Christmas

So after my conspiracy theory of my the last post I've decided if you can't beat them join them. So using these Stampendous little mittens that I brought from Simon Says Stamps I decided to make a CAS card. Yes I indeed  owe some copics and coloured them in with traditional colours.  The sentiment is a Penny Black one from a Christmas clear set. The funny blobs are glitter glue which in hindsight which is wonderful thing by the way I should of used a glitter pen.
I did realise a small problem if I wanted to enter in this weeks Less is More there was something missing and that was legs!

So I decided to make another card with a Penny Black Hedgie but I had to colour it in and there was no way I would be happy with the result with my colouring in with copics.
So out came my Prismacolors pencils and I was hyperventilating when using the the paper stumps and sansodor. There is a reason I 3d I don't have to worry about going over the lines.
But at least this one has legs or little ones connecting to his large feet!.

Peek a Boo

Put the flower punch down and step away from the card I need to adhere to my advice cos the flowers have taken over my card.
This one of the new stamps from Funky Kits and I think it is so cute probably why it fell into my basket.
The papers are First Edition Summer Breeze I think and I used the sketch from Sunday sketch and Stamp. The circle is cut using my nesties and there's a little border on the strip which is from Stampin up and then my EK success flower punch took over the card.
Does anyone think there is a conspiracy about Christmas everywhere I look its challenges for Christmas in July including my DT Penny Black Saturday Challenge. Funky Kits have include a few Christmas stamps into their new release I believe there's another release from LOTV with Christmas images. It's not helping my burying my head in the sand approach to Christmas cos I brought some goodies from Simon Says Stamps and in the parcel was some Christmas stamps!

Sketch Saturday Wedding

It still a bit of a struggle to make cards but I decided what better way to get back into the swing of things is to get out some of my fave stamps. These Whiff of Joy Bride and Groom have to be my all time wedding card favourite.
The papers are a Wild Rose pack I picked up while shopping at the Glitter Pot ages ago and of course I used a Sketch which this time is from this weeks Sketch Saturday although I have turned it. I used the EK succes scroll and dot border punch but its completely hidden with the flowers and word strip.
I did have an issue the sentiment was to go alongside the groom like in the sketch but I hadn't left enough room.
I reckon I can enter this into the Free and Easy challenge on Allsorts although the poor groom won't be thinking life will be as free and easy once his married!

Many thanks to Sharon of The Little Stamper for the fab award.

WOYWW

 Haven't been checking into the WOYWW lately but I thought I pop in again with this pile that is slowly growing and down to me being downright lazy. Its a pile of used or new stamps that need filing away in their proper place, paper, list and goodness knows what.

 Have a couple of Thank you cards that I've recently received, I apologise for the state they're in but I'm afraid Postman Pat must of been on holiday.
The first one is from Melodie, isn't it elegant and love all the embossing.

And this one is from Dora all the way from Malta who has recently rubbing shoulders with Brad Pitt being a extra on his latest film.

Love the style of card and of course if the photographer was any good you would have a decent shot of the yummy ice cream but of course she is rubbish but I can assure you its fabulour in RL.

Stamps Happen

Since its Wednesday it must be Simon Says Stamps Challenge and this week its a nice and easy one of Anything Goes. The Design Team are showcasing the fabulous Stamp Happen stamps that Simon Says Stamps stock.

I used the Cuttlebug Divine Swirls for my cards main background even though the folder doesn't match up perfectly I knew where the join would be so hid it with the ek Sucess Scroll and Dot (I used it yesterday for the waves) punched border that I made. It's really easy to make the border, I cut 1 1/2inches strip the important part it to remember the started place. Punch one side and then turn the strip over and then begining at the same place you started with punch. 1 1/2 inches should leave enough for a bit of ribbon and in the case of this card I also drew round the border onto red card so I could get the red showing through the punch out bits.
The flowers are Prima and I really must stop buying from Simon Says Stamps extensive collection of Prima goodies cos I spend far too much time stroking them.  Of course that left the little darling from Stamps Happen isn't she adorable.

 We like to welcome Becca to the Simon Says Stamps team and Nadine is our wonderful Guest Designer and don't forget the wonderful prize but you have to be in it to win.

Sailor hAnglar

So the challenge this week on EveryBody Art Challenge is Maritime and another chance to ink up my hAnglar Sailor girl.
I did wonder whether that would be enough and when I started to use the papers from My Minds Eye, I didn't think it looked enough Maritime. So I used the Cuttlebug Divine Swirls for the oval mat behind her. Then I decided to use the EK success border punch three times so it looked like waves quite like the effect of them.
Of course there had to be a bit of ribbon and I saw punched flowers overlapping each other on someone's blog and thought how cute it was so I gave it a bit of try using some old Do-crafts punches, the centres are punched out using the 1/4inch stampin up punch and the waste from the cropadile.
I do hope you can join and if you need some inspiration pop over to the challenge blog to check out the team.

