WOYWW 182

Another week and this time to have a sneaky peak at what the WOYWWers are up to. Hop over to Julia’s at The Stamping Ground to take a look and you may even want to join in; we would love to take a look into your creative world. What’s it all about, I hear you ask?... it’s like minded crafters of all kinds sharing their work desks, projects and generally what going on for them today. .Julia likes it kept short I really need to try as very naughty last week and in general! I've been enjoying my birthday goodies from last week and would like to say a big thank you to everyone and there kind comments. I've been a really busy beaver and there are some projects I can’t share such as daughters Christmas card-she is my blog IT expert and fixer so need to keep it well away for now..You can see the back of it on one of today’s pic’s...Sorry Claire your not getting to see it yet!... I've been making the most of my new toys and you should be able to see the card and some of the tags I've been working on. Next to complete is HB’s and daughters Birthday card which I've already started.lots of photos again this week to share .

 long view of desk and drawers ...covered papers are hubbies and daughters birthday cards.shoe box beneath more tags! is all christmas cards to post...I'm showing off!!

'busy' work desk  

I do need to tell you about the one eared Boofles bear. I found him dirty, wet, abandoned and damaged in a car park last week on the way home from Chester. Someone had set fire to his ear and his head was also scorched and black. I felt so sorry for him that I had to take him home. I washed him, “operated “on his ear; sadly it couldn't be saved so I put a nice clean bandage on and now he will be ‘one in million’ and my new lucky craft room mascot…I am a soft touch ...he also needs a name...any ideas? 
I’d better go now I've did it again oops so much for short post! and I really must go to bed now ,work tomorrow, I will be visiting everyone as soon as I can. Have a fab week and happy WOYWW …Hugs x 

  

                                           rescued bear

 back of daughters christmas card on top of drawer unit...nope you cant see it yet!...

                  spot big  birthday pressie in corner...love it !                                                                             

LETTER TO SANTA

thank you to everyone and  there kind comments last week on my birthday. It feels like I haven't posted anything for such a long-time even though its not even been a week yet!  I usually post at the weekend but didn't get the opportunity to ....having too much fun I reckon !

I've Spent a lot of time over the weekend playing with my wonderful birthday goodies and have been very very productive! I've finished both my husband and daughters Christmas cards which where the last two to do. sorry I can’t post my daughters until she has received it, she is my IT expert and blogger fixer so would see it, My hubby's is the one I've posted today...im really pleased with how it turned out. Both of their birthday cards are also well underway as well , HB’s birthday is in December and daughter’s is not until January…so I'm well ahead. I've made loads more Christmas of tags; definitely now i've made up for my lack of time spent in the craft room over the last couple of weeks and cured my withdrawals.

' Letter to Santa '

I used my copics and several of my new die cuts to make this card. I've went a bit OTT but happy with the overall look. I'm really happy with my Copics  although I will still use my Promarkers as I know the colours better and have more of them to choose from,  I have mixed both for some of tags I made  and they work fine together too. I'm off on a little blog hop and I've some tags I also want to post...maybe later tonight. Have a wonderful week and hope you are warm and cosy... lots of hugs...x

 Close up of digi stamp heart charm recycled from candle gift 

Aster die cut with silver and white pearlescent card stock 

I used the following

White square card base card

Mirror card for layering

Snowflake Papers-both magazine freebies 

Stamp-freebie from Deviant Art -sorry will post details when I find it again!

