I {heart} the 70's

When I was a little girl, I thought spacehoppers and clackers were 2 of the best toys to play with, although my bionic woman doll and weebles were my absolute fave toys as I remember, I also remember enjoying playing hairdressers with the boy next door (6 year old girl + scissors + 6 year old boys hair = one little boy with a VERY short (1" max) lop-sided fringe & me hiding from his mom in an ali baba laundry basket!).
I digress, back to spacehoppers... I lost count of the amount of times that I bounced and fell off my spacehopper cos I was the one who always seemed to bounce off the curb or  bounce into fellow hoppers and I never seemed to go in the direction I wanted to go! was such a laugh though, especially when the kids in our street had a hopper race! (of course I was always last, or ended up going sideways! lol) I was forever getting my knees grazed as a kid, my Mom always had the germolene at the ready :D
My sister, Helen, had clackers. I used to love playing with those. They weren't much to look at, and were basically hard plastic balls about 2" in diameter, attached to a ring or small paddle with strong string. You held the ring or paddle, allowing the balls to hang below. Then you had to get a rhythm going using a up/down motion, making the balls swing apart, then together again (a bit like a newtons cradle), gradually swinging harder until the balls 'clacked' together above and below the hand. Many bashed knuckles and bruises ensued, but you kept trying til you succeeded and it was part of growing up in the 70s :)

When I was part of the Sweet Stampin DT, I was asked to pick a theme for one of their challenges, and i'm delighted to see that it is still going ahead despite my leaving. The theme is Childhood Memories. I had the spacehopper in mind when I thought of the challenge, so have decided to take part in their challenge, this time as a challenger ;)
I'm going to give this card to my sister...

I drew the spacehopper onto card then coloured it with promarkers.
I also drew the clackers onto card too, didn't realise at the time how fiddly it would be to cut out the image though. Obviously they aren't to scale with each other, the spacehopper would be way too big for the card if they were to scale!
The paper is by Dovecraft, from their 'funky vintage' collection.
I got out my circle punches and echoed the design in the paper with some cardstock scraps and layered them along the top.
The paisley strip across the middle was made using a cuttlebug folder.
The sentiment and verse were printed off the pooter.
Now I have to remember that i've made this card because it isn't Helen's birthday until September!
I'm safe to say she won't see this on here because Helen doesn't blog, infact she hardly goes on the computer at all (yep, i know, she's the weird one in the family! LOL)

I have made the spacehopper into a digi image, it's free, if you want it, snag it ;)

After deciding to share the image, I had to scan the coloured spacehopper into my pc and then use my paint program to draw the outline again. Would have been so much easier to draw the thing in my paint program to start with eh?

I'm entering this card into the childhood memories challenge over at Sweet Stampin (Hi Girls! xx *waves*)

also the fab challenges over at
Papertake Weekly 'fancy a punch',
and Crafty Catz 'give us a quote/sentiment'

Sweet Goodbye

It's time for me to say goodbye as a DT member for Sweet Stampin.
I've loved being part of such a fun challenge blog, back from the very first day when Emma started up the blog for crafters who used Stampin Up products, through to now, where you can now use whatever products you wish as long as you follow the theme for the week, and there really is a fab mix of themes!

I'd just like to say a HUGE THANK YOU to all of the Sweeties, past, present and Guest Designers for your friendship and inspiration, thank you to the fabulous sponsors, and thank you to all of you, the sweetie followers and challengers... it's been an absolute pleasure! xx

here's my late card

...for this weeks Sweet Stampin challenge.

The theme this week is weather, hmmmm, I intended to make a summery sunshine theme but it went off-piste! no weather as such but I hope it has a summery feel to it, well looking at her dress, there must be a summer breeze ;)

The image is of course a magnolia, I haven't used this stamp for a while and I don't know why cos I love it, I have quite a few magnolia stamps that I really should use more often. I coloured this little cutie in with PMs, but paper-pieced her dress.
The 3 flower images are from a 'flower for all seasons' stamp set by SU.
The sentiment is a PB stamp.

Gotta dash, must get ready for work. TFL xx

You light... the skies... up above me....

ok, own up! who sang the next line? 

It's time for a new sweetie challenge!
We're sponsored by Fairy Dust Crafts this week, with the winner getting to choose 5 digi images from their fab selection on offer.
Not forgetting our monthly sponsor, Pollycraft, who will be giving one lucky winner out of all the challenges this month ALL 7 digi images from their new release, Swings and Slides.

So what is this weeks challenge?
we want you to get inspiration from your favourite movie (or one of your favourites) 

I chose...

