloured with pencils on kraft. The paper is Doodlebug (I think) from my scrap box.This is our last challenge at Cupcake for 2011, and Faye has very kindly gave us some time off over Christmas and New Year to eat lots of chocolates and drink lots of alcohol, urm I mean to refresh our creatives juices lol ;) I have to say though, I totally LOVE being part of this fab Design Team, all the girls are so friendly and Faye is such a fab mummy! So if you want to join us for the last time this year you have until Christmas Eve at 8pm. This week we have prizes from three fab sponsors!!! Yes three... here they are... Crafty Emma's Store - £10 Gift Voucher, Digital Delights - 3 Images and finally Tickled Pink Stamps - one rubber stamp or 2 digi stamps! So loads of lovely goodies, and that's before Santa does his rounds! And don't forget to pop by and check out what all the other DT girls have made, you'll get some inspiration I'm sure!

Thanks so much for popping by, it's lovely to read all your comments and visit your blogs too! Hopefully I'll be back with another post before the big day! Good luck with all your preparations!

Shelly x

Only one week to go!!!

2011-12-17T11:21:00.002+01:00

Uh oh... can you believe there's only one week to go until Christmas? Oh flip... I thought I was a little better organised this year... seems NOT! I still have some presents to buy, and ALL my presents to wrap, but at least I've sent out my cards AND my tree is up! I'll have to take a piccy of my tree to show you all, it's such a cutie! This afternoon I'm off to have a look around the Christmas market in our little town, and drink hot chocolate, and tomorrow I'm making my Christmas cake!

This fortnight at Digi Designs Challenge Blog the theme is CHRISTMAS... easy huh?! My card is done using a super cute digi image from Di's Digi Downloads called Dressing Snowman. I've coloured with a mix of Flexmarkers & Promarkers, and added a touch of sparkle ;) The papers are from an old Daisy & Dandelion paper pad... it's surprising what we overlook!

I'm entering my card into the challenge at:

ABC Challenge - F is for Frosty

The Pink Elephant Challenge - Snowflakes & Sparkle

Stampin for the Weekend - Christmas

Our sponsor this fortnight is There She Goes Clear Stamps, and also Di will be kindly giving away two digi stamps from Di's Digi Downloads to one lucky person who uses one of her images on their project. The other DT girls have come up with some fabulous inspiration for you, so pop by the blog to check it all out!

Have a fab weekend... and spread lots of Christmas Cheer!

Shelly x

Love a bit of Sparkle?

2011-12-12T07:00:00.002+01:00

After my ring in the last post and my card today I'm in a sparkly mood! And if you like sparkle too then you'll love this week's challenge at Cupcake Craft Challenges! The lovely Jane has come up with a corker for you, and just before Christmas! Don't Look At The Light... that's because you'll be dazzle by all the sparkles! Yep , we want to see LOTS of sparkly bits on your creations this week!

Our sponsor this week is the fabulous Saturated Canary, and Krista has kindly offered a digi to all us DT gals! My little lady is called Frizzy Jinx, and I just LOVE her hair! As you can see I've added loads of sparkle... even in her hair ;) I've coloured her with Promarkers & Flexmarkers. The little sentiment is from Penny Black and is called 'Fun Banner'.

I'm entering my card into the challenges at:

Passion For Promarkers - Celebrations

Penny Black & More @ Allsorts - Happy Birthday

Totally Papercrafts - Anything but Christmas

So you want to know about prizes... Krista from Saturated Canary is kindly giving away 2 images to one lucky random winner, and our monthly sponsor is Polka Doodles who are offering not one but two Simply Sweet CD's for two lucky winners! Pop by the Cupcake blog to see all the shiny, sparkly creations from my DT buddies! Thanks for popping by, I really appreciate all your comments!

Shelly x

Some new bling and a bit of Christmas

2011-12-08T19:13:00.011+01:00

Evening peeps! Hope you're all well!

Today, I've spent the day with my wonderful hubby, who has only gone and bought me a beautiful diamond eternity ring!!! Oh I can tell you, there's lots of bling and sparkle in our house tonight! I am a happy bunny ;)

Anyway, onto the crafting... I've made another Christmas card hooray! This one is using the sketch from Totally Gorjuss, which is just so easy to work with (in my opinion). I've used a cute Lili of the Valley stamp, coloured with pencils on kraft card (I do like the effect this gives). The christmassy background paper is from K & Co. Sorry but the photo isn't great, I hate taking pics under artificial light!

I'm entering the challenges at:

Totally Gorjuss - Sketch
Papertake Weekly Challenge - Anything Goes
Aud Sentiments Challenge - Winter Holiday Sentiments

Have a lovely evening, I will be spending the evening watching my ring sparkle lol ;)

Shelly x

A Bit of DIY

2011-12-05T07:00:00.008+01:00

Do you fancy doing a bit of DIY? Well not real DIY silly, crafty DIY of course. Our challenge at Cupcake Craft Challenges this week is Make Your Own Backing Paper... now isn't that better than fighting with the O/H and getting stuck from head to toe in wall paper!?

My card is very girly this week, I have to admit it's not my usual style but I really love the colours! The little kitty image is a Papermania one I got a while back and didn't use until now. My DIY backing paper and border in the middle of the card are done using an Anna Griffin clear stamp from A Scrap Affair, I used Colorbox Pigment Ink (the colour is Mint I think). I finished off with a cute charm, some pearls and Craftwork Cards card candy.

I'm entering the challenge at:
Penny Black & More @ Allsorts - Happy Birthday
Do You Stack Up - Ribbon
Craft Your Days Away - Buttons or Bows
Stamps & Fun = Creativity - Pearls

This week our sponsor at Cupcake is Simon Says Stamp, who are giving away a $15 gift voucher to spend in the online store! Our monthly sponsor is Polka Doodles who are offering not one but two Simply Sweet CD's for two lucky winners! For all the details, and a chance to see all the wonderful DIY the other DT girls have been getting up to, pop over to the Cupcake Craft Challenge blog!

Shelly x

A White Christmas

2011-12-03T07:00:00.003+01:00

Hi peeps! Ok, it's December so you should all be well on your way to finishing your Christmas cards... Hmm... well in theory anyway ;) If you're not as organised as you should be then we have the perfect challenge for you over at Digi Designs Challenge Blog... All White Except The Image!

For my DT card, I've used an adorable reindeer image from Di's Digi Downloads called Jingle Bells... how cute is he! Doesn't he look so proud... it's Rudolph obviously lol ;) I've coloured him with Promarkers, added some white embellishments and used my Nesties and Martha Stewart punches to add detail. I'm entering my card for the challenges at:

Totally Papercrafts - Let It Snow

ABC Challenge - Embossing (embossed edge of image frame with Nesties)

By the Cute & Girly - Let it Snow

Card Makin Mamas - Sentiments

Our lovely sponsor this fortnight is Cheery Lynn Designs who are offering a $15 Gift Voucher to our lucky random winner. And don't forget if you use one of Di's Digi's you could be in with a chance of winning a special prize of 2 free digi stamps from Di's Digi Downloads!

Pop over to the blog to see all the lovely DT creations!

Shelly x

Colouring On Kraft

2011-11-28T07:00:00.008+01:00

Good morning! Before anything I just want to say I was shocked and saddened by the news of Gary Speed's death yesterday, at the age of only 42! For those who don't know, Gary Speed was a footballer, who until yesterday coached the Welsh national team. I'm a Newcastle United fan, and saw Gary play for Newcastle during the 6 years he was at the club, a great player and professional. Very sad indeed.

At Cupcake Craft Challenge today, we have a new challenge chosen by Donna, and a fab one it is too! Colouring On Kraft is the task for this week, something I have NEVER done before, so this was definately a challenge for me!

For my card I used a cute Lili of the Valley stamp, stamped onto Kraft card from A Scrap Affair.

There's a 20-40% SALE at A Scrap Affair but be quick it ends today!

I dug out my old coloured pencils, which haven't seen the light of day for AGES! They're Faber Castell Aquarelle pencils, but I just used then as normal colouring pencils (no water). I have to say I really enjoyed colouring this, very therapeutic in front of the TV. The sentiment is also Lili of the Valley, the paper is K & Co and the ribbon is from Joanna Sheen. I finished by glittering a Cuttlebug Snowflake (thanks Fluff) and adding a button & twine. I'm entering my card for the challenge at:

Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog - Wintery Holiday Sentiment

Card Makin Mamas - Sentiments

Lili Of The Valley - Anything Goes

This week our sponsor at Cupcake is Craft Emma's Store, who are giving away a £10 gift voucher to spend in the online store! Our monthly sponsor is Crafts U Love who are offering up a super £15 Gift Voucher for November's random winner. For all the details, and a chance to see all the kraft creations the other DT girls have made, pop over to the Cupcake Craft Challenge blog!

Shelly x

Cool Cat Birthday

2011-11-21T07:00:00.001+01:00

Good morning! Firstly I do apologise for not commenting/visiting your blogs recently... I am as they say MIA! I promise to be back with your all soon ;)

This week at Cupcake Craft Challenges the lovely Denise has chosen 'Teenage Boys' as our theme... and I have to say I do like making 'boy' cards!

I think my card is really aimed at a young teenager... I'm not sure about the bows on the buttons, but hey I love the bright colours! The image is from Bugaboo... I do love my cat stamps and this digi is no exception! He's coloured with Promarkers... I coloured him a while back but he's been stuck in a drawer so I though I should give him a home. The papers are K & Co 'Hopscotch', the zig zag border is done using a Martha Stewart punch, and I did the funky sentiment on the PC.

We're sponsored by the fabulous Lili of the Valley this week... I adore these stamps and have lots! They're giving away a £10 gift voucher to one lucky winner! Our monthly sponsor is of course Crafts U Love who are offering up a super £15 Gift Voucher for November's random winner. For all the details, and a chance to see the boyish cards/projects the other DT girls have made, pop over to the Cupcake Craft Challenge blog, and if you have time leave us a little comment so we know you've been by!

Shelly x

The Colours Of Autumn

2011-11-19T09:00:00.002+01:00

Hi! It's Saturday and so it's time for another new challenge at Digi Designs Challenge! This fortnight we'd like to see Autumn Colours on your creations!

I've used this cute digi stamp from Di's Digi Downloads, called These are Mine, isn't it such a cutie! I've coloured using Promarkers, the papers are My Minds Eye, and I've used my X Cut Oak Leaf punch to highlight the sentiment ( from Stampin' Up).

This fortnight we're sponsored by Joanna Sheen who is giving away a gift voucher to spend in her online store, and I have to say this is one of my favourite online craft shops! Make sure you pop by the Challenge Blog for all the details, and to take a peak at all the other DT creations!

Shelly x

Two's Company

2011-11-14T07:00:00.001+01:00

Good morning! Where did the weekend go? I can't believe how fast this year is flying by... we're already mid-November (and I still haven't started my Christmas shopping yikes)!

Seeing as it's Monday again, then it's time for another Cupcake so you might want to put the kettle on and get comfy with a nice cuppa! Yup, Cupcake Craft Challenge that is... this week it's Delphine who has chosen the theme which is Two's Company! Basically we'd like to see you using two or more characters on your creations (two boys, two girls, two fairies etc but animals DON'T count as a character, only people characters). They can be from the same stamp or from several stamps, as I've done on my card.

I thought it'd be nice to use some of my older stamps that don't often see the light of day... so I've used two of the lovely Gorgeous Girls from Funky Kits. I stamped the little girl on the right with her cat, then masked over the cat with a Post-it Note before I stamped the sitting character. They're coloured using Promarkers. The papers are Basic Grey.

We are sponsored this week at Cupcake by Sassy Studio Designs, who are giving away 4 digital stamps to the lucky winner! Our monthly sponsor is Crafts U Love who are offering up a super £15 Gift Voucher for November's random winner. For all the details, and a chance to see the beautiful creations the other DT girls have made, pop over to the Cupcake Craft Challenge blog, and if you have time leave some love!

Well, thanks a lot for taking the time to visit today. Have a lovely week!

Shelly x

Sweet Strawberries

2011-11-13T11:32:00.006+01:00

Hi peeps! Just a quick post today... I just thought I'd show off some of my new goodies! I ordered a few things from Joanna Sheen recently, and my little parcel arrived with this gorgeous gingham ribbon! I'm thrilled with it... the colour is so lovely! I think I shall have to order more, in other colours!

I've gone for a red theme to my card today (it's Remembrance Sunday in the UK) using this gorgeous strawberry image from Crafty Secrets. I got out the old heat gun and put a coat of clear embossing all over the image, I think it helps make it stand out. The lovely green background paper is from A Scrap Affair. Don't forget we have a super challenge on over at A Scrap Affair blog, where we'd like to see your 'recipe' cards... there's some Ranger Perfect Pearls mists up for grabs!

