Santa Kaya

There's a fab sketch by Dawny on Papertake Weekly and poor Santa Kaya from Pink Gem Designs has been waiting patiently to be used.
The papers are Imaginesce and of course I can't resist using my MS snowflakes punches. The sentiment is Craftwork cards, I had to order the black on white sentiments from their website since they didn't have any at Ally Pally, I was told you can order online and postage is only £1.95, sorry I'm a crafter and I don't like paying postage but I ordered enough I won't have to do it again for a while.
I think the red pearls may be from Wild Orchid.
Now why is it I've got a tickly cough the person who kindly gave me the lurgy didn't get one, not impressed.

Autumn Whiff of Joy

There's a gorgeous Autumn photo on Simon Says Stamps Challenge to inspire you to join our challlenge. At first I couldn't think what stamp to use and then and the bottom of the box of my WOJ I found this sweet stamp and the Devonshire pack of Kaiser papers of oranges, yellows and browns were perfect.
But at this point I'm full of cold and I was finding it hard so I've cheated and used this weeks Sketch Saturday sketch and now looking at this card while writing this I'm not sure about the top of it, looks a bit plain.
I do love my picket fence and felt it fitted this card, various leaf punches and flowers out of my stash.
The sweet WOJ image, Kaiser papers and the MS picket fence border are all available from Simon Says Stamps.
I think I'm past the worst of my cold, thank goodness and I actually made a card but unfortunately if was for a DT so can't show it yet.

Friends Forever

Tuesday is going to be a double post day, now that High Hopes Challenge is now on a Tuesday too.
But first is my Everybody Art Challenge which is for Friends, a great excuse to use this sweet Sarah Kay couple.
The papers are Pebbles and I used the fab Magnolia swirl and small retro flowers. The sentiment is of a Simon Says Stamps set and I used the stamping up scallop circle punch. Do check out the team, the DT have made some wonderful samples.
Apologies for the short and sweet post but I'm still feeling yucking.
Don't forget to check my High Hopes Post below.

Monster of a Day

There's a brilliant sketch on the High Hopes Challenge Blog, perfect for my Monster who had been coloured for a while and just needed the right card. I thought he would be a brilliant Get Well Card for a chap but that makes it harder to embellish.
The sketch has a circle on which means I could use my new nesties and since its a chaps card the MS zigzag punch had an outing. Then I went slightly mad using the 1/4 circle punch and had a dotty moment.
Do check out the team there's always fabulous creations to inspire you and there's extra amazing prizes to celebrate the blog's birthday.

Perfect Love Monday

My DD needs a Wedding Card for the weekend and this WOJ bridal couple are my favourite for Wedding cards. But for some strange reason I decided to colour the bride with a touch of pink and now I wish I had left her gown white but my DD likes so that is all that matters.
The papers are American Craft and I've used the sketch from Friday Sketchers, a few roses and a piece of lace. The sentiment is from WOJ and I've used stampin up punches.
Short and sweet this morning due to feeling a bit rubbish and sneezing isn't a good thing for people with dodgy joints.

Untraditional Christmas

I would like to take this opportunity to thank my husband for the awful cold he gave me which just so happened to start with a sore throat yesterday, it didn't stop me from going to Ally Pally but with the huge crowds (now I know why I like Sundays) I gave up looking at stuff and relied on my friends to help find stuff on my list and they know me so well so they found other stuff I like too.
Also a big wave to my blogging pals who popped by and said Hello.
It's a good job I made this card ready for today cos I don't think I will be feeling like doing much today since I feel yuck.
Its for LOTV challenge of an Untraditional Colours Christmas Card, pretty sure this purple paper from Cosmo Cricket Mitten Weather fits the bill. All the usual suspects are here, bit of ribbon, MS snowflake punches, oval sentiment and some flower soft for her hat and scarf.

