WOYWW 178

APOLOGIES PHOTO HEAVY POST !

Another week over already doesn't time fly; I can’t believe its only 55 days till Christmas. Wednesday also means its time for WOYWW if you don’t know what its all about hop over to the grand hostess Julia and check it out, Christmas card making continues to be my main focus and the production line continues to work well, Alas I've not done much of anything since the weekend due too work other than collect various bits an bobs for the current cards ’on the go’ and moving various papers and cards around!... I'm not sure yet which ones to use on the cute little precious moments nativity scene!...keep changing my mind! .I know these are meant for children but the images are so cute I couldn't resist. I've made 4 cards since last week though (a record), In the meantime my desk remains a site of “work in progress” My latest finished card is this cute Tilda card,,,the details of what I used are below. Must dash now as the boss Julia likes it kept short and sweet, I do like to try and comply, also I've important work to do…need to go a snooping….why don’t you go over and take a look for yourself, See what everyone has been up to this week. It’s not often we get invited into the crafty spaces and lives of our like minded friends and followers, .I plan to have a good snoop around, Have a great week…hugs x 

p.s sorry the photo's are a bit dark its a dull wet morning !

full desk view 

front view

work in progress

 current card that I'm working on

finished card - Tilda with ornaments 

close up 

 inside

I used the following

White scalloped  card base

Blue check paper- Merry and Bright- Nitwit papers (Magazine freebie) 

Bauble paper-ultimate Christmas paper pack -magazine freebie

blue card for layering             

Tilda hanging ornaments - coloured with promarkers/flexi markers and Stickles

Sentiment- from Polka Doodles stamp set- memento ink

From stash

Die cut flourish, roses and leaves –with added glitter

Die cut circles – top and base card

Die cut sentiment tag

Organza ribbon

Silver snowflake charm

Deep pink candi

Tiny blue brads

Challenges I would like to take part in

Fashionista challenge # 8-Anything Goes

Hooked on Crafts –Challenge #26- Christmas no Red or Green

Ooh–la-la Creations= Challenge #117 = Christmas

Lovely Haenglar-Sweet Magnolia – Challenge#55 – Girls Only

Magnolia Down Under-Challenge #170 –Birthstones – December- Blue Zircon

One Stitch at a Time- Challenge #137-Make one for Christmas

The Crafty Pad –Challenge# 194 Christmas is Coming

Dream Valley- Challenge#44 –Glitter and Bling

52 Christmas Card Throwdown- Challenge –Use Die Cut or Punches

Emerald Faeries –Challenge#35- Use a Charm

Die Cutting Divas –Challenge#89-Anything Goes –I used die cut circles and sentiment

Make it Monday-Challenge#113 Anything Goes

WOW What a Candy

wow what an astounding candy!... hop over to Galleria to take part in their wonderful candy competition. As you can see its quite a prize for one lucky winner!... good luck to all who take part ..hugs x

Christmas Cards and Grand Plans

What a miserable cold and wet morning outside, although today we do get an extra hour…yippee and since I'm up fairly early this morning and hubby is still asleep I'm going to spend mine blog hopping and visiting my favourite sites once I've posted this,I can’t think of a better way really of spending a spare hour. I am well into Christmas card creating this week and on a roll. I've made three in total and working on two others. I will post the others once I take some photos, I'm really happy with two of the three which is progress! I've made a list of friends and family who I'm going to be making cards for; up until now I've been making them more for enjoyment and fun  rather than specific people, although I'm sure I will find owners for the ones I've made so far. These will be my last unplanned Christmas cards. The digi stamp is from Di’s Digi’s and called ‘Come on we have a lot to do’ that I won some time ago, it was one of the first challenges I won and at the time I had no Christmas stash so I planned ahead and got four Christmas digi's all as cute as this one.   

