Friday, 23 December 2011

A Christmas Wish

Hi everyone,
I'm so sorry that I haven't been about for a while (other than my scheduled DT posts) but I'm afraid that real life has taken over recently, however I'm hoping that normal service will be resumed after the New Year ha ha!

It's my wonderful hubby's 60th birthday today and we celebrated our 39th wedding anniversary last week on the 16th, so with one thing and another December is a busy old month for us.
I'd like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy and peaceful New Year and I look forward to catching up with you all again very soon.

Until then, take care my dear friends
lots of love, 

Monday, 19 December 2011

Sketch N Stash DT Card #77

Hi everyone, time for another sketch at Sketch N Stash and this fortnight it's the turn of the lovely Sue to be our sketch designer. It's such a fabulous sketch that I hope you'll be able to join in with us.

Card Details:
* Image - Just Some Lines 'Gabriella Girl 1'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers -  My Mind's Eye 'Bloom & Grow' and K & Co.
* Sentiment - Cuddly Buddly
* Everything else from my stash

This fortnight we're being sponsored by the hugely talented Jehanne of Just Some Lines who is offering our lucky winner a massive $15 of digis of their choice. Wow such a fabulous prize! So what are you all waiting for, get crafting!!

I loved what you all created from my sketch last time and I had a HUGE struggle trying to pick my 'Top 3' (I thought they were all gorgeous!) but I eventually managed to whittle it down to just three, so do please visit our challenge blog and check them out, together with the wonderful designs from our DT and don't forget to see if you were last fortnight's lucky winner.

Monday, 5 December 2011

Sketch N Stash DT Card #76

Hi everyone, it's that time again (where did that last 2 weeks go?)
My DT card for this fortnight's Sketch N Stash Challenge is actually MY sketch. Now please join in with this, as I don't really 'do' sketches so you'll probably never get another of mine (who shouted just as well?! ha ha!)
I used one of my new 'Adorable' digis from Sugar Nellie, I just couldn't resist purchasing a couple of these cuties.

How lovely it is to get back to being able to use whatever I want on my cards, rather than making Xmas cards because I have to. Next year I'm determined to make the occasional ones all through the year. Hooray for those all year round Christmas Challenges!

Card Details:
* Image - Sugar Nellie - Adorables 'Victoria'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers - My Minds Eye and Joanna Sheen
* Punch - MS Doily Lace
* Dies - Cuttlebug 'Vintage' and Nestability 'Classic Scallop Rectangles'
* Everything else from my stash

This fortnight, our regular sponsor Simon Says Stamp is offering our lucky winner a $15 voucher to spend in their fabulous shop. We are so grateful for their continued sponsorship and generosity.

I do hope you'll manage to join in with us for this challenge (and not just because it's my sketch,  honestly) We love to see your work and always have such a difficult time choosing our 'Top 3' so pop over and check out who made it this time and who our lucky winner was.

Thursday, 24 November 2011

Ice and Snow

Hi everyone,
No, my title doesn't refer to the weather forecast, it's the theme for the Sugar Bowl's latest challenge.  I'm entering this card using 'Gayle's Sketch' which is the other part of their challenge and I've used lots of sparkle, glitter card and icy blue coloured gems to give the feeling of ice and snow. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be showing up too well on the scan.

Card Details:
* Image - Sugar Nellie - 'Elise'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers -  Dovecraft 'Winter Wonderland'
* Punch - MS 'Embossed Zig Zag' and Paper Shapers 'Wave Flourish'
* Everything else from my stash

I won this lovely Sugar Nellie stamp ages ago in a challenge but this is the first time she's seen ink as, I'm ashamed to say, I'd forgotten all about her. She's not actually a Christmas stamp, but I thought she worked quite well for this challenge.

I'm sure you'll all be pleased to hear that I think I've now finished making all my xmas cards, so I should be able to stop complaining about how I hate making them and get back to making what I want. The funny thing is, that now I know I don't have to make any more I think I may join in with one or two of the xmas challenges and make a start on next year's cards, how contrary am I?

Monday, 21 November 2011

Sketch N Stash DT Card #75

Hi everyone, it's time for another fabulous sketch at Sketch N Stash and this fortnight the sketch is from Kevin who recently joined our happy DT. I do hope you'll be able to join in with us and show support for his first sketch design for us.

