I'm Back :)

Wow, that was a BUSY half term! We took the littlies to Disneyland Paris for the week, which was wonderful but SOOOOO TIRING!! Thanks so much to my teamies for covering for me while we were away. Of course Mr Blogger was a very naughty boy and ignored my scheduled posts for whilst I was away (grrrrr!) so I'm here this morning trying to update everything!

Yesterday saw the start of a brand new challenge at THE CRAFTY PAD with the theme of FRIENDSHIP. The DT have all used the wonderful Roshell Friends with Basket, available from The Crafty Pad Designs in both coloured and uncoloured versions.  I used the coloured version for my card.

Our sponsor this week is Michelle's Scrap

and one lucky winner will receive this fab stamp as a prize:

It's called Best Hugs by Alisa Ramirez.

I printed blue gingham straight onto card and made a pop-out stepper card. The image was cut using a lacey circle nestie on yellow gingham. I printed one of Debbie's sentiments directly onto the card too. I added some yellow grosgrain ribbon and punched flowers using white and yellow gingham with card candy dots at the centre (coloured to match using Promarkers.)

 I inked the edges to finish. I really hope you can join us for this week's challenge.

I would like to enter a couple of challenges with my card:

• Cardmad Fairy's Digi Day Challenge #19 - Friendship.
• Our Creative Corner - Fancy Folds.
• Scrappy Frogs - Something That Flies.
• Crafts & Me #58 - Winter Blues.

I also made a project for last week's Crafty Pad challenge which was Halloween, but it didn't post as Mr Blogger wasn't playing nicely! Here's what I made:

An icicle treatbox for Halloween sweeties, using the Halloween image from The Crafty Pad Designs.

The Stamping Boutique Sponsor DYSU?

Morning, and a right cold one it is here, BBBBRRRRRRR! Back to scraping thick ice off the windscreen before taking the littlies to school (gggrrr) but back to pulling on a hat to hide the scary 'bed-head' hair (yay!) so not all bad!

Today sees the start of a new challenge at Do You Stack Up? and The Stamping Boutique are proud to be one of their sponsors!

The theme for the challenge is TREES and I have used Princess Jennifer Latte Decorating the Tree one of Tracey's fabby images for my card. She is such a wonderful character!

I used a 6"x6" square card, black card for matting and the DPs are MME 'Snowed In' Winter Papers, and were a freebie with the Cardmaking & Papercraft magazine; I even managed to find one with trees on to match the theme!  I tried to keep the layout and details simple as there is so much fab detail in the image, I wanted that to be the focal point. I added some black & white gingham ribbon for contrast. The sentiment is from Card Craftworks. My image is of course coloured using Promarkers!

So, I will enter my card into the following challenges:

• DYSU #42 - Trees.
• Pollycraft #115 - Girls, Girls, Girls!
• Little Claire's #14 (monthly) - Christmas.
• Wee Memories #72 - Holiday Madness!

HALLOWEEN with a TWIST !!

Happy hump-day folks, it's certainly getting chilly here, which is perfect for our challenge this week at FOR FUN CHALLENGES. We want to see your HALLOWEEN projects, but with a twist...you CANNOT use Orange, Black OR Purple !!! Let me tell you, it was way harder than I imagined it would be! Here's my card:

Our fabulous sponsor this week is once again BUGABOO who provided the DT with some fab images to work with.

 The lucky winner will receive SEVEN images of their choice...such a wicked prize!

I coloured my image with Promarkers and cut it out. The red DP was applied to the whole of the card front, then 2 pieces of green DP were torn and distressed with red ink. A circle of the red DP was torn and distressed with green ink, then my image was added using foam pads. The sentiment I created on the computer using the font Halloween Spider; it says 'Hoppy Halloween.' A green ribbon with an extra bow in red, and some card candy dots to finish.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

• Creative Card Crew - Spooky Fun.
• Digital Tuesday #133 - Happy Halloween.
• Crafty Boots - Autumn or Halloween.
• Creative Stamp Friends #36 - Halloween.
• Paper Creations Ink #11 - Halloween.
• Paper Pretties - Halloween.
• Gingerloft #27 - Halloween or Fall.
• Paper Sundaes #91 - Halloween or Fall.
• Quirky Crafts #21 - Spooky/Halloween/Colour challenge.
• Challenge up your Life #54 - Halloween.

