Cupcake Craft Challenges - 68 Red & Green

I have actually made 2 cards that are eligible for this week's Cupcake Craft challenge, once I got going making one card I wanted to make another ;-) I used some lovely dull green Bazzill cardstock to make easel cards (yep sorry folks, made more of them!). The house image is a digital download from Doodle Palace coloured with ProMarkers and lashings of Stickles Icicle glitter glue. The papers are Eskimo Kisses by Basic Grey and circle greetings are from Craftwork Cards. The holly sprigs were given to me via a stash swap. The bear in the second card is a download from the Pollycraft site - isn't he cute - and again coloured with ProMarkers and a dab of Stickles glue. Hope I have fulfilled the brief to enter the challenge and apologies for my rubbish pics but the weather has been so dull recently x

Passion for ProMarkers Challenge Week 27 - Any Colour & Theme

I have made this easel card for my nan for Christmas and is my entry for the current Passion for ProMarkers challenge. I made YET another easel card, god I love this style of card. I used Bazzill cardstock, a beautiful freebie image from the lovely Pollycraft blog (well worth checking out - this freebie is no longer available but is on the Pollycraft site to buy - only 99p!). I coloured the image with ProMarkers, I used Ruby, Sandstone, Blush, Cinnamon, Marsh Green and Pastel Yellow. I added some Stickles Icicle glitter glue for a bit of sparkle. I parted with some of my much loved Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses papers - sob, sob! The brad is by Basic Grey and the holly sprig was sent to me in a stash swap, sorry can't remember from who but thank you very much x

Sorry for the rubbish photo, I don't take good photos at the best of times but the dull weather recently makes it impossible for me to snap a good pic x

My blog candy winner...

Hello, thank you to everyone who entered my little draw. The winner has been randomly chosen by my son Jack and is...

sh3ri3

Please can you email me (sarahmclaughlin888@o2.co.uk) your address so I can get the goodies posted off to you x

Look at all the beautiful things I've received...

Here are the beautiful cards sent to me by the lovely ladies on MSE...

Top row from left: Rusty, Bunbun, Padster. Front row: CT19720, CT19720 and Choccy...
Top row from left: Gemm, Marg, Flourgirl. Front row: Ali, my auntie Brenda (ok not on MSE but it is a handmade card), Mel...
Here's my pressie stash before I started ripping the paper off...

This is the beautiful scarf & card sent to me by Padster...

This gorgeous card and yummy box of mint chocs are from Flourgirl...

This lovely stash of stamps, pearls and fantastic card are from Melissa...

This HUGE stash and chocs is from the lovely bunbun and Rusty. These girls have the easel card bug, aren't they lovely...

This very cute card and fabby box of little things is from the lovely Choccy...

This gorgeous bar of chocolate, teabag card and beautiful card are from CT19720...

Thank you very much lovely ladies, I've been very spolit xxx

I also received an Amy Butler scrapbook from my OH - you could have knocked me down with a feather, it's beautiful! A few boxes of delicious chocs, some gorgeous mugs, smellies, a beautiful pendant, a cross stitch kit (going to return to Hobbycraft as it's not really my kind of thing) and some spends - it's buring a hole in my pocket so off to shop tomorrow!!!

My Blog Candy - Ends 29th November

CANDY NOW CLOSED, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR ENTERING xxx

I thought I would have a go at giving away some blog candy. I have included a selection of items but the emphasis is sort of on altering/scrapbooking...
Woodware scrapbook in a tin
Pack of chipboard daisies
A4 clipboard
Maya Road Calendar Turns Family Ties embellishment
Papermania Signature Vinyl Stickers - Ornate
Papermania Transparent Adhesive Stones
Papermania Studded Stickers x 2 packs
Papermania Notelets - Scrumptious
Imaginisce Chip Chop Just for Frills chipboard embellishments
2 sets acylic stamps - fairies and Christmas (these were freebies with Papercraft Insprirations magazine)
Colorbox Pigment Brush Ink Pad - Silver
Wooden tree decoration
Will also add some chocolate :-)

Please leave me a comment by 29th November if you'd like to win the stash and I'll draw a name out of a hat on 30th November x

This used to be a jar of chocolate powder...

I have made this joke jar to put on the table during Christmas dinner at my mum & dad's. The jar started life containing hot chocolate powder - it was really easy to get the labels off after a good soaking. The papers/embellishments are MME The Merry Days of Christmas. I love these papers. I found the Christmas jokes online.

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge 59 - Make a Calendar

Anyone who is a regular visitor to my blog will know that I am in love with making coaster calendars! Here's yet another and I am entering it for the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge. I have used a chipboard coaster and covered with beautiful glittery K&Co Christmasy paper. The calendar tab is by Anita's and the flowers are from Sarah's Cards. I have attached a little magnet to the reverse so it can be attached to the front of a fridge.

