My Beautiful Boys

Morning all, I have another scrap page to share, this time it's of my boys.
This was actually the first page I ever made but it's 12x12 and I had no idea how to convert it to a jpg.
Luckily, a friend on Joanna Sheen's Forum has told me how and it's so easy. You can always rely on the girls at the forum, they know everything about everything and are always so helpful.

I love this page and of course I'm not at all biased (not much!)

Family Scrapbook

Morning all, I've recently started scrapping following my purchase of CAP2 and thought I'd share a few of my family pages with you.
They are very basic as I'm still getting to grips with things but I wanted my first album to be a family scrapbook. The pages I've made are 8x8 which of course, is the only size scrapbook I don't have, typical! So it looks like another new purchase is on the cards.

I started with my maternal grandparents as they helped bring me up when I was small. My parents both worked, so before I started school I used to spend Monday to Friday with my grandparents. I totally adored them both and I still think my Grandfather was the most wonderful man I've ever known (apart from DH of course)

My grandfather started running his own fruit and veg stall, off Victoria Street in London, when he was about 12 years old! He took it over from his mother and when he married my grandmother she helped him. He remained on the same pitch until he retired at 72 years of age and during all that time he would get up at 3am every morning in order to get to Convent Garden to buy his stock.

Both of them loved to be by the sea and they always had a holiday home in Sussex, right up until my grandfather died.
Don't you think he looks like someone from 'The Godfather' in this picture?
As you can see I haven't done the journalling yet, but I have colour co-ordinated the pages as this will be a double spread.

This is my much loved Mum in a 'moody' pose taken by my Dad, who loved his photography, who could blame him when he had my beautiful Mum as his model? Sadly Mum passed away nearly 4 years ago now but I still think of her and miss her every single day.

No doubt I'll share some more pages as and when I get them done, that is if I'm not going to bore you all?
I did a nice page of my sons but as it was 12x12 I can't scan it, so it will have to wait until I get a photograph done.

Sketch N Stash #126

Morning all, another card for Sketch N Stash where this fortnight we're being sponsored by LOTV who are offering our lucky winner a £10 gift voucher to spend in their store.
This time the optional theme is 'lots of layers' and our wonderful DT has, as always, provided some gorgeous inspiration at the challenge blog.
We'd love it if you could join in with us and someone has to win that fabulous prize so why not you?

I used one of my LOTV die cut toppers for this card, all the papers are from some of my (ever growing) collection of digi-kits as I made the card in CAP2 again. I think I spoilt it by hand writing the sentiment, but other than that it turned out much as I wanted it.

I haven't been about online too much lately as I have re-discovered my favourite PC game and seem to be spending lots of time playing, well that's what retirement is all about isn't it? Apart from that I've been enjoying reading and scrapping some photos, so lots of 'me' time is taking place at the moment.
I expect I'll get bored with all that soon and switch back to crafting and blogging again, what can I say, I'm fickle!

Sketch N Stash #125

Morning all, today's card is for Sketch N Stash, yes it's that time again!
Our optional theme this fortnight is 'Fairy Tale' and we're being sponsored by both Di's Digi Stamps and Fred She Said. Both companies are offering one lucky winner a $10 spend in their shops, so two chances to win in this challenge!

Do pop over to the challenge blog and pick up some inspiration from our fabulous DT and then why not join in with us, we'd love to have you.

I'm still trying to get to grips with Craft Artist Professional 2 so this card was made digitally using items from a digi kit called 'Daydream' and the old Penny Black image attached after.
I have to admit I'm loving digital crafting, you can see straight away whether things work or not and just delete them if they don't. No more trashing cards that you've spent hours making whoopee!!
Thanks to the help of my dear crafting friend Ann I've now managed to transfer all my existing digis to CAP2 so I can now use all my old favourites as well as new kits and mess around to my heart's content.
As I'm gradually learning more I find myself really impressed with this software package. I used to use Greeting Card Factory which was fine but it's quite old now so doesn't have as many options as this new package and although I originally purchased this for scrap-booking I'm loving the versatility of using it for card-making as well.