Coloured Copics- die cut with Spellbinders lacy squares

Die cut Sentiment-Polka Doodles stamp set

Corner Die- Marianne Creatables LR0143

Die cut flower- Delicate Aster-Spellbinder

Die cut snowflakes-Joy Sparkling Christmas

From stash

Organza Ribbon, blue cord, 

bakers twine, pom-pom trim

leave and heart stick pin 

Heart charm, bell, and glittered brad

 close up of pom pom trim , die cut snowflake and cute heart charm

I would like to enter the following challenges

ATC’s With Attitude-Challenge#27-Anything Goes or Autumn/Winter

Avadares Challenge Blog-Challenge #5-Christmas or Hanakkah

Brown Sugar Blog-Challenge#17-Anything Goes

Christmas stampin CSYAL#37 –Last of 2012 =Anything Goes

Card and Scrap-Challenge#43=Make Something with Christmas 

Creatalicious Challenges-Challenge#40-Winter 

Just Keep on Creating -Christmas is Just around The Corner- 

Wags and Whiskers-Challenge#93-Christmas

Oozak- Challenge #8 -Winter Vibes

Sparkles-Monthly Challenge#38-Christmas is Coming

Sparkles Forum Christmas Challenge- CH#22 Contemporary Colour Combo

Crimbo Crackers -Challenge#29-Anything Goes 

Lady Anne’s Challenges Anything Goes 

The house of stamps challenge DCC1121-Holiday card non traditional colours 

Tanda Stamps- Tanda Teaser #203-Anything Christmas

Stamp n Doodle- Challenge 21st Nov -–Anything Goes

Paper Makeup Stamps -Digi Makeover Challenge#64-Christmas 

 Fashionista challenge #9-Blue Christmas 

Make it Monday Challenge#117-Anything Goes 
Bearly-mine Challenge 63 -Blues and Silver 
Karen's Doodles Challenge#143-Non Traditional Christmas Colours 

WOYWW 181

Happy ‘WOYWW and if you don’t know what this is why don’t you hop over to Julia at The Stamping Ground to find out and get the chance to see what everyone is up to today.

 So what’s on your work desk Wednesday then? As you can see mine has not got a lot happening on the creative front but there are several new goodies to spot. It was my birthday on Monday; we had a great few days away in Chester and lots of nice presents to open on my return on Monday night. I got many more presents than I was expecting as hubby also gave me what should have been my Christmas present! He couldn't keep hold of it; he’s hopeless at keeping things and couldn't wait!..I am very happy and over the moon as it means I got my Grand Calibur earlier than I expected and lots of lovely dies,  more than enough to get me underway.The other crafty items I received included my first set of copics…I am in heaven, an A3 glass cutting mat, heat tool and not forgetting a cute jar of buttons. I am so very lucky and would have been happy with any one of the above

 re- organised desk 

copics and buttons 

Unfortunately I was working late last night so I have had very little time to use anything. I have tried out the die cutting machine and had a little play with the copics and reorganised my desk/workspace. I had to find the perfect home for my die cutting machine. I can’t wait till the weekend…I don’t imagine much housework will be getting done.

using my presents 

Sorry, I'm sure I have probably bored you all and it’s a longer post than Julia would approve of but I'm so excited I promise my next post will be something more creative using my presents. Got to go now and get ready for work. I will check out what the other woyww’s are up to tonight. Why don’t you hop over to Julia’s and have a nosey look too!

Have a wonderful week… hugs x

 cute mini cake - spot the ribbon on  my desk 

( I couldn't possibly not recycle it !)

It’s My Birthday! (Almost)

Warning …Photo heavy post and no cards!

Sorry no card to post today as it’s my birthday tomorrow and hubby has taken me to a beautiful hotel just outside Chester and we are spending a couple of days shopping. I’m still making Christmas tags but haven’t photographed any of them yet, I’ve been distracted. I did get to take some photos of my birthday presents before we left as we won’t be back until late on Monday. They are all wrapped so beautifully, he has done a fab job; although I thought I knew what they all where or I should say what they should be; there does seem to appear to be a surprise or two that I don’t recognize….I’m getting excited! 

 birthday pressie's for me 

Hubby is off for a bath, so here I am…the joys of Wi-Fi. The hotel is a combination of very old and very modern and is decorated for Christmas already, it’s so beautiful and definitely putting me in festive mood, I plan to take some more photographs and post another time. We are in a new extension the room is gorgeous all gold, silver, mirrors and cream with a lovely 4 poster bed and luxury fittings, there is even a TV in the bathroom!.. Hubby will enjoy that I’m sure. There are some lovely little touches too, such as heart shaped bath bombs...pink or blue... folded with the bath robes and slippers...how sweet.

So I thought I’d share my birthday experience with you. I have some photos of my birthday presents stash and a few photos of the hotel room…before I messed it up by unpacking!!!....my I'm getting so excited ...eeeeeeeeeeeeee.

