Back 2 School... already?!!

Hi there

Happy Sunday! It's a bank holiday weekend here for us, so it's nice spending some time together as a family before the onslaught of packed lunches and homework starts again! It has been so nice not having to get up early. It's not that we've been getting up particularly late, but we've been able just to chill out in pj's and in my case with no make up! I love that.

So, onto my final card as part of the Design Team for the Corrosive Challenge Blog. The theme for this week is 'Back to School'. I had quite a few ideas for this one, including rulers, torn off notepaper, staples, pens. It was therefore quite difficult to decide what to do, I almost had too many ideas! After lots of sketches drawn out on the tiniest of notepads I decided on this as a layout.





Firstly I cut out two squares, one in black and one in Cogsmo DP. I matted these onto a white cardstock base. I then got to work on my little clipboard. I wanted to bring in a blackboard effect so cut out a black rectangle and then found some little white bulldog clips in my stash which sparked the idea of the clipboard. I made a little yellow file using a rectangle of card and punched out a SU! file tab, and then added another blue 'file' behind it, again just a rectangle of card. I attached the bulldog clips and a couple of coloured paperclips and adhered it to the card using pop dots.

I cut out the '1 + 1 = 2' in white Easy Peasy alphabet set, but lots of the alphabet sets don't have the 'plus' sign so I improvised by using my nurse cutter. The nurse has a red cross on her uniform which was the perfect size for it!

I cut out and added the 'Back 2 School' letters in black down the left hand side. I wanted them to look a bit random rather than neat so stuck them down at angles. Finally I hand wrote the words 'Have fun!' onto the tab using a fine marker pen.

Dies: Sizzix 'Nurse', 'Easy Peasy Alphabet Set, 'Playground Alphabet Set', Quickutz Crayons
Paper: Cosmo Cricket 'Cogsmo', assorted cardstock
Accessories: Mini paperclips and bulldog clip from stash

I think it's been a good time for me to be part of a DT because otherwise I wouldn't have got around to being very creative over the holidays. I've had a few problems posting feedback on entrants though, for some reason my system crashes when I try to leave comments on certain blogs. It's really strange. Does that ever happen to you guys?

I would like to say thanks to Janet for all the inspiration over the past few weeks. It has been really good fun working for her and I wish her all the best for her future challenges. I know I will definately be popping in to join in when I get chance. I really do need to get back into doing my challenges though, it just hasn't quite happened lately, but they do get you thinking :o)

I'm sure this week will be a busy one for us, what with labelling new uniform, shoes, pencil cases etc. etc but as the sun is shining we will definately be making the most of our last few days together for the holidays.

Take care, keep creating, and don't forget to check out the rest of the DT's cards this week. You must join in. This challenge is really fun to do!

Wild Thing

Happy Sunday!

As promised here is today's card for the Corrosive Challenge Blog #26, 'Welcome to the Jungle'. I really enjoyed making the card for this week's challenge. I thought I would try and do a scene. I don't often do them, but I came across one of Natasha's little pack of stickers so asked if I could 'borrow' it. Well, she does that to me all the time so it's only fair I get to do it back every now and again, don't you think?!

For this card I cut a rectangular piece of dotted glitter cardstock and using my Martha Stewart punch I cut a green strip to stick along the bottom border. I then cut out a frame using my Nesties and backed the gap with some stripey glitter card just to give a different effect. I stuck on the lion and palm tree stickers and then cut out some extra branches using my 'Tulip Dance' cutter. (if you look at my last posting you will be able to see that the leaves are from the same cutter). All I did was cut some pieces out of them to make them look a bit more jungle like. Now, I am SO not a jungle kind of girl, much more a five star hotel with a hot bubble bath, so please go with it if they're nothing like jungle leaves lol. I cut out a couple of red dots to add a bit of colour on the leaves. I then attached the little 'Wild' brad using a piece of string and then stuck another little brad with the word 'Adventure' in the bottom left corner. To finish I added a plastic sentiment plate which I tied ribbon through, again to bring in some colour, because it was all a bit green!