'come on we have a lot to do'

close up  

 I used the following

• White square  base card
• Green card for layering
• snowflake paper –Cosy Christmas collection-magazine freebie
• poinsettia paper- holly hobby free paper pack from magazine
• Digi-Di’s Digi’s ‘come on we have a lot to do’-Promarkers
• Die cut sentiment -Stamp from crafter companion stamp set

From stash

• Punched snowflakes-gold ,vellum and pearlescent papers
• HOTP Jewel dazzles-Christmas vintage kit
• Parcel Embellishment
• lace and green satin ribbon

inside  

I would like to take part in the following challenges 

BrownSugar challenge#13 –Anything Goes

Fussy and Fancy Challenge #74-Anything Goes

ThePoodles Parlour- Anything Goes

MyHeart Pieces Challenge- Use a Ribbon

DutchDare Card Challenge#188-Ribbons and Lace

Southern Girls Challenge#56- Animal Crackers

EclecticEllapu-Challenge Week 3 -Recipe 1, 2, 3. I’ve used- I stamp, 2 papers, 3 HOTP dazzlers. 
Make it Monday –Challenge #122 -Anything Goes

WOYWW 177

Hasn't a week passed quickly I cant believe its Wednesday again; which means its time for WOYWW hosted by the talented  Julia, hop over and have a look if you've not came across it before. I'm a bit late today not up early enough but better late than never..I should think about posting before I go to bed ..mmm...idea! Thank you to all the WOYWWers last week, who visited and those who gave me advice and great ideas re my stamping dilemma it’s very much appreciated, I've got a few to try out and will keep you posted! My cold has finally gone and I'm back to Christmas card making again the new plan is a week on and a week off unless I get behind and don’t have enough Christmas cards made. made a couple of non Christmas cards over the weekend using a cute bear from stamp from Craftwork Cards that I hadn't used since I bought it. Sorry I don’t have another finished product to show for this weeks efforts yet, as I'm still at the planning stages as you can see; I like to get all the bits that I might use before I finally start putting it all together although this time I'm working on a few cards at the same time rather than just one…not sure yet whether that’s a good idea or not yet as it does make for  a crowded desk ! Anyway must dash Julia likes it kept short and sweet and I tend to babble on a bit!...why don’t you hop over to WOYWW and check out what everyone else is up to as that’s where I'm heading ….sorry photos are a bit dark its a damp miserable morning !..until next week hopefully have a great week…hugs..x

'current card under construction'

'work in progress' 

'wide shot' 

My last completed card 

    'happy birthday bear'                                  inside card

I used the following

White scalloped base cad

Yellow/blue card stock –front and inside

Various Yellow papers- Magazine freebies

Alfie stamp-Craft Work Cards -coloured with Promarkers

From stash

Yellow grossgrain ribbon and button

Stamped die cut Sentiment

Tiny brads

Punched flower embellishments using same cards as above

Die cut square-inside card

Challenges I would  like to take part in this week are-

Anything Goes-Challenge#78- Make your own Embellishments

Karen’s Doodles Challenge#138-Primary Colours Red Yellow Blue

Flourishes Boutique-Timeless Tuesday #192-Birthday Card

Passion for Promarkers #172’Pets’- Must Include an Animal

Through The Craft Room Door -Challenge #41-Anything Goes and Blog Hop

ABC Challenge #1-new too you- Alfie stamp and yellow papers

Lady Anne’s  OctoberChallenge Anything Goes

Make it Monday-Challenge #112 Anything Goes

Crazy Challenge CCH#130 –Handmade Flowers

Cold Free and Happy

Thank goodness I've finally got rid of my cold, it knocked me for six and lasted well over a week but now it’s almost gone. Christmas card making was on hold this week, I did have a bit of stamping frenzy earlier in the week and coloured some cute bears as a result. I've completed two cards using the same Alfie bear with balloon the style is very similar although I went for contrast with the colour scheme one I've used more pastel/soft tones and the other bright and colourful, I've posted  the softer of the two, the other I will post later when I  get the chance. I love Alfie, he was great fun to colour. All the papers were magazine freebies from various sources other than the love heart paper which is from the Bazoo paper pack.