Card Details:
* Image - Meljen 'Topsy Turvy Cake'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers - I think they were some freebies from a magazine years ago!
* Everything else from my stash

Our sponsor for this challenge is Meljen Designs and they are generously offering our winner 4 digi images of their choice. So don't hang around, get crafting and enter the challenge!
If you're in need of some inspiration, just take a look at the wonderful creations from the DT and don't forget to check out if you were our last winner or one of our Top 3.

If you've already been over to the challenge blog, you'll see that we have some new teamies joining our happy band. I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome:
Jen, Sarah-Jane, Doreen and Andie
Please do visit them and say 'Hi' if you have the time.

Tuesday, 8 November 2011

Alternative Christmas Colours

Hi everyone, today's card uses an unusual colour palette for a Christmas card, but I think I quite like it. Unfortunately, the sparkly gems didn't scan as true colours, they match the papers perfectly in real life.
I've used another of Mo's adorable images. I've had this one a couple of years now, but I still love to use it every Christmas.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:
The Sugar Bowl - Sketch
Charisma Cardz - Cutesy Projects
Crafts & Me - Let the Music Move You
Colour Create - Turquoise, Deep Pink and Ivory

Card Details:
* Image - Digital Pencil Too - Monique
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers - Papermania 'Blueberry Hill'
* Everything else from my stash

I'm getting into quite a routine with my cardmaking now and I'm thoroughly enjoying it, but it will still be nice when I've finished all the xmas cards and can make what I want again.

Monday, 7 November 2011

Sketch N Stash DT Card #74

Hi everyone, time for another fabulous sketch at Sketch N Stash and this fortnight it's the turn of the lovely Vicky to be our sketch designer. It's such a fabulous sketch too, I hope you'll be able to join in with us.

Well, I'm sure you'll be surprised to see that I used the sketch to make a xmas card. Isn't this little fella a cutie pie? Unfortunately, I haven't got a clue where I got him from, I'm afraid. It was part of a xmas digi kit that I purchased a couple of years ago and have never got around to using before, so if anyone knows, please leave a comment so that I can give credit to the artist.

Card Details:
* Papers - Papermania 'Naughty and Nice' & Dovecraft 'Winter Wonderland'
* Everything else from my stash

 Once again we're being sponsored by our generous regular sponsors Simon Says Stamp and they are offering our lucky winner a $15 voucher to spend in their store, so if you join in that lucky person may be you!
Don't forget to pop over to the challenge blog and take a look at the other DT cards, they're fabulous, as always. And if you entered our last challenge, please check out whether you were our lucky winner or one of our Top 3.

Sunday, 6 November 2011

Tom, Dick and Harry



Hi everyone, a few cards today, sort of variations on a theme really.
I wanted to enter this week's Bah Humbug challenge as I've missed so many, and I had a few Snowmen images that I wanted to use, so I scoured about for a CAS sketch and actually found two that I thought would suit these little cuties.
I named them Tom, Dick and Harry for no other reason than that there were three of them. When we moved to this house earlier in the year, we inherited three goldfish in a pond and I named them Tom, Dick and Harry too, talk about a lack of imagination...sheesh!

These cards are being entered into the following challenges:
Bah! Humbug! - Snowmen
Deconstructing Jen - Sketch #26 (2nd card)
Hanna and Friends - Sketch #118 (1st and 3rd cards)
Simon Says Stamp - Buttons (faux ones on 2nd card)

Card Details:
* Images - PC Crafter 'Cold Hands Warm Feet'
* Papers - HOTP, Papermania and Dovecraft
* Punch - MS 'Eyelet Lace'
* Everything else from my stash

The good news is... I do believe I'm actually getting there with my cards (at last!) the bad news is...I still have a few more to make, so you haven't seen an end of them yet I'm afraid!

