Winter Wishes

A quick post today as the husband and I are off soon to spend a few days away in a nice boutique hotel in Cambridge. We are both off work until Thursday which is great, so we are going to make the most of it. I'm really looking forward to relaxing and having some time out, work has been difficult and stressful lately so it will be good to relax and potter around maybe do some shopping too. 

I got two cards finished last night and yes both are Christmas cards the one below is my favourite of the two.

I had quite a few images to choose from as I did a lot of stamping and colouring last week so I just needed to put my ideas together .Sorry I don’t know what the stamp is or by whom as it was from a mixed lot that I bought on eBay some of which had no labels or packaging. I think they are cute and as always coloured with promarkers and some added glitter. The sentiment stamp is from a polka doodles set. The blue flock paper with the holly background was a surprise find, I forgot I had it in my stash, again not sure where it is from as I've had it a few years but think it was a magazine freebie.

 'winter wishes' 

..I used the following materials:

·                     White square card

·                     Blue pearlised card ,pale blue card - layering. 

·                     Blue snowflake patterned paper –Tis the season  ( magazine freebie )

·                     Blue holly/swirl  flock paper (? magazine freebie, which I forgot I had!  )

·                     Angels stamp- coloured using Promarkers and glitter

·                     Sentiment  - cream pearlised card-polka doodles 

·                     From Stash-

·                     Snowflakes – punched various card stocks and  added pearls 

·                     Silver mesh ( behind sentiment)

·                     Blue organza bow  

·                     Blue pearls and gems

Challenges I would like to take part in  this week are as follows

Fat pages with Attitude –Challenge #23 Anything Goes

Patties Creations -Challenge#53 -Anything Goes

Nut Crafters Challenge#27 Glitter and Gems

Stampavie and More Challenge# 177 Sparkling

Party Time Tuesday PTT#87 Anything Goes

Stamp and Create- Anything Goes

Love to Create -Challenge #34 Anything Goes

Multi Layers

I've went all out for a multi layered look card; I couldn't resist all the nice bits and bobs I had in my stash to create an autumnal card. I've had a HOTP tag art book lying around and gathering dust for ages which I have never used before. I used a sweet floral one for my card. I wasn't sure if or how I’d use the tags now I do. The Tilda is an older one and I think its ‘April showers’ although I think it works for our usual wet autumn weather..like today! I enjoyed using the browns and peach tones which is another first for me.

I had no time this weekend for Christmas cards but I did get some stamping done, so will start colouring, my next card will be a Christmas card. We did the garden yesterday,cutting everything back and generally clearing everything; its my least favourite time of the year in the garden...it looks sad and empty...although it has to be done so we can enjoy it next year, although I woke up this morning stiff and ache everywhere…I think I might have over done it slightly but off to work later so need to go, get this posted and get ready for work.

On a final note I would lie to say a big  thank you to everyone who made kind comments on my Christmas card worry, I get the message loud and clear…It’s the thought and love that counts and any I do manage to make this year I will give to family and friends and stop being such a worrier …so thank you everyone your  comments are very encouraging and will keep me motivated…Have a good week everyone…x 

 I used the following materials:

·      White square card

·      Brown and orange tone papers for layering-Dovecraft

·      Papers–front and inside -Spring Jubilee -Pink Paislie (freebie)

                                                   Petite Papers- Webster's Pages (freebie)              

·      Tilda 'April showers'  - coloured with Promarkers- background with chalks but difficult       to see on photo !

·      Flower tag-HOTP Tag art book

From Stash

·     Satin ribbon bow and velvet ric rac 

·      Punched Flowers (paper as above )

·      'Sweet' Sentiment embellishment 

·      Tiny brass brads                      

·      Die cut swirl - coloured with promarkers to match

·      Die cut scalloped square - inside

Close up

 side view-peak of inside

inside

I would like to enter the following challenges this week-

CMC Copic Challenge Group ( or other alcohol markers)Challenge#52-Fall Colours

Crafty Calendar September challenge- Browns and Creams

Just Some Lines-Challenge- Lets Celebrate Fall.

Clearly I Stamp-Challenge#60-cic60-Fall Into Fall

Dilly Beans Designers Challenge- Autumn Colours

Fairytale  Challenge#50 –Beginning of Autumn

Tilda’s Town -Challenge #19- CAS or Fussy and Fancy- I ChoseFussy and Fancy.