Yesterday I had a great day and I didn't do any housework!... went to a craft fair which was on locally until the early afternoon, hubby stayed at home… I learnt after my visit in the spring husbands and craft fairs don’t mix. I had a fab time and very happy with my purchased goodies although I did spend more than I planned to. I got loads including stamps, cardstock, embossing powders, ink pads, flowers ribbons and dies… (for my Christmas hubby gave me some extra cash to get something if I saw it...of course I did..I can’t wait till Christmas)… you get the idea; I have no excuse now for not having enough stash or stuck for ideas.

 'happy birthday '

'close up of Alfie bear '

My birthday is also coming up next month and the husband has both my birthday and Christmas wish lists (he needs time to plan and save!)…Santa has already agreed to bring me a Grand Calibur thanks to a great offer on C&C a few weeks ago! and the birthday fairy some copics and a heat gun, not the large set of pens only 36...I didn't want hubby sorry the birthday fairy going into shock!...that happened when he found out how much I've spent on promarkers, so I didn't want to ask for too much. These will be more than enough to get me started. I've heard so much about them, that I thought I’d add them to my promarkers which I am happy with; I want to compare how they work and what direction to go in as I progress in the future. The heat gun is because I want to try embossing as I love the look and decided now is the time to learn a new skill. Since I got into card making, I can’t think of anything non crafty that I would want…I'm definitely addicted.

inside card 

I used the following

• scalloped card
• Green and grey papers and card for layering
• Papers various magazine freebies
• heart paper -Bazoo Helz Cuppleditch
• Alfie bear - Craftwork Cards-coloured with Promarkers

From stash

• Organza ribbon, and bakers twine
• Button, pearls
• Sentiment-magazine freebie
• Inside -card and papers as for front.
• Punched flowers using same papers and cardstock
• Die cut square- inside

I would like to take part in the following challenges this week
Penny Black and More-Monthly Challenge- Animal Magic
Addicted to Stamps challenge#41 - Animal Friends
Cards Galore Challenge-Anything Goes
Forever Friends Monthly Challenge -Bingo I used ribbon button blue
Daring Cardmakers Challenge-‘don’t worry be happy’
Fussy and Fancy Challenge #74-Anything goes
The Poodles Parlour challenge-Anything goes
Challenges 4 Everybody Challenge #5-Anything Goes
The Craft pad Challenge#193-Use an Animal
The Squirrel and the Fox Challenge #29-Use Ribbon
Clearly i Stamp challenge –CIC62 -‘All Tied Up’-Use Ribbon or Twine
Dutch Dare Card Challenge-Buttons and bows
Stamptacular Sunday Challenge#186- No Rules
One Stop Craft Challenge#201-Anything Goes
Make it Monday Challenge#112-Anything Goes

WOYWW 176

Hi I've made it again for another week,I got up a bit earlier this morning so that I could post before work. Why dont you hop over to Julia the excellent host of WOYWW at The Stamping Ground and have a good look at what everyone is up to this week and or join in yourself..sadly I've not a lot to show this week sorry,I've had a stinking cold since last week and other than blog hopping and Pinterest(I'm officially addicted!!)I've not achieved much else since then.Christmas card making is temporarily postponed mid card making and moved (not away). I had a bit of a stamping frenzy last night. I'm a bit of an odd crafter as I hate the feel of ink!..so I tend to stamp in bursts so I dont need to do it too often.which also means I'm not very good so the bin fills very quickly!, mmm...I should really stick to digi's if I thought about it !... as mad as it sounds I have even tried wearing latex gloves but tended to get into a right mess and ink everywhere so that was scrapped...any good ideas would be gratefully received.
I've stamped a whole range including the cute teddy with the balloons which I haven't used yet, he is from craftworks cards he is so cute and stamped beautifully.The Holly Hobby stamps where a must to stamp and was a magazine freebie, reminds me of my childhood, I cant wait to try colouring them both.Sorry I'm waffling on a bit now; so off to check out what the other WOYWWers are up to before I need to get ready for work ...come join me.Until next week when I  will try to keep the post short...honest,its so hard to do!... have a good week...hugs...x

The stamping station

Holly Hobby - sweet memories 

The ones that didn't make it 

relegated -christmas corner and half finished card on the left!