I’m off now to enjoy the rest of my evening. I will post again later in the week, hopefully with some creations made with my presents. That’s the plan for now...have a wonderful week... Hugs …x

Liebster Award

I came home from work on Wednesday night and as usual logged on to check my blog for a quick creative fix to find I was chosen for the Liebster Award from Jenny from ScrappyJen. Jenny is a well deserved recipient who is very talented and caring lady. Jenny always has a positive and kind comment to make even though I don’t always get back to doing so quite so often!. I am delighted to have been chosen; I haven’t been crafting for long and follow so many talented people (which I frequently can’t save I wish Blogger would increase the limit!) who are inspirational. To keep this award alive and thriving I have to forward to 5 people that inspire me .I have done a bit of back linking to find out more about the Liebster Award below which explains what the award is all about.

My chosen five are all wonderful in there own special ways, it’s taken me much longer than I thought to make all my choices, I could have easily chosen many more.

Annie @ Memories to Keep Annie is an awesome women who always has a kind word to say and is so inspirational, she amazes me daily with her kindness to others. Despite her own busy demanding personal life she posts most days, actually every day I think!! and her work is awesome…She makes me smile.

Pauline@ Crafting With Cotnob.-Pauline is one of the first people I met on blogger and has always had kind words and is inspirational, A very talented lady.

Loz@laurels Crafty Retreat.-she is a very talented and wonderful lady whose blog I love to visit, Loz’s work is awesome and she always has kind words to say.

Michaela@ Michaela's Blog -a very talented and beautiful card maker who is always kind and thoughtful in her comments 

Laine@ DreamLaine- Laine produces the most beautiful work and raises money for charity through sales She is a kind hearted and lovely lady

I have chosen my 5 ladies as they have all played a part in my enjoyment and confidence in both my crafting and blogging I would have gladly given to many more that I follow but that’s not the rules.Why dont you hop over and say hi they would all make you feel most welcome.Thank you Jenny for giving me this opportunity and to everyone I visit you all make my days brighter and my life happier…have a great week and lots of crafty hugs…Andrea x

Sorry ladies I couldn't work out how to get the award on my post please take from my side bar 

Below is taken from Jenny@ Cardsarus
Thanks Jenny I hope you don’t mind!
“Liebster is a German word meaning "Beloved," “Favourite," or "Dearest."This award is a peer to peer award in which fellow bloggers present the award to their favourite blogger with less than 200 followers.”
Rules.

*Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to their blog.

*Post the award on your blog.

*Give the award to five bloggers who appreciate, and have less than 200 followers.

* Leave a comment on their blog to let them know you have given them this awesome award!

Do keep this going and show your appreciation for other bloggers out there who deserve this award.

If you have already received this award and passed it on, then you have already ensured its continuity.

WOYWW 180

Hi and happy ‘WOYWW when we all get to share our latest creations, Ideas, thoughts and anything else that just happens to be going on today. If you haven’t came across it before why don’t you  to hop over to Julia’sat The Stamping Ground and join in the fun, Julia will be very pleased to see you there and you might even want to take part yourself.

I've started making tags this week and I'm really having fun, nothing to difficult or time consuming. The completed ones are the cute owls below from Dilly Beans Stamps that I chose following a challenge win in the summer, they where such fun to colour, my favourite is the blue/white one, sadly the camera didn't pick up the sparkle from the glitter gel pens I used. The tags where all freebies form magazines and I've used left over scraps of paper and card and a range of 'bits and bobs' on each one. It’s an ideal use of leftover 'bits and bobs' and no two are quite the same. Give me a couple of weeks and I will have more than enough for Christmas!, My Christmas cards are all finished, which I'm still in shock about and now I'm just having some fun. No time to visit anyone this morning or link up challenges, will do when I get home, got to go now and get ready for work.…have a fab week…hugs x 

close up of desk with stamps for next lot tags 

 My 'bits in bobs' and completed tags in corner

My 'arty' pic of completed tags 

'close up' blue tag 

I used the following for tags 

Tags- magazine freebies

Punched snowflakes- from various cards and papers

Digi stamp from- Dilly beans stamps #305 Christmas owl- promarkers and glitter gel pens