Pretty in Pink

Afternoon all, I know it's not often you see me other than a Sketch N Stash day but I thought I'd enter a couple of challenges with this card made for a family member's 13th birthday.

Card Details:
* Image - Mo Manning 'Rae with journal'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers - Serif CA2 and DaisyTrail digis
* Punch - Nestabilities Picot Edge Circles
* Everything else from my stash

I recently purchased Craft Artist 2 from DaisyTrail and have been playing with digital scrapbooking (I may share some pages in the next couple of days for your opinions but please be kind and remember I'm new to this)
Now, you need to understand that I decided to start scrapbooking about 7 odd years ago and purchased a number of beautiful K and Co scrapbooks in all sizes, lots of very pretty 12 x 12 papers and numerous matching embellishments.
All set to go then? No! I never got around to doing anything more than a 6 x 6 album for my Mum containing some vintage photos of her family.
So, I have decided I'm finally going to take the plunge and have so far, made 3 or 4 digital scrapbook pages. I'm really enjoying it and although I'm still doing very basic layouts, I'm fairly happy with the finished results so far.
In view of the fun I had messing about with the digis, I thought I'd try making a card and this is the result. Again, I'm quite pleased with it, although I can now see all the things I could have done better, still that's what learning is all about isn't it? Hopefully, my skills will improve with time and practice.

I'd like to enter this into the following challenges:
Passion for Promarkers - Give us a 'P'
Polka Doodles and Studio 12 Digi Choosday - Anything Goes
CutiePie Challenge - Cute and Tag-Tastic

Sketch N Stash #124

Morning all, time to join us again at Sketch N Stash where we're up to Challenge #124.

Card Details:
* Image - Pink Gem Designs 'Heart Postcard'
* Papers - Prima 'Almanac'
* Punch -  Martha Stewart 'Monarch Butterfly'
* Die - Nestability 'Standard Circles'
* Everything else from my stash

This fortnight we're being sponsored by Pink Gem Designs who are kindly offering our lucky winner 3 single digi images of their choice.
I purchased this gorgeous 'Heart Postcard' design from them some time ago and find it a really versatile digi stamp.

The optional theme is 'stitching real or faux' - my contribution to this theme is the stitching on my top layer of (wobbly) ribbon.

As you can see I have used the gorgeous Prima Almanac papers again, these are my current favourites, I just love the colour and designs which have a lovely vintage look. I punched the butterfly twice and raised the top layer so it looks like it's flying off the page although that doesn't show very well here, neither do the gems and pearls I used on the body or the sparkle to edge the wings.

I do hope you can join in with us, check out the challenge blog to see the gorgeous creations from our DT and if you joined us last time don't forget to check our winner and Top 3 in case it's you.

 

Sketch N Stash # 123

Morning all, I think you may need a warning about long posts today, well this is a long post! lol

Many thanks if you remain with me until the end.

Here we go again with another Sketch N Stash Challenge, can you believe we're up to #123?
Our optional theme this time is Pearl and Swirls, right up my street!

 

We are being sponsored again by A Day For Daisies who are offering one lucky winner a $10 voucher to spend in their online store. 
For my card I have used the gorgeous 'Hepburn Dress' image which is absolutely FREE from their store.

Card Details:
* Image - A Day For Daisies 'Hepburn Dress'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers - Prima 'Almanac'
* Punch - Paper Shapers 'Wave Flourish'
* Everything else from my stash

I hope you can join in with us, the DT have given you lots of inspiration with their wonderful cards again, just take a look.

On another topic completely, it was my birthday last Thursday (I won't tell you which one because I'd rather not think about it, suffice to say I'm staying the same age as last year and I'm planning on counting backwards for all future ones!) and I had the most wonderful day. I received some lovely cards, some of them stunning hand-crafted ones.
My darling hubby bought me a beautiful ring, well I chose it you understand, but he bought it. This is not at all my usual style but I absolutely fell in love with it as soon as I saw it.