I chose this movie because Fluff suggested it, well, when I say suggested it, she didn't say to use this exact movie, but when I told her that I was having difficulty choosing a favourite (because I have more than one) she asked what was the last movie I watched.

So, since Stardust is one of the films in my favourites list anyway (if you haven't seen it yet then you really should), plus I watched it with my son again last week, I used it for inspiration to make my star card...

I kept the colour scheme nice and simple, black and white with a very slight touch of pale blue.

The image is a mix of 4 star stamps, the largest star being part of 'fun and fast notes' stamp set from SU. I also used a little SU bashful blue ink with my blender pen to add a delicate touch of colour to the stars, then finished the image with a sprinkling of SU dazzling diamonds.

Next I got out my jewellery making box and made the 3 star charm that is hanging from the blue ribbon.

Then put it all together with a bit of matting and layering, et voila!

I thought about adding a sentiment, but eventually decided not to, but what do you reckon? do you think it needs one?

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Craft Your Days Away - Black and White
Wild Orchid Challenges - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Anything Goes
Polka Doodles - Black, white + one other

Would you like to see more movie inspired cards? well pop over to Sweet Stampin to feast your eyes on the cards made by the rest of the Team Carrie Sweeties (plus Team Fluff Abi - she couldn't resist joining in!) they are all AWESOME!

Disclaimer... I cannot be held responsible if you will now be singing 'Rule the World' for the rest of the day, your brain must love it too, and I have no control over your brain (I barely have control over my own!)

Oh So Girly!

This week Sweet Stampin are very happy to announce that we have a special new sponsor

This lovely sponsor is none other than the founder of Sweet Stampin, Emma Lockley. She is still missed in the crafting world (and especially by all the Sweeties), but we wish her all the best with her new etsy shop.

A huge thank you to Emma for donating this FABULOUS prize to this weeks winner...

 Not only that, we also have ANOTHER totally fab sponsor this week too!

with the winner being able to choose 4 packs of charms from Crafty Emma's Store

Not forgetting our monthly sponsor of course...

 
This week is your last chance to be eligible for their prize.

Incase you hadn't already guessed by my title (or been to Sweet Stampin), this weeks theme is called "Oh So Girly!"

Here's my card...

yes, it's the same image that I used last week for Sketch Saturday (it's from Stitchy Bear), it's such a girly image that I just had to use it again this week too, using a different colour palette this time.
Again, I used 3D gloss on the pearls.
The papers are lovely aren't they?
The heart paper is by Dovecraft, from their 'back to basics' collection.
The floral paper is from MME's 'quite contrary' collection.
The lilac paper is just scrap pieces from my stash that I punched with my SU eyelet border punch and added white faux stitching.
The sentiment is by SU too ('best yet' stamp set)

Wotcha reckon.... girly enough?

wait til you see what the other Sweeties have made to delight you (links in the sidebar) >>>

thanks for stopping by xx

Love Bugs

This weeks Sweet Stampin challenge has been chosen by Team Carrie Sweetie... CherylAnn, and is called 'Love Bugs', your entry must include a bug of some sort.
Here's mine...

The main image is from Prairie Fairy, as are the little butterflies too, but they are a seperate image and have been cut out and stuck on afterwards.
You can find both these images and more in their bugs 'n' blooms section.
Prairie Fairy are also sponsoring our challenge this week, and gave us a selection of images to use on our cards this week (many thanks!)
The leafy paper is from Provocrafts Bitty scrap pad called 'windswept' and I thought it would be a great backdrop to the lovely images. The sentiment is from SU's Yummy stamp set.

The rest of the 'sweeties' have more love bug cards for you, if you haven't already, please go see for yourself, there's such a fab mix of styles :)



On a completely different note, our shed on wheels car has its MOT today, we know it's going to fail but we don't know how much it's going to cost us yet. We need a lottery win so we can get rid of it, but I suppose it would help if we actually bought a ticket eh?

Thanks for stopping by today, I hope you all have a lovely weekend xx

Sweet Stampin sketch time

Yep, this week over at Sweet Stampin there's a sketch challenge for you to have fun with :)
We are sponsored this week by Simply Betty Stamps who are offering FIVE digi images to this weeks winner :)
Sadly, I wasn't able to print out a simply betty image for my card this week as my printer ink was empty, so I used another cutie instead, this was actually a freebie with a craft mag and the set is called 'Molly Blooms'...

