Optimum Wednesday

Chocolate, pink and white is the challenge on Tilda & Co, so I thought some nice pink roses would go with the chocolate, the papers are BG sultry and with chocolate you also get a chocolate box ribbon so that was the inspiration for the pink bow.
Although he's not new I haven't made Edwin into a tag yet so that was soon remedy with some BG scraps.

My poor OH he's still cutting the hedge we're now down to one last tiny bit but it got too dark to finish then the hedge gets a trim not sure whether to get a skip cos there a lot of rubbish or a chipper.

Thanks for the help to add followers I knew it would be easy.

Noticeable Tuesday

Love the challenge on Penny Black Saturday is for a Man's card but no Blue. This PB stamp was a bargain at Newbury it was half price and though normally I wouldn't have bothered but I wanted to join in the PB challenges and I knew it would have help my PB collection. I love how I can cut out the tie and I think the colouring of the cat is getting slightly better too, but gosh what a big stamp, this is a normal square card and he almost takes over. I've kept it simple, cos the stamp is huge and men just don't like clutter or at least mine doesn't especially if its craft stuff, the papers are Chatterbox and thank PB Saturday thats hubby Birthday card sorted for next month.
I've added the following gadget but have no idea how I follow others its obviously something very obvious!!!!!

Magnificent Monday

I pretty much couldn't wait to ink this little beauty up, it could be that I share a similar shape and have affinity with her. Her name is Petunia and is a Kadoodle stamp by Sandra Dry, when I saw her and her friends at the Craft Barn she went on my shop list. Yes it is those Making Memories papers but Sandra had made all her Bathing belles cards in pink and they were stunning and I knew these papers would work well. I've used Sketch Saturday this week and the swirling corners are from the Storybook cricut cartridge, definitely be using them again.

Feeling smug at the moment, my CJ entry is done and both cards for Sis for Saturday are finished even to the point the inserts and after many false starts (I presumed the size of the mini books) boxes for the two finished mini books.

The garden is full of the conifer trees, well the tops of them and we are only half way there, we was going to put up a new fence instead of OH trimming the hedge each year because its such a big job but with other things beening done instead it looks like it will have to wait. So the plan is to chop the tops down at least a couple of feet so its easier to trim but its creating a huge mess on the lawn.

Leisurely Sunday

Now I hadn't planned to cut out Oakley, but he had other ideas because for some reason I kept going over the edge and I did tell him that he was going to have layers like the other stamps but when the paper stump rolled over leaving a lovely red line I had no choice but to cut him out. I've used BG mellow I think and roughed the edges with scissors. The sketch is Friday Sketchers 19 from Heidi and of course I use Oakley from WOJ.

So another change of plans yesterday my Sis rang me and said she would be there at 11.30 to go to the Craft Barn. We had a marvellous time, there was lovely mucky stuff demos as I call them which were all amazing and Nikki was in her element and then there was the cute stuff for me so everything was covered. I was really good in the shop only brought a few bits.

Keepsake Saturday

Can you believe that this Penny Black stamp is dated 2000 and its never been made in a card. I've always had a probs colouring in Penny Black images but over the years its seems I've got better at colouring and shading cos I don't think it looks too bad, OK not too sure about the cat but the window and curtains came out fine. So why this stamp, simple really the challenge on Cute Card Thursday is for Cats and Dogs and I started out using the CPS#81 sketch but the sentiment doesn't fit where it should rightly go. The papers are Making Memories that are still sitting on my desk from the last card, sentiment Francoise Read (Woodware). There's a piece of acetate on the top half of the window and the window panel are raised to make then look 3d.

So it looks like the plan for going to the Craft Barn has changed, Sis is having new carpet and flooring laid today and she's not sure if they will go in time to go, but demo weekend is on tomorrow too so fingers cross that we make it tomorrow.

Jolly Friday

A decent pic but now its crooked, I promise you it's a square card, but I think you can see Nikki's sketch for Spoonful of Sugar. I used some Making Memories paper and if you've been crafting as long as myself then you'll have one of these border punches by Fiskars to make the middle strip. The large blossom is poppicrafts with a garden centre flower on top. Sentiment is Francoise Read one and not forgetting the fabulous WOJ stamp coloured in with Prismacolours pencils.

What fun we had yesterday, there's a by election for a councillor for which we have been bombarded with enough paper that several trees no longer exist. I was getting fed up answering my door because they wanted to know if we was going to vote, they even rang us up and one had the cheek to tell us we didn't have far to go. (polling station was across the road at the Youth centre) We had every intention to vote but in our own time, I really don't like being nagged constantly to do it, and it usually has the opposite result but I can report we did vote on our way out for the evening, which was always our intention in the first place.