Gems, buttons, pearls, candi

Handmade papers, red corrugated card,gold card

Various ribbons and twine

Gold/silver mesh

Challenges I would like to take part in

Artistic Inspirations Challenge Recycle /Anything Goes

Bunny Zoe’s Crafts-Monthly Challenge- Winter

Lady Anne’s Monthly Challenge= Anything Goes    

Craft My Life all Crafts Challenge 2-Anything But a Card follow

Forever Friends Monthly Challenge November-Anything Goes

Hooked on Crafts Challenge# 26-Christmas-No Red/Green

Make it Monday-Challenge #115-Anything Goes

My Grafico Challenge#140-Anything Goes

Stamps and Fun = Creativity Challenge#125-Anything Goes

Tammy Scrapin Corner-Weekly Challenge#36-Anything Goes

Challenges 4 Everybody-Challenge#7-Anything Goes (2nd entry)

Dream Valley Challenges #45-Anything Goes (2nd entry)

Glitter n Sparkle Challenge #6-Things With Wings

Hiding in My Craft Room #71 super Scraps Saturday 

Bright and Colourful Christmas

A quick post tonight with one of the last of my Christmas cards I love the bright greens I used here. I won this a part of a set of digi in the summer for a blog hop at Ladybird Crafts Ink, the set is  called Christmas delights they are fab and very modern images. There is a great one with handbags and other with shoes that I've coloured but not yet made into cards, I plan to over the next few week so watch out for them. I wasn't sure abut the chevron paper but its growing on me… hubby isn't keen on this as he says it makes his eyes ‘ go funny’ so I added the candi to tone it down a little. The pretty frilly ribbon is from a kit from the The Ribbon Girl, from a set which I won… they have such beautiful things in there store I love them all.  It’s the first time I've used anything from the kit as I just love to look at all the pretty ribbons, lace and bits that where in it… but it was perfect for this card, and I can’t keep everything that I like to look at I’d get nothing made ! Have a fab week …hugs x

festive wishes 

close up

 I used the following

Cream pearlescent square card

Green cardstock-layering

Holy and chevron Papers-

Christmas delight stamp-coloured Promarkers, Stickles and chunky glitter

Green frill ribbon- The Ribbon Girl

From stash

Christmas tree brad

Punched snowflakes=pearlescent and silver card with gem

Candi-Hot Tropics Candi mini pack

Sentiment- magazine freebie

Challenges I would like to take part in

ABC Christmas–-V is for Vibrant Colours

    Just Keep Creating- Christmas is just around the Corner

   Stamp ‘N’ Doodle challenge 7Th November- use a Digi

Joanna Sheene Challenge Cold and Frosty

Scrap-Creations Challenge - Do it Digi

Ribbon girl challenge November-Add sparkle

Delightful Sketches-Challenge= let it snow(snowflakes)

Happy Campers challenge#4-Use Bright Colours

Paper Play Challenges-Week#45-Snowflakes

Southern Girls Challenge #57- ‘46 days to go’- Christmas Projects

Make it Monday-Challenge #115-Anything Goes

Tilda With Presents

Second post of the weekend I was going to do this last night but fell asleep!!! and I had to do the ironing today which took forever but better late than never! . .This is another more traditional style of card but I've used more greens thank reds this time. I love this Tilda stamp it’s one of my favourites, its called ‘Tilda with wedding presents’  but I think its perfect for Christmas or any gift type card and I really like the rich colours I have used on her., I am pleased with how it’s turned out. I've quite a stash of Christmas cards now and just need to decide who is getting what card now as I've nearly finished...I still have the boxes to make but have finally mastered this at last after a few disastrous wonky one!.. I'm not good a straight lines and measuring! I've also finished two other Christmas cards and made some simple gift tags, which  I'm really enjoying making as they are much easier than cards and not as much work. I think I will spend next week tag making and will keep you posted how I get on.

' Tis the season... '

Close Up

I used the following

Cream pearlescent base card

Green card stock-layering

Cream patterned paper- Raspberry road Christmas collection (magazine

Freebie)

Red spot paper- Holly Hobby Christmas joy (magazine freebie)