Saturday, 5 November 2011

A Whiff of Joy

Hi everyone, I'll bet you're surprised to see me with a Christmas card again today aren't you?......NOT LOL!
Today, my card uses a Whiff of Joy stamp which hasn't seen the light of day for a while, such a shame because I think it's an adorable image. I do tend to forget about some of my older stamps and get too caught up in new things.
I had to use these lovely HOTP papers again as I just loved the richness of the colour but it's mostly all gone now except for some scraps (sob, sob)

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:
Whiff of Joy  - Karina's Sketch
Stampavie and more - Anything Goes
The ABC Challenge - C for Crochet Flowers

Card Details:
* Image - Whiff of Joy - 'Uru and Bird'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers - Hot off the Press & DCWV
* Sentiment - Pink Petticoat 'Girly Curly Sentiments'
* Everything else from my stash

I'm so looking forward to getting these xmas cards finished now so that I can move on to other things again! I WILL join in regularly next year with the Christmas challenge blogs (I seem to be having a sense of Deja Vu here, surely I haven't ever said this before!!??!!)

Friday, 4 November 2011

Festive Sparkle

Hi everyone, another day, another Christmas card, at least that's how it's feeling for me at the moment but if I carry on at this rate I may get them all finished in time (fingers crossed!)
Today's card uses another of the gorgeous xmas images that I recently purchased from Mo's, this one is called 'Boughs for the Wreath' and I love the slightly vintage look of it.
I used absolutely masses of 'Diamond Dust' on this card, both for the snow and also for that snowflake embellishment, but unfortunately, it hasn't shown up very well.

I'm entering this for the following challenges:
Sweet Sketch Wednesday - #126
I love Promarkers - Glitter & Glitz
Creative Inspirations - Lashings of Sparkle
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes (plus a bit of bling)

Card Details:
* Image - Digital Pencil Too 'Boughs for the Wreath'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers - Dovecraft 'Winter Wonderland'
* Dies - Nestabilities
* Everything else from my stash

It's highly likely that I'll be back with another card tomorrow, I hope you don't get fed up with looking at them as much as I'm getting fed up with making them! See how easily I get bored with doing the same thing, now you know why I dislike xmas cards so much, don't you?

Thursday, 3 November 2011

A Vintage Christmas

Hi everyone, today's card is another one for the Xmas box and this time I've used the traditional Christmas colours of red, green and gold. I have to admit to really liking the richness of this colour palette and I think I may have to use this colour combo again.
This is another 8" x 8" 'biggy' as it's designated for my best friend and her husband.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:
Sketch Saturday - Sketch # 179
ABC Christmas Challenge - V for Vintage
Crimbo Crackers - Challenge #1 Anything Goes

Card Details:
* Image - Digital Pencil Too 'Holly Fairy'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers - Hot Off The Press
* Punch - MS 'Doily Lace'
* Everything else from my stash

I've used Mo's Holly Fairy again, this is probably my all time favourite image for Christmas cards, I bought her a couple of years ago and use her on some of my cards every year. I just have to try to make sure I don't send her to the same people every year ha ha!
The beautiful gold sparkly ribbon was part of a gift from my dear friend Barb last year. She had bought lots of stunning christmas ribbons and sent me a selection as she knows we don't have access to the same gorgeousness here in the UK.

Wednesday, 2 November 2011

A Pastel Christmas Card


Hi everyone, well here I am again with another Christmas card, that's another one for the box, thank goodness the numbers are starting to swell a bit now.
This is one of the new Teddy Bo and Bea images I purchased the other day, (I'm sure you'll be seeing the others sometime soon) isn't she so sweet?

I'm entering this card for the following challenges:
The Sweet Stop - Sketch #132
Teddy Bo - Pastels
 Sweet Stampin' Challenge - Anything Goes

Card Details:
* Image - TeddyBea #162
* Colouring medium - Promarkers and Spectrum Noir pens
* Sentiment Ticket - Magnolia
* Papers - An assortment from my stash (mostly K & Co)
* Punch - EK Success 'Retro Flower'
* Everything else from my stash

I decided to use an A5 card for this sketch, now it's finished I think that was probably a mistake as I've got too much blank space. It probably would have been much better on a square card......ah well, {sigh!}

Monday, 31 October 2011

Christmas Creatures

 Hi everyone, today's card is another Christmas one. I really, really need to catch up with making these so I've scoured the Christmas Challenges to try to gather some inspiration. Those of you who know me, will know that I don't like making cards for the festive season at all!

