Oh no, I've done it again!

Just a quick posting to let you know that I won't be back as soon as I'd hoped.
I managed to pull my back again yesterday and it's very painful at the moment, (especially when I try and sit at the PC) so I'm afraid I'll be AWOL for a few days until it feels a bit better and I manage to get some crafting done.
I thought I'd let you know rather than just not posting, and I'll be back asap.

Until then, thank you for visiting and taking the time to leave such lovely comments for me, you really make my day!

Sketch and Stash Challenge #4

Well here's my DT card for this week's fabulous sketch from Becky at Sketch and Stash.
I can't believe we're up to challenge number four already and I'd like to thank all of you who've been joining in and making it such fun.
From reading your blogs (yes, I do TRY to get around them all and leave a comment!) you seem to be enjoying the challenge of using up your new or previously unused crafting goodies, not to mention trying out Becky's GORGEOUS sketches!
If you haven't managed to join in yet, why not try and make it this time, don't forget you can use anything for your projects, it doesn't have to be stamping, it can be CDs, decoupage kits or (like me this week) digital downloads.

Card Details:
* Images - PC Crafter 'Bunny Rhymes'
* Backing papers - Basic Grey and K & Co
* Paper lace - K & Co
* Pearls - Joanna Sheen
* Sentiment - done on PC
* Flowers from my stash

Apologies again for the slightly 'skiffy' picture, I think my scanner hates me!

Stamp Something - Something Chocolate

My card today is actually one (of the many) that I made for Valentine's Day, but I think it fits this week's Stamp Something challenge quite well.
In keeping with the Valentine's ideas and seeing as Valentine's Day is tomorrow, we thought Chocolate would be a delicious challenge theme for this week. So, that said, create something with chocolate in mind. It could be a card made with chocolate colored papers or embellished with chocolate colored ribbons and flowers. Or you could make a project that actually uses some delicious chocolate confections....the ideas are endless and this challenge is open to your interpretation.
I decided to go for chocolate coloured papers etc.

Card Details:
* Image - Hangler & Stangler
* Image coloured with letraset Pro-markers
* Papers by HOTP and Papermania
* Border punch - Martha Stewart Doily Lace
* Script Heart - Magnolia stamps
* Flowers and gems from my stash

I'm scheduling my post again for tomorrow's next fabulous Sketch and Stash challenge, please try and pop over and join in if you can. It's a fabulous sketch again from Becky, I really enjoyed making this one.

I'm a bit disorganised at home at the moment, so after my scheduled post tomorrow I may not be posting for a couple of days while I (hopefully) get myself sorted out, but I'll be back soon!

An Award and a card for a friend

I received an award from Rica the other day. I was so thrilled, as she is one of the bloggers that I really love to visit, her work is always fabulous. Thank you Heather!

I sent this card to another dear blogging friend and I know she's received it so I can show it now. This was for Irene, who makes such gorgeous creations with her Cuttlebug, embossing stencils and paper pricking, her cards are always so elegant and just take a look at her latest creation of a ribbon cushion!

Card Details:
* Image - Hangler & Stangler
* Image coloured with Letraset Pro-markers
* Border punch - Martha Stewart Doiley Lace
* Papers - HOTP and Joanna Sheen 'Pastel Lace'
* Circle mats - 'Cuttlebugged' Nestabilities
* Sentiment done on PC

I may be back later with a challenge card if I get time, if not I'll see you all tomorrow and thank you for your visit.

Colour Create Challenge 2 - Peach and Aqua

I was too late to join in with the first Colour Create challenge last week, so I made sure that I was in time to enter for this week's challenge, which is:
Please make your card using Peach and Aqua. You can also use cream/white for your cardstock and flesh colours for any images. There is also an option to use non pre-made flowers, but I didn't do this.

Card Details:
* Image - Penny Black
* Image coloured with Letraset Pro-markers
* Papers - Basic Grey
* Border punch - Martha Stewart Doiley Lace
* Photo corner - K & Co
* Pearls - Joanna Sheen
* Gem hearts from my stash

This scan makes the papers look much more 'pinky' than they actually are, IRL they are much closer to the colour I've used on the little girls clothes.
I don't appear to be having a lot of success with my scanner lately, I'll have to practice using my camera again!

Two Awards and some Thanks

I'm so sorry that I haven't mentioned this earlier, but I received two more awards the other day. The first was the 'Fabulous' blog award from Kimmie (who must be the most talented young crafter EVER!), and the second was the 'your Blog rocks' award from Gail.
Thank you to both of you for thinking of me for these awards, if any of my visitors haven't seen these blogs before, please pop over and take a look.

My other 'Thank You' is to all of you who visit my blog regularly and leave such lovely comments. You're so good for my confidence (LOL!) and I really appreciate your taking the time to check out what I've been up to, thank you!