Thursday

I'm struggling with the camera at the moment, first I took this pic late yesterday afternoon and I'm not sure why the gold colour swirls look so bright cos they not in real life. Also I don't love the card as much as the one I've done for Sis for her birthday. Then I realised that WOJ is gemless there should a little heart gem on her bracelets and on the heart cushion. So I've tried to photo this morning and all I can photo is a blurry mess so I've given up and showing the gemless one.
I haven't layered her either and to my eyes she's looks a bit flat. Enough moaning the papers are BG and the sketch is for Ismaki by Isa, who I may meet again at the Craft Barn at the weekend, they're having a demo weekend and hopefully Sis is available to take us but I'm going to try not to spend, a bit poor after recent spends, oops moaning again.

Check out these blogs they all have some great Blog Candy.

Nikki she has some amazing stamps that I want.

Nessy with a great selection of everything a crafter needs

Karin she has two candys to give away and I would love either, and check her sidebar there's a huge list of blog candys alerts.

Inspiration Wednesday

First of all sorry there's no card today, yesterday was definitely one of those days that you wanted to rewind and start again. I did make a card even used Ismaki challenge from Isa but I've decided I would use it as a Birthday card for Sis and has she always pops on this blog I can't show it yet, so I might have another go today. But I do have MIL book to show, I love making these books, you don't need a Bind it all or cropadile just cardstock. Its the called Ribbon n roll and was a class for last year Summer cyber crop on UKS, click here for the link.
Now if blogger behaves if you click on the pictures they go larger.
The first book I did for the class was Louise and Calino, which I won a prize, you can see it here. Edited, sorry the link won't work but you check the archives for 11th August 2007.

I made another one of my nephew's wedding and gave it to my SIL you can see it here
Also made one for my Sis for her Ruby Anniversary, if click here and scroll down past the cards you will see it.
I've made one for our friend Feliu in Spain you can see the cover here, but I haven't shown it completely yet, want to give it to him first.
The orginally book has fibres down the spine but I think it still looks great without them and the spine has yet, hasn't fallen out. It's almost 6inch square and it makes a great gift to celebrate a event. Yes I definitely love making these little books.

I've checked the links the only one not working is Louise and Calino but the rest are OK.

Harmonious Tuesday

I use a speaker phone but my family complain they can't understand what I'm saying so yesterday I used it normally, big mistake especially has some of the calls were long ones. That huge form is sorted and posted but my hand isn't so happy. So I did manage a card but its quite simple, well it is for me. I used Saturday sketch and of course my new WOJ and this stamp cried out for the frilly pinny to be layered, doodlebug papers, love this one so much I've brought another sheet. The flowers are from Poppicrafts and Joanne Sheen.

I did manage to do more to MIL mini book, scrapbooking is easier on the hands. Hopefully if I'm careful today I should be back to normal soon.

Garrulous Monday

So here's my first WOJ isn't she cute and she doesn't take too long to colour. The challenge over at Cute Card Thursday is for Pink and as there is a fair amount of pink I think this cards will do. The papers are from the The Paper Company, swirls from Quickutz and the flowers from various punches.

So yesterday we had load of laughs and not very much done, I took so much stuff and didn't use hardly any of it, the day was finished off with a very nice meal before coming home.

Not sure how much crafting I can do today, I've a form to filled and its several pages thick, a list as long as my arm of people I have to ring and put all my stuff back into the places they belong.

Flourishing Sunday

Why is it sometimes things just don't work out, I had the plummer here and by the time he left and I started on my Friday sketchers sketch half the day had gone, but no worries I know what I wanted to do for the sketch it should be quick and easy, was it no. Finally got it done then I tried to photo this evening this is the best I could get. This weeks sketch is from the lovely Jaqueline, I used one of my favourite Tilda, not sure on the papers and the chipboard circle was covered with matching papers and if the sketch had butterflies on, then so would mine ( I love butterflies) these were stamped on vellum with white brilliance pad, embossed and edges inked with matching chalks.

So off to Scrapbuddies, lovely JP Duck has got hold off some BG magnets that she knew I wanted what a great friend to remember and Sis has picked up the Craft Stamper so I can see Nikki 's cards.

What great service from Katharina the WOJ have arrived and I was prepared with that pesky EZmount now I just need to ink them up.

Essential Saturday

Now the Spoon full of Sugar challenge is for anything but a card and yes I know this looks like a card but looks can be deceiving.

Its a travel folder, if you are like me you pick up bits and bobs while on holiday like business cards, tickets etc and they ususally get lost, mixed up with the rest of the luggage so the idea of this folder is to put them in the pocket for safe keeping. The other pocket is for the jounalling tags, one for each day to write on where we are and what we've done. The papers are chatterbox, the folder is made out a sheet of Bazzill, the chipboard is K&co that I brought last year and thought it was about time I used them. Pop over and check what the DT have done especially Lim's cake.
Look Hamish fits perfectly on an ATC, I can even get Angus on too. Not sure what happened with the fence its no way pink in real life. I reckon Hamish and Maggie are going to be perfect for challenges over at Tilda & Friends ATC challenge and this week is open challenge and there's a pretty cute Tilda to win.