Indian Summer Saturday

Indian Summer is the challenge over on Penny Black Saturday Challenge which was very true at the beginning of the week.
My problem yes I know I'm finding fault again is that I don't have suitable colours but I found these scraps of Crate Paper and decided they were close enough.
There's nothing like a PB mouse to encourage Mr Mojo and a bit of sparkle helps too. Several punches, MS picket fence, the woodware daisies and a large leaf punch, not forgetting the circle punches for the sentiment. I think I need some more PB word stamps but when I have a choice the cute stamps win every time.
Now don't forget to pop over to the challenge blog to see the fab DT and have you checked out the PB blog and they've a flickr group where you can load your pics too.
So I've had to schedule this post, first of all my hubby is working for my BIL again and they plan to start and a ridiculous time so I'm staying overnight at Sis and even though its a early start for us to Ally Pally its not as early as the boys.
I have my list and my craft money isn't as much as I like so I gonna to try and be good and only use the plastic friend if I can't resist!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Holly Angel

At last a card that I like but it wouldn't be right if I didn't find something wrong with it and it this case I stickle the snowglobe and now you can't see the image inside but thats just a tiny thing.
The sweet Holly Angel is a Mo Manning design, one I brought before the new printer so it was brilliant that I can use her now.
I've used the sketch on Cute Card Thursday which is a nice easy one and plenty of space of to play with.
The papers are Cosmo Cricket Mitten Weather and I've tried to make my own poinsettias with some ek success punches didn't quite work out but I think they look OK.
I've also used the my new nesties haven't quite worked out how I prefer to layer it yet.
Can't believe I've had to put a Distress inkpad refill on my want list for Ally Pally but once again I've had to use it to tone down the white cardstock.

Vibrant Thursday

Remember me saying there's a fabulous sketch over on Simon Says Stamps Challenge and the DT are show casing Sarah Kay stamps. So I coloured up this cute couple and made a card using the sketch even if it is a day late. Of course you don't have do use a Sarah Kay stamp.
I think Mr Mojo is back but is still jetlagged, this is definitely one of those cards that you need to put down the embellishment and step away from the card.
I've used Cosmo Cricket Pixie-lious and the new butterfly border I brought from Michaels which is available at Simon Says Stamps, the smaller butterflies are MS and the larger one is Tonic. Various size gems to finish off the butterflies and it wouldn't be right to have no flowers so added a couple of small ones and the bit of green lace was probably from a kit.
I've started to make a list for Ally Pally fingers crossed I will be going Saturday.

WOYWW- A Mess

So what's on my desk this Wednesday, this is the mess I left when I made "A" card yesterday and before I can start today I need to clean some of it away.
Oh look you can see some new nesties that was to make up for not visiting craft shops on holiday, all I managed was Michaels in Santa Monica which was smaller than my local Hobbycraft but I do spy a couple of MS punches that I managed to buy and I brought my Sis a cover for her Gypsy for her birthday. Is that Magnolia doodle flowers can't believe they're unopened but thats because I'm seriously finding it difficult to get Motivated.
I know I haven't mentioned the holiday much or shown many photos thats cos I'm really struggling at the mo but I do feel I'm coming out of the fog but not up to sorting through 1000 photos.
My DS done us proud by booking us in a suite at the Bellagio, my hubby can't get over the fact we had 4 tellys. Not to outdone our DD brought us amazing seats to see Cher.
Our first day it rained! Wednesday the day of the Helicopter ride was a bit bumpy due to windy weather, but I survived and although really pleased to do something I wanted to do for ages I don't plan another Helicopter ride in the future.
We also discovered the delights of the Cheesecake Factory having read on several blogs how great it was, I discovered one in the Cesar's Palace I made sure we went, finally I did something right cos where we were staying in LA there was one in walking distance so we ate there twice more.

Peek a Boo

I made a card but I don't like it, I think the paper I chosen is a bit busy and the Peek a Boo Baby from Karen Doodles is a bit big, nevertheless I finally made a card from scratch.
I used the sketch from Friday Sketchers, the papers are Echo Park in fact they're the same as yesterday. The number 1 was cut from the Cricut and the today are alphabet peel offs.
Today is the new challenge over on Simon Says Stamps Challenge, a stunning sketch from Jay Jay. Although I haven't been able to make a card for the challenge I'm planning to make one today now that a suitable image has been coloured.