I'm entering my card into the challenge at:
Cute Card Thursday - Reds For Remembrance
Simon Says Stamp - Photo Inspiration (Poppy Field)

Totally Papercrafts - Victorian

Special thoughts for Remembrance Sunday...

Shelly x

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas...

2011-11-08T11:59:00.001+01:00

...well not as much as I'd like but we're getting there slowly... I have made a few cards!!! And I owe it all to Michael... Bublé that is (I am a little infatuated by him, not much ahem)... anyway Michael's on his way to my house right now... well the CD is anyway!!! That's got to get me in the Christmas Spirit... have a listen to the Christmas Album HERE... it's fab!!!

So here's my little offering for today... Polar bears... snowflakes... sparkle... snow... very Christmassy me thinks! I've used a cute Penny Black stamp called 'Santa Spotting'... coloured with Flexmarkers, I like him as a Polar Bear ;) The paper is Dovecraft Christmas Fancy from last year, the silver mesh from my stash. The embossed snowflake panel is done on the Cuttlebug. Finally I added the little sentiment, and a snowflake to embellish... fairly simple!

I'm entering my card into the challenges at:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Christmas/Snowflakes/Silver

Penny Black & More @ Allsorts - All Creatures Great & Small

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge - Sketch

I Love Promarkers - Glitter & Glitz

Well lets hope the Christmas momentum keeps going... I don't want to be rushing round on Christmas Eve doing my Christmas Shopping... last minute sounds like a bad idea!

Getting into the Christmas Spirit

2011-11-07T07:00:00.007+01:00

Ok, be honest, is anyone else struggling to get into the Christmas spirit? I don't know if it's the weather or what but I'm really not feeling it this year! I haven't started doing any Christmas shopping, have no ideas for presents, and despite having a Christmas card making session yesterday, I'm just not in the pre-Christmas mood. Maybe it's too early? Maybe I should buy Michael Bublé's new Christmas album... Mmmm yes I think that's it, he'd definately put me in the spirit... and I wouldn't mind unwrapping him on Christmas morning either lol ;)

Right, well back to reality {sighs}... Firstly I'd like to thank everyone who took part in my Leaf Challenge last week at Cupcake, I loved popping by your blogs and checking out all the gorgeous leafy, autumnal (or not) creations you came up with!

Now today at Cupcake Craft Challenge we have a fabulous new theme, chosen by the marvellous Maarit, Textalicious! We'd like you to use a page from a newspaper, book or dictionary, or use a stamp with a book/newspaper, or even just use the kind of text you find in one.

I found a Christmas story on the internet (it's about a little disabled boy and a kitten... you can find it HERE, it's worth a read if you have 10 minutes) and I printed it off using an old fashioned typewriter kind of font. I used this as my background paper. The lovely image is called 'Sarah in the snow with kittie'. It's a Tina Wenke design for Stampavie. I coloured her with Promarkers... using VERY traditional Christmas colours (still didn't get me in the mood... only Michael can do that lol).

I am entering my card into the following challenges:
By the cute & girly - Christmas Girls
I Love Promarkers - Glitter & Glitz (glitter and gold spotted candy)
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes plus bling
Penny Black & More @ Allsorts - All Creatures Great & Small

Our sponsor this week at Cupcake is Simon Says Stamp, who are giving away a fabulous $20 Gift Certificate to one lucky winner, and as it's now November we have a new Icing on the Cupcake monthly sponsor, Crafts U Love are offering up a super £15 Gift Voucher for this month's winner. For all the details, and a chance to see the beautiful creations the other DT girls have made, pop over to the Cupcake Craft Challenge blog!

Thanks for dropping by today ;)

Ribbons & Bows

2011-11-05T08:00:00.007+01:00

Morning all! Brrr a very bright but chilly Saturday here, I'm in need of a nice hot cuppa. I am pleased to say that the dreaded lurgi that I had last weekend has finally decided to move on!!! Thanks for all your kind, get well wishes!

Right, the new challenge over at Digi Designs Challenge Blog starts today, and this fortnight it's RIBBONS AND BOWS we'd like to see on your projects! This challenge is sponsored by Crafts 4 You, personally one of my fave online craft stores (I love the shaped card blanks in their store, they're second to none)!

I've used a fab little digi stamp from Di's Digi Downloads called 'Kitty Hug'... oh so cute! You can find this digi and LOADS of other cute digis at Di's store... go see for yourself! There's even freebies from time to time so you can try before you buy! I've coloured using Promarkers and Flex Markers, the papers are from Pink Petticoat, free with a crafty mag this summer. I've used a Martha Stewart 'Trellis' punch, card candy, gems, ribbon and the sentiment is from Lili of the Valley. The other DT girls have made some beautiful projects, so hop across to the Challenge Blog and be inspired!

I'm entering my card in the challenge at:
Card Makin Mamas - Cut it Out
Colour Create - Turquoise, Deep Pink & Ivory
Truly Scrumptious - Bingo (Gems, Flowers, Punch/Die Cuts)

If you're out and about for Guy Fawkes tonight, make sure you have fun and stay safe (another occassion I now miss living in France)!

How to lose 3 kilos in 3 days and... Autumn Leaves

2011-10-31T11:46:00.010+01:00

Hello! Sorry I'm late in posting my Cupcake Craft Challenge DT card today... I've had a gastric bug for several days now and I'm still not feeling myself . Very effective way of losing weight quickly, but not the nicest :(

This week it's my turn to choose the challenge theme, and I've called it 'Take a leaf out of my book'... I'd like to see LEAVES as the MAIN focus on your card. That means the image can be leaves, or you can use papers with leaves or use leaf punches to create a focal point on you card, as I've done. I came across a super idea whilst wandering around Blogland a while ago, so my card is inspired by the beautiful creations from Kittie's Blog... this lady creates the most stunning cards using punches, you really need to go and check out her beautiful work!

I'm entering my card for the challenge at:
Card Makin Mamas - Cut It Out (die cuts, punches etc)
Stamptacular Sunday Challenge - Borders & Frames
Charisma Cardz Challenges - Anything Goes
Make My Monday Challenge - Autumn Leaves

Our sponsor this week at Cupcake is Tickled Pink Stamps, who are offering either one rubber stamp or two digital stamps to the lucky winner! Not forgetting our monthly sponsors, there are two, Polka Doodles who are giving away a Pretty Sweet mini CD Collection, and our second monthly sponsor is my lovely friend Nadia from A Scrap Affair, who is giving away a set of 5 Promarkers!

Please pop by the Cupcake Craft Challenge blog and see all my DT buddies lovely creations... they've really embraced my autumn theme this week! Thanks girls!

Oh, and I nearly forgot... HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

A Scrap Affair Recipe Challenge

2011-10-26T10:15:00.003+02:00

Good morning! Ah finally my internet connection is back... but STILL NO TELEPHONE!!! It's got me round the bend, and I'm paying for the priviledge of having a service that I DON'T HAVE!!! I've just had the technical guy on, who says the problem is TOO TECHNICAL... how can it be, it's his job!!! Anyway, I now have to wait until Saturday for the even more technical guy to TRY to sort out the problem! Grrrrrrrr!!!

On a happy note (cos I'm still not a happy bunny)... we have a new challenge over at A Scrap Affair Blog! This month we'd like you to create a card/creation with a RECIPE on it, or make a recipe card. Yummy or what! You have one month to take part in this challenge, pop by the Scrap Affair Blog to see all the other DT creations! Just so you know, you MUST use an image that you've coloured yourself, not a ready coloured one, and your creation must be a new one. That's it! The yummy prize is TWO bottle of Ranger Perfect Pearls Mists (these are lovely, I used them on my recent Halloween cards HERE).

My card is an Anniversary card, I've used a gorgeous digi stamp from DigiStamp Boutique called Cute Love Birds, coloured with Promarkers/Flexmarkers. The pretty paper is from my friend Dianascarlett, it's available in her online shop A Scrap Affair, along with lots of other yummy goodies!!! I made up the little 'recipe' and typed it on the PC. I've added flowers, sparkles and pearls for a romantic look! Et voila! I'm entering my card into the monthly challenge at DigiStamp Boutique Blog and also at Creative Card Crew - Fallin For You.

Denim & Lace at Cupcake Craft Challenges

2011-10-24T11:43:00.006+02:00

Hello! Well I'm in less than a good mood today... I'm having BIG problems with my internet and telephone connection... I am NOT a happy bunny!

Anyway, today we have a new challenge at Cupcake Craft Challenges! Our lovely Sari has chosen 'Denim & Lace' for you this week! Now I have to admit, I couldn't get 'in the zone' for this challenge, so I'm not at all happy with my card! I used this cute cat digi called Spotty Cat from DigiStamp Boutique, and made the backing papers using a black outliner and my Promarkers. Not sure what happened, I just couldn't connect with this card, but I'm going to enter it into the October comp at DigiStamp Boutique anyway!

Our fabby DT have come up with some lovely projects, much better than mine! So please pop by the Cupcake blog to check them out, and say hi! We have some fab sponsors again... this week our sponsor is Crafty Emma's Store, who are giving away a £10 Gift Voucher! Not forgetting our monthly sponsors, there are two, Polka Doodles who are giving away a Pretty Sweet mini CD Collection, and our second monthly sponsor is my lovely friend Nadia from A Scrap Affair, who is giving away a set of 5 Promarkers!

Right, now I'm off to ~~fight~~ chat with the helpline of my internet & telephone provider! I shall try to keep calm, but I can't promise!

Hubble, Bubble...

2011-10-22T11:05:00.002+02:00

Halloween is just around the corner, but here in France it's not really celebrated, so I kinda miss it, even if I do have a pumpkin (I'm such a big kid). Oh well, I'll just have to eat all the sweets I've bought for the Trick or Treaters, cos I definately won't get many spooky visitors here (well to be honest I'll get none)!

Halloween is the theme at Digi Designs Challenge this fortnight, so get all your spiders and ghosts, witches and monsters at the ready!

I've used a really cute digi from Di's Digi Downloads called 'Now What', cute eh? The little cat on the image IS my cat, but I don't look like the little witch lol! I am married to a Frenchman though, so he could be the frog lol (well it's a toad but let's not split hairs)... hope he doesn't read this cos he'll kill me for saying that! I'm entering my card into the challenge at ABC Challenge - B for BOO, and also Allsorts Challenge - Halloween!

Di has loads of fab images, and some real spooky cuties too! I've coloured with Promarkers and Flexmarkers, used Distress Ink to shade the edges of image, added a cute sentiment printed from the computer, made a spider, added card candy (Trick or Treat) and used some of last year's paper from The Creative Cottage.

Pop by the blog to see the other DT girls projects. This fortnight we're sponsored by the fabulous Joanna Sheen Online Store

who are kindly offering a £10 Gift Voucher for one lucky winner! This is where I buy all my Promarkers/Flexmarkers, they're second to none on price, have free postage and packing and their customer service is fab!!!

It's Freezing Brass Monkeys!

2011-10-21T08:24:00.024+02:00

Brrrr, I'd forgotten what frosty mornings felt like... I've just been reminded! Flippin' 'eck... and we've got months of this to go yet!!!

Just wanted to share a little card I made yesterday, it's for my friend back in the UK who is moving into a new home. I hope she likes pink!!! Don't you just love this cute Digi Stamp Boutique image (shame it's retired)... that's definately my cat on the roof! I'm entering my card into the monthly challenge at Digi Stamp Boutique Blog, Simon Says Stamp - Nursery Rhymes (This is the house that Jack built) and also the challenge 'Aint it Cute' at I Love Promarkers.

Well, better get me skates on (yeah ice skates by the looks of the weather today)! Make sure you keep wrapped up!

Card details:

Image - Digi Stamp Boutique (now retired)

Colouring - Promarkers/Flexmarkers

Papers - Pink Petticoat Freebie from Quick Cards magazine

Sentiment done on PC using font from Dafont

Card Candy - Craftwork Cards

Button, Twine, Mesh from my stash

Buttons & Bows at Cupcake Craft Challenge

2011-10-17T07:00:00.016+02:00

Hi! We have a lovely challenge this week at Cupcake Craft Challenge, RIBBONS & BOWS, chosen by my DT buddy Rachel! I have to say I do have a soft spot for these two embellishments... who doesn't?!

This week our sponsor is Digi Doodle Shop, who are giving away a $10 Gift Voucher to spend in their online store! They kindly offered the DT images to use for this week's challenge, and I jumped at the chance of using this beautiful image called 'The Horse Kiss'. This could have quite easily been modeled on me when I was little, or even now for that matter... I love horses! I've coloured using Promarkers in very pastel shades. The papers are Pink Petticoat (freebie on a craft mag this summer). The text was a freebie from the internet that I downloaded a while back... sorry I can't remember what site I got it from. The pretty satin ribbon is from Wild Orchid Crafts.

