A Lili of the Valley Card

I bought this Lili of the Valley stamp a while ago but not had a chance to use it so had a play with it yesterday and make this card, I really like the vintage look with the patterned papers and distressed edges...

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Allsorts - Week 83, Free & Easy

Alphabet Challenge - H for Hats

Bunny Zoe's - Challenge 7, Sparkle & Shine

CES - Challenge 17, Anything Goes

Die Cut Dreams - Challenge 79, Girlie

Supplies:
Image - from Lili of the Valley coloured with Promarkers
Papers - Curio by Basic Grey from The Glitter Pot
Buttons - stash
Pins - stash
Tools - scissors for distressing, Icicle Stickles

Meet the new guy in my life...

My lovely friends Tams has introduced me to Ladybug Crafts Ink stamps, ooohhh they are lurvely :-) I have purchased my first two (stamps are currently on buy one get one half price!) and they are both cat samps. The cat is called Magnum and I think he is such a character...

I would like to enter this card into tehe following challenges:

Ladybug Crafts - Challenge 8, Song Title (The Lovecats by the Cure - you gotta love cats after seeing this image!)

Allsorts - Week 83, Free & Easy

CES - Challenge 17, Anything Goes

Supplies:
Image - Tiptoeing Lily from Ladybug Crafts Ink
Papers - Curio by Basic Grey from The Glitter Pot
Buttons - stash
Tools - scissors for distressing, Icicle Stickles

Here's another Magnum card, I just love him...

Supplies:
Images - Scaredy Cat Magnum from Ladybug Crafts Ink
Papers - Circa 1934 by Cosmo Cricket, thank you Mel x
Buttons - stash
Tools - scissors for distressing

Be My Valentine...

Artydoll set a challenge on MSE to make a Valentine card, I have loved making this one as it is so far removed from Christmas cards (even though the main colour is red!). I used some more of the gorgeous red gingham paper from Pink Petticoat and a Meljens image that I must have bought at some point during the year and not used. Hope Mr Rainmac likes it, it's the most organised I have been for Valentine's ever!

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

MSE - Artydoll's Valentine Challenge

Allsorts - Week 83, Free & Easy

CES - Challenge 17, Anything Goes

I Love Promarkers - Challenge 46, Anything Goes

Crafty Catz - Challenge 63, Your Choice (16, Love)

Digital Tuesday - Challenge 91, Anything Goes

Passion for Promarkers - Week 80, Mega Christmas Challenge/ Anything Goes

Secret Crafter - Challenge 118, In the Farmyard (mice)

Stampavie & More - Challenge 122, Red

Totally Gorjuss - Challenge 61, For Someone Special

Supplies:
Paper - Crimson gingham from Pink Petticoat

Image - Teeny Mouse Hugs by Meljens from Whimsy Stamps coloured with Promarkers

Sentiment - Girly Curly from Pink Petticoat

Sentiment ribbon - Pink Petticoat

Ribbon - Craftwork Cards (in one of the £5 goody bags)

Dew drops - stash

Cardstock - Bazzill Basics

Ho Ho Ho, it's nearly time!

Merry Christmas Everyone xxx

Christmas Colours but NOT a Christmas Card - yay!!!

Thomas is going to a birthday party next week so I had a spare half hour this morning and thought I'd make the card. I needed to be quick (2 children need entertaining!) so there was no time for colouring or faffing! I put this together in about 10 minutes not including the time taken to print the paper and sentiments. I rarely use red on cards (except for Christmas & Valentines) but I really like this, hope you do too x

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Allsorts - Week 83, Free & Easy

By The Cute & Girly - December Challenge, Children

CES - Challenge 17, Anything Goes

Crafts & Me - Challenge 20, Anything Goes

Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes

Cute Card Thursday - Challenge 143, One for the Kids

Die Cut Dreams - Challenge 79, Girlie

OSAAT - Challenge 43, Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes

The ABC Challenge - K for Keep it Simple

Totally Papercrafts - Challenge 47, Time to Party

Supplies:

Image - Lili of the Valley die cut square (I've cut it down) from my lovely friend Tams, cheers Tams x

Paper - Crimson gingham from Pink Petticoat

Cardstock - Bazzill Basics

Sentiment ribbon - Pink Petticoat

Sentiment - Girly Curly Sentiments from Pink Petticoat

Buttons - Crafty Emma's Store

Ribbon - stash

CFM Blog Hop Winners!!!

The winners of the Cards for Men Anniversary Blog Hop have been anounced on the Cards for Men blog, please hop on over and see if you are one of them ;-)

The winner of the prize featured on my blog, a gorgeous Prima paper pad donated by Bunny Zoe's Crafts is...

