Yippee I'm back online

So yesterday morning my Internet was really slow and wasn't loading pages, so I reboot the modem thingy and lost it completely. Disconnect the wireless router and reboot again, nothing, change lead nothing. Did you know that Virgin Broadband help is open on Sunday so after 20 minutes hopefully on free number, I'm told its either the box or the main wire to the house and an appointment is made for late Wednesday. So I tidy up the computer area and turned it all off.
This morning I wanted some photos and the google gadget on my desktop which only works if I'm connected was there.
Yippee I got Internet but don't hold you breathe.
So back to the post from yesterday lucky for me I saved it.

Yes its those Pebbles papers again and I reckon I have enough for a couple of more cards but I do think its pefect for masculine cards. The sketch is Friday Sketchers and the Boefje Boy from Dies to Dies for, the wall is Magnolia. I so wanted to add more but knew it wouldn't work so I settled for a bit of faux stitching with brads and corners. The sentiment is Simon Says Stamps.

I had a smashing day at Ally Pally, I got everything off my list and apart from a slip up on The Hobby House, blame Bev for that I was well in budget. It was brilliant to meet some of my blog hero's Caz, Marlene and the wonderful Jacqui and just has I was leaving I met Chris, Kim, Kim and my fabulous teamie from Simon Says Challenge Jo.
Have drawn the winner of my Blogcandy scroll down to candy post.

Hi everybody
Debby has lost internet connections and will not be back on line until Thursday
Deb's said it was lovely meeting everyone at Ally Pally on Saturday
hugs from her Sis

Candy time

Blogcandy now Closed

So as a Thank you for following my blog, to the wonderful bloggers who leave me fabulous comments, to the wonderful new friends I've made through blogging.

Some Blog Candy

The pics are the stamps that are in the candy so you can see them better and the candy stamps weren't used, sorry but there is no way I'm giving away stamps I don't have so I brought two of each one for the candy and one for me.

Bellies'n Whistles, Belle with Teddy
High Hopes Meowy Xmas
High Hopes Fishing Santa
High Hopes Froggy Gift
Basic Grey 6inch pad of Eskimo Kisses
Various ribbon
Roses from Wild Orchid

I would use Mr Linky but it sounds to technical for me, so just leave a comment. Candy will close on Friday 25th September
Because I'm off to Ally Pally on the 26th, I've extended my candy till them and will draw the winner of Sunday

Drumroll Please

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

63 

Timestamp: 2009-09-28 08:10:19 UTC

So will Martina please e-mail me, my address is in my sidebar.

The same but different

When I saw the sketch on Everbody Art Challenge I knew I wanted to use this Puddy Cat from High Hopes. I coloured a few of them because the sketch was perfect and it might help my Christmas Card target. The card is a 10cm square and the papers are a download from Sweet Shoppe Designs, I needed some more traditional colours which I found with a set call It's a Wrap.
The flowers are EK success and the sentiments are peel off, just a touch of bling and they're done.
I've labelled all my Christmas cards so if you find labels in my sidebar and click on Christmas all the cards I've done already will pop up.
Don't forget the challenge on Simon Says Challenge for Stitching, nice bit of Faux stitching with a pen, real easy and you could be in for a prize.

Many thanks to Elly and Anita for sending me this fabulous award.

A couple of critters.

Animals are the challenge of the week over at Secret Crafter, Wendy sent me these cute critters from out of her shop here and I know I wanted to make a frame round them. Good old nestabilities how would we live without them, they made the frame which I ran through the cuttlebug with the swiss folder and Martha Stewart zig zag punch to make a nice border.
While looking for a suitable sentiment I found this one on Simon Says Stamps simply the best set it was just perfect. Papers are Daisby Bucket and it wouldn't be right if it didn't have a flower somewhere.
The trip to Ally Pally is going ahead there is one disappointment my craft moneypot is a bit short and to help me not to overspend I've written a list mmmmm lets see how long that lasts.