In The Pink ….But Still Christmas!

I know I said no more Christmas cards last week but it’s so hard with so many wonderful free gifts and inspirational ideas for Christmas cards in blogs that I follow and magazines at the minute ... I'm now finding it hard to stop, which is ironic given a few weeks ago I was finding it hard to start making Christmas cards!... LOL

My plans for the pink and blue card earlier in the week changed slightly as I got going. I've decided to go more for a pink extravaganza with lots of sparkle and bling in support of breast cancer awareness.I love the bright colours of the Merry and Bright Nitwit Papers Collection and think I may need get the download as these where a magazine freebie,I don’t think I could have made it any more girly and pink than this; although there is a hint of  other colours…but not a lot.

I've used lots of dies and corner dies for the first time and tried for the luxury layered look that I see so many talented card makers do so beautifully, I've not quite got the hang of it yet but getting there, some of my favourite bloggers seem to produce beautiful creations so easily yet it takes me forever to do anything and never looks anywhere near the same…not that I'm copying anyone’s ideas just the general style.

                                                    'Pink Christmas Wishes' 

I'm also not sure whether I've used too many dies cuts and I've added lots and lots of glitter… to almost everything!!....My husband’s reaction was one of bemusement and bewilderment as to why so much was on the one card; he doesn't get the layered look or is a fan of pink…surprisingly!

I'm overall happy with finished result but yet again what I have in my head doesn't seem to translate to the card…this must take much more practice to get right  … I think it is still a good card for a girly girl and think it would make pink fan happy and I really like the easel base with the tag for writing your message on, I think its my  favourite die .

I've had a horrible cold the last few days and haven’t achieved much at all. I spent most of yesterday lazing around or blog hopping the hours away so today I must find some motivation to get moving. I will get this posted and do the housework and ironing as it won't do itself!…another weekend nearly gone and I would rather not but needs must , hopefully I can fit in a little bit more card making later tonight if I'm up to it. Have a good day and enjoy the last of the weekend everyone, hugs...x

 lots of glitter!

I used the following materials -

·         Two white Scalloped cards to make easel card

·         Pink textured and plain card for layering

·         Pink stripe/floral paper-Nitwit papers

·         Pink paper with snowflakes -Humphries Corner (all papers magazine freebies)

·         Tilda on bauble - coloured with promarkers and Stickles

·         Dies various including Doo Hickey- fancy circle ,corners, floral flourishes,  label –all glittered

 From stash-

·         Pink and white flowers – all glittered

·         Organza ribbons

·         Punched snowflakes

·         Snowflake charm

·         Gems

·         Heart pin

·         Sentiment (magazine freebie)

Challenges I would like to take part in  this week are-

Crafty Catz WeeklyChallenge#154-Easel Card

Fussy and Fancy-Challenge#73-Easel Card
Jellypark challenge-October-Pinkit Up
Jingle Belles –Challenge-PinkChristmas

Christmas Challenge Blog-PhotoInspiration- My inspiration is the Bauble
4 Crafty Chicks- 4CCC-111- TagYour It

Crimbo Crackers- Challenge #26- Pink

Forever Friends Monthly ChallengeOctober-Bingo-used-Ribbon-Pink-Gems

Happy Campers Craft Collective-Challenge #2- Use a Tag Moving Along With The Times-challenge-Tag It

Paper Crafting Journey- Add SomeBling

Shelly’s Images Blog- Tic –Tac-Toe–used-Die–Free–Ribbon

Southern Girls - Challenge#55- Tie a Ribbon Around It.

Make it Monday-challenge#110-Anything Goes 

2 Sisters challenge#113–Anything Goes 

Crafty hazelnut’s Christmas Challenge–CHCM94-Snowflakes
Christmas stamping all Year Long- CSAL#32-anything goes

Eclectic Ellapu-Anything Goes 

Santa Stop Here !