Don't forget to join us at For Fun this week, someone's gotta win that fab prize, and much as we'd love to, the DT aren't allowed!!!!

Thanks for popping in, I love visitors!

I Wish I was Albert !!!!!

Over at The Crafty Pad this week we have a MONOCHROMATIC challenge theme for you. You get to choose ANY colour, but just ONE! I chose brown. The DT have all used Albert Snoozin' available from The Crafty Pad Designs. Here's my card:

I coloured the image with Promarkers, & cut it with a nestie. My papers are digital, from various sources, then I distressed the edges with brown ink, and simply layered them up. I have added a circle sentiment, a few Card Candy dots, some funky fibres and a tassell I've had in my stash since forever!

So you see, I wish I was Albert because the lucky chap is enjoying a nap, something I always need but rarely get!

I am entering my card into a couple of challenges:

• Pollycraft - Boys, Boys, Boys.
• Sweet Stampin' - Masculine.

I'm a GDT at My Sheri

I was honoured to be asked to be a GDT following my entry into the 'Sew Simple' challenge at My Sheri Crafts a few weeks ago, and today sees the launch of their latest challenge, which I have joined them for, thanks SO MUCH for having me girls! The theme this time around is 'PUMPKINS' so as long as your creation features a pumpkin/s on it somewhere you're good to go!

Here's my card:

I have used the wonderful 'tic tac toe' board by Sammy Murphy, available for just 50p from Cardmaking Downloads. I layered several of the sections up with 2, 3 and 4 layers for extra dimension, an idea inspired by my dear friend Debbie, owner and designer of CRAFTY STASH. 

The papers are digital from various sources and I simply layered them up and added the 'Boo!' senti to the top left of the tic tac toe board.A few card candy dots in black and silver to complete the card.

It made a change for me to use something other than my Promarkers this time, and I certainly enjoyed making this card, which is what it's all about at the end of the day....right girls?

I will enter my card into a couple of challenges:

• Crafting for all Seasons #11 - Fall Flowers/Pumpkins.
• The House that Stamps Built (DCC 1012) - Halloween/Fall.
• Creative Card Crew - Spooky Fun.
• Everybody Art Challenge #163 - Halloween.
• Going Grey With Scrap Creations - Halloween.
• Cupcake Craft Challenges  #163 - Halloween.
• House of Gilli #18 - Colour choice/pick 3 from list ~ I chose ORANGE, BLACK & PURPLE.

This is a scheduled post, I'm off to the Isle of Wight for the day to see the family, so I hope this has worked!!!!

Someone Special...At The Stamping Boutique

I am thrilled to be working on The Stamping Boutique DT, and especially as my card this week is for such a fab challenge. The theme for this fortnight is 'For Someone Special.' We all have special people in our lives, and every once in a while it's nice to let them know how special they are to us. My card is for my youngest son, Noah...he will be 5 next month.

I used the Noah's Ark image from The Stamping Boutique to make this rocker card. The papers are Pink Petticoat Little Swirls. The image is coloured with promarkers cut out before mounting onto the card. The white waves are attached using foam pads for a 3D effect, then a few blue gems have been added. The 'Son' letters have been die cut using the Cuttlebug 'Hippie Chick' alphabet, as were the hearts. I added a ric-rac ribbon to the  base-edge of the rocker (hard to see in the pic!) and the final touch is a small 'Autism Awareness' ribbon on the RHS of the Ark, as my Noah has autism.

We would LOVE for you to join the challenge, and you don't have to use a Stamping Boutique image, although we love it when you do, so much so, you get entered for the prize twice!

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

• Pollycraft #114 - Boys, Boys, Boys.
• Pile it On - Just Because.
• Just Some Lines - Reminds me of a Song (Who Built the Ark? Noah, Noah!)
• One Stop Craft #152 - Anything Goes.
• Southern Girls #29 - Slugs & Snails & Puppy-Dog's Tails.

Hope to see you over at THE STAMPING BOUTIQUE!