LANEY

Whoo hoo, congratulations Laney, please pop over to the Cards for Men blog to see how to claim your prize.

Thank you to everyone who entered our 1st anniversary blog hop and entered the Christmas challenges xxx

Knock Knock...Who's There...

A friend asked me if I could make her a few funny gifts for her family and after giving her a few ideas she opted for some sweet bags (already posted), pots of gold (already posted) and joke jars. I offered a choice of small or large jars and she opted for large. Uh oh, do you know how difficult it is to locate funny clean jokes on the net? REALLY difficult! Blimey it's been a hard job. I finally finished on Sunday night, got all the jokes pasted into Excel, printed, cut up and folded (365 jokes per jar and I made 2 jars!). Here is a finished jar. I used an Ikea 59p jar, popped all the jokes inside along with a pack of milk chocolate balls from M&S and decorated the jar lid simply with some Nestie circles and organza ribbon. I had some Ikea kraft gift bags left over from last year and have popped each jar inside one so they are all ready for giving...

Teacher gifts...

I heard on the news this morning that the average parent spends £50 on teacher presents!!! I am so not the 'average' parent, I bought little green plant pots and saucers half price in the local garden centre (50p for 5 and they are biodegradable too!), crocus bulbs and some compost and we made these...

I used a die cut snowflake and a card candy dot to jazz up the pot a bit, wrapped in cello and added a homemade tag, well under 50 quid (more like a tenner for all 10) and the teachers seemed to like them ;-)

Fab 'n' Funky GD Quick 'n' Easy Card

The lovely Lou at Fab 'n' Funky offered me a GD spot for this week and I have to say I jumped at the chance! The theme this time is Quick & Easy Christmas cards, what a perfect theme as we are fast approaching the festive season! The DT were given the opportunity to work with some gorgeous digis from Stitchy Bear Stamps and I chose Lite Brite which can be purchased here.

Please come and join us at Fab 'n' Funky for this challenge and to check out the fabulous work of the DT.

Supplies:
Image - Lite Brite by Stitchy Bear Stamps coloured with Promarkers
Sentiment - Lili of the Valley (I think?)
Papers - Christmas Fancy by Dovecraft
Cardstock - Bazzill kraft
Ribbon - Craftwork Cards
Flowers - Dovecraft
Buttons - Crafty Emma's Store
Dew Drops - Crafty Emma's Store

A Few Makes...

Sorry my blog and blogging is being neglected, I am literally rushed off my feet trying to get ready for Christmas, I have so much to do and so little time! Can I ask Santa for more crafting/blogging time please x

Anyway, here are a few things I've been making recently...

Pot of Gold (glass tealight holder from Ikea, scratch card, chocolate coins wrapped in cello with a tag)...


Box of chocolates (made box with Nesties and a scoreboard, papers by Basic Grey, flowers from Crafty Emma's Store)...

Snowglobe (snowglobe from Yellow Moon, penguin image by Elzybells coloured with Promarkers, blue dotty paper by Nitwits)...

Thanks for looking and I promise to catch up with all your fabulous blogs soon xxx

A Couple of Baby Cards...

Making these new baby cards was such a lovely relief from all the Christmas preparations!

I have used some gorgeous girly papers by MME and my cute Sugar Nellie bunny...
.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

CES - Challenge 16, Anything But a Christmas Card

Passion for Promarkers - Week 80, Mega Christmas Challenge: Anything Goes

Creative Card Crew - Anything Goes

Supplies:
Image - Little Cotton Rabbit (think that's his name?) by Sugar Nellie coloured with Promarkers
Papers - Tickled Pink by MME from Dies To Die For
Cardstock -Bazzill kraft from Bunny Zoe's Crafts
Pearl strand - a candy win
Buttons - Crafty Emma's Store
Sentiment - Dovecraft
Tools - Tilda Lace die by Magnolia, Stardust Stickles

CYDA Challenge 10 - Punch It Out!

It's time for a new challenge at CYDA. The lovely Doreen has chosen the theme this time and it is "Punch It Out" so we'd like to see you use punches on your work. I would just like to take a moment to say a HUGE thank you for everyone who entered my Texture challenge, there were so many gorgeous entries!

We are being sponsored this time by the fab Craft Brulee. Craft Brulee has a free postage offer until 20th December so it's a great time to pop over and treat yourself to some new goodies! Please do come and join in the fun and check out the gorgeous creations made by my lovely team mates x


So onto my DT project, I have made some jokey sweetie bags for little Christmas gifts (I've taken inspiration from the fab It's All Fiddle Fart blog, cheers Helen x)...


