ABC Christmas Challenge

I made these two cards before I went to look at the ABC Christmas Challenge Blog but then I saw their challenge was "Anything Christmas Goes" so I thought as they qualify I might as well put them up for it!

I have set myself the added challenge of using up some of those scraps of papers that I've been clinging onto for years. Yes we all have them don't we?! The papers for this one are so old I can't remember who they are by I think it might be Basic Grey but please correct me if I'm wrong.

The topper is by Kanban and I bought them as a cheat because I was so ill on the run up to Christmas and I still had loads of cards to make after Ellie pinched all mine for her school friends.

For the second card the papers are by Blonde Moments and the topper is another Kanban but one my Mum got for me.
I just added some faux stitching around the edges of the squares of paper so that they matched the sentiment. I used up some more scraps on this one too!

Duck Day

Thought I'd start with another two Christmas cards.

This one is made from free papers and images from a magazine. I have decoupaged the Christmas tree and some of the circles although it doesn't show up well on the photo.

This one is quite a simple one. The stamp is by Stampavie and coloured with Twinkling H2Os. I've then mounted it on to some paper by Blonde Moments and then embossed a border across the bottom.

And now onto the Duck Day!

My friend Charlotte has been trying to take us for a picnic at this lake she found near Siddington where there are loads of ducks you can feed. Anyway we've kept getting rained off but we decided today that even though it looked grim we'd take a chance and go anyway. We had a great time. We got there at lunch time so we went straight to the picnic area and had lunch then the kids explored and climbed trees for a bit and had a game of tig.

This is my friend Charlotte with her son and my two of course.

Then when they'd had enough of that we walked back down to the ducks to feed them. They were so tame they were taking the bread right out of your hand.

Ellie kept saying how she's never been this close to ducks before. She loved it and even Josh was enjoying himself.

I wasn't quite quick enough on this one but the duck did take the bread out of Ellie's hand which she thought was great fun.

I have to say I have never seen so many ducks, geese and swans all in one place before.

I counted 27 swans so goodness knows how many ducks there were, I would guess at least 300.

We finished off with ice creams and managed to get away just as it started to rain. A really lovely afternoon out.

More Christmas Cards

For this Christmas card I used one of my Cuttlebug embossing folders. Then I've used scraps of Blonde Moments papers and an image from Deanne that I got in a Christmas image swap over on Quirky Crafts.



For the second card I've used papers by Do Crafts from the Forever Friends pack. The image is a Whipper Snapper stamp which has been coloured with Twinkling H2Os.



The snowflakes are done with a paper punch and I've added gems to the centre for extra sparkle.

Penny Black Saturday Challenge

This weeks Penny Black Challenge is "Paper Patch" which is where you use paper squares to make a patchwork quilt effect. I must say I do love the way it looks and it's a great way to use up those little paper scraps you get left with from other projects.

For this card I used papers by Blonde Moments. The image is of course a Penny Black coloured with Twinkling H2Os. The Happy Birthday is a Go Kreate Die. It's been a beautiful day again here today. I even got the paddling pool out when we got back from school - the one I bought 3 years ago and this is the first time it's been out of the box. Good old British Summer eh?! Hope this beautiful weather is going stick around for the 6 weeks holidays and we can actually get some use out of it rather than it go back in the box. Fingers crossed eh?!

Auntie Lyn's Card

It was my Auntie's birthday earlier on this week. I had a rummage through my stamps and thought I'd have a go at using my Penny Black Cat with Balloons stamp which I haven't used in a while. The papers are by My Mind's Eye and the ribbon is from Blonde Moments. For the inside I used My Minds Eye papers again and a Happy Birthday banner which a blogging friend gave me. I used my Stamping Up Ticket Corner punch and then created faux stitching with a green Marvey Le Plume pen.

My daughter Ellie is now home again after spending nearly a week with Grandma and Auntie Ann at the caravan. Josh went as well but he's not back until Sunday, he's going to stay with his dad for a night so we have to wait a bit longer until we get him back. I did see him for a little while yesterday when I went over to pick Ellie up. They were both telling me about the great time they'd had and all the wonderful things they'd been up to while they've been away. It sounds like they all had a brilliant time. I think Grandma may be a bit worn out now though!

Teachers Gifts

I was looking through my "stuff for altering" stash and found I still had a couple of these paper pad sets left from last year so I thought I'd alter one as a Thank You gift for Josh's 1 to 1.

This is the raw version.