The Pink Elephant Challenge #1

Today is the start of a new Challenge blog called The Pink Elephant (Oh no, not another one, I hear you all groan!) but my dear blogging friend Ann is one of the DT for this challenge so I really wanted to join in, and this one is a little bit different to most challenges. Here's what they say:
Hello and Welcome to The Pink Elephant.
We are so excited and look forward to bringing you... fun, fresh and exciting inspiration. Our goal here at The Pink Elephant is to inspire you to use all those fun die-cutting machines and tools the craft world has to offer, to provide you with a place to learn new techniques and styles, try them for yourself, then showcase them weekly by joining our Monday Challenges.

This first challenge is a colour one, using pink, black and white, so here's my card, a valentine (just for a change!!) actually this is the one I plan to send to DH, he'll love it 'cos it looks just like me!!! (well maybe a little bit, once upon a time, many moons ago LOL!)

Card Details:
* Image - Charmed Cards and Crafts download 'Madison - Oh La La!'
* Image coloured with Letraset Pro-markers
* Cuttlebugged backing paper using 'Heart Blocks' and 'Swiss Dots' folders
* Oval scalloped mats - Nestabilities
* Sentiment done on PC
* Gem embellishments from stash

Why not pop over and join in and take the opportunity of having fun with those diecut machines!

Penny Black challenge - Romance

This is my second challenge card and it's for the Penny Black Saturday Challenge:
Well let's get on with this week's challenge......
ROMANCE
Don't suppose that is a big surprise for you and just think this time next week you will be opening your Valentine's Day Card from someone who loves you.....
so with love in mind....we want to see your romance inspired creations.

Card Details:
* Image - Penny Black 'Snuggle Buddy'
* Image coloured with Letraset Pro-markers
* Design Papers - K & Co 'Sparkly Sweet'
* Sentiment from stash
* Flower embellishments from stash

I won't be opening a Valentine's card next week, although I have decided to give one to DH this year (that'll be a first!) well as I've got so many made, it seemed a shame not to use one really!

I hadn't realised until I just saw this card on the blog, how lopsided it looks, that's down to my scanning I'm afraid, it actually is straight irl, honest!!

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Hearts and Flowers

This is the first of two challenge cards today....well I've made all these d****d Valentine cards, so I've got to do something with them!
The Papertake Weekly Challenge is:
This weeks challenge is hearts and flowers which is to use hearts or flowers (or both!) on your project!

Card Details:
* Image - Hangler & Stangler
* Image coloured with Letraset pro-markers
* Backing paper - Hot off the Press
* Design papers - Papermania 'Simply Elegant'
* Heart - Magnolia stamp
* Border punch - Martha Stewart 'Doiley Lace'
* Embellishments from my stash

Stamp Something Challenge - Something for your Valentine

Most of the challenges at the moment have some sort of reference to Valentine's Day, (I wonder why?) now this is good news for me as I have made all these cards and I don't know what to do with them!
This week's Stamp Something challenge is:
Something for your Valentine. It can be a card, a gift, or some candy, whatever it is you are giving to your Valentine.
Well, I don't give (or receive) anything, but if I did I'd probably give this one.

Card Details:
* Image - Forever Friends 'Surprise'
* Image coloured with Letraset Pro-markers
* Backing paper - K & Co
* Sentiment - Magnolia stamps
* Chocolate box - Magnolia stamps

I want to say a big 'Thank You' to two of my blogging friends Ann and Wendy who have passed the 'Your Blog Rocks' award to me, so if you're blog hopping and you haven't visited their blogs before please do, you'll find all sorts of wonderful creations there. Ann even provides tutorials on her blog (perfect for us lesser mortals!)

Dutch Dare Challenge #34 and a surprise!

Well, as you can see I'm still enjoying the card challenges and what a suprise I got this morning to find out I'd won the last Dutch Dare challenge! To be perfectly honest, I wasn't aware of it until I read a comment from my crafting friend Ann who wished me congratulations, so thanks Ann (and Denise for letting me know later today too).
This is actually even more strange as I'd just finished making my entry for this week's Dutch Dare challenge which is:
This weeks theme: create a love themed card using no pink and red.

Card Details:
* Image - Eat Cake stamps - Main squeeze
* Image coloured with Letraset Pro-markers
* Backing papers from my stash
* Valentine sentiment - Magnolia stamps
* Chocolate box - Magnolia stamps

I really love this image, possibly because it reminds me so much of DH and me!

Cute Card Thursday - Challenge 46 - Metallica

Today's card is for Cute card Thursday I know, I know, the same card challenge site for my last two cards, but different challenges! that's because I was so late with my card for the last challenge and now I'm really early for this one!
Challenge 46 Metallica
Very simple one, use some metal on your card i.e. charms, wire, spacers, eyelets, metal coloured card, fabric or paper etc.
I decided to use metallic cardstock and really strong, funky colours for this (probably a reaction from using so many pretty stamps and pastel colours lately LOL!) unfortunately, my scanner hated it!
The background miri card and the swirl are a bright fuchsia pink and the cuttlebugged miri is a bluey purple colour and they actually do match the colours I've used for the image irl!

