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!

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"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

A Blog Award With Attitude!

My lovely friend Jenny has nominated me for this Digi's With Attittude award...


Thank you Jenny! In order to qualify for the award and be given a $5 gift certificate to spend at Digi's With Attitude I need to state 3 things that make me different from others and nominate 5 other blogs for the award.

So my three things are:
1. I have just come back from the best ever holiday at Center Parcs
2. I have the best group of cyber friends in the world
3. I have one pupil (in the eye) larger than the other - wierd but true!

I would like to nominate the following fabulous blogs for this award:
1. Doreen's Dream
2. Nannieflash
3. Handmade by Tillymint
4. A Personal Touch
5. Antonia's Attic

Info on how to accept this award and claim your $5 gift certificate can be found here x

It's Karen's Birthday!

I hope Karen doesn't mind me posting this today, this is what I made her for her birthday. I used a new Tilda stamp, she is actually a new Christmas stamp but I think she looks pretty good in pink on a flowery card ;-) The box has some chocs in it and is decorated with a Lili of the Valley die cut square (thank you Tams x) that I have run through the Big Shot. The wallet is holding some Basic Grey bling.

Hope you have a wonderful birthday lovely lady xxx

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

Totally Tilda - Challenge 8, Pink & Pearls

Stamp Something - With Some Pink

Supplies:

Card blank - Craftwork Cards

Image - Star Tilda by Magnolia from Crafty Ideas by Kaz

Papers - Tickled Pink by MME from Dies To Die For/ paper on card is Papermania Summer Blooms (I think!)

Flowers & leaves - Wild Orchid Crafts

Little girl image (on top of box) - die cut square from Lili of the Valley (cheers Tams xxx)

Pearls - from stash

Ribbon - from stash

Guipure Lace - Cuddly Buddly Crafts

Ticket on wallet - Tim Holtz from Crafty Emma's Store

Tools - Nestie oval, scallop oval, labels one and MS scoreboard