Sassy Studio –Dare -to- be -sassy- Thursday #143-Use Fall colours

Creative Belli Challenge#152- Fall/Autumn( I used forgotten tag)

Divas by Design-Challenge #53- Lovely layers

The Paper Shelter- Challenge#82- Colours of Fall/Autumn

Addicted to Stamps-Challenge #39- Autumn Colours

Lovely Hanglar/Sweet Magnolia –Challenge#52-Anything Goes

sentimental Sundays-Challenge#121-Autumn

Make it Monday Challenge#108-Anything Goes 

Pretty in Pink and Magazine prize Giveaway.

A quick post today as I expected to have this done earlier in the week but didn't get the time again I’ve used Jules by Krista Smith at Saturated Canary digi isn't she sweet. As often happens I struggle with ideas so I've followed this weeks Sketch Saturday Challenge. I keep meaning to start on my Christmas cards but get distracted with pretty digi’s and stamps that I want to use .The plan is to make a start at the weekend and I aim to make at least 2-3 a week over the next month to see how it goes…I'm worried they won’t be good enough for friends and family and is will give me plenty of time to buy them should I decide to.

On a positive note I won two free entries to ‘Christmas at the NEC Birmingham’ joint event tickets (Hobby Crafts/Art Materials Live/Crafts for Christmas) 8-11 November from a magazine competition, it’s valid for any one day. I cannot attend but happy to give them away, pop a note in my post comment box of how to get in touch and I will happily post them to the first person who asks for them.

 I used the following materials:

·                     White square card

·                     Green and  pink papers for layering-Dovecraft

·                     Green and Pink floral paper–Best of British Paper Collection(freebie)

·                     Pink floral paper - Summertime Luxury paper collection(freebie )

·                     Pink dot embossed card (freebie )

·                     Jules by saturated canary -coloured with Promarkers

From Stash

·                     Green with Pink stitch ribbon, pink gingham washi tape

·                     Punched Flowers (green paper as above )

·                     Pink and  green buttons, Pink satin ribbon bow

·                     Sentiment tag  – magazine freebie

·                     Inside card-Acetate frame -( freebie)

I would like to enter the following challenges

Sketch Saturday challenge week #225 sketch

Forever Friends - September Monthly Challenge – Ribbon

Challenges 4everybody-Challenge#3 Anything Goes

TheRibbon Girls -September Colour Challenge- Pink and Green

Tammy’s Scrapin Corner- Challenge#28-Anything Goes

Stamp and Create- September Monthly Challenge-Anything Goes

Forever Friends Fortnightly Challenge#45 -Colour Challenge-I used pink and greens

Make It Monday-challenge #107- Anything Goes 

Hello Autumn

Hasn't the weather changed this week; I didn’t realise how nice and warm it has been until I went to work without a coat and was cold, so its off with the lightweight summer jackets and on with the winter coats and scarf brrr…although I do like the autumn, I love the amazing colours that nature brings us as the trees and plants get ready for the winter ahead. My daughter is safely back in Canterbury for Uni and settling in to her new accommodation for her final year. She is working during ‘freshers fortnight’ as a volunteer and doing her training this week with the others, it sounds like a lots of fun as well as some hard work, I’m sure it will be a great experience for her and she will look back on with some fun memories, I hope she enjoys it. I will keep track on her Facebook

I’ve did slighter better on the card making front this week. I have completed my first Saturated Canary card using Fancy, I love her hair, and I think she is very beautiful. I downloaded the freebies when they where available some time ago and have had several attempts at colouring them so far but not liked the results, I didn’t do them justice, Krista is a very talented artist indeed and her blog is great… I look forward to each post to see what amazing artwork she has created, her sense of humour and caring nature makes her blog a pleasure to read. I think her work is absolutely stunning, this is the first time that I have actually liked my colouring enough to make a card, the hair needs more work and my shading needs a lot more practice but overall I like it. Again I’ve went for my favourite colour … blue and this time I've teamed it with yellow and a touch of gold, I think it will make a great birthday card, I’m not sure who for yet maybe one of my nieces which is coming up soon. Its off to my sister in laws 50^th party this weekend so not at home again, looking forward to a ‘weekend off’ although it will be nice catching up with everyone as we don’t meet often living so far away from each other.

a special birthday wish

I used the following materials:

·                     White scalloped card

·                     Yellow and cream card stock for layering

·                     Blue patterned paper -Papermania A4 capsule collection -Aqua

·                     Yellow patterned paper -vintage florals  (magazine freebie)

·                     Saturated Canary- Fancy - using Promarkers and  hair- Pearls and Stickles

·                     Yellow and gold Punched Flowers -with pearls and  card stock as above and 

       gold wrapping paper!