Supplies:
Cello bags - stash
Cardstock - Bazzill Basics
Puffy stickers - Accessorize
Wording - written with a Letraset Fineliner
Tools - Nesties Label One, circle & scallop circle punches, stapler to secure bags, scoreboard to score Labels and dst to attach the folded Label to the bag
Sweets - Red peanut M&Ms, chocolate covered raisins, Cadbury's chocolate snowballs

Festive Challenges and an Anniversary Blog Hop at Cards for Men!

If you are taking part in the Cards for Men Blog Hop you should have arrived at my blog from the lovely Patricia's, if not please go back to our starting point at Cards for Men to join in the fun - we have lots of gorgeous goodies to giveaway!

It has been a year since the very first challenge went live at Cards for Men and we are celebrating with TWO fabby challenges - 1. to make a Christmas card and 2. to make a gift AND an Anniversary Blog Hop. Oh and LOADS of prizes! We'll draw a random winner for each challenge category and top 3 as usual and there is a chance to win something lurvely at each stop on the Blog Hop. You can get all the details and lots more ideas from the DT over at Cards for Men.

.

I have made a festive box to house some chocolates and a Santa card...

.

Supplies:

Paper - Joyful Hearts Holly by Nitwit Collections

Images (Santa & candy canes) - Joyful Hearts Santa by Nitwit Collections coloured with Promarkers

Sentiment - North Pole Postage Seal by Magnolia

Box - local craft shop

Ribbon - The Hobby House

Cardstock - Bazzill Basics

Cross Stitch Santa - chart from Cross Stitcher magazine stitched with DMC321 thread on 14 count white aida

Tools - glamour dust, circle & scallop circle Nesties

Chocolates - Elizabeth Shaw Mints

.

Also, we are having an Anniversary Blog Hop. You can get the full list of blogs over at Cards for Men. At each stop there'll be a word to collect and a candy draw. I've got a beautiful 6"x6" Prima Paper Pad 'Road Trip' from Bunny Zoe Crafts to giveaway! Bunny Zoe's Crafts is currently offering 25% off ALL Christmas Stock so pop over and grab yourself some bargains ;-)

.

Bunny Zoe's Crafts is a family run online Craft store who ships worldwide. We provide friendly and efficient customer service, with quick processing and dispatch of orders. We sell a great range of Rubber Stamps from around the world, Digital Images, Personalised Stamps, Designer Papers, Stamping Essentials, Copic Ciao's, Distress Inks, Dies, Flowers, Ribbons & Lace, Buttons. Charms, Flat back Pearls and many, many fabulous card making goodies.

.

To be in with a chance of winning my Blog Hop prize you just need to leave me a comment at the end of this post. A random winner will be drawn on 20 December 2010. Each Blog Hop stop will have a word which you should collect to make a festive phrase. My word is 'NEW'. At the end of the blog hop you should have 11 words, work out the phrase and leave it in the comments section back at Cards for Men. The blog hop will run until midnight on 19th December and a winner will be chosen on 20th December. Your next stop is the lovely Viv's blog. If you lose your way you can go back to Cards for Men to get the full list of blogs to visit. Good luck everyone xxx

.

PS: remember our rules are the card/gift must be suitable for a man or boy and be a newly made item, no backlinking please ;-)

First present finished!

Do you remember this box I made a couple of month's ago for my sister-in-law? Well I have now filled it with a candle and a handmade bookmark from the lovely Crafty JuJu...

I bought a pure lavender candle that came in a boring looking tin so I decided to cover it up. I used some dotty paper and added glamour dust to the spots. The flower is 3 Prima flowers kept together with a pearl brad. The flower has also had the glamour dust treatment. The beading around the lid rim was a candy win from the lovely Mandy x

Thanks for looking x

I am another year older!

As lots of you know, it was my birthday on Monday. Here are the beautiful handmade cards I received, most from my wonderful cyber friends, thank you so much, I was so touched and my living room looks just gorgeous with so many gorgeous cards, no two the same ;-)


So top row from the left - Padster aka Debbie; Marg aka Margaret; Ali; Bottom row: TheWife aka Jennie; Rusty aka Tams; The Messy Crafter aka Lesley x


Top row from left: Jan my next door neighbour; CT aka Caroline; Tomsmom aka Susan; Bottom row: Brenda my aunt; Addams aka Dawn; Doreen from Doreen's Dream x


From the left: Gemm (I haven't taken a pic of the bracelet Gem as I am wearing it!), Flourgirl aka Karen x


This beautiful set is from Tams, I love the box, it is a beautiful shape x


These items are from Karen, my boys LOVED their chocolate Karen and the decorated covers x

Some beautiful lace and ribbon from Jennie, images from Doreen, a wallet of images and pretty flowers from Ali and some diecut LOTV squares from Margaret, the soaps have already been unwrapped and in use as they smell so lovely. If you sent me some chocolate and it isn't pictured I have eaten it ;-)

It's nearly advent...

