Less is More the Penny Black Mice Way

Lucky for me I made this dinky card the other day, simply didn't feel like making cards yesterday. I made for the Less is More sketch not sure if its passes muster but I like it.
I was looking for another Penny Black stamp and saw this long one with five mice and the idea of the LIM sketch came into my head. So I carefully covered two of the mice up and the rest was plain easy.

The pink borders are a punch from Stampin Up and the sentiment is Penny Black.

Thanks for the lovely messages about my Dad, went up to see him yesterday and he has a much better colour than I've seen for weeks but that could be that he is having blood transfusions at the moment since they found he is very anaemic. We can't get Mum into respite till Monday but they've increased her carers.

Phew managed to blog using IE not sure whats happening this morning with Mr Blogger!

Lemon and Lavender

Time for a colour challenge on Simon Says Stamps Challenge and you can probably guess which colours by the title of my post or even by my card. I've used the fabulous papers from Prima Sweet Fairy and my image is a Penny Black Slapstick call For Goodness Sake both available from Simon Says Stamps.

My large butterfly is the Magnolia Doo Hickey die along with the swirl, the centre paper I've run throught the cuttlebug with the Swiss Dots embossing folder and the flowers are Martha Stewart Cornflower punch with  a circle punch for the centres.
All finished with pearls, ribbons and a few smaller butterflies from an old punch.

Now don't forget we have a fabulous prize for one lucky winner but you have to be in it to win it. If you need some inspiration check out the Design Team.

Both my parents are in their eighties and the health has slowly been failing so much so you worry when the phone rings, yesterday I had a call to say my Dad was taken poorly and was at the hospital. At one point we were told he would be coming home and the next he's been admitted to a ward and is on oxygen. Hopefully today  we might find out what the problem is and arrange for Mum to go into to respite because she can't manage on her own so giving time for Dad to rest and recover.

Hang in there

Ahhh my poor Penny Black Pussy Cat he's all wishy washy and of course in real life he isn't, so I may try to take another pic.
My card is using the fabulous sketch on Everybody Art Challenge, although I did have senior moment the image mat was suppose to overlap the middle mat. As you can see below but I won't tell if you won't.

The papers are Kaiser and the flowers are Ek Success, although quite simple (I made it last week when Mr Mojo was still sunnying himself in Spain) its perfect for a friend who is having a hard time at the moment and needs to know we are thinking of them.
Now don't forget to check the team and we would love for you to join us too.

Friends

Yet another cutie from Lily of the Valley this time to use for the sketch on their challenge. The papers are My Minds Eye and all my favourite punches, Martha Stewart Deep Edge Doily border punch, Ek Success retro punch and the Leone-em punch for the centres. Not forgetting the Quickutz die for the corners.
Just needed a little ribbon, oh and not forgetting the Swiss Dots embossing folder.
I didn't do as much crafting as I planned yesterday, I had to make a layout for the Sketch Challenge for July's Scrapbuddies but I had hoped to do a bit more but decided to make the most of the return of Summer and sat out in the shade in the garden instead.

Butterflies and Tilda

Mr Mojo has been a bit hit and miss since coming back from hols but I think I almost there with this cute Tilda.
I used the sketch on Sweet Spot Sketch Saturday although the card on the sketch was a rectangle I sort of turned it into a square my prefer shaped card, I also rotated it as well as moving some of the embellishments but thats what I love about sketches they give you a starting point.
The papers are First Editon Birdsong now can be brought at Simon Says Stamps, I resisted using my Martha Stewart doily punch but I sure it will back soon.
Now the challenge on Just Magnolia is for Butterflies and I recently used the Magnolia doo hickey butterfly die on a DT card and decided it had to be used for this challenge too, I think you maybe seeing this die quite a bit in the future. The other butterflies are from an old punch the flowers although I brought some from Crafty Emma, I think these ones are from Wild Orchid and the leaves are a Woodware green punch.
You can tell I'm busy trying to get ahead of myself cos out comes the Craftwork Cards sentiments they so handy and quick to do.