Sherbert Pip

Isn't she adorable finally managed to colour and make a card using the Funky kits new stamps and this has to be a favourite. I've actually cut out her face and slipped it under her hair to get dimension on her face but it was touch and go that I it would go wrong so I might try leaving her face alone. But love the layers on her skirt.
There also a brand new Sketch Challenge call Pink(INK) Sketch Challenges so had to give it a go. The papers are First Edition Birdsong I think but I keep getting the pink ones muddled up. Flowers are out of my stash not sure where from cos they're all muddle up with others.
Had some problems in my craftroom and I've the bruises to prove it so I think a big sort out is due to stop things falling down on me!

Just a Sketch

Trying to get back to cardmaking and since I love sketches, theres a fab sketch on Just Magnolia etc and since I had this hAnglar for while it was about time I coloured her up.
The papers are First Edition not sure which pack possibly Love Letters, the doily is Marianne die which I stuck onto white card stock and then draw round the die to make the pink border.
The lace is from an e-bay seller and is already gathered to make it frill and the ribbon hides the stitching. Flowers are from various places, Leone- em punch for the leaves and job done.
I have several LA scrap-pages needing finishing so that may be my job today.

Penny Black Christmas in July

Well my photo skills haven't improved since I've been away, hopefully I'll find some decent daylight today and take the pic again. edited changed the photo yesterday but Mr Blogger wouldn't post!
Anyway you may think its strange to see a Christmas card but its for the Christmas in July Penny Black Saturday challenge. I'm not really ready yet to make Christmas cards and all my papers are still stored away from my Craftroom but at least all my Penny Black Christmas stamps are still in a draw in my craftroom.
So using plain white card  I draw some wavy lines then cut them out and inked some pale blue ink on the edges to make the snow background.
The blue background I used an Embossing folder sorry not sure whose, I think I brought it at AllyPally in April. I found a snowflake on a Penny Black Clear Christmas set, along with the sentiment. I used a colorbox inkpad in white I had to heat dry it cos it was a pigment ink, next time I plan to experiment with some holographic embossing powder.
I manage to find some Basic Grey christmas tags and I just about managed to cut out three, using my favourite Christmas tree die. All that was need was Snowy the snowman himself and a touch of ribbon.
Do pop over to the challenge block and check out all the fab cards the DT have made.
An update on my Dad who is now home and Mum who has been in respite went back home yesterday since my Dad is really missing her.
I've been shattered and spent a couple of days just chilling the only time I've been to my craftroom was to unpack my craft tote but I hope to change that today and actually make a card!

Totally

It took me a moment to work out which challenge I made this card for last week the clue was in the title Totally Papercrafts, they have bingo this week so I was able to use punches/die cuts, flowers and gems.
Image is Whiff of Joy and the papers are Kaiser, I 've used punches for the flowers and butterflies and not forgetting the border down the side. The gem are on the butterflies and you know I can't make a card without a bit of ribbon.
So the trip to Spain to get our luggage was successful and now life are can return to normal but I forgotten about the dirty clothes we left and our British summer isn't going to help me with that if the BBC Weather is to believed.
I'm shattered not sure about a card for tomorrow but we will see still have to unpack from the weekend.

A Stitch in time

We would love to see stitching faux or real on your cards this week on Simon Says Stamps Challenge. You can see I got little starburst running down the sides of my card, I used the Sew Easy from WRMK which you can get from Simon Says Stamps.

Now I will be honest when I got this and tried to use it I found it difficult to work in a straight line and it didn't always go through the card stock so it got put in a corner and forgotten about.
But I really needed to give it a decent shot before I gave it away. So armed with the top of a really useful box lid I found it really easy to go in a straight line, you need to find something just high enough to run along side the perforater.
Now the second problem not piercing through the card stock so I used it on my patterned paper before matting it and although it didn't pierce all the way through it marked where the I should sew pretty well. I used a pokey tool to make the holes and I had to really careful not poke to far cos it was so easy pierce and was certainly easier on the old hands. I think if my hands weren't so dodgy you needed very little pressure to pierce the holes with a needle so you wouldn't have to pierce them afterwards anyway.
I love the starbursts and I definitely will be taking it the Sew Easy out of the naughty corner to use again, shall have to have another spend over on Simon Say Stamps again to buy some of the large heads which I think would be brilliant for Scrapbooking.
Ok enough waffling now on to my card with my favourite Tilda at the moment and some gorgeous Prima flowers, beautiful My Minds Eye papers and not forgetting my Doo Hickey Swirl.
Sorry a bit more waffle but I thought my Doo Hickey Swirl had gone to Die Heaven  cos it would release the swirls with out creasing and tearing this is not a surprise I have used it constantly since I brought and DD has used a good few times too. So I had a bar of soap that I keep in my craftroom (I run my embossing tool in it to make it emboss better) well I smothered the die all over with it, I think it helped that it was many years old and it crumpled into dust, made a mess too but guess what the swirls are popping out like its brand new.

