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!

 

Sketch N Stash DT Card #72

Hi everyone, time for another fabulous sketch at Sketch N Stash and this fortnight it's our Angie's turn to be a designer. A lovely, easy sketch and your choice as to where you put your sentiment and embellishments, what could be better, so please try and join in with us.
I decided this was the perfect sketch to use as my card for my best friend's hubby as it wasn't too fussy and I carried on the 'simple' theme by using a lovely image from Tiddly Inks called 'Light My Life' which I thought was perfect for a man's card.
I find it much more difficult to make a card for males, mainly because I can't use use any pretty papers or embellishments, but DH gave this one the 'thumbs up' so it must look quite masculine!
 
Card Details:
* Image - Tiddly Inks 'Light My Life'
* Sentiment - Woodware Stamps 'Circular Greetings'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers - K & Co, My Mind's Eye and Hot Off The Press
* Punch - MS 'Double Scallop'
* Everything else from my stash

This fortnight's prize is being donated by our regular sponsor Simon Says Stamp and, as usual, they are generously offering our winner a $15 voucher to be spent in their store.
Pop over to the challenge blog and take a look at the other DT cards (they're fabulous!) and don't forget to check whether you are our last fortnight's winner or one of our Top 3

Sketch N Stash DT Card #71

Hi everyone, time for another Sketch N Stash Challenge and this time our sketch has been designed by Daniele, isn't it gorgeous? (I found it quite challenging this fortnight, but then I'm not good at anything where I have to get angles right so just don't look at my card too closely!!)

I notice that I'm back to using my Promarkers again. The Spectrum Noir pens are lovely, but there's just something about my beloved Promarkers. Maybe it's that divine smell? and of course I do have an awful lot of colours, whereas I only bought a few SN pens to start. I must persevere with these though as I'm sure the fact that they are refillable will be really useful.
The other team members have done beautiful things, as always, so do pop over to the challenge blog and take a look.

Card Details:
* Image - Meljen 'Happy Panda' digi
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers - Papermania and Crafty Ann's
* Sentiment - Sentiments 4 You
* Everything else from my stash

This fortnight we're being sponsored by Meljen Designs again, and they are offering our lucky winner 4 images of their choice.
I just love this sweet Meljen Panda image, doesn't that expression just say 'Mmmm Yummy' to you?

It was my turn to choose the Top 3 and you certainly made it a difficult task. I always think it's nice to be able to choose your favourite sketches now and again, which is why my design week is always a free choice (that and the fact that I'm useless at designing sketches ha ha!) and judging by the amount of entries we received  you certainly seemed to agree with me!
I do hope you'll find time to join in with us again this time and don't forget to pop over to the challenge blog to see if you are our lucky winner, or one of our Top 3 from the last challenge.

Sketch N Stash DT Card #70

Hi everyone, I'm back with my latest DT card for Sketch N Stash and this fortnight we're offering a 'free choice' sketch.
Just take a look at the old sketches in the 'Sketch Catalogue' section on the challenge blog and pick which one you'd like to use (don't forget to let us know which one you've chosen though!)
I went for Sketch 55 for my card, I thought the layout would be just right as I decided to make a C5 sized card for a change.

This was a 'Thank You' card for a very special friend who recently sent me the most gorgeous 'New Home' gift, this wicker basket filled with a box of belgian choccies, a bottle of rose wine and a stunning miniature rose plant.

 If you're reading this Sheila, you already know how important you are to me sweetie and how grateful I am to be able to call you my friend.

Card Details:
* Image - Penny Black 'Hitchin' A Ride'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers and Spectrum Noir Pens
* Papers - Papermania Colossal 'Spring Life'
* Punch - MS 'Eyelet Lace'
* Everything else from my stash

This fortnight's prize is from our wonderful regular sponsor Simon Says Stamp and they are offering our lucky winner a $15 voucher to be spent in their store so I hope you'll manage to join in with us.
If you're in need of any inspiration just pop over to the Challenge blog where the DT have come up with the most amazing creations again and while you're there see if you were lucky enough to have won or been nominated as one of our Top 3 from the last challenge.