This card is being entered into the following challenges:
Bah! Humbug! - Die Cuts
Jingle Belles - Creatures
One Stop Craft Challenge - No Sentiments
Winter Wonderland - Clean and Simple (well this is about as CAS as I get!)

Card Details:
* Image - Just Some Lines freebie - 'Christmas Robin'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers - Papermania 'Naughty and Nice'
* Dies -Nestabilities 'Labels One' & Nellie's Borders 23
* Punch - EK Success Corner Punch
* Everything else from my stash

I'm hoping to catch up with some blog-hopping, commenting and making further xmas cards tomorrow so you may be seeing me again soon.

Friday, 28 October 2011

Anything Goes!

 Hi everyone, my card today was made for a special friend who is going through a rough time at the moment, I just wanted to let her know I was thinking of her, so I hope she likes it.

I'm entering this into 2 card challenges whose themes are 'Anything Goes'
The first is Simon Says Stamp and the second is Charisma Cardz.

Card Details:
* Image - Sandi Gore Evans 'Angel Blessings' Kit from Daisie Company
* Papers - Cuddly Buddly 'Peppy Papers'
* Die - Marianne Designs 'Creatable Labels'
* Punch - MS PATP 'Deco Fan'
* Everything else from my stash

I need to concentrate on a few more Christmas cards again now, so you may see me back with something new in a couple of days.
Take care sweeties,

Wednesday, 26 October 2011

A Christmas Card Challenge

Hi everyone, today I have a Christmas card to share with you and this will (hopefully) be the first of quite a few festive cards.
This is a large 8x8 card and is destined for a very special friend, I hope she'll like it. I'm entering it into CraftyHazelNut's Christmas Challenge where they are asking us to 'make a scene'
I'm also entering this week's DP2 challenge to use your fave Mo image. This is my fave (at the moment) 'cos it's the newest, but how anyone could have just one favourite image from Mo defeats me!

I was really starting to go into panic mode about getting my xmas cards made. I started the year off quite well by joining in with a few of the Christmas Challenges, mainly because I thought they would help me avoid my normal last minute rush but then, due to preparing to move etc. it all ground to a halt and I haven't made any since heaven knows when.
Fingers crossed, I still have time to get enough cards made before December is upon us.

Card Details:
* Image - Mo Manning 'Hanging Stockings'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers - Papermania 'Naughty & Nice' and unknown papers from a friend.
* Dies - Spellbinders 'Create A Flake'
* Sentiment - Computer generated
* Everything else from my stash

I try to avoid a visit to Mo's Digital Pencil too often as I find it nearly impossible to choose just one or two images, she is so talented that I always want everything in her shop. So this time I made a short list of about half a dozen digis in my basket and then asked DH to help me choose, the 2 images I bought were actually both his choice. Don't you just love the hopeful expression on that little dog's face, I wonder what he wants in his stocking?

Monday, 24 October 2011

Sketch N Stash DT Card #73

Hi everyone, I'm here again ready for this fortnight's Sketch N Stash Challenge.
We just can't believe all the brilliant entries submitted each challenge, choosing our Top 3 just gets harder and harder!
This time it's the lovely Gemma's turn to create a sketch, and what a fabulous one it is too. I hope you'll all manage to join in with us for her first sketch as a DT member.
 
Card Details:
* Image - Pollycraft - Sharing Sherbert 'Daydream'
* Sentiment - Gina Jane 'Friendship Post'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers - Hot off the Press and Joanna Sheen
* Everything else from my stash

For this challenge, we're being sponsored by the fabulous Pollycraft who are offering our lucky winner 10 digis of their choice. A fabulous prize but 'you've got to be in it to win it' so start creating!

Don't forget to pop over to the challenge blog and take a look at the rest of the DT cards, also see who won our last challenge and who were our Top 3.

Friday, 21 October 2011

A Sassy Sketch

Hi everyone, I did warn you I might be back again today, didn't I?

My card today is for Sassy Cheryl's challenge where they want us to use their gorgeous sketch plus pink. I'm also entering it into My Time To Craft's challenge of 'Punches and Dies'.
 