Tilda- (holding wedding presents) coloured promarkers/ flexi markers

From Stash

Cream scalloped oval

Green/gold organza ribbon

Green gems

Various mulberry flowers

Tis the season sentiment

Wood ornament

Inside completed using same papers, card, ribbon and scalloped oval as for

front

Inside

Challenges I would like to take part in

Just Keep Creating-Christmas is Just Around the Corner
Whimsy Stamps Challenge#53 Traditional Christmas Colouring
Love Rubber Stamps Week#25-Anything Goes
Sweet Stamps Blog-Challenge#90 –Christmas
Through The Craft Room Doors -Challenge#43- Anything Goes
Crafty Ann’s Challenge#78 tic-tac-toe (gems ,ribbon, flowers)
2 Sisters Challenge#117- Use Your Favourite Christmas Stamp
One Stop Craft Challenge -Anything Goes
Christmas Stampin All Year Round- Challenge#36-Anything Goes
Challenges 4 Everybody- Challenge#7- Anything Goes
Dream Valley Challenge#45-Anything Goes
Lovely Haenglar or Sweet Magnolia- Challenge #56 - Dies or Punches– I've used die cut ovals
Scrappers Delights Challenge- Anything Goes -Nov 4th -17th
Stamptacular Sunday Challenge#189 For The Love of Tilda

Christmas - All wrapped up !

I don't usually post on a Saturday, but im so organised and pleased with myself that I thought I'd squeeze in some extras and it beats housework . . .that can wait till later! I can’t believe its mid November and I have almost finished all my Christmas cards...my plan for card making has paid off, by stamping on mass then colouring all the images that I wanted to use ..it worked a treat. I then gathered all the necessary bits and bobs ready for each card together with a plan of each layout in mind. This has made it really easy to make more than my usual of one card a week, although the hardest part was choosing what to use as I did have far too many bits and bobs gathered for each card! 

Another bonus was I didn't have so many late nights at work this week; which has also helped, so  I was able to spend more time being creative rather than my usual 5-10 mins here and there and have to wait until the weekend for any worthwhile time to get anything done. I have several cards completed that I would  like to post  over the weekend and this is the first one. I really love the colours I've used. The Tilda I used is called 'secret present. I've even used left over’s from last years Christmas cards that I thought might come in handy! I've impressed myself with my resourcefulness

Front view 

 Close up

   I used the following

   Gold pearlescent base card

   Craft-card- layering

   Papers-Raspberry road Christmas collection (magazine freebie)

   Tilda - 'secret Tilda' coloured promarkers/flexi markers

   Die cut sentiment and stamp - stamp from crafters companion set 

   From stash

   Red jewel brad

   Burgundy seam binding

   Burgundy satin ribbon (inside card)

   Cream cotton lace

   Die cut Oval- bronze/gold glitter card ( last years christmas cards !!)

   Red and cream mulberry paper flowers
  Inside completed using the same papers and craft card as on front

Inside 

Challenges I would like to take part in

Crafts and Me Challenge#108-reds

Divas by Design Challenge#60-Lets Get Cute

Just Keep Creating-Christmas is just Around the Corner

Whimsy Stamps Challenge#53 Traditional Christmas Colouring

Clear It Out Challenge–Red, Anything Goes

Holly Jolly Christmas 3-2-1- Challenge -1 image 2 papers 3 embellishments

Christmas Stampin AllYear Round- Challenge#36-Anything Goes

WOYWW 179

It’s Wednesday again and time for WOYWW .The place where everyone gets the opportunity to share their crafty spaces and creations., If you haven’t visited before why don’t you hop over to the boss Julia’s at The Stamping Ground and take a look for yourself or even better take part!. Julia will be very pleased to see you there; I am still in Christmas card making mode although I did make a get well card at the weekend but forgot to photograph it before it was sent....I won’t do that again! This week is more of the same and again there are several cards “on the go”, I'm trying to make more “modern” cards now; hence the lime green card I'm planning in the corner. The current Tilda is in traditional Christmas colours and almost finished which was one of two I did; I think this is my all time favourite card that i've made. the other I will post soon. The Photos below also show  the ‘Precious Moments’ card I was working on last Wednesday. I kept it simple and it’s the only religious one I've done, I do need to make a few more once I find the ‘right’ images to use I've kept the post short as Julia likes... sorry lots of pics though !.( I'm half way there to keeping to the rules!) Why don’t you hop over to Julia’s and have a good snoop around or even take part yourself I would love to come and visit your crafty space have a great week… hugs x 

desk view -from right

Current project-nearly done

Lime green card  

Precious moments ‘card 

This is my latest finished card that I  was working on last week its very simple and the first of this kind I've made, also the first time I've used mirror card !.

I used the following

Silver pearlescent base card

Silver mirror card -layering

Blue card-layering

‘Precious Moments’ digi-coloured Promarkes

Peace sentiment on vellum-(magazine freebie)

Tiny silver brads.