Then my 3 best friends and I went on a girly day out shopping to Norwich where I purchased a new winter coat (love, love, love it!) and a gorgeous pair of earrings and in the evening one of my friends cooked an italian birthday dinner for 7 of us. How spoilt was I? It must rank as one of my best birthdays ever, coming in at a close 2nd to last year's 'big one'.
I can't believe how much my life has changed in the 2+ years since moving up to this village in Norfolk, DH and I have made the best friends of our lives here and we've never had such a busy social life or so many fun times, we both love it.

Congratulations to anyone still reading, you made it to the end, consider yourself a true friend! lol

Sketch N Stash # 122

Time for this fortnight's Sketch N Stash Challenge and this time we have TWO wonderful sponsors offering prizes to TWO lucky winners!

 Inky Impressions prize is $10 to spend in their store

 and Dies to Die For are offering £10 to be spent in their shop.
 
My card was a commission for someone who has just bought a kayak (my friends never believe in making my life easy do they?) I know it's unbelievable, but I didn't have an image with a kayak, so I had to google to find this one.

Card Details:
* Image - Internet
* Punch - EK Success 'Photo Corners'
* Everything else from my stash

Our optional theme for the challenge is 'Birthdays' and I'd love it if you could join in with us and if you're in need of a bit of inspiration just check out what our clever DT have done. Oh, and while you're there check if you are our winner or one of our Top 3 from the last challenge.

A Couple of Cards for a Couple of Challenges

Afternoon all,

I wanted to enter a couple of challenges and as my boys will be arriving tomorrow for the week I thought I'd better get cracking, so here are the cards.
The fact that they both seem to be following a black and white theme is purely coincidental (I didn't really notice until I was about to post them here)

This was made for a very sweet lady's birthday later this month.
I'd like to enter this into Challenges 4 Everybody - Anything Goes

Card Details:
* Image - Acid Drops & Whatnots
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Dies - Nestability Scalloped Rectangles
* Papers - Papermania Capsule Collection and Polka Doodles
* Everything else from my stash

This was for my best friend's hubby who has been a fabulous guitarist for most of his life.
I'd like to enter this into My Mum's Craft Shop - Boys Only

Card Details:
* Image - Doctor Digi - Davey Dunderton
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Dies - Nestability Labels 4
* Border - Card Creations 'Art Deco' CD
* Everything else from my stash

I may find time to pop on next week, but if not I'll see you again when my sons leave.

Technologically Challenged

Afternoon all,
Do you like the title of my post?
It's not about me you understand, oh no I'm a techno wizard (yeah, right) but a lovely friend of mine who embraces technology, but unfortunately, hasn't got a clue about using it.
I say this as the person who gets phone calls that start with "Help!" and then go on to tell me that she can't get her Laptop/ Kindle/ TV/ Freeview Box to work and could I just pop over and sort her out?

In view of this, I thought this fabulous image from Mo Manning, together with the computer generated sentiment, was perfect for her birthday card.

Card Details:
* Image - Digital Pencil Too 'Checking FB'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers - Papermania 'Portobello Road'
* Everything else from my stash

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Mo's Digital Challenge - Say It With Flowers
Country View Crafts Challenge - Layers

My 'Stuff'

Afternoon all,
A few posts ago I said that I was in the process of creating some 'stuff' which I thought I'd share with you now I'm finished.
Every now and then I get the urge to do something other than cards, usually at that point I make a plaque as I love messing about with them. This time I not only made a couple of plaques but I also made a name banner for my craft room.

In case anyone is interested in where I got the plaques I bought them from Joanna Sheen's Online Craft Shop. It's a standing joke among her 'Sheenies' that this shop has wobbly shelves. You pop in for just one thing and those darned shelves wobble and throw loads of other gorgeous things into your basket.