I'm entering my card into the challenges at:

Jellypark Friends Friday Challenges - Use Pink & a Ribbon for Breast Cancer Awareness

Raise the Bar - Pink is In

Divas by Design - Button Up

Craft Your Passion - Double Up with Pink

Now, we also have TWO fabulous monthly sponsors, Polka Doodles who are giving away a Pretty Sweet mini CD Collection, and our second monthly sponsor is my lovely friend Nadia from A Scrap Affair, who is giving away a set of 5 Promarkers! Pop over to Cupcake to check out all the details! Also have a little look at all the beautiful DT projects this week, lots of fab inspiration!

More Halloween but with a bit of a difference...

2011-10-13T09:54:00.014+02:00

Ok to be honest I haven't done much crafting at all lately, I've been feeling a bit down lately and out of sorts and just haven't felt creative! However, my lovely friend Dianascarlett sent me some goodies that she sells in her online craft store, A Scrap Affair, and I just had to have a little play! The products are all from the Ranger/Tim Holtz range... so to say I had inky fingers is an understatement lol ;)

Anyway, to get my colourful halloween backgrounds I used Distress Inks (Spiced Marmalade, Dusty Concorde and Black Soot). I applied the ink from the pad directly to my non-stick craft sheet then spritzed the ink with water using a mini mister. I then dipped the card into the ink to get the colourful, patterned background and dried it with my heat gun. On two of the cards I then sprayed Perfect Pearls Mists (Mandarin) to get a lovely sheen (you can best see this on the first photo above).

On the above card I stamped some script (using a Prima clear stamp) on the background and then stamped the Halloween Silhouettes on acetate using Staz On ink. I then outlined the bats & cat using a gold Promarker.

On this card I simply stamped onto the background of Distress Ink & Perfect Pearls Mist with the script and floral flourish stamps and then with the Halloween Silhouette Stamps using Distress Ink (Black Soot).

And my last card was a bit of an experiment... the moon was heat embossed using Distress Powders (Old Paper), the cat is from the stamp set, but the rest of the images were hand drawn using a black permanent pen... not too bad I think?

I'm entering my cards into the following challenges...

I love Promarkers - Autumnal Colours - Golds, Oranges, Greys (that's the weather)

Simon Says Stamp - Halloween/Goth

Well, if you fancy treating yourself to some of these goodies, don't forget to pop by A Scrap Affair Store... it's packed full of lovely crafty treasures!

Thanks for visiting me today!!!

Haunted House

2011-10-10T12:28:00.003+02:00

Can you believe we're in October already?! Where do the months go?

October means Halloween, right!? So our challenge this week at Cupcake Craft Challenges has been chosen by Louise, and it's a spooky one... Halloween!

Keeping my card C&S this week. I've used a freebie Haunted House digi image from Stampers Best, you can find it HERE. I used my Promarkers/Flexmarkers to colour. I added a handmade bat, and corrugated orange card as the background. I'm entering my card into the challenge at:

I LOVE Promarkers - Spooky

Crafty Calendar Challenge - Spooky

We're sponsored by Cupcake Cards & Crafts this week, who are giving away a fab paper collection of the lucky winner's choice!!! We also have TWO fabulous monthly sponsors, Polka Doodles who are giving away a Pretty Sweet mini CD Collection, and our second monthly sponsor is my lovely friend Nadia from A Scrap Affair, who is giving away a set of 5 Promarkers! Pop over to Cupcake to check out all the details, and to be spooked by the super duper DT cards & projects!

Oh So Girly

2011-10-08T09:45:00.002+02:00

Morning! This fortnight at Digi Designs Challenge Blog we're going all GIRLY! So why not join in the fun and do us a real girly card... how simple can that be?!

I've used a super digi stamp from Di's Digi Downloads, coloured with my Promarkers/Flexmarkers. The lovely paper is Anna Griffin, the chipboard butterfly is Prima, both from 8, and the flower border is done using my EK Success punch. I'm entering my card into the challenge at:

ABC - Anything Goes

By The Cute & Girly - Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp - Sparkle & Bling (on my paper, image, chipboard butterfly... some sparkle is hard to see on the photo).

Our sponsor at Digi Designs Challenge Blog this fortnight is Crafty Boots, an online craft store based in the UK.

Pop by the challenge blog to see all the details of the challenge, and be inspired by my DT buddies!!!

Black & White Christmas

2011-10-03T07:54:00.010+02:00

Good morning crafters!

Can you believe it's October already? And with weather hotter than it's been this summer, you could easily forget that we're only 82 days away from Christmas, YIKES! I'd better get a move on with my card making!!!

Good job our challenge at Cupcake this week is 'Black & White Christmas'... a fab theme from Sandra who won our Choose The Challenge Competition recently! I have to admit though, I did struggle a bit, I just couldn't get my mind into thinking of Christmas with all the lovely, hot weather we've been having!!!

I dug out one of my older stamps, which I love, but forgot about. It's from a Canadian stamp company called Magenta, I stamped it with Memento and then used Distress Ink (Black Soot) to do the shading. The background paper was handdrawn with a white gel pen on black paper. I added a few bits & bobs and some sparkle and finally the sentiment tickets, which are freebies I found on the internet (sorry can't remember where from, I printed them last year).

We have some fab sponsors for you at Cupcake, our weekly sponsor is Simon Says Stamp who are giving away a $20 Gift Certificate. We also have TWO new monthly sponsors, Polka Doodles who are giving away A fab Pretty Sweet mini CD Collection, and our second monthly sponsor is my lovely friend Nadia from A Scrap Affair, who is giving away a set of 5 Promarkers! Pop over to Cupcake to check out all the details, and to see the fabulous DT cards! Now what are you waiting for... a Black & White Christmas?!

If You Go Down To The Woods Today...

2011-09-26T07:00:00.011+02:00

If you go down to the woods today

You're sure of a big surprise.

If you go down to the woods today

You'd better go in disguise.

For ev'ry bear that ever there was

Will gather there for certain, because

Today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic.

Right now that I've got you all singing... I'd better tell you why I'm ranting on about the Teddy Bears Picnic! Well today at Cupcake Craft Challenges the lovely Faye haschallenged us to make something with a teddy bear on it!!! Now I do love my teddies, so this was an easy one for me! I've kept my card C&S as I wanted to make the most of the lovely Penny Black image... it's such a cutie! The two bears are coloured with my Promarkers (still waiting for my flexmarkers boo hoo), I've used my Cuttlebug to emboss the heart background, added the digi sentiment with bakers twine, and finished with a few gems.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Monochromatic (for me browns)

Ok so what can you win... well there's the weekly sponsor's prize which is 4 fab digis from Sassy Studio Designs, and then the monthly sponsor, Bunny Zoe's Crafts, who are offering a £15 Gift Voucher! Definately worth digging out a teddy image for I think!!! Please pop by the Cupcake blog to check out all the other DT projects... the girls always come up with some fab ideas!

Finally I just want to say thanks for all the lovely comments, it really makes my day when I see I've had visitors!

Digi Designs Challenge Blog - Make Your Own Flowers

2011-09-24T08:00:00.006+02:00

Good morning! Well what can I say, the sun is SHINING here, and has been for the best part of the week! Today I think I'll have to get out in the garden, the weeds are slowly taking over the planet!

At Digi Design's Challenge Blog it's our 2nd fortnightly challenge today... Make Your Own Flowers! Another nice easy one! For my card I've used one of Di's cute digi's called An Apple A Day, isn't it a sweetie?! I've coloured with Promarkers, and the papers are My Minds Eye. The little flowers are easy to make, just cut a circle from paper then cut this into a spiral, turn the spiral into a little flower bud and glue together. I glued little pearls into the middle of each flower to finish off.

Pop over to the Challenge Blog to see all the lovely DT creations, and to check out the fab PRIZE!!!

October Challenge at A Scrap Affair

2011-09-22T17:44:00.008+02:00

Good afternoon peeps! I'm a day late in posting this (oops, sorry) but here is my DT card for the October Challenge over at A Scrap Affair. This month we have a photo inspiration for you... I love these photos...

For a change I've used some yummy Distress Inks to colour my image, you can buy these over at A Scrap Affair Online Store. The sentiment is Penny Black called 'You are kind'. So, there's your inspiration... and the prize... Mmmm... a pack of Promarkers and some Kaisercraft Flourishes!!! Pop by our blog to see all the DT projects and of course to join in with our challenge!

A Birthday & A Disappointment

2011-09-20T10:55:00.003+02:00

Good morning folks! Isn't it starting to get chilly, brrrr! It's either that or too long living in France is turning me into a wimp!?

I wanted to share this little card with you, it's one I've made for my FIL who will be 70 on Thursday... he doesn't have a cat but loves our cat so I'm sure he'll like the card! I used this really, really cute digistamp that I won from DigiStamp Boutique, isn't is fabulous! There's also a version of this stamp with a sleeping dog instead of a cat... it's from The Smiths Collection - Dad Relaxing - Cat. I thought it'd be good for so many occassion! I have to say I really love it! I've coloured with Promarkers... now there's another story there, I'll get to that later... very easy image to colour! The papers are Basic Grey Archaic, the sentiment is a stamp from Artemio and the cute little charm was bought when I was in Scotland this summer... a fab little craft shop in Callander called 'Kokosnoot'. I'm entering my card into the September monthly challenge at DigiStamp Boutique.

Now for the disappointment... hmmm. Very kind hubby bought me some Flexmarkers as a surprise for my Birthday last week... as you can imagine I was delighted!!! However, after trying the pens (I have to say the brush nib is lovely but will take a bit of getting used to) I found a lot of the paler shades weren't actually colouring, only wetting the card with alcohol, even after scribbling on card for a while. You can imagine my disappointment when I wanted to get started with my new goodies asap :( So to cut a long story short, I contacted the Customer Services at Joanna Sheen (where hubby bought them from) and the lady I spoke to was so nice and helpful, apparently Letraset have had a few issues with some of the lighter pens... so they're going to replace the ones that aren't working properly! Result! Only now I have to wait for the replacements... patience is a virtue they say?!

The Dark Side

2011-09-19T07:00:00.003+02:00

Hiya everyone! Well the kids are well and truly Back To School... lovely to see all your cards last week for this challenge! Today it's another Cupcake Craft Challenge day... this week's theme 'The Dark Side' has been chosen by Delphine... she would like to see us using mainly Black & Purple on our cards.

My image is from Prairie Fairy, who kindly supplied the DT with a digi image... mine is called Tea Time. I've used Promarkers to colour... I have to say I'm not used to colouring images that need lots of 'shine' on them! I don't find this very easy with black!

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp - Sing It... Inspired by a song or movie (my inspiration is from the 1950 film Tea for Two with Doris Day)

Sweet Stampin' Challenge - Flowers

Our sponsor this week is Prairie Fairy, who have the most gorgeous digi stamps and are giving a $15 Gift Certificate to one lucky random winner to spend in their online store. Our monthly Icing on the Cupcake sponsor is Bunny Zoe's Crafts who has a £15 Gift Voucher up for grabs! Be sure to check out what he DT girls have come up over at Cupcake, and if you have time leave a little comment to show some love!

Follow Your Heart

2011-09-15T19:20:00.009+02:00

Hi folks! Just a quickie tonight, I wanted to post this card which I sent to a dear friend recently... it's a bit different to my usual cards but I like that. I've used some pretty Anna Griffin papers from A Scrap Affair Online Store. I really like the sentiment stamp, it's part of a clear set from Hero Arts and the pretty roses are from Wild Orchid Crafts.

Anyway, I thought this card would be perfect for the last Stamp Something Challenge - Anything Goes... I was sad to read that this challenge blog will be no more, I was in their Design Team a while back, the first DT I was ever asked to be part of!

My card also works for The Pink Elephant Challenge - A Vintage Theme and By The Cute & Girly - All Things Bright & Beautiful.

Well, have a lovely evening and thanks for popping by!

School Starts Again...

2011-09-13T11:35:00.009+02:00

This week at Cupcake Craft Challenges my DT buddy Jane has chosen BACK TO SCHOOL as the theme... yup it's September again and the start of a new school year! For my card I've used an image from Heather Ellis, coloured with Promarkers. The background paper was freebie from Tiddly Inks last year. The tickets and twine are from my friend Dianascarlett... thanks x

This week our sponsor is Quixotic Paperie who are giving away a £10 Gift Voucher to spend in their store. And our monthly Icing on the Cupcake sponsor is Bunny Zoe's Crafts who has a £15 Gift Voucher up for grabs! The DT girls have come up with some fabulous creations this week, check them out over at Cupcake! Oh and don't forget there's still time for you to join in with the Choose the Challenge Competition!

Digi Designs Challenge Blog Launch!