And this is it decorated. The paper and tag are from a set by Hot Off The Press. The wording I did using a Quickutz Die in my Cuttlebug. I added a couple of flowers and a velvet brad to finish.

This is the raw inside.

and this is it after I finished altering it.

Josh's class teacher is actually leaving to have a baby so I had the idea to make her a baby tin. They start off looking like this.

and this one ended up looking like this!

I used papers by Dovecraft and a gorgeous Magnolia stamp that belongs to my mum. The ribbons are a selection from my stash, I know the green spotty one is by Blonde Moments but the others I have no idea!
The only problem with the paint tins is that they aren't very big and trying to find baby things small enough to put in them is not as easy as you would think. They are probably better being used to put handmade biscuits or small chocolates or treats in. Oh well you live and learn!

Quirky Crafts Challenge

Over on Quirky Crafts we have a new challenge and this week it's a sketch for you to play with. This is my DT card for the challenge. The papers are all by Blonde Moments. The little girl is a Sugar Nellie stamp coloured with Twinkling H2Os. The Happy Birthday is a Go Kreate Die which I ran through my Cuttlebug.

If you'd like to join in with our challenge please join us on Quirky Crafts here.

I look forward to seeing you there! :-)

Charisma Cardz Challenge

This weeks Charisma Cardz Challenge is a sketch challenge - my favourite! I decided I'd make a Christmas card as I'm supposed to be making one a day this year but some how I have got side-tracked and I haven't made any for ages! Whoops!

Stamps: Sugar Nellie ~ Magnolia ~ Free stamp that came with a magazine

Coloured with: Twinkling H2Os

Papers: Blonde Moments

Embellishments: Adhesive Pearls

Colour Create Challenge

This weeks Colour Create Challenge is to use the colours orange, yellow and green with the optional extra being to make something that is NOT a card!

So here is my Easter Sour Cream Carton filled with yummy Cadbury's Mini Eggs. Will it stay like this until Easter?! Hmmmmm! I embossed the yellow card with the Birds and Swirls Cuttlebug embossing folder before rolling it into the Sour Cream Carton shape. I know the birds aren't chicks but I still think it works?!


This is a close up of the tag. The stamp is a Penny Black and the circles were all done with those fabulous Nestabilites. However did I craft without them?!! :-)

The last photo I took so that you could see the full shape of the Sour Cream Carton without the tag in the way. I tied the tag to one end of the orange ribbon so that it would just swing freely.

Stamp: Penny Black

Coloured with: Twinkling H2Os

Papers: Colorbok

Ribbons: Blonde Moments

Equipment: Cuttlebug ~ Embossing folder ~ Nestabilities ~ Cropodile

Charisma Cardz Pink Challenge

There's a new challenge blog started up a couple of days ago called Charisma Cardz Challenges. My friend Leanne is one of the DT members there. I thought I'd show my support and do the first challenge which is "Pink"

I made this card using the free papers that came with this months Simply Cards and Papercrafts Magazine. I'm going to send it in to them along with a couple of others I've made using their Valentines papers. I wonder if they'll make it into the mag?? Stamp: Sugar Nellie
Coloured with: Twinkling H2Os
Papers: Freebies from craft magazine
Embellishments: Ribbon ~ Blonde Moments

Peas on Earth

I thought I'd put these three on together since they are very similar. The stamp is by Penny Black and coloured with Twinkling H2O's. The embossing and ovals were done with the Cuttlebug and the sentiment is a freebie that came with a magazine.

For this one I used freebie papers. The ovals were done with nesibilities in the cuttlebug again and the Seasons Greetings ribbon I bought at a craft fair in Harrogate.

The bottom snowflake paper on this one is by Dovecraft, the green paper I used for the scalloped oval is by Blonde Moments.

Penny Black Saturday Challenge

I have finally managed to do one of the Penny Black Saturday Challenges. Except I kind of got carried away and did four instead of one! Lol!

The challenge this week is Seasons and you are supposed to pick one and make a card or layout or ATC etc for that season, only I couldn't decide which season to pick... so I made a card for each.

So starting with Spring... I started by embossing the card blank with my Cuttlebug embossing borders. Then I added the Penny Black bunny stamp which I coloured with Twinkling H2O's. It is matted and layered onto a freebie paper. The metal Tulip is one my Mum gave me and the Chipboard sentiment is by Making Memories.

Next comes Summer....

The papers are all by colorbok, the stamp is Penny Black coloured with Twinkling H2O's, the flowers are Primas.

