Inchy By Inch challenge

There's a new inchy challenge blog on the block! It has been started up by my friend Fiona, and is called Inchy by Inch. Basically all you have to do is create a one inch by one inch piece of work.

"The first challenge is to incorporate a WORD on your inchy."

I wanted to use my fave frog stamp again cos I think he's so cute!!
Hope you like it Fi! and Best Wishes for your new blog xx

CCT challenge :)

This weeks theme is 'Girl's just want to have fun' at Cute Card Thursday, to make a card for a girl. I chose to use Heart t-shirt Maggie from Bootiful Stampz. I think she's so cute!

Katharina's Papertake sketch #2

The extremely talented Katharina has provided another sketch for this weeks challenge over at Papertake weekly.
I just love this tree frog stamp from stampcraft, its so adorable, but then i'm gonna say that because I love frogs!

Handmade background challenge

This weeks challenge over at Arty Girlz is to make your own background paper.

I used watercolour pencils for mine, and also did the same underneath the fairy silhouette stamp. I like how these colours go well together.

Wassuuuuuuuuuuup!!!

Our cat "Tickle" :)

How time flies!

It's official...i'm the mother of an adult !!!

My daughter, Emma was 18 on Wednesday.

She had a lovely day, full of little surprises, the outside of the house decorated with balloons (her face was a picture when she got home!), had a fab family meal at the pub/restaurant where my sister is head chef, she couldn't get the night off so Emma wanted to go there so she'd see her aunty. My sister and her friend came to ours after the kitchen closed for the night.

The day ended with a 'Po Po Pat' party! She loved Postman Pat as a child, so I made her a Jess birthday card, and while I got her to go around to my parents house a little early before going out to the meal, Dave, Laura, Jake and myself quickly decorated the dining room with more banners and balloons, postman pat tablecloth, plates, napkins, birthday cake, biscuits, then left the meal 5 mins before Emma (my parents drove Emma and her friend) and got the 'po po pat' jelly and black forest gateau (her fave) out the fridge, we lit her candle as she came to the door and we sang happy birthday, she laughed so much when she saw postman pat, "not many 18th parties are postman pat themed!" she said. LOL! one to remember me thinks! Nobody wanted any cake or gateau as we'd already had a meal, hence why I didn't make sausage rolls, sandwiches etc!, but the jelly was eaten and some of the biscuits. She cut up her cake for my parents, her friend, my sister and her friend to take home.

Happy 18th to our beautiful daughter, Emma...

Happy Birthday Tracie!...

... who will be celebrating her birthday on the 28th April.
Her beautiful blog is brimming with gorgeous work, and is sure to inspire you, and if you pop over there before the 30th April you can put your name down to win some blog candy! How generous of her, it's Tracie's birthday and she's the one giving out the prezzy!
Happy Birthday Tracie! xx

Wallet card - perfect for fathers day!

I wanted to think up something different for fathers day this year, and came up with this - a wallet card! Now this has probably been done before, i'm not claiming it to be my idea, but it is new for me lol, as I was looking for inspiration and saw hubbys wallet, so copied the design of that.
I don't have a template as I cut it by hand, but this is the way I did it to give you a rough idea if you would like to make one yourself **gets out tape measure** here goes ...

I cut a 10 x 5 (inches) rectangle from brown leather look card, rounded the corners and then folded in half to make a square card blank.
Now cut another three rectangles, one measuring 10 x 4.5, two measuring 4.7 x 3.2 (these are what mine measure, no rule as such, as long as they fit and you can still close the card ok once stuck down)
I also cut a rounded rectangle 'tab' , mine measures 5.5 x 1.2,
and also cut a black card circle to make the 'press stud'

I stuck the large rectangle inside the card, flush with the bottom edge so its half inch from the top, i glued mine all down but you could glue just the bottom and sides if you want it to be a useable large pocket. I scored down the middle to allow this to fold with the outside card.