Flying High

There's a bit of cheating going on with this card, most of it was made before I left for my hols the only thing it needed was some embellishments. So I checked some challenges and found that the Allsorts Challenge is for at least 3 punches so out came my flower punches and since I had already used a couple of border punches I think I can enter this card. The papers are Echo Park and the little chap is from High Hopes from their new release from Laurie Furnell. The cloud background is a Hero Arts stamps that I brought from Simon Says Stamps.
So really I've not made a card yet since I came back although I do feel a bit more normal this morning.
It does mean I don't have a card for the challenge on Everybody Art Challenge which this week is Autumn.
Also High Hopes Challenge is now on Tuesdays too and this week its for In the Country.
Don't worry this is only temporary and I will be back on track next week.

Cosmo Sisters

This is my final choice for the card for my Sister, another Mo Manning image that I've had a while but so pleased I can use it without smudging.
The papers are Cosmo Cricket one of their recent packs, I would tell you its name but I can't find it.
The sentiment is printed from the PC and I've used the magnolia swirl and ek sucess swirl punch and of course the flowers are the funky flower/retro punch.
I went to the scrapbuddies crop yesterday my Sis and Hubby thought it would be good for me but I think I would have be better off to just chill cos my poor joints are not happy today and you just don't appreciate a lovely meal when you're so tired.
Oh well I've got an exciting day planned today The Dentist!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sunday Siesta

Sorry folks no card today it seems I've left Mr Mojo in the US of A, hoping he's on the next plane back to the UK.
Didn't help that late last night had to phone the Police because 30 youths decided they didn't like each other and started fighting and throwing bottles over our cars but they sure do run fast when they see a Police Car.

Had a fabulous time, this is where we were staying on the top floor.

This was the view from our room.
Will have my Sister's Birthday card tomorrow the one I actually gave her.

Joey's Sketch

Phew just made this card in time for me to blog before going away, its the Penny Black Saturday Challenge using a fabulous sketch from Joey.
I'm running out of time to schedule my blogs but I wanted to schedule this one in case I'm still fast asleep from Jetlag.
See you later.

Flat Xmas Card

Didn't realised that I still had a flatty Christmas card I haven't shown. Its using a Krazelkraft stamp from the Craft Barn. I can't believe how simple this card is with just some layering, a cricut holly its from the Christmas Cheer cartridge and some dots.
You are now possibly aware I haven't been here at home and providing Mr Blogger has done his job well the last couple of weeks have all been schedule.
Hopefully we will be arriving home at lunchtime today from our trip to the US and fingers crossed everything went as planned.
It does mean I've missed out on the Craft Extragavance at the Craft Barn it was most annoying to listen to my Sis make plans without me especially since I was banned from Craft shops on our trip. ( Hoping that I can get them to go to Walmart without them realising that they have craft stuff)
It also means that my craft pennies are going to be short and in a weeks time its Ally Pally its going to be hard to go with no pennies to spend.

Notelets

I'm extremely luck to be on Simon Says Stamps team, Heidi is a generous boss who often sends us some wonderful stuff.
She sent me this Kraft coloured cards from Hero Arts and I felt I must do something with them. I rarely used purpose brought cards, I usually make my own.
But these cards cried out to used with some images stamped in white and I used an Hero Arts stamp that was ideal for the job. I kept it simple with just a bow with one those pesky fiddly bows so they fit in the normal letter post slot.
I thought they would make a wonderful set of notelets and I made a pocket in and A4 card not very adventurous but it will do

The front cover is the same as the notelet with the addition of some gold pearls. I think I will give it to my Mum she likes sending thank you notes to the grandchildren.

Move it, Move it

Did you join in the Simon Says Stamps blog last week if now why not you missed out on a fabulous prize.
So on to this weeks Simon Says Stamps challenge Time to Move it, guess you can interpretate in all sort of ways. Now for me this was a brilliant challenge it means I can use this fab stamp from Stampendous called torn paper window.
I first saw this on card done by Francoise Read who told me it was one she had for years so you can imagine how over the moon I was to see it on Simon Says Stamps, it so had to come home to me. And its perfect for Snoopy who also came from Simon Says Stamps they have a huge selection of Snoopys.
The card is a dinky one, both stamps looked quite small on a normal 14.5cm square so I made a 10cm only because I knew I had some envelopes this size. But we know all the best things come in small packages.