Another Christmas card and this is the last week, next week will be something different although I think I said that last week too, Hmmm …Its Santa today the stamps where a magazine freebie from Nitwits, isn't he cute there is also a cute elf that I've used for small cards-other post to follow. I went for a bright and bold look and enjoyed adding lots of embellishments, the little Silver Star charm was actually recycled from a perfume bottle … waste not want not is definitely my crafting motto. The Santa hat brad was a Christmas set containing a mixture of different designs so watch out your sure to see more of them. I’ve housework to get done so need to stop blabbing on and get some work done be back at the weekend hopefully. Have good week x

I used the following materials:

· Red card stock

· white scalloped card blank

· Santa Stamp-Nitwit Magazine freebie coloured with Promarkers/ Flexi markers

· blue polka dot /red glitter star paper-front and inside -Fizzy moon festive fun 8x8

From stash 

· red satin ribbon bow and red/white bakers twine

· sentiment and  tag embellishments- magazine freebies

· silver candi and  punched pearlescent/silver paper snowflakes

· Santa hat brad-Woodware

· Silver Star charm - as above recycled from perfume bottle!

· die cut scalloped square -inside card

Challenges I would like to enter this week 

Crafty Sentiments- Anything Goes

Deep Ocean challenge #36-Anything Goes

Papelitos Stamps challenge#15 - Anything Goes

Through The Craft Room Door-Challenge #38 - Anything Goes

Cards by lady Anne –Monthly challenge-Anything Goes

Crafty Bloggers Network-Anything Goes

Make it Monday Challenge #110 -Anything Goes

My Grafico-challenge #138 Anything goes

Ooh- la-la Creations Challenge#115-Santa

CMC copic challenge (other alcohol markers)-Challenge#53-Bright-fun colours

WOYWW...What’s on your work desk Wednesday? 175

WOYWW

I can’t believe another week has passed already...which means its time to hop over to Julia’s at the Stamping Ground and check out what everyone is up too. I'm still making Christmas cards and have hada stamping and colour frenzy the past few days ., now that I'm in the zone. I love this cute Magnolia Tilda one, I like to get all the co-ordinated bits I might want to use first before I start assembling the card, hence the mass of pink and blue which is too much for one card but I get there eventually!.. Sorry the pics are not great its a dull dark morning! Brighten up your day hop over to the wonderful host Julia’s and check out what the others are up to and even better join in yourself; I'm sure she would love you to take part. Take care and enjoy … hopefully I will see you again there next week…hugs

I love Christmas

This is a short post as I have to get ready for work…oh how I love Mondays …not…why does the weekend always go so quickly? 

I'm still well into Christmas card making although this week I think I really should  do something different, but I do love christmas; the problem is I spend so much time blog hopping and looking at great sites with amazing card and crafting ideas that I get overwhelmed as to what to try out next; also I'm getting addicted to Pintrest…so this week the plan is less time on the PC and more in the craft room. This is another card using the Molly Bloom stamp, I do like this stamp set as you may have guessed; this time I've went with a green and red colour scheme using the great freebies I've got from magazines in recent weeks. (I've so many to choose from now I don’t think I’ll ever use them all and deciding on what to use is becoming harder!) I'm happy with this card although I am a bit dissapointed with the inside  as when it dried the glue has left some dark shadows,not sure why as it hasn't happened before; I may need to add a snowflake or something and some ribbon to cover it !