Next I stuck the right hand pocket down, using one of the smaller rectangles, this is a usable pocket (could add a note/sentiment, a lotto ticket, a gift voucher, money etc)
For the other rectangle I cut around an ATC blank (I now have a brown ATC, waste not want not) and I covered the hole made with a piece of acetate. I then stuck this down (sides and bottom only) so that a photo can be inserted.

I folded the tab in half and stuck one side to the back of the card, using a removeable glue dot on the front section to allow the wallet card to close.
The press stud is just the black circle of card with a white gel pen highlight, and covered with diamond glaze, this was stuck to the tab to create the press stud look (the glue dot is on the other side of the tab)

Finished the wallet with a white gel pen to make the 'stitching'.

That's it! all ready to add a greeting/sentiment/photo etc

was thinking of adding this...
"Fathers carry photos where their money used to be!"

**giggles**

hope you like it, please let me know if you have a go too, i'd love to see your take on this.

Girly blue card for Tilda & Co

This weeks challenge over at Tilda & Co is 'Girly but blue'.
All the elements on this card (except Tilda of course) are from a set I bought from QVC (probably a TSV) ages ago, think it was just called a floral and fairy kit, I still have loads left, and should use them more often as it really is a great kit.

TTA challenge #3 - flowers and circles

This weeks challenge has been set today by Toppers, Tags, and ATCs
The theme this week is flowers and circles.
I have used my Anitas large scribble flower stamp and used a pink brush marker on acetate with my waterbrush as a palette to paint the flowers, I also stamped over this image with Anitas Through the woods stamp to create a distressed look to the card.
The background was then layered onto thick pink mulberry paper.
I stamped the happy birthday circle and added mulberry flowers to the centre, set with my cropodile, and stuck this to the green circle. Finished with more mulberry flowers and a hand written greeting.

My first skinny!

This is my first skinny, I think the only rule is that it should be 3" x 5", and this does.
Sea-gals skinnys first challenge is 'Things with wings'
I got this image of an iris flower fairy free with this months cardmaking and papercraft mag, and thought that the image went well with the chatterbox upholstery cardstock.
Hope you like it Caroline :)

NEW skinny challenge site!

My friend Caroline loves to craft and loves to try the different challenges in blogland.
She was very sorry to hear that Sarah's Skinny Saturday challenges had come to an end :(
and so, with a bit of encouragement, has decided to start her own skinny challenge blog.. Sea-gals Skinnys.
The first challenge will run until friday the 18th, and a new challenge set every friday thereafter.
Please go have a look at this new challenge blog and if you have time to take part, then that'd be fantastic! I shall be having a go myself, I've not made a skinny before.
This weeks challenge is "Things with wings"

Good luck Caroline! i'm sure your new challenge blog will be a great success! xx

Latest Maggies...

These are 9 of the 11 new Maggie designs by Bootiful Stampz.
Aren't they lovely?!
Infact, there are now a total of 27 Maggies!!!
so you should have no trouble choosing the right one for your project, the only problem you may have is finding your favourite in stock as they are selling out as soon as Sally has them, but keep checking back as Sally updates her stock regulary.


Here are a couple of makes from the new range, first is Party Maggie, wearing her beautiful dress! I used this design to make a prom night ATC and added h2o's to her pretty dress.

and here is Cake Maggie adorning this 'happy cake day' card ;)

Would you like to be an agent? selling and promoting the Bootiful Stampz range?

then please pop over to Bootiful Stampz for more details.

WIN a Maggie!

Fancy getting your hands on a Maggie stamp?
Sally is very kindly going to give away a Maggie, and all you have to do is add a comment to this post.... but be quick!! you have until tomorrow (sunday) to put your name down!
A winner will be drawn and will receive a new stamp from the latest batch of Maggies.
GOOD LUCK EVERYONE! xx

Cute Card Thursday...

..."Things with wings" is the theme over at Cute Card Thursday :)

This is my first time entering with this challenge blog, so I hope I've met the criteria... I have used Butterfly Maggie and have mounted the image onto lilac pearlised cardstock then onto pink funky foam, before mounting onto a card blank made from the same lilac cardstock. I think you'll agree Maggie is definately cute! I added the sheer lilac organza ribbon and buckle for added interest.

look what I "cooked"...