PBSC-Stitch it Up

I may have to photo this again you can't work out that the gems are hearts and its a bit wishy washy the other photos I took at the same time are fine.
Anyway back to the reason why I've used this little darling Penny Black stamp its actually a cling one by the way and its for a Stitching challenge on Penny Black Saturday Challenge. Hopefully they meant real or faux stitching or I could be in trouble in with the Boss because I used a pen for some faux stitching.
The papers are My Minds Eye Lime Twist, I also used them to punch out the butterflies, the large one is a Martha Stewart the others I've had probably since I first started cardmaking over ten years ago, amazing they're still working I'm not know for treating my punches kindly.
Some gems with lace and a bit ribbon to finish off. I thought this card would be perfect for my Mum's Birthday next month.
I'm afraid I wasn't hiding any Candy on my Penny Black Challange Post but don't forget there's a prize for this weeks challange from Crimson Cloud.

Bu you have to join us to be in with a chance and don't forget to check out the fabulous samples made by the Design Team.

Ribbon and Butterflies

Another sweet LOTV girl and I've coloured her to match the First Edition Daydream papers which are now available from Simon Says Stamps of course they're better in real life since I struggling to get the right colours using my camera.
This time the sketch is from Sketch and Stash and although I always all most add ribbon and this time is no exceptional I going to enter it in the Spoonful of Sugar Challenge for ribbon and bow.
The flowers are from Crafty Emma and finish with a few butterflies using punches that I've had for years.
Whoops nearly forgot the sentiment which is from Penny Black.
Well it be heads down to get ahead with my DT work for when I return to Spain to get my cases.

Summer Balloons

Finally I got time to colour one of the cutest LOTV new girls and it had to be this little darling. Of course the camera is playing tricks and it looks like I haven't coloured her hair properly but it real life its fine.  The papers are Springtime from Echo Park but I think they look more summer especially has she just been to a summer fete where she got her balloons from. OK you might think I've gone a bit mad but I want to enter the card in the Papertake Weekly for here comes summer.
I've also used the sketch from Sunday Sketch and stamp. All my favourite punches have been used to make the card, the deep edge doily punch, the retro flowers and not forget a touch of ribbon.
It's been a bit of struggle the last week but I'm looking forward to a quiet weekend.

Jane's Sketch

We have a fabulous sketch this week on Simon Says Stamps Challenge from DT member Jane, certainly one I shall be using again.

I love Kaiser papers that Simon Says Stamps stock and this pack English Rose is absolutely beautiful with lace and pearls.
The flowers are Prima again Simon Says Stamps must have hundreds of them and they often fall into my basket.
The couple are CC Designs and the sentiment is from WOJ wedding sentiments and the mat behind the happy couple are is embossed with a cuttlebug embossing folder

I do hope you can join us and be in with a chance to win this fantastic prize, if you need a bit of inspiration check out the DT samples.

EAC Anything Goes

I'm in trouble here this is my card for EveryBody Art Challenge which is for Anything Goes but I made it before I went away and for the life of me I can't remember what papers I used. I know the image is WOJ may favourite stamp for a baby card that I happened to lose and had to order another one cos I couldn't bear the idea of not having one.
The border is and EK success one, I cut 1 1/2 strip of card and starting a place you can remember you punch one side, then turn the strip over and start at the place you remember punch down the side. This allows enough room for a bit of ribbon, no ribbon its just an inch.
The sentiment is WOJ and stampin up punches and finished with flowers, ribbon and pearls.
Now don't forget to check out the team for some inspiration.
Off to sunny Bournemouth, MIL has come down with a coach trip for her hols and because its close to us we pop down to visit. Unfortunately she arrived last night and brought the rain with her, hope its a better day today.

Tip Toe Through the Tulips

I'm not too sure if these fab papers from My Minds Eye are too busy for this gorgeous Penny Black Stamp but hey ho its done now.
I used the sketch from Sketch Saturday but I have turned the sketch and moved the sentiment. I couldn't add any flowers I think theres enough tulips. I've also used the Doily Lace Martha Stewart border punch for one one of the mats.
I do love that stamp, I thought all those tulips would be confusing but I found if I cut out, embossing and stick a few at a time I didn't get them muddled up.
I had a great time at Scrapbuddies, it took quite an effort to get there but I knew I would thoroughly enjoy it once there. I've almost made one layout just need its title and nearly made another, my photo needed to be larger so I have to reprint that one.
Today my plan it to try and catch up with everyone, lets hope Mr Blogger lets me.