Lemonade

I coloured this little darling in Pink and Brown cos I was sure there was a challenge for those colours, well I couldn't find it so I decided she works well with BG Lemonade papers and I used Dawny fabulous sketch on PaperTake Weekly. Although this card looks busy its really quite simple, the corners are Cuttlebug die and the tab is a Stampin Up punch, white peel offs coloured brown and the various flowers. Oh I do spy a new punch, I had to buy some Herma which I use for Scrapbooking and they had this McGill branch punch, it found its way in my virtual shopping basket.
It looks like that Ally Pally is on the cards, travel arrangements are being discussed it really depends if a small cheeky chappie with blonde curly hair needs some Granny love in which case I come a poor second!
For this reason I'm extending the closing date for the candy a day later and draw the winner on Sunday.

A dusting of sparkle

I thought I'd better put these on my blog before the Mojo Challenge #105 finishes and I forget. Its a brilliant sketch and works for this size card but I was suppose to make a thin card so I don't have to pay large letter post didn't work though. I used Pebbles Christmas paper, various dies for the snowflake and could that be Martha Stewart Icicle punch it will be worn out by Christmas. The ickle mouse is Penny Black and the sentiment is Stamps Away. Snowflakes and Icicle are all been glamour dusted and even I sparkle now.
I can even use them for the Allsorts challenge too for snowflakes.
I feel really good now for making 3 Christmas cards only another 113 to go.

Pumpkin Cat

On A Spoonful of Sugar there is a brilliant sketch from Nikki and I can't resist a sketch and Stephany from dream2stamp as sent me some of her fabulous cute stamps and this chap is one of them. He's looking pleased with himself cos I haven't coloured him in mouse colours, I was only going to 3D him but had to 3d he's head as well because somehow he got an awful black spot on his chin. The papers are a mixture of My Minds Eye and some scraps, flowers out of my stash.
It's all quiet here just waiting not so patiently for my Henry stamps.
When I got the link for dream2stamp I've notice that Stephany has 10% off at the moment.

A stitch in time

There's a new challenge on Simon Says Challenge and its for Stitching faux or real. Damon the sewing machine has never returned downstairs so I still haven't got over my phobia of using him for stitching. So I decided to faux stitch just using a thin tip brown pen, the trick then is to know when to stop. I knew this Penny Black stamp was perfect for the challenge and I used BG Wisteria pack and for the punched flowers and the sentiment is stampin up.
Do check the other fab DT cards especially has we welcome Kim on our team and we have Greta has our Guest who makes fab cards and she's only 11, she shares a blog with her Mum here.

Lace and Pearls

So this little cutie is for Penny Black Saturday Challenge for Lace and Pearls, I've used the last of these Bo Bunny papers. I tied a knot in the lace to make a bow and the flowers are punches, the finishing touch using the pearls and the job is done.
I've been a bit off colour probably overdoing it at the weekend and add a few bad nights sleep but this morning after a good night sleep( just need a few more) I'm feeling almost normal and looking forward to catching up.
Many thanks for joining my candy and even more fab followers.

Sunflower Tilda

I have no idea how my brown card stock looks black cos its the same colour as the ribbon, well never mind. This card is for the fab sketch on Just Magnolia by Bev and I've used Cosmo Cricket again and I love making the daisy/sunflowers at the moment but it will pass.
I seemed to be struggling to catch up at the mo and the weekend as taken its toll which is the reason for the short post.
Edited; I've had another go at photo-ing the card, this is slightly better.