Shaped card

I feel a bit guilty since Alice sent me this wonderful shaped cards ages ago and its only now I've started to use them. I always seem to be chasing my tail and it was easy to pick a square card where I knew exactly what the measurements are.
But Everybody Art Challenge this week is for shaped cards and what better than do use this fabby one from Alice.
The papers are Papermania ones. sorry lost is wrapper but I do know that some have penquins on.
I used a Penny Black cute image, those Martha Stewart snowflakes and a craftwork cards sentiment. Don't forget the bit ribbon and some pearls too.
Do check out the DT, the team always have wonderful creations to inspire you.

Halloween Sweets

While I had the High Hopes stamps out to make my dotty witch, I had a go at making cute sweet bags. I often seen them on blogs so I thought I would give them a try.
My first problem was I didn't have any sweet bags the only ones I could find were bags to put a C6 card in but they were too big for nesties to use for the top.
So I had to find a shape on the cricut to fit, the rest is fairly easy although I reckon I had enough sweet to make several packet but when I actually made them there was barely enough for two, obviously hubby has a sweet tooth so I made sure I ate these ones.

Dotty Witch

It's a shame we don't do Halloween here in the UK is such fun playing with bats and spiders and googly eyes and the new release from High Hopes has loads of fun Halloween characters.
This weeks challenge on High Hopes is mine and I've chosen dots or spots and these Echo Park Halloween papers had the perfect dotty piece.
Love my MS picket fence border too, yes I had to get that pesky blending tool and distress inkpad out as well, I might have to get a re-inker for my inkpad its getting used far too much..

Camping Bear

It's a Man's world over on Penny Black Saturday Challenge so out came my Basic Grey Oliver papers and I couldn't resist using this PB bear again.
I know we all groan when we hear a Mans challenge and I'm no exceptions you are so limited on embellishments which is why I love my MS zigzag punche its perfect for a chaps card and I often make photo corners in a contrast papers to stop it from looking too plain.
You can just get away with a knotted bow rather than a proper one and you have to use a manly colour like red, blue or brown.
Don't forget to check out the DT they've done some fabulous creations and as always there's alway a super prize.

Sister Act

I've been really bad, I've brought a super duper printer so I can print Digis then promptly use my stamps.
This is one of Mo's images I first brought ages ago before I realised my old printer smudged so it was brilliant I can finally use without too much worry now.
Since its my Sis birthday soon I thought I would use it for that but have since found a better image so you get to see the reject but it will go in a box and hopefully will get choosen for someone else.
I do love the cheeky sisters you can imagine them with Whoopi Goldberg in Sister Act.
Used my favourite Kaiser papers will at the moment and the sentiment I think could Ezybels.

Scrapbooking

I love this Bo Bunny papers and I only brought 3 sheets of it and used most for couple of layouts and this was all was left so I challenge myself to use to make a layout .
 And this was the result.

I'm really please how it turned out and the with the help with some Wild Orchid flowers to finish.
Don't worry I love these papers so much I had to replace them, but at the moment I just stroking them and putting them back in the baggie, they need some special photos so they can be used.

Simon Says Stamps Blog Hop

Unfortunately I'm not at home today and because you can't trust Mr Blogger to schedule I can't join in the Mega Blog hop starting today at Simon Says Stamps and Show and finishing on Simon Says Stamps Challenge on the 15th September. There are amazing prizes to check out, details were being finalised whilst I did this blog post so don't hesitate get over to Simon Says Stamps and Show and be amazed I know I was.
The challenge is lovely easy one too Holidays and since I couldn't bear to be left out I made a card too.
The cute James bear from LOTV that Simon Says Stamps are now selling and in the interest of all thinks inky I used my blending too and distress inkpad. Since the boss loves anything Tim Holtz, I added one of his tickets which I think work really well with all the inky distressing.