I coloured her with ProMarkers to match the fab retro papers and cardstock that I have used. The paper is a download from craftsUprint, I also made the gift wallet & punched out the flowers from the same sheet too, although I didn't have enough SU apricot appeal cardstock when it came to making the wallet, as I only had scraps left, so I used white and blush blossom cardstock instead.
Both sentiments are from SU as well.

Well my fellow sweeties have created the most gorgeous examples for you this week, including Fluff who isn't even in team Carrie LOL! but is a sweetie none the less ;) please go visit them and leave some love, thank you.

Thanks for stopping by, have a great weekend! xx

Even if you're photo phobic!!

If you are anything like me, you will hate to have your photo taken.
The challenge over at Sweet Stampin this week is to 'add a photo', the chosen theme by my teamie Alie.
First thought.... arrrrrgh!  I don't 'do' photos!
so I had to look elsewhere, I realised that I had bought a download from CraftsUprint a couple of months ago and hadn't yet made anything with it. The download was for 2 snow pictures.
So if you, like me, are 'photo phobic' ...don't panic! you can still play ;)
Take a piccy of scenery, or your dog, cat, hamster, rabbit, or anything else that you'd like to put on a card or scrapbook page and enter this weeks challenge.

Here's what I made (don't shout at me for making a crimbo card! i'm getting in early for xmas 2011) lol

the front

the back

I started by printing the snow pictures onto 220gsm cardstock.
I uesd acetate to make an A6 card blank.
The first image was matted onto pale blue paper and mounted onto the front of the card, I added the greeting (by Catslife Press) by stamping onto the same blue paper, then added 2 large felt snowflakes (by SU) and finished the front by using lots of crystal gems.
The other picture is inserted inside the card but 'back to front' so that the plain back of the picture can be used to write a greeting and the image itself can be seen from the back of the card as shown in the photo above.

Our sponsor this week is Tiddly Inks who are donating a $10 shopping spree to this weeks winner!

And remember we have a monthly sponsor too! This month it's Whimsy Stamps! but you need to take part in our weekly challenge to be in the draw to win.


Before I go, i'd like to enter this card into the challenge at Papertake Weekly, who have the theme 'cold and frosty morning'

Happy crafting, and have a lovely weekend :)

Happy New Year!

I hope 2011 brings you all everything you hope and wish for xx

I'm kicking off the new year with 2 DT cards, first...

Sketch Saturday, we have our first DT week of the year, and it's the turn of the lovely Jilli to provide this weeks fab sketch, here's my card...

 I used some free nitwit papers that I received in a craft mag, Jill's sketch really lets us show off the papers we use this week don't you think? the image is by SU (fun and fast notes set)

This week we are sponsored by the fab Paulette from TLC creations, if you need to find a quote for a card or scrapbook page, then you're bound to find something suitable there.
Sketch Saturday have a new GD for the month of January too... we welcome the talented Barbara McGahey who will be wowing us with her cards this month, thank you Barbara! :)

Now we move onto Sweet Stampin, and this week we want to see 'Your Favourite Song'
well this one isn't my exact favourite but I do love it, and it's a great song for the new year... 'Get this party started' by Pink.
Here's my card...

The image was sent to me by my friend Terry (thanks hunni)  I just love this little guy waiting for the party to get going :)
The papers are by SU, the flowers are also SU, stamped & punched out using their products.
This week sweet stampin is sponsored by Tiffany Doodles, and our monthly sponsor is Whimsy Stamps, well worth taking part this week eh? ;)

Happy Crafting! xx

final DT card for 2010

Today is the final challenges for 2010 for both Sketch Saturday and Sweet Stampin because next Saturday is Christmas Day so there won't be a challenge set.
Obviously the layout uses this weeks sketch for Sketch Saturday, and the theme for Sweet Stampin is 'celebrations!'

I have combined both challenges to make this card...

actually I have made 2 identical cards, as I still haven't sent out all my cards yet!
I will need to find time to finish them this weekend between work shifts so that I can post them on Monday, Tuesday at the latest.

I used a snowflake cuttlebug folder to emboss the acetate card blank, then used card stock and paper from my sizzix 'little sizzles' pad for the layout.
The image is from SU's fun & fast notes set.

I'd like to thank all the sponsors, DT members, Guest Designers and of course, the challengers for their support and kind comments throughout 2010.

Merry Christmas to you all! xx

Blog Hop Winner

Thank you for entering my Sweet Stampin blog hop candy, the winner of my gift wallet with candy is...

Debs! (pink dandelions craft space)

Congratulations Debs, I hope you will like the candy :)
Please EMAIL ME with your postal address so that I can get it sent out to you.