Simon Says Stamp-tember

Hi everyone,
I'm back today with a card for the Simon Says September Blog Hop just look at this...

For the second year in a row, Simon Says Stamp and Show & The Simon Says Stamp Challenge teams are joining forces to bring you a SUPER blog hop and treasure hunt to celebrate STAMPtember! 

 To help celebrate we will be giving a BIG BASKET OF CRAFTING GOODIES to the randomly chosen winner of this hop! PLUS three $25 VOUCHERS to the Simon Says Stamp Store ! The vouchers will be the hidden treasure on 3 Design Team blogs and you have to find them. You MUST enter the challenge and link your creations with the Inlinkz on the Stamp and Show Challenge to be able to win the Grand Prize or any of the $25 vouchers :-) 

The DT creations are absolutely astonishing and have you seen the wonderful prize they are offering to the lucky winner? WOWZER!

Card Details:
* Image -  Mo Manning 'Mummu'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers - All from my scraps
* Punch - EK Success medium 'Retro Flower'
* Everything else from my stash

The fabulous sketch I've used is a past Sketch N Stash one (No. 66) I didn't get to use it at the time 'cos I was in the process of moving, but I love it. 

I think I can also enter this card for the following challenges:
Craft Us Crazy 'Autumn Colours'
Charisma Cardz 'Anything Goes'
I Love ProMarkers 'Anything Goes'
Passion for ProMarkers 'Anything Goes'

I'm sorry that I haven't had a chance to visit you for a while (again!) real life keeps getting in the way, but I'm hoping to spend some time blog-hopping this weekend, so look out for a visit from me at last ha ha!

Is it just me?

Hi everyone, no new card today, just a re-cap on a previous post. 
Cast your minds back to June......no? well take a look at my previous post then, ha ha.
I posted the card below and said how I'd had to buy this image as it reminded me so much of a photograph I had of my youngest son when he was at playschool (he's 32 now!) and I promised that once I'd moved and sorted out my family photos I'd let you see, so here it is.
Now, what I want to know is......can you see a resemblance or is it just a 'mother love' thing?

Answers on a postcard please.  No, seriously, I'd love to know what you think.

 

Sketch N Stash DT Card #69

Hi everyone, time for another Sketch N Stash challenge and today's lovely sketch was designed by our Julie. I've used one of my favourite KennyK images called Troublemaker (mmmm wonder if there's a connection there, surely not!! ha ha) She's certainly a pink girl isn't she?

I used one of Crafty Ann's tickets for my sentiment, I LOVE these and they are such a bargain (as are all of Ann's wonderful digis) If you haven't visited this shop yet, you're in for a treat, as well as her wonderful drawings Ann has some of the most fabulous and versatile backing papers. When I can't find anything that works with those 'tricky' images I often find myself reaching for these and they're always the perfect solution (the embossed papers are so realistic that it saves the bother of embossing them yourself!) 

Card Details:
* Image - KennyK 'Troublemaker'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers - So many different collections, I can't begin to tell you.
* Sentiment Ticket - Crafty Ann's Digi Shop
* Everything else from my stash

We're being sponsored this fortnight by the fabulous KennyK who are offering our lucky winner 5 images of their choice, so definitely worth joining in with us.
The DT have made some fabulous cards again, so pop over to the challenge blog to take a look and find out who the winner and Top 3 were from the last challenge.

A Couple of Challenges!

Hi everyone,
I know, I know..... it's not quite time for Sketch N Stash yet and you don't often see me otherwise!! ha ha. But I've actually managed to make a card that I can enter into a couple of challenges.