2011-09-10T08:00:00.001+02:00

Hi blogging friends! Today is Launch Day for DIGI DESIGNS CHALLENGE BLOG, a new fortnightly challenge blog for Di's Digi Downloads, and guess who's on the Design Team ;) Anyway, our first challenge is really easy peasy to get you all started, it's ANYTHING GOES!

Ok my DT card for the challenge has been done with two of Di's lovely digi images... Fairy Wand & Mushrooms, you can find lots of lovely images on Di's Digi Downloads Blog. I used my computer to combine the two images together so the fairy looks as though she's standing on the mushroom. I've coloured using Promarkers. The papers are from Pink Petticoat, the flowers are done using my Nellie Snellen punch and card candy. I've used a lovely card blank from Crafts 4 You - I have to say I REALLY like these shaped cards! This is the first time I've used them, but they're fab, and a great size (148mm x 148mm).

Ok, if you fancy joining us for our first challenge then you have until Sept 23rd! Don't forget to pop by and check out all the DT creations, they're well worth a look!

Guylaine's Blog Candy

2011-09-08T10:43:00.004+02:00

Hi peeps! I just thought I'd let you all know about a fab candy that my friend Guylaine is offering to celebrate her 2 year blogaversary. She's kindly offering some fabulous prizes, here's the information, go and check out her lovely blog HERE...

Pour célébrer les 2 ans de mon blog, pour vous remercier de votre fidélité et de votre gentillesse mes Copinettes adorées et pour vous faire plaisir, voici mon blog candy spécial Gorjuss. Vous êtes nombreuses à aimer ces adorables petites filles c'est pourquoi j'ai pensé à ce thème.

Il y aura 3 lots à remporter, donc 3 gagnantes qui seront désignées partirage au sort le 15 octobre 2011.

Lot n°1 pour la grande gagnante:

cliquez sur les photos pour agrandir

10 articles Gorjuss: 1 cahier 14X21, 1 stylo bille, 1 carnet avec élastique, 1 carnet long avec stylo bille, 1 lot de 3 badges, 1 pochette de limes à ongles, un double paquet de mouchoirs en papier, 1 carnet pense-bête avec son miroir, et un gros carnet de 192 pages.

avec une planche 3D prédécoupée:

Quelques détails:

le pense-bête avec son miroir ouvert:

la pochette de limes à ongles ouverte:

La double pochette de mouchoirs ouverte:

Lot n°2:

Contient un cahier 14X21, 1 carnet avec élastique, un pense-bête avec son miroir

Lot n°3:

Contient un cahier 14X21, 1 lot de 4 carnets "Saisons" et un stylo bille

*Modalités de participation*:

*Merci de copier/coller cet article intégralement sur votre blog en y mettant le lien vers mon blog

*Me laisser un commentaire sous cet article avec le lien vers votre article annonçant mon blog Candy

*Si vous n'avez pas de blog, merci de me le préciser et de relayer l'info auprès de vos amies scrappeuses

*pas d'obligation d'inscription à ma Newsletter (mais recommandée si vous aimez mon scrap! lol) car je privilégie la qualité à la quantité de mes amies scrappeuses! lol!

Bonne chance à toutes et je vous dis au 15 octobre pour les résultats!

Thanks Guylaine, it's really generous of you!

Pretty Patchwork Quilt

2011-09-05T07:00:00.004+02:00

WARNING!!! Ok this is going to be a LONG post so if you're going to stick around then you might want to grab a cuppa...

Right, that's better. Now I'll get started! Have you ever thought about doing something and NEVER gotten around to doing it? Sounds familiar... yeah well that's me all over! So I've thought about making a patchwork quilt but have NEVER gone past the 'thought' bit until now! Well, when I saw my teamie Liza at Cupcake Craft Challenges had chosen 'Patchwork Quilt' as the theme for our challenge this week then I just had to bite the bullet and throw myself into it! I've started small as I'm not best friends with my sewing machine so I didn't want to bite off more than I could chew (how many times have I given up on projects that were just a little too ambitious... cross stitch comes to mind...) Anyway, I had to head to Montmartre to buy my material, there's loads of fab textile shops there (any excuse to go to Paris lol)!

To start with I made a template for my 'squares' from thick cardboard... it measures 14cm x 14cm, but you could do any size really depending on the size of the quilt. Now I read on the web that you can prewash fabrics (as there may be some shrinkage) before you start, but the rule seemed to be either you wash ALL fabrics to be used or you washed NONE... I went with the later option. I chose 7 different fabrics, all cotton, and started to cut my squares. I cut 63 squares in total, 9 of each fabric. At this point I must stress that you have to cut the squares very accurately, they MUST all be the same size!

Once I'd finished cutting I laid my squares out on the floor in a random pattern (although I did one square of each fabric on each row).

When I was happy with the design, I started to sew the squares together, one row at a time making sure that ALL the hems were of the same size. This is really important bacause when you come to sew the rows together if the hems or squares are not the same size then the 'patches' on your quilt won't line up (if you know what I mean). Once the squares were sewn into rows I ironed (oh I know I hate it too) each row so that the hems were flat and facing the same way (or you could open the hems out and iron them flat like this instead). You then need to sew all the squares together, row by row.

Now, you need to cut your material for the back of the quilt and the filling (called wadding or batting) to go in the middle. I chose a plain cream cotton for the back and a thin wadding. These must be cut an inch or two larger than the patchwork front, as they'll be trimmed to size later. You begin by laying down the backing material, wrong side facing up, on the floor. I stuck this to the floor with masking tape so there was no creases etc. I then laid the wadding on top, which is when my little cat decided that it made a rather cosy bed for him... ah he is a cutie. With the cat safely removed, I then laid my patchwork on top, right side facing up.

To keep everything in place, I used safety pins and pinned all the layers together working from the middle outwards, making sure it was smooth with no wrinkles and creases. This is what it looked like at this stage...

Now it was time to coax the sewing machine into doing what I wanted it to do... I did say we weren't the best of friends the sewing machine & I... starting with the outer hem I hemmed all the way around the quilt to hold everything in place. I then stitched diagonally across the squares to make it more secure and give it a more quilt-like look. Once finished I carefully trimmed all the excess backing material and wadding so that the edges were neat and looked like this...

The final part is to attach the binding to the edge of the quilt. I used one long piece of binding, enough to go around the whole quilt. I started by opening out the binding and putting the right side of it to the right side of the quilt. I then stitched this all the way around using a running stitch. To finish off I turned the binding over the edge of the quilt and then hand stitched this to the back of the quilt with invisible stitches (well a man on a galloping horse wouldn't see them). This bit took AGES, and it's only a small quilt (the finshed quilt measures 120cm x 87cm). You could also do this bit on the sewing machine to save time, but you'd see the stitches.

And here's the finished (mini) quilt in my home. I have to say for my first attempt I'm really pleased with my efforts! It took a long time to do but was definately worth it! A great little quilt to snuggle under on the sofa when watching tv this winter!

Now if I can make this anyone can... I have to say I'm now friends with my sewing machine and we plan to meet again soon ;) This small quilt would be idea for a baby's cot, and so cute!

Challenges I'm entering with my quilt:

By the Cute & Girly - All things bright & beautiful

I hope you haven't all fallen asleep by now as I must tell you to visit Cupcake to see the other fab projects my DT buddies have made for you to feast your eyes on! There's also some super sponsors offering prizes! This week our sponsor is Simon Says Stamp who are giving away a $20 Gift Certificate. And our monthly Icing on the Cupcake sponsor is Bunny Zoe's Crafts who has a £15 Gift Voucher up for grabs! Also we have another Choose the Challenge Competition coming up on WEDNESDAY... watch out over at Cupcake for the details!

RED OR BLACK?

2011-09-03T22:55:00.007+02:00

Anyone see RED OR BLACK on telly... how amazing for that lad to win £1,000,000 quid! He seems like a nice guy so good luck to him and his family. How cool would it be to win that amount of money? What would you spend it on?

Anyway, here's a little thank you card I made a while back and didn't share, the image is a freebie stamp (Pink Petticoat) from a craft magazine. The flower is coloured with Promarkers.

Do You Want to be in a Fab Design Team?

2011-08-31T17:53:00.010+02:00

Hi! I just wanted to let you know about a Design Team Call that Nadia from A Scrap Affair Blog is running at the moment, here's what she has to say:

We want YOU!

If you speak english, and would like to join my DT, It would be a dream for me to have you.

You'll have to do 1 card a month + 1 or 2 tutorials of your choice in 6 months.I will send you whatever I can, from my little start up store. 10% if you purchase scrap items from my store, and an honor to be a designer.

To qualify, please post 2 links to 2 cards, one could be an old one (maybe your favorite!) And one made specially for this post.

I will accept cards of any kind, BUT! It would have to be colored images. ( Penny Black, House Mouse, Whiff of Joy, Magnolia, Kraftin Kimmie, etc....)

You will have until November 16 to post your work, then I will choose 3 persons, which coloring job will impress me, and I will announce winners for our new Design Team members on November the 20th.

Good luck to everyone!

Your entries need to be posted on a Scrap Affair Blog - Click on the WE WANT YOU link... Good Luck!

This Is Why We Hoard Things...

2011-08-29T07:00:00.003+02:00

I'm not a hoarder, or not anymore anyway. I have to admit though, my hubby often says "why are you keeping that stuff?" Well here's why... so I can alter it and make it into something beautiful and personal. So it's lucky I kept an old perfume box, as this week's challenge at Cupcake Craft Challenges is to do just that... ALTER IT! I have to admit, when I saw this challenge that my talented DT buddy Denise had chosen, I wasn't sure what I'd do... until I remembered the little box I'd kept... so after I'd added the pretty Melissa Frances paper (from A Scrap Affair Online Store), some pretty flowers (from Wild Orchid Crafts), lovely sentiment stamp (Paper Make Up Stamps), Crackle Glaze and a few pearls & a charm the box was transformed! I'd like to give it to my friend, but I haven't figured out what to put in it yet? Any ideas?

Here's a photo of the back, showing some doodles I did with liquid pearls...

And the top of the box, where I added glitter to the flowers...

And finally the box in it's original state...

This week our sponsor is Pink Gem Designs who are offering 4 Digi Stamps to the lucky winner! Also at the Cupcake blog you'll find some great examples of how my other DT buddies have ALTERED IT, as well as this month's sponsors (Crafts U Love, Mo's Digital Pencil and Sew Sweet)!

Ok that's it from me for today, and if you really want to be challenged then start altering! Thanks for popping by!

Thunder & Lightning

2011-08-23T08:15:00.007+02:00

Good morning! Firstly I must apologise for the lateness of my post, I was supposed to share my card with you yesterday for the new Cupcake Craft Challenge, but my old pals Thunder & Lightning just weren't having any of it! I have to say I kinda like stormy weather, but mainly when I'm nice and safe indoors! Yesterday I got stuck out in it and got drenched, typical!!!

Well, here's my card for the new challenge, better late than never! Donna has chosen GIFT CARD as our theme this week! I've kept my card fairly C & S as there's no patterned paper on it, just the doodles that I did with a white gel pen. The pocket is cut out from card which I coloured with my Denim Blue Promarker, and the stitching is added with my gel pen again. Fairly simple really.

There are some lovely examples from my DT buddies over at the Cupcake blog, so please head over there and if you have time leave a little comment, even us DT members love to receive comments! Speaking of comments, I have to say thank you to all the people that left lovely comments on my Dino card last week, it's ages since I've had so many comments! Also at the Cupcake blog you'll find details of the fab sponsors for this week's challenge (Bugaboo Stamps), as well as this month's sponsors (Crafts U Love, Mo's Digital Pencil and Sew Sweet)!

A Scrap Affair Sketch Challenge

2011-08-23T08:03:00.001+02:00

Hi! Just to let you all know about a new challenge over at A Scrap Affair! It's a sketch challenge, hope you can play along! I'll be back soon with my interpretation of this sketch, but pop over to The Scrap Affair blog to see the other DT cards, and details of the fab prize!

Happy 3rd Birthday Cupcake!

2011-08-15T07:00:00.003+02:00

This week at Cupcake Craft Challenges we're celebrating our 3rd Birthday!!! Yep, Cupcake has been going for three years now! Although I haven't been on the DT since the beginning, I definately joined in the challenges in the early days! So to celebrate our Birthday, we're having a sketch challenge (by the fabby Faye) AND a treasure hunt! There are three lots of treasure hidden on the DT blogs, where you must leave a comment, but you must also join in with our sketch challenge to be able to win either the weekly prize or the treasure!

For my card I've used a cute dinosaur image from Digi Stamp Boutique, coloured with Promarkers. The papers are Basic Grey Archaic. Text done on pc and to finish a few pearls and buttons. If you want to see the actual sketch I've based my card on then check out the Cupcake blog! I'm entering my card for the following challenges:

A Spoonfull of Sugar - Happy Birthday

DigiStamp Boutique Monthly Challenge

Now seeing as it's our Birthday, there are LOADS of surprises on offer this week from our generous sponsors who include: Crafty Emma's Store, Cupcake Cards and Crafts, Digi's with attitude, Inky Impressions, The Stamping Boutique and Tickled Pink Stamps! We also have our three monthly sponsors, Crafts U Love, Mo's Digital Pencil and Sew Sweet! Phew!