I now have an almost finished Santa Claus card and two small completed cards that I will post when I get the opportunity to later in the week, again the weekend has gone so quickly and not enough time for everything I wanted  but you cant have everything,I hope everyone has a good week...x

'Merry Christmas'

I used the following materials:

• White scalloped card
•  Red and green card and papers from stock for layering
• Green snowflake,white heart /red border strip papers -(magazine freebie)
• Red snowflake patterned paper–Cosy Christmas collection (last year freebie)
• Molly bloom –Christmas Carnival kit coloured with Promarkers and faux stitching 
• White card die cut. heart, flowers and flourish
• From Stash-
• Red wooden heart
• Red grossgrain ribbon
• Sentiment and candy cane embellishment (magazine freebies)
• Red tiny brads and button
• Die cut square and same red snowflake papers/card as above for inside 

Challenges I would like to take part in this week -

Guylou’s Inimitability -Challenge- Just to die for (Oct 18^th)

Crafty Mess Challenge #19 - Anything goes 

Delightful Sketches-weekly challenge- winter holiday

Pixie Dust Studios –Anything Goes

Shelly’s Images challenge tic- tac- toe –I used punch or die/ free / ribbon

Simply Create Challenges - linky Party#5

Penny’s paper crafty Challenge - #96- Die Cuts and Punches

Whimsy Stamps Inspiration-Challenge#51-Anything goes

Make it Monday #110 Anything Goes

Challenges For Anybody-Challenge #4 - Anything Goes

Ginger loft challenge GL149- Real or faux Stitching

More Seasons Greetings

Its good to be back home, relaxed and rejuvenated we have had a wonderful few days away and off work. We had a super time in Cambridge,staying  in a fab luxury hotel in the penthouse suite…it was huge and beautifully decorated, four poster bed, huge balcony and two glass‘walls’ with fab views of the city…I could have easily stayed longer and not left the room!...although I don’t think hubby could have afforded too! We enjoyed a walking tour of the city and the universities and a bit of shopping…bliss. Back to work today although this will be a nice short week.On the way home we also got some furniture for my craft room as I only had my desk and a tall drawer unit which was getting a little cluttered. Hubby very kindly put them together yesterday; I've rearranged everything and it looks fab, I have loads more storage space and feel very lucky to have a  room for myself.

This is the card I finished before we went away. last night I finished a further two and working on a third I'm definitely on a Christmas roll now, although the last two where very simple designs and small cards. I used a new Molly Bloom stamp that I bought recently as part of the Christmas Carnival ‘pack’ it has some fab ideas inside the booklet, lovely stamps, papers and embellishments that I'm looking forward to using and the stamps are lovely to colour.

 'Seasons Greetings'

The papers I've had since I first started card making (half heartedly, before I had my wonderful ‘craft room’ and crafted out of boxes stored under the stairs!). When I gathered all my Christmas bits together I was surprised at how much I already own, a pleasant surprise and a little surprising…but now I'm putting them all too good use.I followed this weeks Sketch and Stash Challenge as I find this easier than trying to put together ideas myself.

On an exciting note I was chosen as the monthly random winner for Septembers Forever Friends Challenge Blog and won a selection of goodies from The Ribbon Girl ,I'm over the moon it’s my first non digital prize so a big thank you to Forever Friends.

I used the following materials:

·                     White square scalloped card

·                     Pink and brown Dovecraft papers -layering

·                     spot, stripe holly leaf papers  - Wild Rose Studio-Milton & Co Paper pack

·                     Molly Bloom  stamp-  Molly Bloom Carnival Christmas set - coloured with  

       Promarkers- pink inked edges

·                     From Stash-

·                     Holly leaves- cut from holly paper above

·                     Red gems-‘holly berries’ 

·                     Red wooden heart

·                     Deep Pink organza ribbon

·                     Pink buttons

·                     Sentiment –freebie

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

Sketch and Stash Challenge #97 (newest and neglected)

Deep Ocean Challenge #35-More than 2 Colours

Papertake Weekly-Anything Goes or Optional - 

Through The Craft Room Door -Challenge #38-Always Anything Goes

Twisted Tuesday Challenges- 2TC26- Rock- Paper- Scissors 

Crafty Bloggers Network- Challenge Number 4- Anything Goes

Fashionista Challenge#7 -week 3- Anything Goes Christmas 

Forever Friends -Fortnightly Challenge#46-Anything Goes(closes 13th Oct)

Make it Monday- Challenge #109 -Always Anything Goes

Mygrafico Challenge#138- Anything Goes ( closes 19^th )