Not don't forget to check out the Design Team for Inspiration and look at the fab prize that someone's got to win but you've got to be in it to win.

Shapes

We're looking for Shapes on Everybody Art Challenge this week. My poor Cricut was covered with stash and it would take a while to sort it out so rather then use it I made a this type of card which fits in a square envelope you just have to make sure the added square measures to a normal square card.
I used this cute Penny Black stamp and used my nestabilities to get the shapes, craftwork card sentiment with stampin up punches.
The grass is a Magnolia Doo Hickey die and it just cried out for some flowers and you know I had to find a space for a bit of ribbon too.
Not don't forget to check out the Design Team and we would love for you to join us.

Celebrate

Well yesterday was nearly all white today a card using busy papers and another new LOTV so that I can enter their Celebrate challenge on LOTV.

I'm quite please how well my toadstool turned out and love the little cutie on the top. The papers are My Minds Eye and I've the retro punch from Ek success but the dinky flowers are a do-crafts punch that again I've had for ages.

I've been a bit naughty and brought several stamps from Funky Kits, the Sherbert Pips are so cute but no time to play with them till I get back from Spain. 

Newbury was so quiet with so many stallholders missing but it did mean we could get near some demos especially Lavina Stamps and what with Jenny Mayes from Hobby Art who I've know for years she forced me into buying a couple of her stamps sets I knew it was a mistake to say Hello.

Penny Black All in White

Now where am I today, I know I'm staying at Sis so I don't have to travel from Sis's house late last night and have to come back early in the morning to help me cope with the next few days.
There was no way I was going to miss Artstamps at Newbury but I'm going to have to pace myself so as not to over do it.
My card today is a Penny Black knowing how much I love my Penny Black stamps its not too much of a surprise and I used a sketch too, this time its this weeks Sweet Sketch Wednesday.
I didn't stray too much from the sketch and I had it my head to make a nearly all white card.  Tons of embossing and punching and finished with a craftwork cards sentiment and a bit of ribbon.
Dad is still in hospital and not sure when he will be released and Mum goes into respite on Monday so if Dad does come home he can have a couple days adjusting to being at home.
Again thanks for the get well wishes for my Dad.

It had to be Penny Black's Mice

So what Penny Black stamp couldn't you live with out if you were on a Desert Island well thats the challenge this week on Penny Black Saturday Challenge this week.
Now I couldn't live with out my Mice even though if I see one in real life I'll be screaming so the whole street could hear me.
I do reckon if I stuck all my Penny Black stamps together with a bottle of glossy accents I would have a raft to escape my Desert Island after all whats the use of stamp if my pencils are still at home!
Back to the card before you all think I've lost the plot. The papers are First Edition, afraid I'm not sure which have so many of these packs now but I think it may be Daydream but don't hold me to that.
Flowers are Ek Success punches with Leone-em centres and the sentiment is a discontinued stampin up stamp.
Finished with my faux brads which are 1/4 punch embossed.
Hopefully Mr Blogger has posted this for me while I'm off enjoying myself at MJ All day Crop.

Sketch hAnglar

I do love how you can now buy hAnglar stamps now and they have a fab delivery, well this little sweetheart was coloured and waiting for the ideal challenge and I decided the sketch on Papertake Weekly would be perfect for her.
I used the First Edition papers I think its Hideaway but again I'm not sure on the names.  Used my square nestabitlities they don't get used enough so it was nice to use them. Ek success flower punch and Leone-em punched centres.
Had to sneak in a bit of ribbon didn't feel right without one, faux brads and craftwork cards sentiments. Not my best but still cute.
So pleased this morning that Mr Blogger let me post this morning, I had to use IE not sure which version is on my PC cos I don't use it. Found that IE had a life of its own in blogger but managed in the end.
Well the weekend approaches and I've sort of overbooked myself, tomorrow I'm at MJ All Day Crop and Sunday I'm at Artstamps at Newbury. Now that would mean a few rest days but on Monday we're off to Spain to bring back our suitcases and we come back on Wednesday so a real flying visit. I'm going to suffer for such bad organizing skills.

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.