To be in with a chance to win one of the fab prizes, and to be inspired by the other DT girls, pop over to Cupcake! Thanks for dropping by today!

Sew Mad at Cupcake!

2011-08-08T07:00:00.000+02:00

Hi peeps! Well I'm back from me jolies, I had a fabby time in Scotland and the weather was lovely! But the mosquitoes were a real pain in the derriere!!! Have to say, I did miss my crafting though!

This week at Cupcake Jane has chosen 'Sew Mad' for our challenge theme, so we'd like to see stitching on your cards... real or faux! I've gone for the easy option and used some paper with pretend stitches!!! The little image is a Heather Ellis, so cute, coloured with Promarkers! It's a very C&S card from me this week!

Our sponsor this week is Paper Pretties, who are giving away a super cute stamp. Don't forget we have 3 monthly sponsors, Crafts U Love, Mo's Digital Pencil and Sew Sweet, check it out at the Cupcake blog HERE! Also the other DT girls have done some fab projects for you to take a peek at!

How Old?

2011-08-01T07:00:00.002+02:00

Hello!!! Well this will be my last scheduled post so I hope it's worked! I'll be back with you all later this week so I'll have a little wander around Blogland to visit you all! This week at Cupcake Craft Challenges it's my turn to choose our challenge theme... I've gone with HOW OLD?... basically any special birthdays i.e. 16th, 18th, 21st, 30th, 40th... you get the drift by now I'm sure!

Recently my very good friend Tracy asked me to do a card for her daughter, I'm sure she won't mind me sharing it with you all, it's an easel card with a gothic theme. Here's a close up of the cute and quirky Kraftin' Kimmie image I used called Perfect Poison...

I coloured this cutie with Promarkers then distressed the edges with Distress Inks. The papers were freebies (think they were from a Do Crafts mag free CD)... I made the flowers, added gems, card candy & ribbon, then a message done on the PC et voila!

We're sponsored by Simon Says Stamp this week, and have not one but THREE monthly sponsors as Cupcake turns three this month... Crafts U Love, Mo's Digital Pencil and Sew Sweet!!! Pop over to the main blog to see all the information and to take a peek at all the other lovely DT creations! Also to welcome our new Design Team Member Maarit into our Cupcake Clan, there's some lovely candy on offer on her blog so check it out!

Well that's it for now... back with you all very soon... I have to say I'm sure I'll be missing my craftroom by now!

A Scrap Affair Blog Challenge - Polka Dots

2011-07-25T23:03:00.005+02:00

Hello... just to say there's a fab new challenge over at A Scrap Affair blog... POLKA DOTS! Now there's an easy one for you all! The lovely Dianascarlett at A Scrap Affair has a fantastic prize up for grabs for the lucky random winner... TWO rolls of Baker's Twine and lots of tickets!!! You have one whole month to enter this challenge!

For my card I used lovely papers by Melissa Frances from A Scrap Affair online store, the flowers on the top left are stamped using an Anna Griffin clear stamp, also from A Scrap Affair online store! The sentiment is from The Creative Cottage, sadly no longer trading, and the flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts. The lovely image was kindly sent to me from Dianascarlett!

Hope you can join us, all you need is a few Polka Dots! pop over to the blog to check out all the fab DT cards, and the super prize on offer!

Shabby Sparkle at Cupcake

2011-07-25T22:00:00.000+02:00

Hi! We have a super challenge for you over at Cupcake Craft Challenges this week, Shabby Sparkle, set by our lovely Sari! So go crazy with your sparkle but remember to shabby it all up a bit! We are sponsored by Sassy Design Studios this week, and this week is also your last chance to be eligible for our monthly prize, sponsored by Polka Doodles!

For my card I've used a pretty Anna Griffin stamp and papers, supplied by the lovely Nadia from A Scrap Affair, with an ornate corner stamp and a lovely Prima flower. The shabbiness comes in the form of tearing and distressing using Distress Inks. The sparkle is of course the gems and pearls.

Pop over to the Cupcake blog and check out all the other lovely DT creations! Thanks for popping by, back with you all very soon!

Wish Upon a Star

2011-07-19T20:59:00.007+02:00

Hiya peeps! Firstly apologies for my lateness in posting my DT card for Cupcake Craft Challenge this week :S Anyhow, here it is... our fab challenge has been dedicated to Poppit, who has sadly left the Cupcake Design Team... good luck hun in your endeavours! Ok, so Challenge #151 is WISH UPON A STAR... use stars on your cards/projects! Ohhh I do love me stars!

My card is made using a fun Lili of the Valley image, which I've coloured with Promarkers. The papers were a free download (from Tiddly Inks I think). I added some cute stars cut from kraft card using my Woodware star punches, a few buttons and hessian and finally an appropriate sentiment, done on the PC and printed out. The font I used was downloaded from Dafont... a fabulous site dedicated to fonts we can download... and most are FREE! I'm entering my card into a few challenges:

Sentimental Sundays - For the Man in Your Life

A Gem of a Challenge - Let's Here it for the Boys

Totally Gorjuss - All About Boys

Crafty Creations - Boyz to Men

We are sponsored this week by Emma's Craft Store, who are offering a £10 voucher to spend in the online store, and our Icing on the Cupcake monthly sponsor is Polka Doodles, who are giving away 4 scrummy stamps! Check out all the information and the other fab DT creations HERE!

I won't be about for a bit, so I'll be scheduling my posts for the next few weeks, back with you all soon! In the meantime, thanks for all your comments!

Mid Summer Sale at A Scrap Affair

2011-07-12T21:57:00.002+02:00

Hi there, just wanted to let you know about this...

Save 10 % on any orders

through July 24th.

All brands and products!

Enter coupon code "NAXIH1311803"

while ordering at http://www.scrapaffair.com/

Nappies and Four Legged & Furry

2011-07-11T14:30:00.012+02:00

Funny thing happened yesterday, we (my dear o/h and me) were babysitting for our friends little baby girl, who I have to say is a real little treasure and as good as gold. Anyway, cut a long story short my o/h put the nappy on and said "there's no things at the side to attach it" so I told him maybe he'd put it on the wrong way... "no no" he replied... "the teddy is at the front"... so I looked at the nappy, yeah the teddy was at the front, but it was the back of his head... the front of his head was under the baby's bottom, at the back... so I was right, he had the nappy the wrong way around! Duh! Maybe I should buy a doll for him to practise on lol?!

Well, today at Cupcake Craft Challenges we're celebrating our 150th challenge so we've decided to let you Choose your Favourite Challenge from the last 150! The challenges have all been compiled on the Cupcake blog, so you have a look HERE! I've chosen Challenge #64 Four Legged & Furry for my card... I do love me little animals! There's a fab prize of a £10 Gift Voucher from Lili of the Valley up for grabs, and the monthly Icing on the Cupcake sponsor is Polka Doodles, who are also offering a fab prize of some stamps! Pop over to the Cupcake blog to check out the challenges and all the other fabby DT creations!

My card details:

Horse Image - L'Escargot Friends Stamp, A Scrap Affair

Colouring - Promarkers

Papers - Basic Grey

Sentiment - Stampin Up

Flowers - Nellie Snellen Punches, Craftwork Cards Card Candy

Ribbon, Charm from stash

Well that's it for today! Have a fab week!

Puppy Dog Best Friend

2011-07-09T07:45:00.001+02:00

Another card... the third in a week! I'm on a roll, although I don't expect the mojo to last, we'll see.

I was given some paper and stamps a while back from the lovely Nadia from A Scrap Affair Online Store, and I finally got around to using them! The stamps (boy & puppy dog) are from Prima, available from A Scrap Affair, also the yellow & kraft paper are also available from the store. A Scrap Affair is based in the United States, but they ship worldwide and have so many lovely products to choose from, including some really gorgeous papers! There's also a monthly challenge at A Scrap Affair Blog, which not a lot of people know about (so more chance to win the fabby prize)... the current challenge is Apertures (see my previous post)! We'll be starting another new challenge the last week in July! The blog also has some tutorials on it, so maybe they could help to inspire you?

Ok, here's a little close up of the image, I'm more of a cat person but this little puppy is just too cute!

I'm going to enter my card into the challenge at Passion For Promarkers - Tie a Yellow Ribbon.

Well, I hope you all have a fab weekend... the weather here doesn't look promising :(

Oldies but Goodies!

2011-07-07T14:10:00.014+02:00

Hello peeps! Well I've finally had time to make a card this week... and post it on my blog (that's a rare occassion at the moment). Anyway, I hadn't used my Penny Black stamps for ages so I dusted a couple off... the little bear stamp is one of the very first stamps I bought from Happy Stampers (who sadly don't trade anymore)! I bought some downloadable polka dot papers from Pink Petticoat this week (obviously because I don't have any papers so I really NEEDED them) and at 3am when I couldn't sleep I got up and made this card! I have to say I don't think my o/h was too pleased when the noise of the paper trimmer woke him up in the middle of the night :$

Have you ever thought "my card is missing something but what... it looks blank"... well that's what happened with me here... I tried buttons, ribbon more flowers but nothing looked right so I decided to doodle and I have to say I kinda like the effect, maybe I'll be doing more doodling in the future! Anyway I'm entering my card for a couple of challenges...

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Desert Island Stamps (I really love this bear stamp)

Allsorts Challenge - Free & Easy

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Anything Goes

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge - Seeing Double (two doodles)

Details

Stamps - Arrangement! and You are kind (both Penny Black)

Colouring - Letraset Promarkers

Flowers - Nellie Snellen Punches & Craftwork Cards Card Candy

Papers - Pink Petticoat

Pearl & Liquid Pearls

Ok that's it for today... thanks for popping by!

Single Layer Cards

2011-07-04T10:55:00.010+02:00

Good morning blogging friends! Can you all believe we're into July already?! Doesn't the time fly! Here in France the school holidays have begun, and in the UK there's not much left of this school year either! Remember when you were a kid and you just longed for those 6 weeks summer holidays!? Oh to be back at school (I don't recall saying that when I was young lol)!

Anyway, it's Monday and school or not, we have another Cupcake Craft Challenge for you! This time the lovely Rachel has chosen SINGLE LAYER CARDS for us this week! So NO multiple layering etc on this one!

My baby card is a teeny tiny one (4"x 4" square)... I used this cute baby stamp from Lili of the Valley, coloured with Promarkers. The sentiment stamp is from Artemio. I finally added the ribbon, button and pearls... sorry I couldn't help it! I haven't entered any challenges for a while so thought I'd enter this cutie into the following challenges:

Passion For Promarkers - Babies

Lili of the Valley Challenge - Celebrate

Stampin' For the Weekend - My Favourite Things (LOTV Stamps, Promarkers, Ribbon, Buttons & Babies)!

Right there are some fabby prizes up for grabs... this week's sponsor is Simon Says Stamp who are giving away a $20 gift voucher to one lucky winner. Then of course we have out Icing on the Cupcake monthly sponsor, and for July we're joined by Polka Doodles who are generously offering 4 Christmas themed stamps to this month's random winner! I told you the prizes were fab! And if you're wanting any help with ideas and inspiration, the Cupcake girls have created some great single layer lovelies for you, pop over to the Cupcake blog and say hi!

Cooking Up a Storm at Cupcake

2011-06-27T23:35:00.008+02:00

Hello hello hello! Wow isn't it HOT!? Today it's been almost 40°c... I was definately COOKING I can tell you! Speaking of cooking, our theme this week at Cupcake Craft Challenge is COOKING UP A STORM, chosen by the lovely Louise! So anything with a cooking connection on your cards/projects this week please!

I've gone for this cute Lili of the Valley image for my card... coloured with Promarkers. Doesn't her cake look super yummy!? Unfortunately I won't be having any as I'm trying to shed a few pounds!

We're sponsored this week by Baby Bud Designs, who are offering 2 cute digi images to the winner! Our monthly Icing on the Cupcake sponsor is Little Claire, who is giving away a 6 x 6 paper pad and two stamps to a lucky, random winner! Don't forget to check out what the other DT girls have come up with, fab inspiration as usual!

Right, I'm REALLY cooking typing this, our house is SOOOOOOO hot upstairs! I just know I'm not going to sleep tonight! Maybe I should think about investing in air con for the house! Pity the pounds didn't melt off, I'd be laughing if they did!