To see a full list of winners, please go to Sweet Stampin :)

Combined DT card.

I don't usually like to combine my DT commitments as I like to make a card for each one, but I was a little pressed for time this week, my son is 12 today :)
Happy Birthday to Jake xx  He's growing up so fast!

So here's my card for Sketch Saturday and Sweet Stampin...

picture quality isn't very good, sorry.

I have used this lovely Hanglar image and coloured her with watercolour pencils and promarkers.
The patterned paper is called 'ski slope' by Stampin Up (love it)

The layout is using this weeks sketch from Sketch Saturday, our sponsor this week is the fabulous The Craft Barn.



The challenge over at Sweet Stampin is 'buttons & bows'
I have made a paper bow and used the same paper beneath the clear buttons.
The added pin is by Pretty Pin Embellishments, who are our sponsor for this week and gave the DT a pin each to use on their cards (thank you PPE)
don't forget, we also have a monthly sponsor too, Blackleaf Studios.

And remember to stop by here tomorrow morning at 9am when I will announce the winner of my blog hop candy, you will also be able to see a full list of winners over at Sweet Stampin at the same time too.

Also, You have just a few days left to apply to be a Sweet Stamper yourself, our DT call closes this coming Friday, 3rd December at 10pm GMT.


I'd like to enter this card into the challenges over at Meljens and Fairy Fun Fridays, who both also want us to use buttons and bows this week.


Thanks for stopping by today xx

Thank you

To those of you who entered my blog hop candy draw, I will be using random.org to select the winner.
To find out if you have won please pop back on Sunday at 9am

A full list of winners will be announced on Sweet Stampin at the same time.

Happy Birthday Sweet Stampin!

Welcome to the Sweet Stampin First Birthday Blog Hop!

If you've just come from Faye's Blog then you are in the right place! While you're here, please leave me a comment, enter my Candy and then hop over to Lesley next.
Don't forget you need to enter this weeks Sketch Challenge at Sweet Stampin to be eligible to win any Design Team Candy! If you think you've lost your way, head back to Sweet Stampin and start from there!


Here is the gift wallet I have made which will be sent to one of our fab sweet stampin challengers...

We are sponsored by Di's Digi Downloads this week who very kindly gave the design team some images to play with :)
I have used Penguins Christmas Tree, such a cutie!
I've coloured him with promarkers, and added a little bit of flock to his hat to finish.
I used this weeks sketch layout but decided to add a few flowers too.The sentiment is from Stampin Ups 'best yet' stamp set.

So if you like the look of this gift wallet, and would like to win it, along with a surprise crafty present inside it too then please make a card using this weeks sketch from Sweet Stampin and leave a comment here so that I can come see your card and enter you into the prize draw.
Don't forget to visit the rest of the girls and leave a comment on the challenge blog too ;)

good luck! xx


DT CALL
We have a DT Call on at the moment if you'd like to be a sweet stamper :)
You have until 10pm, Friday December 3rd to apply.



Sketch Saturday
just a note to add that my DT work for sketch saturday will be a little late this week, I have had a few pc problems my cpu is permanently on 100% and it has completely slowed up my machine for anything else or has shut down completely, internet access is limited so I am adding a message to this scheduled post quickly before it slows up again.
will post my DT work asap, in the meantime, please visit my fellow teamies over at Sketch Saturday, thank you xx

Arrrrrgh!

Time for another Sweet Stampin challenge, and this week our theme is snowflakes.
OK, so you might be wondering why the "Arrrrrgh!"

this is why...

This card was a NIGHTMARE to make!
everything had to line up properly as there were 10 layers in total to match up

The house is an image from Tiddly Inks who happen to be our sponsor this week :) the image itself is 3 layers, I coloured it with pm's, cut it out, layered it, then glued it to the spotty circle then put foam pads around the edge before sticking the glittered piece on top.
The glittered piece is 2 pieces of acetate sandwiched together with silicone glue after putting glitter inside.
Then because of all the layers I needed to make the card layered too so that it was all flush. arrrrgh! I clearly didn't think this through lol
While trying to line everything up I messed up and fit the top square piece wonky, so had to slice the foam pads, twist it round slightly to line it back up then glue the foam pads back together!
That's when I realised that my craft knife had sliced the 2 pieces of acetate too! double arrrrgh!! I lifted up the card and had a lap full of glitter!
So I had to glue the whole lot again.
The idea for this card seemed great in my head, but in practice.... never again!

AND to top it all, my 'white' glitter and 'white' textured paint on the roof of the house looks beige!!!