Off to Scrapbuddies in Mychett tomorrow, not sure how much scrapbooking is going to get done although I still got Mil mini book to finish.

Diligent Friday

There is another great sketch from Katharina on the Papertake Weekly challenge and I've used the last of these Daisy bucket papers, the ribbon is Poppicrafts and sentiment is Hero Arts. I made this card with the new Cuddly Buddly stamps especially for Fran since she hasn't weaken yet. The papers are from last year and I had a bit of a disaster because I had doodled round the circle only for it not to dry and it went everywhere, happily I was 3D him so I knew I could hide the marks and I made a snowflake embossed circle for him to sit one, the sentiment is Craftwork cards.On Tilda & Friends ATC challenge they've had added some more friends for Tilda but they were also using the ATC has card toppers which is a brilliant idea which reminded me that I could put mine on a tag to go with the other tags I've made.

Sis ran me up to say there is a cabinet with drawers like she has got under her craft desk being throw out at her school and do I want it. Yes perhaps a bit too quick cos DH is pretty certain it won't fit and it would mean a major sort out to make it fit and am I really up to the challenge.

Contrasting Thursday

Ismaki sketches are back from their summer break and this card is my interpretation of the latest sketch #29. I can't claim the dress is my idea, I saw it in the Glitter Pot and thought how great it was and brought the stamp it's a personal impressions one. The swirl and borders are both cut from the Storybook cartridge for the cricut and the flowers are made from various sized punches, the papers are BG Euphoria. I wish now I hadn't put the greeting on but it's too late now.
I've also had a go at Kazan's sketch 8 on 2 sketches 4 you, the flowers are made from a Simply Friends stamp that I've had a long while with ribbon in between the two layers. The papers are from Papermania that I've distressed with the side of a pair of scissors not sure if this work but sure does make a mess. I stitched the lace on because there wasn't any place I could glue and hide it and the sentiment is Hero Arts.
A big Thank you to Mumur for this fantastic award, which she should be returned straight back because her fabulous creations really do inspire me.

Rules for the JAVABLU AWARD:
1. The winner can put the logo on their blog.

2. Link the person you received your award from.

3. Nominate at least 5 other blogs.

4.Before listing the nominees give a brief reason why you chose them

5. Put links of those blogs on yours.

6. Leave a message on the blogs you have nominated

Going to have a think about who to send this to, there's so many wonderful blogs around with stunning work its a hard job to choose

Bumbling Wednesday

Wasn't sure this was going to work colour wise but quite pleased with it now. The numbers cuttlebug folder was brayered with a multi coloured ink pad which has very bright colours the dp is BG oh my girl and Tilda was coloured with prismsacolours. This is for the Tilda & co challenge for any type of embossing.
And of course seeing it was Tilda I did an extra one and lucky for me when embossing the numbers I thought I'll do a couple especially this one was a bit more hit and miss, I was able to cut off the rubbish bits to make the tag.

Yes I've been to Whiff of Joy already, there was a couple I wasn't going to get but that wonderful DT has made some stunning cards with then so I had no choice but to put them in my shopping cart.

Adorable Tuesday

When I went on the Cuddly Buddly website and saw this robin I knew I had to have him, I think he's so cute. I've used him with the sketch on Sketch Saturday, I've layered the image using nestabilities, the cut out is a flower using Storybook on the cricut and run throught the cuttlebug using swiss dots folder, the snowflakes are using Christmas Cheer and punches and the sentiment is Stamps Away. Not sure about the papers but they're from last year.
I seemed to be running a bit behind on the A-Z journal again so this page will bring me almost up to date. I decided on Queen Bee couldn't think of anything else and when I saw on the Storybook cartridge there's a crown well I had to use it, I've had the gems for ages, the words are Storybook too but the bumble bee is Walk in the Garden. The papers are LilyKate from BG.

Not much happening at the moment just waiting patiently for the new Whiff of Joy stamps designed by Elizabeth Bell that are released tomorrow.

Moo-tastic Monday

The challenge on Penny Black Saturday is for Stars and Stripes, I don't have that many Penny Black but this is one of my favourites, the papers are DCWV and the sentiment was made on the PC.


I did this LO for the challenge at MJ's crop, you get 10 minutes to look at sketch and a hour to complete the LO, then we all vote for our favourite. It always amazes me that every LO is so very different even Sis managed to complete a LO don't tell her but I reckon it was better than mine.

Can you believe its September already and I noticed the tree against the street is already changing to its Autumn coat so I guess Summer's over.