The card is actually for my Best Friend's wedding anniversary, but I wanted to use the adorable Teddy Bo and Teddy Bea again and I needed a sketch to get me going, so I went blog-hopping.
This is being entered into this week's TeddyBo Challenge 'Black & White plus one more colour' (I chose to use a sort of goldy-greeny (!!??!!) colour) and I found the fabulous sketch at Inspirational Card Sketches

Card Details:
* Image - TeddyBo 'Tea For two and Two For Tea'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers - Joanna Sheen
* Everything else from my stash

I hope to see you again on Monday for this fortnight's Sketch N Stash card!

Sketch N Stash DT Card #68

Hi everyone it's lovely to be back with you, I've missed my crafting and blogging so much.

Well, the move to Norfolk is over and we're (kind of) settled. The good news is that we absolutely LOVE our new home and couldn't have wished for a friendlier village to live in. The bad news....I'm missing my 'boys' like crazy!!! They both came up last Friday for the weekend and that was the first time I'd seen them in over 4 weeks. That may not seem like a long time, but as we've always lived so near each other it was the longest I'd ever gone without seeing them. We had a lovely weekend, but once they left for home I shed a few tears, I was so sad to see them go. The emotional turmoil wasn't helped by the fact that it was my beloved Mum's birthday and I still miss her every single day.

On a happier note I managed to join in with a card for SNS again (oh how I've missed those girls!!)
Our fabulous sketch for this challenge was designed by Sue and I loved using it. I had a special card to make for my Aunt's birthday and I was so pleased with how it came together with this sketch, I hope she will be too. This is an 8"x8" card so lots of space to fill, which was a bit scary after not crafting for so long!

Card Details:
* Image - Debbi Moore 'Splendour of Regency' CD
* Sentiment - Sentiments 4 You
* Colouring medium - Joanna Sheen 'Spectrum Noir' pens
* Papers - Hot Off The Press
* Punch - MS 'Doily Lace'
* Flowers - Joanna Sheen 'Kort and Godt' range
* Everything else from my stash

Now, some of you may be wondering why I have 'colouring medium' on the above list when I've used a CD image!!! well I thought it looked a bit 'washed out' so I coloured the regency lady with some of my new Spectrum Noir pens (I think these may become as well loved as my promarkers!)
I used some gold Cosmic Twinkles to highlight the 'frame corners' of the printed image and to add a bit of sparkle to the metal photo corner I used on the card and I even remembered to use one of my pearl hat pins, another first!

I hope you'll manage to join in with us for this challenge, we're being sponsored by the wonderful Bunny Zoe who's offering a fabulous prize to one lucky person. Do pop over to the challenge blog and check out the details, along with the stunning cards designed by the DT and while you're there don't forget to see if you are our lucky winner or one of our Top 3 from the last challenge.

Sketch N Stash DT Card - Challenge #64

Hi everyone, here I am again for this fortnight's Sketch N Stash Challenge.
Well, you certainly all seemed to enjoy the last sketch, we had so many people joining in again so thank you for continuing to support our challenge blog.
Our sketch this time was designed by Vicky with the added choice of popping embellishments wherever you wish, I decided to leave well alone as the papers are quite fussy, so my card is really simple.
I've used one of Mo's images again and this little cutie is called 'Chickies' I also managed to find some papers in my stash that I thought went well with the image ( I know I'm a bit late for Easter LOL!)

Card Details:
* Image - Mo Manning digi 'Chickies'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers - Papermania 'Springtime'
* Sentiment - Pink Petticoat 'Girly Curly'
* Everything else from my stash

This fortnight's challenge is being sponsored by the fabby Meljen Designs who are offering our lucky winner 4 images of their choice, so I hope we'll see you all joining in with the challenge again this time and don't forget to check out the challenge blog for the winner of our Simon Says Stamp prize and our Top 3 from last time.

This will be my last DT card for a while. I made all my cards for June some time ago and scheduled the posts assuming that by then I'd be in the new house....Hrrumpph so much for that idea!!! I'm still waiting to get a firm moving date and all my crafting goodies are packed, so I won't be back crafting again until I'm settled. Please keep everything crossed for me that it won't be too much longer as DH and I are nearly ready to have a nervous breakdown lol!