Card Details:
* Image - Sassy Cheryl's freebie - 'Bubble Blower'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers - Jak Heath - Candy Pink 'Spots'
* Punches - MS 'Doiley Lace' and 'Monarch Butterfly'
* Everything else from my stash

I'm sure I'll be back again soon, as I keep getting inspired by the challenge cards on my favourite blogs.
So many challenges, so little time!

Wednesday, 19 October 2011

A Couple Of Challenges - Oh How I've Missed Them.

Hello me lovelies, it's me again and this time with a card for a couple of challenges. I can't remember the last time I managed to enter some!
I thought I'd enter the Kenny K challenge where they wanted to see 'Autumnal Colours' and then I hunted about for a sketch I liked. When I decided on this one from Sweet Sketch Wednesday I hadn't realised how big it would turn out, so then I had to make it an A5 sized card rather than my usual square one, but it's nice to have a change.
It also had me panicking as there was rather a lot of blank space left (now you know why I can't do CAS!) but then I spotted another lovely challenge at Anything Goes asking for 'some form of lettering' (not just a sentiment) so that, plus some corners solved the problem.
Now that I'm finished and ready to post I realise that it's Wednesday, so of course, there's now a new sketch over at my sketch challenge blog. Still, two out of three ain't bad and I'm sure I'll get back into the swing of things soon, ha ha!

Card Details:
* Image - Kenny K - 'Download Diva'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers - K & Co and old ones from Dovecraft (can't remember their name)
* Punch - EK Success Corner Punch
* Everything else from my stash

I'm in the process of making another card for some more challenges, so you may see me again tomorrow too. I know, I know, people tell me you can have too much of a good thing, but I've never understood the concept of less is more!

Take care sweeties,

Monday, 17 October 2011

I'm Sorry That I'm Such A Terrible Person!

Hello my lovelies,
I'll bet you can't believe that I'm posting when it's not a Sketch N Stash Challenge day can you?
I'm so sorry, I know that I've been a terrible blogger lately, what can I say? There's no real excuse except that lots has been happening at 'Chez Chrissie'
(If you are bored enough to want to know more, it may be a good idea to get yourself a nice cup of coffee first as this is a long, long post!!)
The new bungalow had oil heating and after lots (and lots and lots!) of discussion we finally decided to change to gas, so we had the road dug up and gas and a new boiler installed. Then the loft was newly insulated and so we're now toasty warm.
We also had major problems with our new bedroom furniture. After 12 weeks of our money being in their bank whilst we waited for delivery and finally issuing them with a threat to cancel, the company tried to fob us off with ex-showroom units and make out it was our delivered order. Oh, and still charge us full price of course! Needless to say we were NOT happy and requested our money back PDQ! That, of course, meant starting the search again!!!!! However, I'm happy to report that I now have something a little nicer than cardboard boxes for our clothes and I'm very happy with it.
My lovely DH had been having problems with his knees for a while (and not because I make him grovel at my feet all the time!) and it's now been discovered that he's got osteoporosis and he's awaiting an op. They're not sure if they will fix one knee at a time or both together yet. He's taking it all very calmly, but I'm going into a panic at the whole thing!
Add to this all the normal problems that come with moving hundreds of miles away from friends, family and loved ones plus conservatory roof leaks, overflowing toilet cisterns, practically non-existent broadband signals etc. etc. and you start to get the idea.
Regardless of all that, we are both so happy to be living in this house, in this village, in this part of the world that we know it was the right move for us. I'll try to get some photos popped up at some point.
On a brighter note it was my birthday on the 3rd, I shan't tell you how very old I am (suffice to say I get my bus pass this time next year!) and I want to thank all my lovely friends for such gorgeous cards and prezzies. The final count was 40 cards, just unbelievable! DH took some photos although more cards arrived later and so were missed out, but here are the photos if you'd like to take a look.





I've actually managed to finally finish sorting my new craft room (she says hopefully) so I may get to do a bit more card making and blogging anytime soon. I certainly hope so as I've been getting withdrawal symptoms from chatting to all my crafting buddies. For those to whom I owe an e-mail (or two or three) I'll be in touch any day now.
Once again my apologies for losing touch with you all lately and thanks to those who managed to get this far through my posting, bless you!