Natasha and I went out for a coffee and cake yesterday, just us girls because Ian has been poorly, and afterwards we went into one of the little gift shops before heading home. I was looking at one of those little handbag hooks/holders, have you seen them? They look like this, you can get loads of different versions of them. Anyway, I haven't quite made my mind up if they are trendy or old fashioned, but I would really like one. I hate putting my bags on the floor when I'm out. So, we were looking through a basket at them and each was £9.00. I decided I wasn't keen on any of the patterns there so we headed home. As we were walking back to the car Natasha said to me, 'we need to get ones we like, that would have been £18.00 if we had bought those ones'. Umm, at what point had I said I was getting one for her too?!!! I think this is now the age where it starts getting VERY expensive lol. Anyway, I quite like the idea of this one that I found on line here, what d'ya think?

I'm going to have to grab the packet of sticky things off Natasha to find out all of the details for the card, so if you would like them just drop me a line. I'm off to get my forty (or more hopefully!) winks. Sweet dreams x

Tulip Dance

Hi everyone

We've had a funny old week. Everything that has been planned hasn't happened, and everything that hasn't been planned has!! Very odd! Still, it's made for an interesting week! Do you ever have weeks like that?

I mentioned the other day that I had made another card based on the Corrosive Challenge blog, you may remember I had got the sketch completely wrong lol. This was the original posting showing the sketch. I thought I would share it with you today... I just love the way you can interpret sketches in so many different ways, they're fab.



I wanted to make something with my 'Tulip Dance' cutter and this is what I came up with. I didn't take long to put together once I'd put my mind to what I wanted to make. That's usually the longest bit for me lol. I cut out the various squares using Basic Grey Euphoria papers and matted them onto pinky/purple Bazzill cardstock (what colour would you call that? I'm not quite sure how best to describe it).

I then cut out the different petals of the flower. I wanted to stick to just a few colours for a change rather than adding green in for the stem/leaves, so decided on an aubergine colour. To finish I cut out the numbers '9' and '0' in white and then added the little pearls. I really enjoy using these little pearls, they add a little bit of dimension and interest. I hope you like it.

Dies: Sizzix 'Flower, Tulip Dance', 'Twango' Alphabet
Paper: Various shades of pink/purple Bazzill Bling cardstock, Basic Grey Euphoria papers from 6 x 6 mat pad
Accessories: White pearl gems

Thanks for popping by and leaving me comments, I really do appreciate it. Your comments honestly do make my day!

Have a fab weekend. I will be back on Sunday with my Corrosive Challenge card ♥

Wise Old Owl

Hi there everyone!

How's your week been? We have been having really good weather here, which has been great, especially as Natasha is on summer holidays. The weeks are flying by though which is a shame. I love spending time with her, she's so much fun and never fails to make me laugh :o) We bought her a set of steel drums the other day so it's been like the caribbean here. I love it. Soooo much better than listening to a recorder. She's been compiling her own songs too, all that's missing is the rum! Might have to sort that out later lol

I got my Pax bead the other day, woohoo. It's smaller than I thought it would be, but I really like it. For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about see my previous post entry here.

My card for this week's Corrosive Challenge #25 is this wise old owl...

I actually messed up on this challenge, because we had gone round to a friend for the day and when I got there I remembered I hadn't made a card for this week's challenge! Luckily, she also makes cards so I was able to have a rummage through her card making bits and pull something together. I love looking through other people's card-making bits, don't you?! The picture is taken from my phone, but it came out ok I think. Phew, nearly missed that one. See, if I'd been a wise old owl I'd have made the card earlier in the week, AND looked at the sketch too!!

The story doesn't end there though. I gave the card to my Mum because she really liked it and wanted to send it to someone so no longer had the card in my possession. When I got home I opened my e-mail from Janet (who runs the Corrosive Challenge Blog) only to find I had remembered the sketch completely differently to what it was! By then it was too late to do anything about it. Anyway, you will get the idea, but let's just say I've used my artistic licence to do this one!!

I'm really sad actually because I only have two more cards to make and then my 3 month DT season has come to an end :o( I've thoroughly enjoyed being part of it. Janet has certainly set some great challenges and got my little brain working on new ideas.

I've put together another card based on the 'wrong' sketch so will share that with you later in the week. Oh yes, I have also just had an idea having seen a pair of teenager socks, but you will have to wait for that one ;o)

I will come back and add the 'how to' make it info later. I'm off out to get some chips!!! Don't ask, it's just one of those things I've wanted all week and now I'm off to get them!

Have fun!!