Image - Tiddly Inks (coloured with promarkers)
Cardstock - Stampin Up (kraft)
Papers - Stampin Up (bella bleu)

Please stop by my fellow teamies to see their beautiful snowflake creations this week,
their links are over there >>>

tfl, enjoy your weekend, i'm working today and tomorrow.

sweet stampin #50

WOW! we've reached week 50 at Sweet Stampin! YAY! *claps!*
and this week we have a sketch for you.
But before you get out your stamps and papers, can you please take a few minutes to read through Carrie's post on the blog as there are a few changes we'd like to tell you about, thanks :)

Here's my DT card...

The image is by Sugar Nellie, and is called 'snowflake', i've coloured this little beauty with promarkers and added a little glitter to the falling snowflakes too.
The patterned snowflake paper was free with a mag.
The sentiment is from a Dovecraft clear stamp set.
I'm really loving this contemporary christmas colour combo of purple, blue and peppermint green, it looks so fresh.

Hope you all enjoy your weekend, don't get eating too many sweeties when you go trick or treating tomorrow, send them to me instead! LOL! ;)

Be careful, but have fun! xx

For Jake

My son Jake will be 12 on November 27th, he's growing up SO fast!
Here's the card I have made for him...

I have used Tiddly Inks products to make this card, starting with Grunged Checkerboard paper which I have used behind Charles's Tulips, (which is minus the tulips!). I coloured the image with my promarkers.
The greeting is hand drawn by myself in a similar grunge design.
Is it just me, or do you think the Charles image has a bit of a David Tennant as Dr Who look about it? which isn't a bad thing actually because Jake loves Dr Who and D.T. is his favourite doctor :)

I'm entering this card into the following fab challenges...

Crafty Emma's - Male birthday card

Meljen's - Anything Goes

Craftalicious - Anything Goes

Thanks for looking xx

Red, Gold & Green.....

Time for another challenge over at Sweet Stampin, and this week we want you to get out your ribbons :)

Here's my card, and all the time I was making this card I had a particular song in my head, it wasn't a christmassy song though...

I've used SU more mustard cardstock for the base card, it matched my 'gold' ribbon perfectly so used the same colour for the stocking too.
The colours used for the other 2 stockings are ruby red and old olive/certainly celery.
I punched loads of leaves from Garden Green cardstock, sponged the edges slightly then layered them to resemble a tree branch or garland hung from the mantlepiece.
Then of course I had to add some bling to finish :)


The current Papertake Weekly challenge is called '3 of a kind', we are to use 3 of something, so my 3 christmas stockings fit the bill nicely :)

 Team Carrie have made the most beautiful cards this week, we have 3 new DT members too :)
Vicky, Lorraine & Claire
please stop by their blogs to leave them some love, their links are in my sidebar >>>


Oh yeah.... that song in my head... incase you were wondering, it was Karma Chameleon by Culture Club, hence the title of this post :)
Have a great weekend! xx

For Emma

This weeks challenge over at sweet stampin is called 'Diamonds are a girls best friend', we want to see some bling on your work this week please.
Technically speaking, this week wasn't my turn to make a card, it was Team Fluff's turn, but this card has been made for my friend, and sweet stampin creator, Emma, who has sadly left the team this week :(
Gonna miss you Emma xx

Quite a simple card to make, using SU bella bleu papers, close to cocoa cardstock, SU sentiment from the trendy trees set and crystal gems all on a cream card base.
The main design is a faux pinwheel design I found on youtube, sorry I didn't save the link, I was too eager to get started once I watched the video but it's bound to be found easily on the site.

I'd like to enter this card into A spoonfull of sugar challenge, this week the theme is 'Sparkle & Shine'

Thanks for looking :)

sweet stampin #46

This weeks challenge for Sweet Stampin is called 'punch it out'
We want to see you use either punched shapes or die cuts on your cards please.
Here's my card...

My punch outs/die cuts are the 4 corner pieces and the holly & berries.
The image is of course by Magnolia and i've coloured it with ProMarkers.
I added some dazzling diamonds to the piece behind the image. The tag is hand written.
The checked paper is from a pad i've had for a few years now, the collection is called 'windswept' and is by Provocraft.

I'd like to enter this card in to the challenge at Just Magnolia - Anything Goes (but must use a Magnolia image)


and why not!... this can be my 3rd & final entry for this weeks Charisma Cardz challenge :)


There's some beautiful cards for you to see by my fab sweet stampin teamies, please go check out their blogs,
their links are in my sidebar >>>

Have a fab weekend! xx