Card Details:
* Image - Nay by Rubber Romance
* Image coloured with Letraset Pro-markers

Two more Awards!

I've just popped on to say a big 'Thank You' to two of my blogging buddies for passing on some awards to me.

Firstly, Sheena left me the 'Honest Scrap' award, evidently you're supposed to list 10 interesting things about yourself, so thanks for this then Sheena (not!) LOL!
Unfortunately, I can't think of ONE interesting thing about me, so I'll have to pass on this (I did try honestly, I did a list from 1 to 10 and looked at it...nothing!)
Sheena has only been blogging since November, but her blog is full of fabulous things, why not pay her a visit?

Ann has left me the 'Your blog rocks' award. Ann's blog is fabulous, she always has such clever ideas for all her wonderful creations and it looks like she has a big surprise coming up very soon, please go and take a look if you haven't visited her before.

I'm going to leave these awards here and if any of you would like them, please take them with my compliments.

Cute Card Thursday Challenge 45 - Valentines

Today's card is for this week's Cute Card Thursday challenge:
Challenge 45 - Valentines
In case you hadn't noticed it is fast approaching, only a couple of weeks to get your Valentines cards and gifts made. This week we would like to see your Valentines creations, simple as that!

DH and I have never bothered with this (I know, we're sad!) so I don't usually 'do' Valentine, but there are so many sweet images about at the moment that I've gone a bit mad and made loads! I just hope that both my boys' may want a card, goodness only knows what I'm going to do with all the rest.
Anyway, I thought this one would fit the bill for this week's challenge....

Card Details:
* Images - Hangler & Stangler
* Image coloured with Letraset Pro-markers
* Backing papers - Papermania 'Simply Elegant'
* Border punch - Martha Stewart 'Doily Lace'
* Hugs and kisses sentiment - K & Co

I'm really enjoying making cards at the moment, the only problem is I forget to check out the card challenges BEFORE I make the cards, and then find that they don't fit any challenges, ah well that's what happens when you reach a 'certain' age, the memory goes completely!

Dutch Dare Challenge #33 and an Award

I warned you that you'd be seeing some more of these adorable Penny Black images didn't I?
This card is for this week's Dutch Dare challenge which is:
We want you to create a THANK YOU card.
I've just realised that I forgot to put a sentiment on this, so it doesn't actually say 'thank you' so I hope this will still be OK for the challenge.

Card Details:
* Image - Penny Black 'Rain or Shine Friends'
* Image coloured with Letraset Pro-markers
* Backing papers - K & Co 'Bailey'
* Border punch - Martha Stewart 'Doiley Lace'
* Pearls from Joanna Sheen


Whilst checking out my 'Sheenie' friends blogs this morning, I saw that I had been given this lovely award by my dear friend Sandie. If you haven't already visited her blog, please do as she makes some stunning creations, the fat pages, ATCs and her latest calendar pages are just stunning.

Sketch and Stash Challenge #3

Well, I can't believe how quickly the time has gone since the last Sketch and Stash Challenge and now we're already on challenge number THREE!!
Thank you to everyone who has been joining in with the fun, I hope you're all enjoying it as much as I am! I've been amazed (and thrilled) by how many of you have entered, but I have to say Becky does do some amazing sketches!
Speaking of Becky's fabulous sketches, I love this one so much I've used it to make a few other cards too, it's really easy to follow but looks fabulous as a card layout, why not give it a try and see if you agree?

I've scheduled this post (this is a first for me!) so I'm hoping and praying that it works!!!

Card Details:
* Image - Tilda with magnolia flowers
* Coloured using Pro-markers
* Backing paper - DCWV
* Oval scalloped mat - Nestabilities
* Punch - Fiskars
* Sentiment designed on the PC
* Embellishments from my stash

I hope you decide to join in with us again and for those of you who haven't yet taken the plunge...why not try it out this time?

ABC Challenge - Y is for Yesteryear

Well, I'm back with a card for another challenge today. Yes, you'll be seeing quite a few cards in the next few days, after that the novelty will probably wear off again for a while LOL!
Today's card is for this week's ABC Challenge, which is:
Y is for Yesteryear - We would like you all to dig out one of the first stamps you brought from the bottom of your craft box and give it a new lease of life.
This is one of Penny Black's vintage stamps, I'm so sad that we can't get these anymore as I think they are totally adorable! (You'll be seeing some more of these soon!)

Card Details:
* Image - Penny Black 'Friendly Chat'
* Coloured with Letraset Pro-markers
* Backing papers - K & Co 'Bailey'
* Punch - Lace Doiley by Martha Stewart
* Pearls - Joanna Sheen
* Photo corners - K & Co