I have speedily made another matchbox advent calendar, this time for my boys. In each box are two chocolate figures and also a Christmas themed joke. I have used some DCWV papers and the numbers were downloaded (for free!) from this fab site. I picked up the basket in Home Sense for a couple of quid.


Just hope the boys like it!

A card for a lil Harry Potter fan

My son Jack is only 6 but is really into Harry Potter and has just seen the latest film at the cinema with his dad (I took Thomas to a very busy indoor playcentre whilst they were at the cinema, think Rich got the better deal!). One of Jack's friends is also HP mad and is soon to turn 7 so I made him this card with the fab Har Repotter digi image from Bugaboo. I won this image from a challenge blog win but I have since gone back and bought several more. There is a 50% off ALL Bugaboo stamps code for the month of November here ;-)

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Fab 'n' Funky - Challenge 50, Going With The Flow

A Spoon Full of Sugar - Challenge 131, Anything Goes

I Love Promarkers - Challenge 42, Anything Goes

Delicious Doodles - Challenge 1, Anything Goes

Supplies:

Image - Har Repotter from Bugaboo

Paper - Making Memories I think, this was a leftover piece

Sentiment - Time To Celebrate Seal by Catslife Press from Crafty Emma's Store and other is generated using the PC (a Harry Potter quote)

Pearls - The Hobby House

Cardstock - Bazzill Basics

Tools - scissors for distressing, Stickles Frosted Lace along distressed edges

A Sparkly Snowman

Here's another sparkly Christmas card, I saw this image on the Sir Stampalot site and I just had to buy him, I think he is gorgeous and love how his hat is too big for his head.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Penny Black at Allsorts - November Challenge, It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

I love Promarkers - Challenge 42, Anything Goes

Papertake Weekly - Cut It Out

Crazy For Challenges - C4C64, Circles

Creative Inspirations - Challenge 47, Anything Christmassy/Winter

Simon Says Stamp - Let It Snow!

Crafty Creations - Challenge 95, Christmas is Coming

Supplies:
Image - Sweet Snowman Slapstick by Penny Black from Sir Stampalot coloured with Promarkers
Paper - October Afternoon (I love this paper)
Cardstock - Bazzill Basics
Ribbon (merry & bright) - The Hobby House
Sentiment stamp - Officially Winter by Catslife Press from Crafty Emma's Store
Pearls - The Hobby House
Tools - circle & scallop circle Nesties, glamour dust (used on snowman hat), Stickles Icicle (used on edge of Winter sentiment), scissors for distressing

Karen's Sketch Challenge

My lovely friend Karen aka flourgirl set a sketch challenge this week on MSE. The sketch is my kind of sketch, nice and easy with scope to add bits! This is the card I have made to fit Karen's challenge, I have used anough sparkle to make any Christmas grotto look dull!

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Karen's Sketch Challenge on MSE

A Spoon Full of Sugar - Challenge 131, Anything Goes

Paperplay - Week 46, Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow

Passion for Promarkers - Week 79, Old and New (new stamp, old Promarkers and sentiment)

Paper Cutz - Challenge 68, Christmas with Bling

Totally Papercrafts - Challenge 43, Snow and Snowflakes

The Creative Cottage - Challenge 27, Someone Special

Crafty Calendar - Challenge 14, Winter Snowflakes

2 Sisters - Challenge 14, Snowflakes

Supplies:
Paper - O Christmas Tree stack by MME (I am loving these papers at the moment!)
Image - James Bear in the Snow from Lili of the Valley coloured with Promarkers
Sentiment - Craftwork Cards
Flowers - Prima
Brads - The Hobby House
Pearls - The Hobby House
Cardstocl - Bazzill Basics
Tools - Circle and scallop circle Nesties, Glamour Dust, Snow Writer (I used this for the snow on the ground and while wet sprinkled with Glamour Dust)

Tilda is all white

The challenge at Just Magnolia this week is 'White plus one', I thought it was a pretty hard challenge then I remembered this beautiful glittered sledge paper and the card layout continued from there. I do have a teeny tiny bit of yellow on the star, hope that is allowed ;-)

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Just Magnolia - Week 83, White +1

A Spoon Full of Sugar - Challenge 131, Anything Goes

CES - Challenge 13, Lovely Lace

Supplies:
Paper - O Christmas Tree stack by MME
Imgage - Star Tilda from Crafty Ideas by Kaz coloured with Promarkers
Sentimnt - Officially Winter by Catslife Press from Crafty Emma's Store
Lace - LB Crafts, Olney
Ribbon - Craftwork Cards
Pearls - The Hobby House
Tools - oval and scallop oval Nesties, Glamour Dust, Stickles, scissors for distressing

It's Christmas Time at Cards for Men...