Don't forget to check out all the DT cards, they're fab.

Mocha anyone?

Hi, it's me again!

Today is the Corrosive Challenge Blog challenge day. This week is all about lurve, well weddings and anniversaries specifically! Pop on over and check out the other DT members' cards, they are all really fab!

For this card I wanted to use the theme of cream and mocha. I always work with white card and fancied a bit of a change. I don't know why I always use white, I think it might be because I'm just too lazy to cut my own coloured ones!

I cut a piece of DP which has a beige flourish and tiny mocha dots (I'm not sure if you can quite make it out on the picture - it looks like a mistake at the top but that's actually one of the mocha dots lol). I then used my Sizzix 'Frame, Hearts' cutter, to cut heart shapes, in mocha and cream. Using my yummy Nesties I cut out a small circle in cream which I had pre-printed on my printer with the bride and groom's names on. I then cut a mocha scallop to stick the name tag onto. I tied a mocha ribbon through the tag and around the DP. To finish I added a MS punched border strip in mocha and added a few swarowski gems which I think you can just make out, and one on the top right of the heart too.

Have a great Sunday. Hope you're having good weather. The sun is shining here and it's quite hot, but tomorrow isn't so great - rain is forecast, so I'm off to enjoy the sun while it lasts :o)

Thanks for popping by. I really love your comments, they keep me creating and thinking up new ideas, keep 'em comin'!

Got the blues?!

Hi everyone

How has your week been? Mine was ok until yesterday when I had to have root canal treatment...eeeuuuuuu and ouch!!! All better now though and the dentist I saw was lovely, he talked to me all the way through the process. He must have seen the look of horror when he went anywhere near my mouth lol. I'm not a very good example to Natasha, am I?! I do try to be brave!! Mind you, I'm not sure what was more painful, the treatment or the dent it left in our wallets!

So, have you all had lots of time to make some lovely cards? Here's one I made, it was for a really good friend of mine, she loves blues.

I think it probably speaks for itself, but just in case you would like to know how I made it... I cut two strips of different coloured DP. On the green paper I cut a border using a MS hole punch. Finally I tied around a piece of ribbon and a sentiment. It was so perfect for her, because she just loves these colours. I don't think you can really see in this picture, but the paper has sparkle on it. It's really pretty.

I'm not sure if you remember but some time ago I entered a competition for a 'Trollbead' on www.trollbeads.com Well, all entrants were going to receive the winning bead. This is it, it's called 'Pax', what do you think??


I'm really looking forward to seeing it. It's a dove with its wings wrapped around the earth and symbolises peace. I'd love to know...do any of you collect Trollbeads?

Well, I'm off now. I will be back again tomorrow with another Corrosive Challenge Blog post. You will have to wait until then to see what Janet has lined up for you by way of a challenge this week.

Until then have a great evening. I'm off to put my feet up. We have our first weekend of no visitors in a long time so we're all making the most of it! :o)

ps - the sentiment tag is from Craftwork Cards, the paper was 'The All Dressed Up' mat stack by DCWV and the ribbon is from my stash. Ciao!

Tweet Birthday

Hey there everyone. I just don't know where the time is going at the moment. I must be getting old! I keep thinking I will blog a card but it never quite happens. I have another card to share with you this week though, and plans to make more.

This week over at the Corrosive Challenge Blog as part of the DT we were asked to make up something in the following three colours...

Aren't these colours great?!

Now, I don't know about you but I'm loving the name of that red!!! :o)

So, how has your Sunday been? I've been working this morning and then sorting out bits and bobs. I'm about to sit down with a lovely glass of wine after a long day, followed by a candlelit bath later with a good book (says she hopefully!) I have recently started to read the Twilight series of books. I wanted to know what all the hype was about. They are great! If you haven't read them and like that whole vampire thing then these are the books for you. I know they're meant to be for teens, but there's no harm in pretending to be younger every now and then, is there?!!

So for my card I stamped out a bird and coloured it in using Copics. I've still got a lot to learn about Copic colouring in. People seem to do it in so many different ways, some do it scruffy and others with a lot more blending. I really like the scruffy look on other people's cards but it SO doesn't work for me. I just want to tidy it all up!! So I'm going to have to work on it a bit more I think, but check me out I stamped a card!!! I know it's a rare occasion so expect a full round of applause when I actually make the effort lol.