Sketch N Stash DT Card - Challenge #63

Hi everyone!
Time for another Sketch N Stash Challenge and this week's sketch was designed by our lovely Jill. I added some corner punches to my card as I wanted to cover up the cord I used for the teddy bear charm.

This fortnight's prize comes from our regular sponsor Simon Says Stamp and they are offering a lucky winner  a $15 voucher to spend in their shop.
I couldn't resist buying a couple of the new 'Adorable' images from Funky Kits recently, they certainly came up with the right name for this range! This little sweetie is called 'Nathan' and I just had to have him as the image reminds me so much of a photo I have of my youngest son when he was about 2 or 3.  He's 30 odd now, but I'll try and find the photo to show you once I've moved house and have managed to find all the family photo boxes (hopefully not much longer now!)

Card Details:
* Image - Sugar Nellie 'Nathan'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers - Papermania 'For Him'
* Punch - EK Success 'Photo Corners'
* Everything else from my stash

I can't wait to see what you all come up with for this sketch and don't forget to check out the last winner and our Top 3 at the challenge blog.

Sketch N Stash DT Card - Challenge #62

Hi everyone, where do the week's go to?
It's time for another Sketch N Stash Challenge and this week the designer of our gorgeous sketch is the very talented Angie.
I've made TWO cards from this sketch to celebrate the fact that this fortnight we have TWO fabulous sponsors.

We are being sponsored again this fortnight by the fabulous KennyK who are offering a lucky winner 5 digis of their choice. I love being sponsored by them as we're always spoilt for choice with all their gorgeous images, but I finally decided on this cutie called 'Bling Baby' I just love her slightly hippy look!

Card Details:
* Image - KennyK 'Bling Baby'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers -Papermania 'For Him' & Jak Heath freebie'Spot' paper
* Punch -Nestability 'Scallop Circles'
* Everything else from my stash

We are also being sponsored by Lacey at Stamp and Create who is not only offering the winner a $25 voucher for her store but also offering any participants of this fortnight's challenge a 10% discount off their  total purchases while her sponsorship lasts (see the challenge blog for further details)

Card Details:
* Image - Mo Manning 'What's Cookin?'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers - Cuddly Buddly 'Peppy Papers' and K & Co 'Daffodil Pad'
* Punch - MS 'Valentine Heart', 'Monarch Butterfly' & EK Success 'Retro Flower'
* Everything else from my stash

It seems to get harder and harder to choose the 'Top 3' for our challenges as the standard is so high, but don't forget to pop over and find out who made it and also who won last fortnight's prize.
While you're there, do check out the wonderful samples made by the girls, I really think we are so lucky as we must have the loveliest DT around, I love every one of 'em!

Sketch N Stash DT Card - Challenge #61

Hi everyone, time for another challenge at Sketch N Stash and this time the sketch has been designed by our Daniele and I think it's just lovely.
I was getting withdrawal symptoms from not using the wonderful Teddy Bo images for a while, so here they are having a cuddle in the sunshine.

Card Details:
* Image - Fairydoodler 'TeddyBoBea 001'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers - DCWV 'Old World' and Laura Ashley 'Contemporary'
 * Everything else from my stash

 This fortnight's challenge is again being sponsored by the fabulous Simon Says Stamp and they are offering one lucky person the chance to win a $15 voucher to spend in their shop.

Well, it was my turn to choose the Top 3 this time and none of you made my job very easy! I was left with a shortlist of about 30 to choose the final ones from!!!!
I'm always amazed by how many of you join in with us each time and you certainly seemed to like the idea of choosing your favourite sketch from our back catalogue, so thank you all for sharing your wonderful projects and creations with us.
Do pop over to the challenge blog to find out who won last time and my final choice for our Top 3 and don't forget to check out the DT's fabulous cards while you're there.