Aperture Challenge at A Scrap Affair

2011-06-26T21:08:00.008+02:00

Hi! Just to say that there's a new challenge over at A Scrap Affair Blog! This time we'd like to see APERTURES on your cards! I have to admit it's not a technique I use often, but I enjoyed making this card all the same. The image is a new L'escargot stamp soon to be available from the online shop A Scrap Affair, which I coloured with Promarkers. The little shells at the bottom were hand drawn, and the border was done using my Martha Stewart Punch Around The Page punches. There's a super prize up for grabs so why not have a go at making your own aperture card!?

Well, that's all for tonight, I'll be back tomorrow with my Cupcake DT creation! Have a lovely evening!

Sketch Time at Cupcake

2011-06-20T12:20:00.007+02:00

Hiya crafty buddies! Well it's Monday and another chance to win some fabby prizes at Cupcake Craft Challenge! This week Liza has chosen a sketch for us, check out the Cupcake blog to see the sketch! I've used a digi image, Lil Allsorts Fairy Kira, kindly supplied by one of our sponsors this week, Tickled Pink Stamps, isn't she a little minx!? She's coloured with Promarkers and the flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts. I've dug out some old Papermania papers for this one! We are also sponsored this week by Crafty Emma's Store, and our monthly Icing on the Cupcake sponsor is Little Claire's!

Pop over to Cupcake and check out the other DT girls creations, they're all stunners!

Birthday Balloons

2011-06-13T16:32:00.008+02:00

Hi again, this is my second post today (my Cupcake DT card is below)! Wow a record for me at the minute, my blogging recently has had to make way for real life lol! Anyway, just wanted to share this little card with you all, I've had this little Puddle Jumpers digi for a while but haven't gotten round to colouring her until now! The occassion being for my friend's little girl's 2nd birthday this week, only problem is I'll have to do another card as she has twins! Oh well, any excuse for crafting! Image is coloured with Promarkers & papers are Papermania Daisy & Dandelion. Flowers punched using my Nellie Snellen flower punches. I'm entering this card for the following challenges:

Passion For Promarkers - Colour Combo Pink & Brown

ABC Challenge - W is for Wish

Stamp Something - Something Punched

By the way, don't you just hate it when there's a heavy shower in between the lovely sunshine and you've just put your washing out to dry!? Yeah well, I've just gotten soaked getting my washing back in again... and now the tumble dryer is on! Grrrrrrrrr!

Boy, Oh Boy, Oh Boy!

2011-06-13T07:00:00.005+02:00

We're going all masculine this week at Cupcake Craft Challenges, seeing as Father's Day is on Sunday 19th June! So the theme chosen by Fluffie Faye is 'Boy, Oh Boy, Oh Boy'... so we'd like to see your creations for Dad's, Men, Boys... you get the idea!

My card is for a friend's Birthday, but it could equally be for my Dad as he really is a Top Bloke! Anyway, the whole card is done using a Creative Cottage digi download 'Daddy Bear... lets fix it', which is sadly no longer available (sob)! All I added was the twine, charm, star brads and little sentiment (Papermania). I'm entering this card for the following challenges:

Fab & Funky - Magnificent Men

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Male Card

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Anything Goes

This week's sponsor is Funky Farm Scrapbook Barn, who are giving away a £10 gift voucher to one lucky winner! Our monthly Icing on the Cake sponsor is Little Claire's Designs!

Pop over to the Cupcake blog to see all the other super duper Dad/Male projects by my Design Team buddies! Hope you can join in with us this week!

A Tail or Two...

2011-06-07T09:48:00.005+02:00

I'm late, still trying to catch my tail...soooooooo Things with Tails is this week's theme chosen by the fabulous Donna at Cupcake Craft Challenges... I've gone for two tails (although you can't actually see them) on my card! The cute image is one I've had for a long time from Di's Digi Downloads (I believe this is no longer available which is a shame). It's coloured with Promarkers, I do love how these are so easy to match up to my papers, which incidentally are from Stampin' Up. The little flowers are punched using my Nellie Snellen punches. I'm entering my card into the challenges at:

Speedy the Cat's Friends Challenge (Mark's Finest Papers) - Flowers

Stamp Something - June Digi Day

Critter Sketch Challenge Blog - Let's Get Crafty (My card base is made from kraft card)

This week our sponsor is Simon Says Stamp who is giving away a $20 gift certificate to one lucky random winner and our new monthly sponsor is Little Claire's Designs, where if you enter one of our challenges this month you could win a lovely 6 x 6 paper pad and two stamps! And if you need more inspiration, the girls at Cupcake have come up trumps again, pop over to the challenge blog and check out the lovely work they've done!

Well that's it from me today, Happy Crafting!

The Creative Cottage - Closing Down Sale

2011-06-01T17:13:00.012+02:00

It's with a very heavy heart that I write this post today. My very good friend Tracy, who owns and runs The Creative Cottage has had to come to a very difficult to decision, to close down The Creative Cottage. Tracy asked me to be part of The Creative Cottage Design Team from the beginning, and I was so honoured and proud. Tracy has put so much effort into The Creative Cottage, but sadly things have changed and she is now closing the business. As of today, Tracy is having a 50% CLOSING DOWN SALE on all orders over £2.50, you just need to enter the code JUNE2011 at the checkout.

I've posted two cards that I've made using The Creative Cottage digi kits JUNGLE FUN & DADDY BEAR... lets fix it. Please pop over to THE CREATIVE COTTAGE SHOP to grab a bargain before it's too late! I'm entering my cards into the challenge at:

Aud Sentiments Challenge - Sentiment/Card for a male

Simon Says Stamp - Father's Day

Personally I'd like to take this opportunity to say a HUGE thank you to Tracy for having me and I wish you every success in the future Tracy, and also thanks to the other DT girls, you're all stars! Don't be strangers!

Zesty Colours at Cupcake Craft Challenge

2011-05-30T12:02:00.018+02:00

Hiya peeps! Cupcake Craft Challenge time again! This week the sassy Denise has given us a zesty colour combo to use... ORANGE YELLOW GREEN WHITE! You can make anything you like so long as you incorperate these four colours! I've gone for a gardening theme with this cute Penny Black Slapstick Stamp... are real mice this cute? Anyways, I coloured with Promarkers, added Prima flowers and some rik rak ribbon, the papers and sentiment were free from a craft mag ages ago. So there you have it! We have some fab prizes on offer... this week we're sponsored by Pink Gem Designs who are giving away 4 digi images to the lucky random winner and also this is you last chance to join in to be eligible for the May Icing on the Cupcake prize, sponsored by Crafts U Love!

I'm entering my card into the challenge at:

Passion For Promarkers - All the 2's (two mice, two flowers)

Catch the Bug - Bright Colours

It's a bit thundery here today, perfect day for crafting! Oh and for those of you in the UK who are lucky enough to be off work, enjoy the Bank Holiday!

A Scrap Affair Challenge - Design Your Own Paper

2011-05-25T19:46:00.019+02:00

Hiya! Just wanted to let you know that there's a new challenge over at A Scrap Affair, and it was my turn to choose the theme so I've chosen 'Design Your Own Paper'!

For my card I've used an Anna Griffin clear stamp for the background paper, stamped 4 times (this can be used to stamp as big an area as you want, you just have to line it up) then coloured with Distress Inks. I've chosen a sweet Sarah Kay stamp from Stampavie as the main image. I do love this little image, so cute with the kitten! The sentiment is a stamp from Paper Make Up Stamps. I've also used distress inks to colour the little girl and kitten image (these inks and the Anna Griffin Stamp I used for the background paper are available to buy in the Scrap Affair Online Store). The little flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts, and the lace detail is old, french lace I had in my stash. I'm entering my card into the challenge at:

Cute Card Thursday - Lets Get Krafty

By the Cute & Girly - Anything Goes

Sweet Stampin Challenge - In the Garden

Pop over to the blog at A Scrap Affair to see the lovely prize and the other fabulous DT cards!

The Creative Cottage NEW RELEASE & SALE

2011-05-24T18:30:00.005+02:00

Just a quick post today to let you all know about a cute NEW RELEASE at The Creative Cottage called 'Daddy Bear - Let's Fix It'. Here's a little picture of the fab new digi kit (priced at £2.99 for the full kit or £1.99 for the Paper Pack only) which includes toppers, papers, embellishments, alphabets/numbers and pre-coloured images, just perfect for Father's Day coming up in June...

For my bright and cheery card above I've used one of the lovely toppers from the kit and teamed it up with some embellishments from my stash... but there's so much in this cute kit you really only need a printer, some cardstock and glue! I'm entering my card into the challenge at:

Truly Scrumptious - Anything Goes

Stamp Something - Something with Beachy Colours

Stamptacular Challenge - BEARnecessities

There's also a sale from now till the 1st of June giving 30% discount on all orders over £2.00 using the code may2011, so why not pop over and treat yourself?!

Worms & Cupcakes

2011-05-23T10:36:00.017+02:00

Good morning! I've come on the computer for a bit of peace and quiet this morning, there's a lot of banging going on in my house today! In my living room I have a lovely solid oak parquet floor (which is about 100 years old), unfortunately it's being eaten by woodworm! Ouch! The little buggers have been making holes in my floor and although it pains me to have the floor lifted, it has to be done to see what damage there is underneath! The carpenter says "ce n'est pas méchant" (meaning it's not nasty) but it has to be seen to to stop it going any further! So hence the banging... it's the man pulling up my lovely floor (sob)! I'd better get a cup of tea and a cupcake...

Yep, Cupcake Craft Challenges to be precise (I'm watching my figure lol)... this week the talented Delphine has chosen 'BOOKWORM' as our theme (kind of symbolic for me... worms that is)! So we'd like to see projects with a book theme (image, bookmark etc). I've done a little bookmark using a Heather Ellis digi image (the little butterfly and plant pot are my own... I tried to draw them in a similar style inkeeping with the HE image). I've used Promarkers to colour this time. Finally I added some little flowers (Nellie Snellen punch & Card Candy). The paper is from an old Papermania pad. I'm entering my card in the following challenges:

ABC Challenge - Unusual Fold

By The Cute & Girly - Anything Goes

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Bloom & Grow

Aud Sentiments Challenge - No Sentiment

This week our sponsor is Crafty Emma's Store, who is giving away a £10 gift voucher to one lucky winner, and our Monthly Icing on the Cupcake Sponsor is Crafts U Love, who are offering a £15 gift voucher to our monthly winner.

Well, I'd better go and check what damage there is! And make that cup of tea!

Cupcake Craft Challenge - In The Garden

2011-05-16T07:00:00.005+02:00

Hello and good morning! Spring is well and truly here, and although everything looks so green at the moment, I fear that it won't stay that way as we are DESPERATE for rain! I do love my garden, but it's impossible to water everything (the cost for one thing) and I'm sure we'll not be allowed to soon due to the drought! I'll just have to make the most of my garden now!

Ok, this week at Cupcake Craft Challenge our theme is just that... IN THE GARDEN... need I say more?! Well, the lovely Faye (she's the boss at Cupcake) has chosen the challenge and she would like to see things you find in the garden on your cards/projects! I've gone for a fairly simple card, using lots of green and this cute stamp from Penny Black. I've used Distress Inks to colour the image, not a medium I use often now but I do love the effect, and have kept my embellishments to a minimum. I wanted the attention to be on the sweet snail and hedgehog image! I'm entering this card into the challenge at:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Clean & Simple

We are sponsored this week by Sassy Studio Designs and our monthly Icing on the Cupcake Sponsor is Crafts U Love... also to celebrate Jane's arrival, The Ribbon Girl are kindly giving us this lovely stash of Baker's Twine to give away...

Now why not pop over to the Cupcake blog to check out all the prizes on offer and also the other DT cards, you'll be green with envy lol! Thanks for your visit today, hope you have fun with your gardening project!

Gingham & Roses

2011-05-09T07:00:00.003+02:00

Good morning! Well I spent some time over the weekend doing a spot of gardening, isn't it lovely at this time of year!? So green and lucious and lots of lovely flowers! I bought myself some rose bushes on Saturday, and have planted them along the side of my house... I'll have to take some pictures and share them with you all! They smell so lovely too... the roses that is, not the manure I used to plant them in!

That brings me nicely to this week's challenge at Cupcake Craft Challenges... the fab theme 'Gingham & Roses' has been chosen by Lisa our Choose The Challenge Competition winner. Lisa will be Guest Designing for us this week, and will also be choosing the Cupcake Cuties. Our prize this week is a lovely Shabby Beautiful Download Kit from Cupcake Card Craft. Don't forget we also have our monthly Icing on the Cupcake prize, this month sponsored by Crafts U Love!

For my card I've used this week's digi freebie from Bugaboo Stamps, coloured with Promarkers. The lovely gingham papers are from The Creative Cottage, and the little roses are from Wild Orchid Crafts. You should really pop by the Cupcake blog to see all the pretty creations my DT buddies have created. I'm entering my card for the challenge at:

Catch the Bug Challenge - Anything Goes

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Anything Goes

Stamp Something - Digi Day

Totally Papercrafts - Recipe (1 image, 2 papers, 3 embellishments - Roses, Pearls, Ribbon)

Thanks for popping by today! Happy Creating!