This week Tilda & Friends ATC challenge is called "Cooking it up!", we were given a recipe...
1 bow, 2 flowers, 3 colours & 4 brads or gems.
Here's mine, there was a bow on the Magnolia gift image, but wasn't sure if that was allowed or not so I added another bow on top of it, lol. I used gems, 2 purple ones either side of the greeting, and a pale pink one in the centre of each flower.
Hope you like it girls!

Black and White Challenge...

This weeks Arty Girlz challenge theme is Black and White.
This is one of my favourite colour combos.
Here is my card, I have used that dahlia stamp again and doodled the swirly leaves adding punched out flowers too.
The bottom looked quite plain so I added the gingham ribbon stuck to some black card to finish.

Claudia's Box Challenge...

Claudia has set the challenge this week at Papertake... at first glance it looks a really hard task to do, but as promised, it was really quite easy to put together.

I made a gift box for my daughter Emma's pending 18th birthday on the 23rd (St George's Day).
My other daugther, Laura, was born on May 1st (May Day) a year later.
Funnily enough my birthday is March 1st (St David's Day)
and my son Jake, almost made it to a saints day too, he was 3 days early otherwise he would have been born on St Andrews Day!!...which coincidently was my late MIL's birthday too!

Ok, sorry, I went off topic there a bit, lol... This is the box I have made for Emma, I put an acetate window in the lid to give a sneaky peek of the prezzie inside, but not gonna say what is going in the box incase Emma reads this.

Laura..... zip it, not a word, and hopefully Emma won't see this box until the big day ;)
(Emma doesn't blog-hop)

The flowers I bought from The One Stop Scrapbooking Shop and the ribbon was bought from Molly Daydream. Pussy cat, numbers, eyelets and brads from my stash.

Grab a Maggie while you can!!

Auntys Store has some Maggie stamps in stock, but you got to be quick as they are selling fast!
Some have already sold out, and I can see why at just £5.00 each!
Didn't fancy the download? I know some of you prefer to stamp your images instead, so go have a look and see if there's a Maggie that you'd like to give a home to.

Like I said though, YOU GOTTA BE QUICK! ;)

I'm missing him!

My son (aged 9) went away to brat camp Kingswood activity centre today. He is only going to be away until Wednesday tea-time, you'd think i'd be relishing in the peace and quiet wouldn't you? In fact me, my husband and his 2 sisters are missing him like mad and he's only been gone since this morning!
It's Jakes first time away from home, and of course we know he'll be taken good care of and he's bound to have a fabulous time, but this house is just not the same without him, it's too quiet!!!

He's promised to take lots of photos (hope he remembers to, or even has a chance to!) there are loads of activities he'll be doing, he said he was looking forward to going caving the most.
Hopefully there'll be enough shots so that I can help him make a memento of his school trip.

Oooooops!

It has been brought to my attention (thanks Rich!) that I had linked to the wrong email address when directing some of you to Sallys email.
Sorry Sally, and to whoever was actually getting the emails, and also to those of you who may have tried to order some of Sally's fab downloads.
I have changed the email address on my posts and they should all work now.

Thats what happens when you copy and paste and just alter text around a link without checking!

In stitches...

...Faux stitches to be exact.
Tilda & Co have asked us to use stitching on our work this week.
My sewing machine hates me (sadly tis true *sobs*)
so I have drawn on my stitches using the free template that came with this months Papercraft Inspirations magazine.

TTA challenge #2 - GLITTER!

This weeks challenge over at Toppers, Tags & ATCs is to use glitter on your work.
I have used yellow glitter card on a cream ATC blank, drew the wavy pattern along the right side, and added a couple of flowers to match the flower in the centre of Maggie's gift costume!

Maggie set #2

Yes, She's been at it again! ;) Sally that is, she released her first set of Maggie images yesterday, and already set #2 is complete!! WOW!