It's time for a brand new challenge at Cards for Men today and the theme is 'Happy Christmas' (n.b. card must be for a male). Our sponsor this time is Bunny Zoe's Crafts. Nikki is offering a £10 gift voucher to one lucky entrant!

.

"Bunny Zoe's Crafts is a family run online Craft store who ships worldwide. We provide friendly and efficient customer service, with quick processing and dispatch of orders. We sell a great range of Rubber Stamps from around the world, Digital Images, Personalised Stamps, Designer Papers, Stamping Essentials, Copic Ciao's, Distress Inks, Dies, Flowers, Ribbons & Lace, Buttons. Charms, Flat back Pearls and many, many fabulous card making goodies."

.

Please pop over to the challenge blog to check out the details of our new festive challenge! As always the DT have made some wonderful cards, please do pop across and have a peek and have a go at the challenge while you're there. So, onto my DT card, I have used a new Edwin stamp, I think he is adorable.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

OSAAT - Challenge 40, Choose a Season or Event (Christmas!)

Simon Says Stamp - Sparkle! (Stickles & pearls)

Die Cut Dreams Christmas Club - Challenge 44, Anything Goes!

ABC Christmas Challenge - X is for Xmas

Supplies:
Image - Lightening Edwin by Magnolia from Crafty Ideas by Kaz coloured with Promarkers
Papers - Jovial by Basic Grey from The Glitter Pot
Sentiment - Officially Winter Seal by Catslife Press from Crafty Emma's Store
Pearls - The Hobby House
Glitter - Icicle Stickles
Little string of lights - from my lovely cyber friend Kelly, thanks Kelly they are gorgeous x
Ribbon - stash

A Christening Card

I needed to make a Christening card this week, I've used a gorgeous Meljen's image I have used before. I also had a play with some new Basic Grey papers, ooohhh I really love these. It was hard to distress them but I do like the finished look ;-)

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Charisma Cardz - Challenge 46, Babies

Meljen's Designs - Challenge 34, Sparkle & Shine (pearls & Stickles)

Colour Create - Challenge 58

A Spoon Full of Sugar - Challenge 130, Distressing

Supplies:

Papers - Marjolaine by Basic Grey from The Glitter Pot

Image - Loved Little Bear by Meljens from Whimsy Stamps

Sentiment - A Day To Remember Calendar by Catslife Press from Crafty Emma's Store

Guipure lace - Cuddly Buddly Crafts

Pearls - The Hobby House

Pearl stem - stash

Tools - scissors for distressing, circle & scallop circle Nesties, Magnolia Tilda Lace die, Frosted Lace Stickles used around the edges of the circles

A New Challenge at Cards For Men!

It's time for a brand new challenge at Cards for Men today and the theme is 'Animals' (n.b. card must be for a male). Our sponsor this time is Hope Jacare and the DT had the opportunity to choose some gorgeous images to play with - big thank you Claire! Claire is offering a rubber stamp from her new forthcoming release as our sponsor prize this time (it's the same design as on my DT card).

This is what Claire has to say about herself - "I'm a SAHM with three young children. I trained in Textile Design at the Glasgow School of Art and I love all things handmade, but especially papercrafts. I love to doodle ... and my doodles are available to purchase as digital images through Shop Handmade." For everyone who enters the challenge. Claire has very kindly offered to send to them this gorgeous digi for FREE...

Just pop over to the challenge blog to check out the details! As always the DT have made some wonderful cards, please do pop across and have a peek and have a go at the challenge while you're there.

So, onto my DT card, I had a play with the super cute Mouse House digi image (soon to be available in rubber!), Mouse House can be purchased here. I think this image can be used for lots of different types/colours of cards, I love it.

Supplies:

Image - Mouse House by Hope Jacare from Stitchy Bear Stamps coloured with Promarkers and Glossy Accents
Papers - True Blue by MME from Dies To Die For
Cardstock - Bazzill Basics
Raffia - Papermania
Tickets - Tim Holtz from Crafty Emma's Store
Mini pine cones - freebie from Center Parcs, picked up several of these, thought they may come in handy for cards. I've sprayed these with a touch of Glimmer Mist