From Stash-

·                     Tiny Yellow mulberry flowers

·                     Sentiment  – coloured promarkers

·                     Gold pin 

·                     Yellow satin ribbon and bow

·                     Various pearls

·                     Punched butterfly coloured with promarker and decorated with Stickles

·                     Die cut flourish coloured with promarker to co-ordinate with card 

I would like to take part in the following challenges this week 

Saturated Canary Challenge #26 -B is for favourite colour -blue, bows and butterflies

Digi Doodle Shop-Final Challenge-Anything Goes

Paper Pretties PWC223 Punches

The Paper Shelter- Challenge#81- Punch It

Love to Create-challenge #32- Shows Us Your Ribbonl

Ruby’s Rainbow challenge#37-bingo-Pearls Flowers Ribbon

Make it Monday #106- Always Anything Goes

Paper Pretties Challenge-PPMC56 -Create a Birthday Card

Challenges 4 Everybody- Challenge#2-Anything Goes

The Squirrel and the Fox –Challenge #26-Anything Goes

Flutterby Wednesday - Challenge #205-Butterfly and your favourite colour- Blue

Goodbye summer

It’s been a busy couple of weeks and I haven’t had the time to write a post so this is a little longer than my usual. 

Last weekend we were at the Paralympics…What an amazing experience. Until this year I hadn't taken much notice of the Olympics let alone the Paralympics and when we got some tickets to attend I was looking forward to seeing the Olympic site and hadn't thought much about the events themselves having not previously watched them or being a sporty type…it was awesome.The participants are definitely inspiring and the determination and spirit shown by the athletes was outstanding; they obviously put so much commitment and time into there training and chosen sport and the sheer determination and courage to compete to the finish line was phenomenal. We saw several track and field events and some medal ceremonies including a few British which was a real bonus...The whole atmosphere during events and the cheers of the crowd was at times overwhelming and quite emotional. I can only imagine how proud the athletes their family, friends and coaches must have felt. I'm so fortunate that I had the opportunity to attend and look forward now to future games with a new found respect and admiration for the contestants. It was one of my best days out ever, and the wonderful memories will last forever. 

As for card making there hasn't been much of that as it’s also been a very busy week at work with several late finishes again. Hopefully In the next few months the staffing will improve, I will get my evenings back and the husband will stop having takeaways and ready meals for tea most nights!. 

I started several cards last night and spent some time making cards with my daughter, its nice to do something together which we both enjoy; although she has a very modern clean style compared to my the ‘more the merrier’. The summer has went so quickly and she is off back to university today it only feels like she just got here and its been almost 3 months !!! ...it has been a very quick summer; I will miss having her around, not long to Christmas though and she will be back again, its her final year so who knows what next year will bring or where she will be. 

I finished this pretty card using a Sarah Kay Stamp 'Picnics of Daisies'; I went for mainly pastel blues with some pink. As usual I used my Promarkers and quite like the colouring especially her little face and rosy cheeks. I used mainly leftover papers as my stash is growing each time I make a card…I don’t seem to throw much away! and I use a lot of blues (it’s my favourite colour).The papers used where all freebies, the white with blue polka dot paper was a free download from scrapbookscrapbook.com. Part of a hearts and dots set which has a great range of colours that I've used often.

I used the following materials:

·                     White scalloped card

·                     Blue and  pink card stock for layering

·                     White blue polka dot paper-(also for inside insert)Scrapbookscrapbook.com

·                     Blue polka dot and gingham papers -Cool Britannia Collection (freebie)

·                     Pink floral paper -Pink Petticoat-Wild Blossoms collection (freebie )

·                     Sarah Kay- Picnics and Daisies stamp -coloured with Promarkers

·                     Punched Flowers layered on outside and decorated with pearls (flat inside)    

          using same card stock and papers as above

·                     Pale Pink grossgrain ribbon for bow

·                     Sentiment tag  – Papermania- attached using small flower brad

·                     Die cut scalloped square – for card insert

I would like to take part in the following challenges this week 

Allsorts Challenge- Week171- Layers

Just Add Ink-JAI#134- polka dots

Digi Doodle Shop Challenge- Challenge#124- Handmade Flowers

Crafts and Me Challenges – Challenge 100- Add a Flower

My Mums Craft Shop-challenge#73- Anything Goes

Sassy Cheryl’s Challenege#131 -Got the Blues

Make It Monday – Challenge#106– Anything Goes