Precious moments ‘card 

Challenges I would like to take part in

Created With Love CWLC16- Christmas No Red Green

Creative Stamp Friends –Challenge#63 Clean and Simple

Sweet Stamps Blog- Challenge#90- Christmas

Anything Goes challenge #79 -Anything Goes

Bearly mine challenge #60-Anything Goes

Christmas Shopping

Apologies now it's a bit of a long post! The Christmas card making continues in full swing with the odd other card being made when the need arises. Last week there was very little activity in the craft room, I  made up for that over the weekend, I have three cards to show today; so my Christmas cards haul is coming on nicely, I am well organised...and have even started Christmas shopping...well online shopping anyway and I have started a list of what to get friends and family. I know what I want and Santa (AKA the husband) has already got it hidden away.

I love Christmas and December in general it’s my favourite time of the year; I get into the Christmas spirit early. I try and convince my husband to put the tree up earlier every year but never win…he’s convinced it will have no needles left by Christmas day so I have to wait impatiently until mid December, sneaking out a few Christmas decorations daily in the hope he doesn't notice …its the same every year...all part of the fun! First out is always my fabric advent calendar which I have had for years, I spend months collecting little gifts for my husband and daughter that if possible will fit in the little pockets (which is difficult as they are small) or I use the “Christmas train”, only I know what’s in them and who they are for, whether its a wrapped gift or chocolate treat one of them will get something each day until Christmas. Unfortunately my daughter is away at uni and not back until just before Christmas… she wont miss out, just have more to open in fewer days .Which is probably just as well as she gets excited and always wants to have a feel and shake to try and guess what’s inside …I love it. 

Anyway as it’s still November so back to today… the plan post this and get on with creating my next Christmas card, Iv'e finished work early which is an unusual  bonus so going to make the most of it.  I already have the layout planned in my head and all the bits and bobs I need ready. Below is a another card using the Molly Bloom stamp set and two small elf cards using a cute nitwit stamp, have a good week and enjoy some crafty time. x

I used the following

White card blank

Blue cardstock for layering

Molly bloom stamp and greeting -–Molly Bloom Christmas Carnival

Papers -Molly Bloom Christmas Carnival

Die cut circle and sentiment -–stamped with snowflake stamp from HOTP Christmas Vintage Set distress ink

From stash

Red grossgrain/satin ribbon

Red buttons

Various mulberry flowers

Flourish

Leaves

Challenges I would like to take part in

Forever Friends Monthly Challenge-November- Anything Goes 

Avadares challenge#5-Christmas or Hanakkah

Crafty Ann’s challenge#77 Christmas in October

Raise the bar challenge#118-anything goes

Crafty Ribbons Challenge#31—Christmas

Paper Crafting Journey Challenge =Ribbon or Twine

Card Makin’ Mammas Challenge -Anything Goes

Christmas Stampin’ All Year Long -CSAYL#35-Anything Goes

Stampin For the Weekend-Challenge#20-Anything Goes

Divas By Design- Challenge #59- Feeling Festive
Make it Monday Challenge 114-Anything Goes 

Elf with white embossed bauble

I used the following

Silver card

Die cut bauble-embossed stars

Elf-Nit Wits Be Merry and Bright Stamp-coloured Promarkers

From stash

White/silver organza ribbon

Brads-snowflake/star Peel off's

Be merry sentiment

Challenges I would like to take part in

The Stamp Man –November Challenge- Emboss it

Delicious Doodles Challenge#9-Embossing Heat or Dry

Do You Stack up challenge -DYSU#96-–Brads

Elf with bright papers

I used the following

Merry Christmas papers

Red/green card stock

Elf-Nit Wits Be Merry and Bright Stamps-promarkers

merry christmas paper 

From stash

Satin Green ribbon

Red /cream pearlescent card

Red textured die cut frame/snowflake

Silver snowflake

Red/white swirls brad

Challenges I would like to take part in 

Card Crafters Circle-Challenge#47-Patterned Paper 

Fat Pages with Attitude- Challenge#26-Add a Sentiment/Anything Goes

ABC Christmas Challenge - V-is For Vibrant Colours

My Mums Craft Shop -challenge 3-82-Bold and Bright