Sunday Sketch and Stamp

Oh I forgot to pop this card on my blog before the new challenge on Sunday Sketch & Stamp then I sighed with relief it every other Sunday. This is a cute Boefje stamp from Tracey at Dies to Die for and the papers are K& Co. The butterflies are Martha Stewart and I've used the new daisy embossing folder for the Cuttlebug.
I also made the top 5 with Denny the Dragon, thanks for choosing me.
So I had the most fabulous day at MJ all day Crop, the first challenge was to get there with the Newbury Show Traffic and going through the car park so we could use the road they had closed to get there. Loads and Loads of laughs and I've made a significant advance in my Secret Project even Sis had a good day with several layouts done.
I've come home to some amazing comments which I will try my upmost to get on top of them.

Here comes the girls

Last week on Secret Crafter is was One for the Teen Boy and this week its for the girls and I thought what better card than one for my Sis who is 21 for 43rd time on Sunday. Now I pretty sure she won't see this till Sunday cos she is with all day Saturday and the boys are working late too. I've used a Sarah Kay stamp, they look like Sisters and the sentiment is an unmounted one but I feel it could be Ezybels. The papers are My Minds Eye, it a huge stack with loads of papers and I think it came from The Range. The flowers are all from my stash although the roses are from Wild Orchid Crafts.
My Sis makes cards to order for my Mum, I can't stand the stress making cards for orders, quite happy making cards and then if someone wishes to buy it that's fine, so a few times a year I get a call asking for a card for my Sis from my Mum, so that's Christmas, Anniversary and Birthday. My mum loves than personalised with the recipent name, I always feel doing this is fine if you're 6 but when you're grown up I would've thought you would at least know you name by now.
Anyway thank goodness for the Cricut and my favourite font Storybook and I've the gorgeous papers from My Minds Eye which are gone. I've used another Sarah Kay and the flowers are all punches.

A Golfer just FORE you

There I am beavering away trying to get a card done for tomorrow while out at the crop when I'd finished realised that the Secret Crafter Challenge is tomorrow and I already have a card cos I'm on the DT senior moment or what.
So for an extra treat I'm loading this card today, using the brilliant sketch on Friday Sketchers this week, yes I know it's those papers again from Pebbles, I brought an extra sheet last week from The Glitter Pot while we were there. The golfing chappie is from High Hopes and the sentiment made on the computer.
Just to be cheeky I faux stitch everywhere so I could use it for the challenge on Papertake Weekly.

Truly Scrumptious Angels

Mega amount of glitter was used on this card not just glamour dust but stickles too. This card is for the Truly Scrumptious challenge, there's a fabulous sketch but the option is for three stamps to be used.
The Angels are two separate Judi-kins stamps and they come out every year for Christmas I do love them, I also stamped round the circle with some Inkadinkdo stamps so thats my three.
The papers are Eskimo Kisses which is gorgeous and I may need another pad of them, I also cheated because I used a square frame so I didn't have to use more than one sheet of patterned paper. Before I added the details I glamour dust the frame and edges of the card.
The snowflakes are various dies and I used stickles on them and the brads, the star is a die for a snowflake but I thought it would make a lovely star.

Dragon love

Isnt' he cute, Janet from Pink Gem Designs sent him to me and he is so easy to colour.
I love the sketch on Allsorts challenge but you had to use two colours which would green and white but do you think they may forgive me the blue. I used LilyKate from Basic Grey and the daisies are a Woodware punch, you have to punch two flowers to give the full daisy look.
I added some Woodware fluffy stuff for the dragon's breath but a little tip do this before you stick the dragon on because the poor thing got scorched and lost some of his colour, lucky for me it just looks like shading.
So many challenges, so little time. The next few days I'm quite busy so its going to be a challenge to make cards, today I off to the hairdresser then off to annoy my Sis for the evening. Tomorrow Hubby is finishing work early so we're off for the afternoon probably doing some shopping and Saturday is MJ (Every moment Matters) all day crop and I will be making my secret project and hopefully nearly finishing it.