Beautiful Black & White

2011-05-04T18:05:00.014+02:00

Hello peeps! Not often I do monochrome but this is just the loveliest quote from the Inspirational Kit from The Creative Cottage, teamed up with Anna Griffin paper from my friend Dianascarlett which can be purchased at A Scrap Affair. If you make a card using any Creative Cottage products during the month you can enter your creation in the monthly prize draw on The Creative Cottage blog to win some fab stash! The pearls on my card are from my stash and the ribbon is from Wild Orchid Crafts. It's a fairly C & S design for me, but I think it looks elegant and I do love that satin ribbon! I want to decorate the inside, but haven't gotten around to that yet! I'm entering my into the following challenges:

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

Wild Orchid Crafts - White plus 2 colours (black & grey... hope it's ok! The roses are on my background paper to the left/below the quote).

Stampin' For The Weekend - Wedding

Well, I hope you're having a lovely sunny week wherever you are! Thanks for popping by my blog today!

Cupcake Craft Challenge and Hello Cupcake Blog Hop!

2011-05-02T07:00:00.001+02:00

Hiya peeps! Right this post serves two purposes... firstly it's to announce the new challenge over at Cupcake Craft Challenges which is Something Beginning with C...and secondly it's to let you know that we're having a HELLO CUPCAKE BLOG HOP to introduce our new Cupcake DT members and celebrate our new image! So here's my Design Team card for our Something Beginning with C Challenge, my Cs are CHERRY CUPCAKES & CHARM!

Ok, my cute image and recipe sentiment are from Lili of the Valley... don't these little mice look so adorable?! I've coloured them with Promarkers and added LOTS of glitter to the cupcakes! The little cherries are done using Craftwork Cards Card Candy with little leaves cut from green paper. My card is for the following challenges:

Cupcake Inspirations Challenge - Inspired by my Mam's baking YUM!

We're sponsored for this week's challenge by Simon Says Stamp who are giving away a fab $20 Gift Certificate! We also have a new monthly sponsor, Crafts U Love, who will be giving a £15 Gift Voucher to our lucky winner at the end of the month!

Please pop by the Cupcake blog to check out all the lovely DT creations, and if you have time please leave a comment, we love to hear from you! It'd also be a nice way of welcoming our new DT members, so show them some love ;)

Ok, now for the BLOG HOP!

Thanks for joining us for the Hello Cupcake Blog Hop. If you've just arrived from Sari's blog ... then you're in the right place! While you're here, please leave a comment and then hop over to Hayley's blog ....

Don't forget to leave a comment on each Blog in the Hop, including Cupcake and our Guest Designer, Hayley's for a chance to win the Candy from Funky Farm Scrapbook Barn.

Here's a picture of the candy... it contains:

6 x 6 Emma's Shoppe Paper Pad by Crate Paper
Hero Arts Cupcake Clings Set
Bold Spotty Buttons
Yellow Floral Felt
Tutu 3/8" Ribbon
Pink Twine
Prima Pastel Flowers
Petaloo Butterflies

To celebrate the Blog Hop Hayley is also generously offering everyone 10% discount on
purchases made at Funky Farm Scrapbook Barn until Midnight 9th May. Just enter CUPCAKEBH (exactly as shown) at checkout.

Phew, that was a mega post... I hope I haven't sent you to sleep!?

Cupcake Craft Challenge 139 - Fluffy Bunnies

2011-04-25T07:00:00.003+02:00

THIS IS MY SECOND POST FOR TODAY... SEE MY POST FOR A SCRAP AFFAIR CHALLENGE BELOW

Good morning Cupcake lovers! So are you all feeling sick after eating all those choccy eggs?!

This week it's my turn to chose our challenge theme over at Cupcake Craft and so being Easter Monday I thought I'd go for 'FLUFFY BUNNIES'!!! Basically you can include bunnies or an Easter theme on your card or project (this is optional) BUT you MUST INCLUDE FLUFF of some kind on your creation!!! SO NO FLUFF... NO GOOD! If you want to be in with a chance of winning one of our faberooney prizes from Make the Day Special, Tickled Pink Stamps or The Stamping Boutique then you NEED to use FLUFF!!! Don't forget we also have the Icing on the Cupcake monthly prize, a £15 Gift Voucher from Bunny Zoe's Crafts! Pop over to the Cupcake blog to see the lovely fluffy inspiration from the other DT girls!

Right, for my card I've used a super cute stamp from Lili of the Valley (there's the bunnies bit)... I've coloured using Promarkers. My FLUFF bit comes in the form of this fab pompom ribbon (thanks Nadia for this and the cute flowers)! The little ticket is a freebie from Jami (thank you) and the paper is from Wild Rose Studio (thank you Tracy)!

Thank you for popping by!

A Scrap Affair Challenge - Handmade Flowers

2011-04-25T06:59:00.001+02:00

Hi! There's a new challenge over at A Scrap Affair Blog... we'd like to see all your lovely HANDMADE FLOWERS! I followed a tutorial I found on the net HERE (it's by Summer Fullerton... thank you) for my little roses, they're made from double sided paper, with pearls added to the centres. The background paper on my card is from Anna Griffin, and the Cancan dancer stamp is from Prima, both available from A Scrap Affair store. The butterfly is a die from Marianne Designs. I'd like to thank my friend Nadia for all the lovely goodies... the papers, gems and lovely ribbon!!! Pop over to the Scrap Affair blog to see the other fab DT creations and also to take a peek of the super prize that's up for grabs!

Cupcake Craft Challenge 138 - Lots of Layers

2011-04-18T12:33:00.013+02:00

Hello peeps! Isn't Spring just the loveliest time of year? The flowers and blossom are all over and the weather is definately heaps better... it's 25°c here today, yipee! Obviously if you're a hay fever sufferer then Spring isn't as much fun, but hey it beats the cold, wind and rain!

This week at Cupcake Craft Challenge Liza has asked us to use 'LOTS OF LAYERS'... so that could be layers of papers, embellies, or even your image! I've gone for the papers and embellishments on my card, and have used a cute Lili of the Valley stamp for my main image, coloured with my Promarkers. The papers are from My Minds Eye 'Wild Asparagus' 6x6 papers and the little sentiment stamp is from Stampin' Up.

I'm entering my card for the challenges at:

Passion for Promarkers - Make Your Own Embellishments (my flowers using craft punches)

Aud Sentiments Challenge - Anything Goes

Our prize this week is a fab £10 Gift Voucher to spend in Crafty Emma's Store, and we also have the Icing on the Cupcake monthly prize, a £15 Gift certificate from Bunny Zoe's Crafts!

The other DT girls have done some really fabulous cards to help to inspire you, so please pop by the Cupcake blog and show them some love!

A Scrap Affair Challenge 3 - Daisy

2011-04-12T12:50:00.013+02:00

Hello! Just a quick post as I wanted to tell you all that there's a new challenge over at A Scrap Affair blog! The challenge is called DAISY and here are the beautiful photos to inspire you:

This is the little card I came up with using a Prima Stamp (available from A Scrap Affair). I've coloured with Promarkers, the checked paper is called Simply Gingham from The Creative Cottage and the large flower is also from Prima. The rest is from my stash...

There's a fabby prize available for one lucky random winner, and who can resist making a pretty card using the two lovely photos for inspiration?! Pop over to the Scrap Affair blog to see the other lovely DT creations! The challenge runs until the 25th April.

Thanks for your get well wishes on my last post, I'm feeling a lot better this week.

Cupcake Craft Challenge 137 - Doctors & Nurses

2011-04-11T07:00:00.001+02:00

Good morning! Firstly I must apologise as I haven't been blogging (or crafting) at all for a week now, I've been feeling a little under the weather and haven't felt up to doing much at all. Hopefully I'll be better this week!

Anyway, speaking of feeling under the weather, our challenge this week at Cupcake Craft Challenges is 'Doctors & Nurses' and has been chosen by the lovely Donna, who would like you all to create a Get Well project! For me this was the ideal chance to use one of my lovely Lili of The Valley stamps that sadly hadn't yet been used! I also added some pretty flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts, you just have to have a few flowers when it comes to Get Well Wishes!

Our sponsor this week is Quixotic Paperie, who are kindly offering a £10 gift voucher to one lucky winner! We also have our Icing on the Cupcake Monthly Sponsor, Bunny Zoe's Crafts, who are giving away a fab £15 voucher to one random winner at the end of April!

We are currently running a 'Choose the Challenge' Competion, where we ask you to choose a theme for one of our weekly challenges. The winner will be Guest Designer for their challenge which will go live on Monday 9th May, and will also choose the Top 5! If you're interested please check out the post on the Cupcake blog.

Well, that's it from me, pop over to Cupcake to see all the fab 'Get Well' projects my fellow DT buddies have come up with!

Cupcake Craft Challenge 136 - Comedy Rocks!

2011-04-04T11:49:00.008+02:00

Hiya! Ok it's Cupcake time peeps... so this week at Cupcake Craft Challenges the lovely and talented Donna has chosen COMEDY ROCKS as the theme for you to get your teeth into! Are you game for a laugh? We want you to make us chuckle with your funny creations!

I spent ages looking for a cow joke to go with my Penny Black stamp, but nothing fitted... in the end I made up a joke myself (I know it's a bit sad)! Anyway, my cow is coloured with Promarkers and I used the new Simply Gingham papers from The Creative Cottage... I LUUUURRRVE these! My embellishment have been kept to a minimum, didn't wanted to detract too much from the image!

Pop over to Cupcake to check out the chucklishous DT creations! We're sponsored by Simon Says Stamp this week, and this months Icing on the Cupcake Sponsor is Bunny Zoes Crafts!

The Creative Cottage Challenge 36 - White/Blank Space

2011-03-30T11:36:00.002+02:00

Ok hands up, who's nicked all the white from my card?! I'm sure there was more white on it when I made it so someone must have pinched it! Nope... no one... ok ok I admit this week's challenge at The Creative Cottage Challenge really tested me (and I kinda failed) cos Mandi asked us to do a card with lots of WHITE/BLANK SPACE... well I just don't DO blank spaces! I did try to, so this is the little chap I came up with for my DT card, and isn't he a happy chappie! I have to tell you that this is the LAST challenge on The Creative Cottage Challenge Blog, but don't despair... The Creative Cottage Blog (not the same as the challenge blog) will be taking over the challenges from now on (well after this last fornightly challenge that is)! Hopefully you'll be able to contiue to follow us on The Creative Cottage Blog!

I've used the super cute Little Monkeys Wild West Full kit for my topper and corners, and the Simply Gingham Paper Pack (FREE at the moment but be quick) from The Creative Cottage. The little sentiment is from a Papermania Clear Stamp set. Finally I've added a few stars for my little sheriff to shine!

A Scrap Affair Challenge - Pink & Brown

2011-03-29T14:37:00.009+02:00

A quick post to let you know about a new challenge at A Scrap Affair... we'd like to see your Pink & Brown creations! There's a yummy prize up for grabs for one lucky random winner; you have until April11th to join in!

For my card I've used one of Rita's Chuck the Rat images from A Scrap Affair (kindly sent to me by Nadia - thank you), coloured with Promarkers. The yummy gingham papers are from The Creative Cottage, you can get them FREE (but be very quick) from The Creative Cottage Blog! The little sentiment is from Cuddly Buddly! I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Crafts & Me - Anything Goes

The Paper Variety - Tic Tac Toe (stamped image/sentiment, make a card, use scallops)

Please pop over to the Scrap Affair Blog to see all the lovely DT creations and get more information. There's also a picture of the yummy prize up for grabs!

Cupcake Craft Challenge 135 - Flowers For Mum

2011-03-28T07:00:00.003+02:00

Well the clock's have changed so we're well and truly going in the right direction for some nicer weather... I love Spring when all the trees start getting their buds and leaves and with are the lovely flowers and colours it really gives you a lift after the winter! So this week at Cupcake Craft Challenge the fab Denise has chosen 'Flowers For Mum' as our challenge... yep it's Mother's Day on Sunday (in the UK)! Easy challenge! We all have a soft spot for flowers!

For my card I've used paper from the Anna Griffin Paper Pack Old Paris Palette as a background, you can find this paper HERE at A Scrap Affair! The lovely verse is a stamp (Penny Black). I've done a little distressing and added some sparkle/gloss to the flowers on the background paper. The swirl is from K & Co (I added the gold pearls) and the little heart is handmade using pearls and Tim Holtz Crackle Accents. Finally I've added a bow and of course some more flowers!