I cut out two squares of card, one in 'Pumpkin Pie' lookalike and the other in 'Ruby Red' lookalike! I don't have SU! colours. Then I cut out another square in Basic Grey DP. On each of the three squares I rounded the top right corners. I matted these as shown in the picture.

I cut out a rectangle around the stamped bird in white using my Nesties, and a scallop in 'Bermuda Blue' lookalike. I then attached some black polka dot ribbon before pop dotting my Nestie'd bird. To finish the bird off I added the little square sentiment block that I'd got free from a magazine about two years ago. I stamped the 'Happy Birthday' sentiment onto 'Bermuda Blue' card and rounded the corner, attaching it to the card with a brad and pop dots. Finally I punched out a SU! tab which I attached a couple of buttons to.

Hope you like it! I'd love to hear your feedback.

Don't forget to join in on the challenge this week, there is a prize to be won.

Enjoy the rest of your evening. I will add the recipe at a later date. My bath is calling me :o)

Going back in time

These pictures are the inspiration for this week's challenge over at the Corrosive Challenge Blog #22!

They really stumped me!I tried all sorts of things and eventually came up with this. I HATE it!!!
I just couldn't get my head around this challenge at all so decided to go with the rock theme. I think my mojo has left town!

Using a piece of my daughter's scrapbook paper - Thanks 'Tink' ;o) - with the rock chick on it I rounded off the corners and pop dotted it. I punched out a border in pink which I stuck underneath. I then matched up the colours of the rainbow with some chipboard letters to spell out 'You Rock' and added a couple of gems. At the bottom, above each of the holes I put alternate orange and pink legless brads, and a couple at the top to give a bit of balance. I love those brads, they add dimension with very little effort! Finally I added the sentiment using some little clips that I have had for years and never used, and a couple on the right hand side to add interest. Don't you just love it when you get around to using something that you've had for years. You feel like your halo is glistening, don't you?!!!

Dies: None! (Oh wow, that's a first for me lol!!)
Paper: Pinched from my daughter's scrapbook set. Sorry, no idea who makes it, pink Bazzill cardstock
Accessories: Swarowski Gems, Li'l Davis Designs Vintage Wood Alphabet, Legless Brads in 'Totally Tropical' and tag from Craftwork Cards, Martha Stewart hole punch

Hopefully next week the challenge will be a bit easier. I am sure you guys can come up with some fab creations for this one though, so get that mojo going and join in on this week's challenge, I'd love to see what you all make!

Enjoy the rest of your day. I'm hoping to get a bit of crafting done this week, and have some cards to show you. Now that Natasha is off school we can get creative together. Tomorrow is supposed to be pouring rain so what better excuse to stay in for a bit of crafting?!!

Butterfly Kisses

Hi there everyone

Firstly, I should say sorry for being a bad blogger this week. I have been busy setting up a new business and just haven't had a minute to make cards :o( I really miss it when I can't get creative, it's my little bit of fun! By the way what do you all think of this font?? I thought I'd try something a bit different for a change.

Today's challenge over at the Corrosive Challenge Blog is a sketch. Now as you all know I do like my sketches, and I really enjoyed this one!


I had seen the idea of splitting a piece of paper up on a card at a show I recently went to, so when this sketch came up I used it as an opportunity to play and cross another thing off my list. Do you all have a list of things you want to have a go at? My list seems to get longer and longer, but nothing gets done on it lol. Still, I'll have loads of ideas for a rainy day! It's summer holidays here soon so I will no doubt be creating lots of different things with my daughter. (I had just typed 'little girl' then and had to delete it. I realised she is no longer my little girl, she's nearly ten! My goodness, that makes me feel old!) As I'm sure all you Mums out there will agree, she will always be my little girl I'm sure!) She loves crafting so it's great when we have Mummy time together, I love it! She's very creative too, she often comes up with brilliant ideas when I get to that 'stuck place'.

As you can see from my interpretation of the sketch there's a bit of cheating going on when it comes to the embellishments, but I think I should just about get away with it ;o) What d'ya reckon?!!