Simon's Recipe

There's a recipe over on Simon Says Challenge today, 3 embellishment, 2 papers and 1 image. Little bit of cheating here, I don't include the card its on and then there's the cardstock I mat and layer with thats card not paper do you see where I'm going with this LOL. Anyway I used Making Memories patterned paper and a cute mice from Penny Black . I punched the flowers and added the roses and added the bow which make 3 embellies, job done.
I thought I'll make this size card to put in my box ready for next year, if Do-Crafts collects for Marie Curie again I'll have some ready.
There's a nagging gnawing in my head that keeps shouting Christmas Cards, making one or two now again will not be enough come December. You have been warned.

Autumn Birthday Boy

Now I'm not sure if this will be accepted as a Fall card for the challenge on A Spoon Full of Sugar simply because I've used Autumn colours but this Boefje boy stamp ( brought from Dies to Die for) can be used all the year round. I'm still trying to make more masculine cards although this is a teen boy card rather than a man. I've used the sketch on Create4fun which works well with the Pebbles paper cos I only had strips left and the wall image is a Magnolia stamp which is looking very orange but isn't quite so bright in real life. The sentiment I found on a Francoise Read set of stamps.
Many thanks to Alison aka Messy Stamper for the 4 fabby awards do pop over and have a look at her blog there's a fab Tilda Garland on there yesterday.

Fluffy Snowman and Milly

Yippee I now have over 500 followers and seeing has my hit counter is broken I think this deserves some Candy which is on it way if the Postmen don't delay it.
More good news I've been asked to be on the DT of the new challenge blog By the Cute and Girly, I was worried initially about overstretching myself but who wouldn't want to be on the start of a New Adventure and its a monthly challenge and not just card making, check it ou
Now for my card, yes the Flowersoft has been out again, this time I'm happy with my Snowman and Milly is happy with him too. You can found Milly at Pink Gem Designs with some of her friends. I used the fab sketch on Winter Wonderland but I missed the deadline, still it's a brilliant sketch, the papers Little Joys download.

A big Thank you to Di for this fab award, sending it to all my fab followers.

Turquoise or Blue

I had this little SN all ready coloured and ready to be put on a card and what could be better than finally cutting into the new Cosmo Cricket Christmas papers and I found some cardstock almost the same colour to punch out the flowers.
I was just going to put some turquoise gems on the embossed snowflakes when I realised that its a definitely blue on image and not turquoise. Now I remember I coloured her in to match the papers of the download Little Joys, well there's no way I could get the little sweetie off the background cos she is well and truly stuck, so my excuse I coloured her to stand out!
I used the fab Sketch and Stash sketch and I think this will be a very handy sketch and will probably be used again.
Look what arrived in the post for me from Sinikka isn't it gorgeous its a KAOS award for my creativity. Thank you Sinikka its beautiful and I shall treasure it.
The Crafty Monkeys are back after their Summer Break so if you have any under 16 who just happen to be crafty too, they need to check out this challenge although I can't promise they won't go raiding you stash.
Some tears have been shed today for the wonderful Patrick Swayze who as lost his battle with cancer. He's now thrilling the folks up above with some dirty dancing.

Butterflies on Monday

Why is the moment you photo a card you're really pleased with, it then goes all wishy washy, I suppose it could be the photographer.
This is my card for Sketch Saturday using the fab Cosmo Cricket papers and the sweet Sugar Nellie stamp one of my faves. The butterflies are Woodware and Martha Stewart with added gems for the bling factor.
I had to cheat a bit with the ribbon and the sentiment is from a new set I brought on Saturday not at The Craft barn but somehow on the way home we took a detour that took us pass the Glitter Pot, good job I had enough pennies left you can't visit without going home with a new Penny Black stamp to add to your collection, well I can't.

A fabby award from Karen whose been having PC probs but are now sorted.
I'm sorry I'm a bit behind on my visits to blogs, I really needed to get my Secret Project started my Hubby keeps reminding how many weeks I've got to finish it. So yesterday I spent the day getting stuck into it not quite halfway but really pleased with it so far.