This was made for my friend's birthday, she loves those funny plaques you see everywhere so I thought I'd make her one.

This was made for a sweet friend's house-warming present. She LOVES shoes and has so many beautiful and unique pairs that when she arrives anywhere, the first thing we all do is look at her feet to see what she's wearing.

This is my banner to be hung in my craft room, I had lots of these little MDF hearts so thought I'd make a little something for me out of them.

I sometimes get caught up in making certain kind of cards and at the moment it's funny ones, mostly for ladies of a 'certain age' so prepare yourselves to be seeing quite a few of these in the near future.

My two gorgeous sons are coming up to visit for a week from Monday, so if I'm not about much it's because I'm catching up with them (and hopefully getting lots of hugs into the bargain)
I absolutely love living in Norfolk and the last couple of years since moving here have been a dream come true. We have made some wonderful friends and have the busiest social life ever, but I do miss my 'boys' so much.

A Slight Problem

Evening all,
I'm sorry that I haven't acknowledged any comments for the last few days but it seems that my PC suddenly took a distinct dislike to Firefox and decided it would not let me post, edit or do anything else on my blog.
I've changed over to Google Chrome and it looks like things are OK now (fingers crossed!) so hopefully normal service will be resumed tomorrow.

Sketch N Stash # 121

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I can't believe another fortnight's flown by already, but it has and it's time for our Sketch N Stash Challenge.
Another fabby sketch from our archives and our optional theme is 'Time' (preferably vintage in style)

This challenge we are being sponsored by Live and Love Crafts who are offering our winner a £10 voucher to spend in their shop.

My image is a rubber stamp that is part of the Papermania range and came free with a crafting magazine, I absolutely love these Art Deco ladies, so elegant!
The strip of paper at the side of the design is gorgeous, it's flocked and glittered but the glitter on this card is not showing up too well.

Card Details:
* Image - Papermania Tall Urban Stamp
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers -Hot Off the Press, Papermania and Doodlebug 'Daydream'
* Everything else from my stash

I do hope you can join in with us for this challenge, there is lots of inspiration from the DT on our challenge blog and don't forget to check of you were our winner or one of our Top 3 last time.
 

Wheelbarrow of Flowers

Morning all, I had a card to make for a relative's birthday so I thought I'd use the great sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches for my starting point.

I'm in the process of creating quite a lot of 'stuff' at the moment so I needed something quick and easy and this download from Fred She Said was perfect. It's two whole sheets of already coloured wheelbarrows so they're just the job for times like this. 

Card Details:
* Image - Fred She Said 'Wheelbarrow' coloured sheet
* Papers - K & Co and DCWV
* Die - Nestabilities 'Fleur De Lys' Squares
* Everything else from my stash

I'm entering this into the following challenges:
Tuesday Morning Sketches
4 Krafty Girlz Challenge - Anything Goes

I'll scream if I want to

Morning all,
Today's card uses one of my favourite images from Mo Manning (only one of them because I love all of the ones I've bought, and that's a LOT!)

I've tried to give this more of a CAS look as I love this style, but I'm not very good at it. Why is it that other people's CAS cards look fabulous but mine just seem to look bare?

Card Details:
* Image - Digital Pencil Too - Two Tasha
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers - English Paper Company
* Die - Nestability Scalloped Circles
* Everything else from my stash

I'm entering this into the following challenges:
DP2 Challenge -  Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday Challenge - Pretty in Pink

 

Kiss The Cook

Morning all!
Today's card was made for a neighbour's birthday. He just LOVES to barbecue and will offer to be chef for a 'get together' at the drop of a hat. As we seem to have a lot of get togethers where I now live, he's a very handy man to know!

Card Details:
* Image - Just Inklined 'Kiss The Cook'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers - from Stash

I'm also entering this card into a couple of challenges:
Challenges 4 Everybody - Anything Goes
Oldie but A Goodie Challenge - Spots and Stripes