I'm entering my card for the following challenges:

Allsorts - For a Special Lady

Simon Says Stamp - Mother's Day/Girlie

Stampin For The Weekend - For Mum/Mother's Day

Our sponsor at Cupcake this week is Sassy Studio Designs who are offering 4 images to the winner (you get to choose!), and also our monthly Icing on the Cupcake sponsor is Wild Rose Studio who are giving away 2 fab stamps from their Spring Collection!

Thanks for popping by today, have a lovely week!

Cupcake Craft Challenge 134 - Monochromatic

2011-03-21T07:00:00.005+01:00

Good morning all! Hope you enjoyed a lovely relaxing weekend, and for those of you who were lucky enough to go to Harrogate, hope you still have a few pennies left!!!

Today at Cupcake Craft Challenge the lovely Delphine has challenged us to do 'Monochromatic'! I have to admit I don't do many monochromatic cards, but I really got into this challenge and decided to make a box to keep my little treasures in! I should have really taken photos along the way, as this started off as an old Christmas Card box (which I almost threw away). I covered the box with torn bits of kraft paper using a glue/varnish, kind of like papier maché style, then added all the little details! The image is from Prairie Fairy (one of our sponsor this week), coloured with Promarkers then distressed with Ranger Crackle Accents and Distress Inks. I then added all the little flowers, pearls etc before finishing off with the lace/ribbon trim...

Inside the box I used a matching paper for the bottom and top (you can see the bottom in the photo)...

So what's the prizes this week? Well, we have two weekly sponsors... Prairie Fairy are offering 5 images of the winners choice, and Funky Farm Scrapbook Barn are giving away a £10 Gift Voucher and anyone who places an order during this week can benefit from a 10% discount by using the discount code CUPCAKEBLOG. Not forgetting our fab Icing On The Cupcake Monthly Sponsor Wild Rose Studio who are giving away two gorgeous stamps 'Mia with teddy' and 'Toby with butterfly' from their new collection.

Pop over to the Cupcake blog to see all the other DT creations, the girls have made some lovely creations this week!

I'm entering my box for the following challenges:

The Crafty Pad - Use a Digi

Creatalicious Challenges - Two tone (brown & cream)

Allsorts Challenge - Make a Gift Box

Wild Orchid Challenge - Dieing to punch it out (leaf)

Inky Impressions - Monochromatic

Calming Green & Blue

2011-03-19T15:00:00.009+01:00

Hello peeps! Well, it's cold here... perfect for crafting & blogging! I will definately be getting cosy in my craft room later! It's too cold for anything else!

I just wanted to share this little card which I made... I've used my fave colours, so calming... that's maybe why my last three cards are green!? The little fisherman is a clear stamp from Prima... I was kindly sent it by my friend Dianascarlett... thank you so much! I've coloured him with Distress Inks... it's been ages since I used these! I love the wash effect we can achieve with these! The papers are old ones from Papermania. You can buy the stamp and Distress Inks in 'A Scrap Affair' Online Store as well as lots of other lovely crafty goodies!

I'm entering this card for the challenge at:

Simon Says Stamp - Happy Birthday

Colour Create - Greens/Olive Green, Brown, Cream, Black

Sweet Stampin' Challenge - Slugs, Snails & Puppy Dogs Tails

Well, hope you have a lovely weekend... especially those visiting the craft event in Harrogate this weekend (I am so jealous)!

The Creative Cottage Challenge 35 - Spring Has Sprung

2011-03-16T17:31:00.007+01:00

Hello hello hello! Hope you're all well and enjoying a bit of nicer weather! Has Spring sprung near you yet? Well it has at The Creative Cottage Challenge... Donna has chosen the theme this fortnight, so we'd like to see all your lovely Spring themed creations! You could be in with a chance to win two kits of your choice from The Creative Cottage... so get crafting!

My card has been created using the 'Much Love Kit' from The Creative Cottage... the papers and image are from this lovely digi kit! I've added embossing too and a few other embellishments and the little sentiment is a Penny Black stamp.

I'm entering the following challenges:

The Crafty Pad - Buttons

Meljen's Designs - Green

Allsorts Challenge - Luck of the Irish (I've used the colour green as my inspiration)

Ok, I've now got a HUGE task on my hands... I have to sort out my wardrobe which is overflowing with clothes that 'might' fit me again one day (like in another life) and I've been putting the task off for AGES now, but as I've bought a few new bits and bobs lately (that do not have the wrong sizes on them) I need to make space! Wish me luck!!! Or even better, send Gok Wan around pronto!

Cupcake Craft Challenge 133 - Up in the Air with Optional Green & DT CALL

2011-03-14T09:18:00.015+01:00

Good morning to all you lovely blogging peeps! Today at Cupcake we have a new challenge AND a Design Team Call! If you'd like to join our team you'll find more information on the DT Call over at the Cupcake blog!

Now this week's challenge at Cupcake Craft Challenge has been chosen by my lovely talented friend Catherine (La Chic) who has asked us all to create something 'Up In the Air with Optional Green'... so that could be butterflies, planes, ladybirds, bees, flying rabbits lol... the green option is because it's St. Patricks Day this week.

For my card I've chosen a cute Lili of the Valley image... is this the cutest little rabbit or what?! I've used Promarkers to colour him, but have also made my background papers by colouring plain white paper with my Promarkers. What do you think? The cut out border is done using my Martha Stewart Garden Trellis punch. The lovely ticket is a freebie from Jami.

Our sponsor at Cupcake this week is Digi Doodle Shop, who are offering a $10 Gift Voucher to spend instore, and our monthly 'Icing on the Cupcake' sponsor is Wild Rose Studio, who are offering two gorgeous stamps to our lucky monthly winner!

Right, I'm off work today so have promised myself a day out (the weather is AWFUL), I thought I'd maybe go to Ikea, which is an hour and a half away from where I live, so I might just have to buy something to make the journey worthwhile!

Well, thanks for popping by today, hope you enjoy the challenge this week!

Kitty Love

2011-03-10T17:12:00.005+01:00

Helloooooo! Ok I know that Valentine's Day has passed already but I had the urge to add hearts to this card... I kinda went for it! The little kitty image is a new 'Pampered Pets' stamp by Docrafts, my hubby bought me a few of these recently (do you think he wants something... or maybe he just wants to keep me out of his way while he watches the footie?). All the hearts are cut by hand... I don't have a fancy heart punch. The background paper is a freebie from Funky Hand, where I'm entering their challenge Get Funky - Show Us Your Heart.

Right, better go and check if my homemade bread has risen... it'd better cos I'm counting on it for tea tonight!

Pretty Purples & New Challenge

2011-03-08T10:19:00.009+01:00

Hello bloggers! Just a quickie post as I have a quick break (I'm back at work boo hoo)... here's a little card I did using the sketch from Bev at Lili of the Valley Challenge... hubby bought me lots of the lovely LOTV stamps recently so I thought it'd be rude not to use them! So here's my little purple pretty... coloured with Promarkers again! The sentiment is also LOTV. I've added fibres, ribbon and (Nellie Snellen) punched flowers and a few pearls... Have to admit though I stuggled a little with the sketch, just didn't know what to put on the left side of the card... it still looks bear to me! Oh well... back later in the week when I'll have a bit of time to pop around your blogs!

Now, I mentioned that I was now on the DT for A Scrap Affair... well our first challenge went live yesterday... it's a sketch (the one I used for my card on Friday)... pop over to the blog for more information, there are some lovely images up for grabs!!!

Also entering the challenge at:

Little Claire's - Flowers

Cupcake Craft Challenge 132 - Pink Polka Dots

2011-03-07T07:00:00.019+01:00

Today at Cupcake Craft Challenge we're running the challenge chosen by Em who won our 'What's the Challenge? You Decide!' competition back in January! Em has chosen PINK POLKA DOTS... luuurvly! So onto my card... well it was for my friend who gave birth to a beautiful baby girl two week's ago... Alexandra. I've gone a bit different this time, no coloured images etc but instead I've used elements from my Taylored Expressions stamps 'Tweet Hearts'... these stamps are so lovely! And so versatile! Everything from the main image to the little leaves is stamped from this one set. The paper (which I love) was a freebie from Marisa Lerin (Pixelscrapper), you can find it HERE. The sentiment is from a Lili of the Valley stamp set, I coloured the stamped image with my Promarkers. The frames were cut using Nestabilities. Here's a view of the inside of the card...

This week we are sponsored by Simon Says Stamp who are giving away a $20 gift certificate to one lucky winner! We also have our monthly Icing On The Cupcake prize, which is sponsored by Wild Rose Studio who are offering 2 stamps from their 2011 Spring Collection! Pop over to the Cupcake blog to see what lovely creations my other DT buddies have made!

For the following challenges:

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

Just Tracy's - New Beginnings

Little Claire's Challenge - Flowers

Thanks for popping by today!

A Scrap Affair Now Open & Candy!

2011-03-04T18:53:00.004+01:00

Hi peeps! Just a quick post to let you all know that the store is open at 'A Scrap Affair' and there's some yummy candy up for grabs! It's based in the US but they ship to anywhere in the world so why not take a peek?! Click on the link HERE to take you to the store's blog and the chance to win some scrummy candy (including some Copics, Martha Stewart punch...)!

I've made my card using a 'Chuck the Rat' stamp from the store (mine's a digi but they'll be available in rubber from the store). The flowers are done using my Nellie Snellen punches and the centres are Card Candy from Craftwork Cards. The little sentiment is a Lili of the Valley one! I've added a few gems and some fibres to finish!

I'm entering the challenge at:

Stamp Something - March digi day

Simon Says Stamp - Recipe... 1 image, 2 papers & 3 embellishments (flowers, fibres, gems)

OK that's it for tonight, I'm gonna make a card now as I've neglected my new LOTV stamps for too long now! So it's takeaway pizza me thinks tonight! Have a lovely evening ;)

Bottoms Up!

2011-03-02T17:45:00.002+01:00

Yes well, I'm not sure I'd be that much in a hurry to drink this little potion, but I have to say I do like this little Kraftin Kimmie stamp... and oh how I have neglected her!!! Shame on me! So here she is, using the sketch from Chrstine at Cute Card Thursday! I've coloured with Promarkers, used paper from Papermania (an OLD pad), added flowers punched using my Nellie Snellen punch and a few little extras! And there you have it! Voila! My card also fits the following challenges: Passion For Promarkers - Sugar Rush, ABC - P is for Pink.

The Creative Cottage Challenge 34 - Tag You're It

2011-03-02T07:16:00.001+01:00

Good morning to all of my lovely blogging friends! Are you seeing the signs of Spring yet? It was lovely and sunny here yesterday, but still rather chilly... better stay wrapped up a little longer!

The Creative Cottage Challenge has a new challenge today, chosen by the talented and lovely Rebekah... Tag You're It... basically you must add a tag to you card or project. So my card is done using the cute Poppy Delight Owl Set and Paper Pack from The Creative Cottage, I've just added a little red tag, some gloss on his eyes, a button and (in the words of Raymond Blanc as seen on tv lol) VOILA! Sorry I had to add that, I watched Raymond's series last night on BBC2... Raymond Blanc's Kitchen Secrets... and I could help giggling at how many times he said VOILA! It's a bit like a geordie saying PET after every sentence... becomes annoying after a while! Having said that, his cakes were DELISH... and yes patisseries in France do look like that!

Ok so I'm digressing a little... there's two kits of the winner's choice up for grabs this fortnight, so don't miss out! And pop by the blog to see the lovely cards the DT girls have made!

I'm entering my card for the challenge at:

A Spoonfull of Sugar - Tags

Cupcake Craft Challenge 131 - Anything But Square

2011-02-28T12:49:00.006+01:00

Today is my Dad's 60th Birthday, HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD! Here is the card I made for him...

Ok, so the challenge at Cupcake Craft Challenge this week chosen by Delphine is 'Anything but Square'! Now, as I do LOTS of square cards this was a bit of an effort for me but I have to say I'm pretty pleased with the outcome... check out a few close up's...

I've used digi images from Bugaboo Stamps, aren't the SOOOO cute?! They're coloured with Promarkers, no shading though just plain old colouring. I did the sentiments on the PC... took me a while to think what to write without being too cheeky! Finally the papers are from an old Papermania 8x8 pad, which comes in handy for male themed cards!

I'm entering my card for the challenges at:

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge - You've Been Framed (add a frame)

Ok, over at Cupcake we have two fab sponsors this week...

Our first sponsor is Lily of the Valley

Their shop is full of the cutest stamped images and one lucky winner...chosen at random...will win a £10 gift certificate

Our second sponsor is Tickled Pink Stamps

One lucky winner could choose between one rubber stamp or two digi stamps

Our Icing on the Cupcake sponsor for February is:

Crafts U Love are offering one lucky winner, chosen at random, a £15 Gift Voucher to spend in store.

So, don't be SQUARE lol, pop over to the Cupcake blog and take a peek at all the DT cards, there's always the loveliest craft projects to feast your eyes on! Thanks for popping by today!