On to Autumn.......

The papers are all a mix match of left over bits. The girl stamp is a Penny Black, the "Best Wishes" and ticket corner punch are by SU. The leaves are done with paper punches from Baker Ross.

And last but not least Winter.....
The papers are by Blonde Moments, the stamp is a Penny Black coloured with H2O's. The scalloped square is done using my Nestabilities and Cuttlebug.

Raspberry Ribbons Sketch Three

My mum and I had a fabulous time at the Harrogate Craft Fair yesterday and, yes, I finally am the proud owner of a CUTTLEBUG!!!!!!! and lots of dies for it too! I got a cracking deal on it and I have already had a little play with it this morning. I've made a snowflake and a scalloped circle frame. Too cool!

Anyway back to Raspberry Ribbons! I did two pieces of work for this. I made the card first and then Jayne set a "Back to School" layout challenge on PCJ's so I thought I'd use the Raspberry ribbons sketch for that too. I sent them both to Caroline and said to use which ever she liked best and she's gone with the card so that's ok. If you'd like to join in with the Raspberry Ribbon Challenge or check out the other DT members examples please click here.

The card is made using papers, ribbons and button from Hot Off The Press. The lettering was done on my Cricut using the Tear Drop Cartridge and the stamp is by Judikins.

For the layout I used paper and ribbons by Blonde Moments. Prima Flowers. A Fiskars Threading Water Punch and the wording was done on my Cricut using the ZooBalloo Cartridge.

New Years Resolution Cards

I have finally managed to make some more Christmas cards and I'm getting back on a roll. I have made more than these two but some I can't show because they are for DT work and others I can't show because I haven't photographed them yet.

These are quite quick cards as I am now quite behind. Although having said that I think I've made about 40 cards now which is 40 more than I had made this time last year! Lol!

For the first card I've used:
Stamp by Sugar Nellie.
Paper by Blonde Moments.
Twinkling H2O's


For the second card:

Stamp by Penny Black

Paper by Blonde Moments
Ribbon which I think came off a box of chocolates or a gift like that last year.

Raspberry Ribbons DT Call

I've decided to try out for the Design Team for Raspberry Ribbons as the other DT I'm a member of is a bit slow at the moment and doesn't seem to be showing any signs of picking up again any time soon. I really need something to keep me crafting on a regular basis as I've been very slack recently with no DT challenges to work on and to be honest I really miss them.

A friend of mine, who knew I was looking let me know about this one and this is what they asked for:

All we need for you to do is create a card using the sketch on post below and tell us on the comments where it is for us to look at. There is only one thing we ask and that is to use ribbon on your creation whether it's a card or Layout.

I decided I would do a layout as I really wanted to make a ribbon flower and knew that it would be too big to use on a card. So I used these great papers by Blonde Moments. Unfortunately when I shrunk the first photo, to make it the right size for a web page, it made the photo of Max go very dark so you can't see him very well.

So I just took the photo again but a bit lighter and now you can see Max but the colours of the paper are a bit light. So if you can imagine the real thing is somewhere in between the two.

See I should have done a card as they are much easier to photograph you don't have to worry about the light bouncing back off the photograph! Doh!

Ellie's Birthday Cards

These are the cards I made for Ellie for her birthday today. This is the card I made as a sister card from Josh. The papers are by Blonde Moments, the stamp is a Sugar Nellie, the Ellie was done on the Cricut using the Jasmine cartridge. The bling frame is one that Dee sent me for winning her card challenge.

This card was made using papers by Daisy Bucket Designs, The 5 is chipboard which I painted white with acrylic paint then embossed it with UTEE then sprinkled with glitter while it was still warm. The flower is from K&Co although I took off the bottom layer and used it to make a template to do a base in paper to match the card. The Happy Birthday and Ellie are done on the Cricut.

Card for Tanya

I am suffering today. I can't work out if I am getting yet another cold or whether I have a touch of Hay Fever but my nose, ears and throat are itching like mad and driving me insane!! Oh well ho hum! I think it's another cold which is better because it means it will go away whereas Hay Fever is a bit more of a permanent problem. I've just taken an allergy tablet so lets see if that makes any difference, although I'm kind of hoping it doesn't!

Anyway I digress, this is a card I made for Tanya to go with her orange and green tin that I posted a couple of days ago. The papers and ultra thick embossing powder (on the chipboard number) are by Blonde Moments. The stamp is a Sugar Nellie and the letters for "Tanya" I did with my Quickutz.