Maggie in her different outfits are the latest designs available from Bootiful Stampz.
As with set #1 there are 8 designs, and at the moment are only available as a PDF Download, although they will probably be made available as stamps soon too.

Please contact Sally HERE should you wish to purchase a copy of this download.

I have downloaded, printed, (or "prinked" if Rosie is looking in!!! pmsl) and coloured Maggie in, these are now ready to cut out and add to cards or ATCs.

Isn't Maggie just adorable?

Sally's been creating again!

I'd like you all to meet "Maggie" she's the new range of stamps available from Bootiful Stampz.

There are 8 designs, and at the moment are only available as a PDF Download, although they will probably be made available as stamps soon too.
The set comprises of Maggie in various outfits, and one image shows Maggie with her cute doggie "Patch".
Please contact Sally HERE should you wish to purchase a copy of this download.

I've made a few cards, ATCs and toppers with the designs...

sorry ablout the glare under the Bootiful Stampz watermark, it is supposed to be a 'happy birthday' silver greeting

Arty Girlz challenge - triangles

This week, the Arty Girlz have asked us to use triangles on our project.
I started by cutting a square of Creative Imaginations paper (Sonnets, Love)
I cut this diagonally to make 4 triangles, then folded back the corners to create further triangles, the paper has a graph paper like back to it so I covered this with a rose coloured crepe paper and then set eyelets in the ends to hold them down. I glued all this down onto a square, white card blank which had a square of dusky pink mulberry paper stuck in the middle of it first.
I added Tilda, then finished with paper flowers and the greeting.

Check this out!...

This weeks challenge over at Tilda & Friends blog is called "Check it out", the team want to see checks somewhere on our work. I have used Tilda with her summer hat, which is one of my favourite stamps.

Brand New Bunnyz!!!

Awwww just look at these beautys!!


These are the new bunny stamps available from Bootiful Stampz.
There are 6 in all and at the moment are only available as a PDF Download.
They cost £5.00 and this lets you save the file and print them off as many times as you like!

The set comprises of:

fairy bunny

fishing bunny

birthday cake bunny

flower garland bunny

bunny up a ladder

bunny saw

NOT FOR RE-SALE OR DISTRIBUTION WITHOUT CONSENT!!

Please contact Sally HERE should you wish to purchase a copy of this download.

Here are 3 toppers ready to go onto cards using, fishing bunny, fairy bunny & flower garland bunny...

And here are 2 cards already made, the first features birthday cake bunny and the DIY DAD card uses both bunny up a ladder and bunny saw, this is gonna be a great fathers day card!

Laura's Creations

Laura is my daughter, she is almost 17 and is studying psychology, sociology and environmental science A-levels.
She has always enjoyed drawing but didn't do art at school beyond year 9.
She has recently started drawing again and wanted somewhere to showcase her fab work, so I suggested a blog! She has set this up today, I gave her a few pointers but she has done everything herself including making her own blog header too (thats my girl!)

Papertake's making waves

Over at Papertake this week, we've been asked to use scallops or zig-zags.
I did start by making a water themed card using scalloped paper for the water, but whatever I did I just wasn't happy with it, so it ended up in the bin.
I then started making this card and used my new purple cows duo cutter to make the scalloped edge to the 2 backing mulberry squares.
I shall probably add a number to the balloon when I know the age of the recipient.

Toppers, Tags & ATC's

There's a new challenge blog that launched its first challenge today!

kicking off with a really easy challenge...

"Create a Tag, Topper or ATC with the Theme of BIRTHDAY! it can be male, female, young or old. There are no other rules relating to your creation"

here is my topper, I folded this shirt aaaaaaaages ago and never used it, I found some lovely monocrome papers in a criss-cross design and a bolder striped design (i think they are dovecraft papers?), anyway, I thought they would be great for a male birthday, so decided to use them as a background for my topper, I rummaged through my stash and saw the shirt, Yay! looks great but wanted to add a splash of colour too so mounted it onto a piece of wine coloured card, then silver mirror card. So here it is, all ready to put onto a card when the need arises ;)