Let's go VINTAGE

Good Morning bloggers, can you believe it's Sunday again already!? Before you know it'll be Christmas ! :-0 Lol! The GOOD news is that we have a brand new challenge for you over at THE CRAFTY PAD, and it's a fab one....we're going VINTAGE. I must be honest and say it's a style I LOVE but it just doesn't come easy to me...I think it's something you've either 'got' or 'not', and I 'not!' However, the rest of the DT have totally ROCKED this challenge, so make sure you go and check out their stunning creations. Here's my card:

I made a tri-shutter card because I couldn't decide which of Debbie's wonderful DRESS FORMS to use, so have used all 3! They are of course available from THE CRAFTY PAD DESIGNS for just 59p.

I printed the vintage green DP straight onto card, and scored/cut it. I also printed 'You've Got Style' onto it too.  Each dress form was mounted onnto a contrasting DP and cut around before using foam pads to mount onto the card. I then added some layered die-cut flowers, die-cut flourishes and some pearls. To finish I added a sentiment and some posh stick-pins. The edges of the card and layers have been distressed and inked, but the photo isn't that good so you can't see that.

Our sponsor this week is the fabuluous CREATIVE CRAFT WORLD with a £10 spend in their online store.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

• Cardmakin' Mamas #30 - Fancy Folds.
• Fairy Fun Fridays #63 - Girly.
• Crafty Sentiments Designs - Flowers, Pearls & Pins.
• Digital Tuesday #131 - Any Celebration.

I'm really looking forward to seeing your creations this week! Thanks for visiting my little piece of blogland.

It's Autumn For Sure

Happy Hump Day folks!

After an amazing few days last week and a fab weekend that felt more like summer than summer actually did, we are back in the throes of Autumn here in the UK. I am always sad to see the end of summer, but the amazing colours of Autumn never cease to amaze me, every year I feel a true sense of awe and wonder at the array a stunning rich, warm colours. Living on the edge of the New Forest I guess I am spoiled by the sheer volume of colour, but I never take it for granted.

So, onto this week's challenge at FOR FUN...we want to see LEAVES on your projects this week. Gotta be an easy one to get involved in right? Well, if you're not convinced, let me tell you who's sponsoring us this week...it's Di's Digis!

Yay, NOW you're onboard right??!! The winner will receive a super-generous FIVE digis of their choice!

The DT have all used one of her fabby images this week, I chose a real cutie called Windy Play and made a corner bookmark for my daughter who LOVES reading! Here it is:

They are SO easy to make, a piece of card 4"x4", score and fold the top into a chevron then decorate as you choose! I used Autumn colours and added some leaves cut from a DP to decorate. Slide it over the corner of the page you want to save like this:

I am entering my bookmark into the following challenges:

• Going Grey With Scrap Creations - Fall.
• Craft Your Passion #79 - Anything Goes (with a twist=ribbon.)
• Hooked on Craft #9 - Anything BUT a Card.
• House of Gilli #17 - Autumn/Fall.
• Nettie G's Digital Gems- Autumn/Fall.
• Just Some Lines - It's Fall Y'all!

Let's Hear it For The BOYS

Welcome to another challenge at THE CRAFTY PAD. I am amazed each and every week at the beautiful array of creations I am lucky enough to visit as I journey through Blogland, and last week was no exception! I do hope you can all join us again this week for our latest challenge #141 which is

ONE FOR THE BOYS

The DT all used Debbie's fabulous Pocket Watch & Elements this week, (available from The Crafty Pad Designs,) and I am in awe of the DT creations...You simply MUST go and take a look, they're STUNNING! I admit that I struggled somewhat with this one, although I adore the images, I find the 'cute' images easier to work with....I admit that this is a style I really need to get better at!

Anyway, our fabby sponsor this week is Crafty Emma with a prize of £10 to spend in her online store (excl. P&P)

Here's my humble creation:

I created a montage of pocket watches and cogs as the main image, then printed directly onto the DP. All layers have had the edges distressed with a pair of scissors. I also created a border of cogs which I printed directly onto the DP and is on the LHS of my card. On the main image image I added extra pocket watches on foam pads and covered them with Anita's 3D glaze. I added a few card candy dots, and printed my sentiment directly onto the DP.

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

• One Stop Craft - Just For Men.
• Here Come The Boys - Wheely Nice!
• Crafts 4 Eternity #39 - Anything Goes.
• Digi Makeover Challenge #4 - Size Matters! (Change the Size of your Digi.)

Thanks for stopping by, I do hope you manage to join us!