Football Crazy

It's been really hard to return to my craftroom not made easy by having a bit of mess to clean up and not all mine. But I made me sit down and make a card. I've only few images left that were coloured before I went on my Hols and this is one of them.
I looked at the Lily of Valley Challenge which is for Music but checked out the fab DT to see some have chosen song titles. So my poor tired brain came up with Football Crazy but it still a song. The papers are My Minds Eye Lime Twist and the sentiment is Hero Arts, my brads are pretend ones.
A bit simple for me but hope it helps to kick start Mr Mojo.
I'm off to Scrapbuddies today which is taking a huge effort to get ready cos I'm still not 100% but I know I will enjoy the company and even if I don't get anything done it will get me out of the house for a few hours.

Pesky Critters

Happy 3rd Birthday Penny Black Saturday Challenge and this week we have loads of prizes but more of that later.
First there's this weeks challenge of Pesky Critters and you know they're my favourites and this stamp has most of them, a mouse, a puddy cat and Hedgie, not forgetting the occasional robin.

Now I made this card before I went away and I'm not sure which papers I used but the clouds are MFT die then I used the swiss dots folder.

The border I call my wrought iron fence but I know its not called that in real life, some faux brads and a corner job done.

Now there are some fabulous prizes hidden on the Design Team blogs and only the boss knows whose blog is hiding them but you can find out about all the prizes on challenge blog.
So to be in for a chance to win once you've entered your card to our challenge you pop over to the DT blogs and comment on their Penny Black Saturday challenge post.
You will find a link above to the DT blogs above their card on the Penny Black Saturday Challenge.
But don't forget you have to comment not just my blog but everyones.

The Winner

And the winner of my Blog Candy is

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

55 

Timestamp: 2011-06-17 06:42:39 UTC

So Melodie please e-mail me at debby4000craftystuff@hotmail.co.uk with your address and I will get the goodies posted to asap.

Afraid no card or anything crafty, arrived back home shattered and suffering a bit and with no motivation at all.

Added to the fact we have to return to Spain to collect our luggage which we couldn't bring home because of a baggage handlers strike in Girona.
Lets hope the new release from LOTV may be just the right motivation.

Hopefully blog publishing back to normal tomorrow.

Looking for my Candy Post 

You will find it HERE

Candy Now Closed 

Same but Different

Well if all goes well I shall be back in the UK today but maybe not up and running enough to have a made a card for today.
So these couple was made a before I left after I had been to the Craft Barn Extravangaza, seeing Francoise reminded me I've had her owl stamps for ages and not used them.

It was only right to get some of scraps of Basic Grey  and make a card using them.

In fact I made two and the leaves are Sizzix die and I used the stampin up punches for the sentiment which fitted perfectly for them. I think I prefer the faux stitching one the best.

Bingo

We have a great challenge over on Simon Says Stamps Challenge, BINGO, you can chose 3 squares but they have to a line horizontally, vertically or diagonally.

I chose Flowers, Brads and Sentiment and I think my card ticked all the right boxes.
We are showcasing The Greeting Farm stamps of course this isn't a requirement to enter the challenge but its nice to show what crafty goodies Simon Says Stamps sell. She is called Izzy, she wasn't my first choice I suddenly realised the image I was using wasn't a Greeting Farm, so I quickly coloured her.
The papers are Splash by Echo Park, you can now buy 6inch pads now but this is actually the 12 by 12 pack.
Tthe flowers are Prima, removed the orange pips and popped in a brad instead and the pink ones are pretend ones. The sentiment is Penny Black and Simon Says Stamps has over thousand Penny Black stamps really difficult not to buy them.
And don't forget the fabulous prize for a lucky winner but you have to be in it to win.

Vegas Scrapbooking

At last the last few Scrapbooking pages for my Vegas Scrapbook. Now all I need to do now is get motivated to make the LA pages.