A Spoon Full of Sugar Challenge 78 - Baby/Pre-schooler Christmas card

Here is my card for the ASFOS Challenge this week. It is to give to my friend's little baby girl Georgia to celebrate her very first Christmas. I have made a 6x6 easel card from white Bazzill cardstock and covered with beautiful Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses paper. The image is coloured with ProMarkers (got the image from ebay, not sure of name?). All embellishments are from my stash (flowers are Prima, dew drops from Sarah's Cards and snowflake charm from Quixotic Paperie)...

Crafty Place November Card Swap - Anything Goes!!!

This is the beautiful and very clever card I received from the lovely Margaret for the Crafty Place card swap this month. Look at the back too, isn't that so cute...
This is the card I made for Margaret, an easel card (my first one ever!). It's 6x6 size and I used my new Messy Rabbit stamp bought from the NEC, he's going to be appearing on lots of cards I think because he's so cute...
I had 2 card swap partners this month and this is the card I made for Mel, same image and style of card...
Thanks for looking x

Post Pals Challenge on Crafty Place

Well, I found it far too tough picking one child to send a card and craft pack to for the Crafty Place challenge this month so I chose 3! I was in tears reading the tough stories of what the children and their families have been through and in most cases continue to go through.

So this is the pack and card I am sending to Sam M...

This is what I am sending to Jack Peter B...

And this is what is going to be sent to Charlie H...

I hope the children like their cards and craft packs - all rather Christmas themed!!! I have also included a letter from me.

Easel Cards...

I made these easel cards last night as we have a few children's parties to go to next weekend. I always struggle with children's cards but I actually like these. I made 4x4 inch sized cards so they are quite small and don't actually need nuch decorating. I used instructions to make an easel card I found using Google and when I read them it didn't make any sense but once I'd cut and scored the card ready to make one it all became really clear!!!

Here's my craft fair stall just prior to the fair opening yesterday afternoon.

Things that sold really well: Santa keys, notebooks, post-it note holders, reindeer food, snowman soup, little chocolate discs and both type of bookmarks.

Things that didn't sell well: teabag cards (can't believe it cos I love these!!!) and coaster calendars (love these too!).

Things that didn't sell at all: nappy cakes, jars of nothing and toilet roll with poem.

I had a great time and met lots of nice people - customers and other stall holders. I took £70 so did pretty well I think (especially compared to some other stalls). Someone thought the magnetic pegs were tree decorations?!?! My stall was next to a cake stall and the smell of mince pies and Christmas cake was divine - did make me feel hungry though! I am glad to have lots of stock left so I haven't got much to make for the next fair.

I've basically done the same as last year, enough ingredients in one cone for 2 mugs of hot chocolate with marshmallows and chocolate chips to stir in. Yum yum yum x

I bought the cone bags from ebay and curling ribbon from Ikea. I am feeling Christmasy now and wanted to sit down with a big mug of hot choccie and watch a Xmas film!

Here is the beautiful candy I won from Boot's blog. The brads are just too damn delicious, I don't think I am ever going to be able to use them!!! I love the colour of the inkpad, it's called bamboo leaves and I can't wait to try it out. Not much to say on the papers other than - Basic Grey papers are the BEST. Huge thank you to Jo for offering the candy on her gorgeous blog and to Simon Says Stamp for offering such a fab prize and posting soooooooo quickly xxx

Here's the link to Jo's latest BG candy offering, it's beautiful!!!

More Craft Fair Bits...

Sorry for the rubbish photo but these are cookie cutters with a very cute poem (nicked from the lovely Helen's blog x). The Christmas-shaped cutters were from Tesco after Christmas last year. The poem reads: I made a plate of cookies, And ate just one or two, But I started to feel guilty, Because they were for you, I went into a panic, And ordered on the phone, This brand new cookie cutter, So you can make your own! Merry Christmas.

This is a loo roll wrapped up with a poem attached. The poem reads: Money is scarce and times are hard, So I'm giving you this instead of a card, Christmas cards are a bit of a farce, But this will be handy, for wiping your... nose!

This is a Christmas Survival Kit and contains: Party popper - to make sure things go with a bang; Mini cracker - hope you have a cracking Christmas; Starburst sweet - for a burst of energy; Happy face - keep smiling and they’ll never know how stressed you are; Penny - so Christmas won’t leave you penniless; Rubber band - to stay flexible during the festive season; Teabag - to calm and soothe any holiday tension; Candle - so the season will shine brightly in your heart. I popped it all in a cello bag, added a tag and hey presto!

Only need to now make Snowman Soup and finishing my nappy cakes then I think everything will be made!!!

NEC Hobbycrafts Show

Left to right: Choccy, bunbun, Gemm, me, sylphraven, Popkins, Hels, furrypig, skiergirl, MrsTidge, Rusty and Jailhousebabe (nicked your photo Rusty x). Thanks for a great day ladies xxx

These are the fabby gifts and card I received from furrypig, Rusty, bunbun and skiergirl. Thank you lovely ladies x

Piccies of my stash, doesn't look much spread out over 2 photos ;-) My fave stalls were Craftwork Cards - I have a Christmas goody bag to play with when I get the chance (Rusty bought me the beautiful sheets of owls) and Lili of the Valley - their stamps and image sheets were gorgeous). Oh and Penny Black - I bought my very first penny Black stamps!