I started by cutting out a piece of pink card. I cut a piece of patterned DP into 3 strips. Using my Nesties I cut a circle in white and the scallop in elephant Bazzill Bling (my name for it, not theirs!) I then cut out the butterfly, first in pink which I embossed using a Cuttlebug embossing folder, and inked all over with a charcoal inkpad, and then I cut the same butterfly in grey/cream dotty paper. I cut the body/antennae in elephant Bazzill Bling. I quite heavily pop dotted the butterfly because I really wanted it to be 3d so I'm not sure if you can see from the photo but the bottom butterfly is completely stuck down to the white circle, using pop dots. The pink butterfly is then stuck just down the middle with its wings folded up to give it some dimension. On the top right of the card I cut out a vine which I pop dotted to raise it and some flowers which I used as my stars on the sketch. Finally I added the little 'love' topper from DCWV, some more flowers and some bling on the body and flowers to give it a bit of a lift. I am quite pleased how this one turned out, but then I do really love this pad of Amy Butler papers, so I am a bit biased!

Dies: Sizzix 'Vine', 'Butterfly', 'Flower & Stems' & Cuttlebug 'Textile Texture', Circle and Scallop Nesties
Paper: Amy Butler 'Lotus' 12 x 12 pad, dark grey Bazzill Bling cardstock, pink Bazzill cardstock
Accessories: Swarowski Gems, DCWV 'La Crème' chipboard sticker

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday, don't forget to enter the challenge yourself. I love the challenges Janet sets, they really get my creative juices flowing, just what I need! Don't forget to check out what the rest of the DT are making, they have been doing some gorgeous cards each week.

Thanks for popping by ♥

Posh Paws :o)

Hi there. Hope you're all having a fantastic Sunday.

Guess what.. today is Corrosive Challenge day, Challenge #20! This week's theme is dogs. For my card I wanted to use a couple of things that I keep threatening to use :o)... my new paw print brads, a tag cutter that Ian bought me recently, my Martha Stewart punch and black. This is what I came up with;



Using my Basic Grey 'Urban Prairie' papers (my fave ones!) I cut out three random shapes and laid them across each other at angles. I then cut out some black cardstock using my Martha Stewart border punch. I cut out a Sizzix tag and added a pink/white gingham ribbon. I then popped out a Craftworks Card tag with the 'happy birthday' sentiment and added this to the tag. I attached the tag using pop dots.

I then cut out some black brackets and the Cuttlebug dog in black and white onto which I stamped dots using my 'Judith' wooden stamp. I inked all of the card edges prior to sticking them down and then doodled some faux stitching around the edges. I then added a black die cut flower in the corner and two paw print brads. Finally I added the dog using pop dots (I always call them pop dots but they are generically called foam pads so I hope you know what I mean!) I gave my little dog a swarowski crystal gem eye and coloured in his nose with a red gel pen.

Dies: Sizzix Dingbats #2 for the brackets, 'Tags, Happy' & Cuttlebug 'Dog',
Paper: Basic Grey 'Urban Prairie', Bazzill cardstock in black
Accessories: Swarowski Gems, Craftwork Cards sentiment tag and 'Best of British' Die Cut Flower, Mei Flower gingham bow and paw print brads, Martha Stewart Scallop Edger Border Punch, 0.1 Copic pen for doodling

I hope you enjoy the rest of your Sunday. I am hoping to make a few cards next week, I've got a list of orders so I need to get my act together lol. I also want to start entering some challenges again soon. Don't forget to to join in on this week's challenge over at the Corrosive Challenge Blog, I'd love to see your creations ♥

Quick Man Card!

Hi everyone

I had set this post to go earlier this week, but mustn't have done it right! Have you all had a good day? My 'Sis' and her man are over, so I've not made any cards this weekend. (Yes, she is still talking to me after my comment on the royal card!)

Today's card is a quick male card. As you all know by now male cards aren't my forte. I always find mine look a bit naff somehow.

For this card I used my Basic Grey mat pad, cutting out two rectangles in different papers, then two squares, one larger than the other so that I could put '40' in it. I wrapped some dotty brown ribbon around the larger rectangle. As Heidi Van Laar puts it I 'fussy' cut the banner, once in cream and again larger in brown, which I then added the letters to. I love the way she says that because I hate cutting out small areas, so it always makes me giggle. Decoupage is one kind of card I would hate making, so hats off to all of you that have the patience for that! You should check out her blog, she does some amazing cards, I love them!

Dies: Sizzix 'Wango' Alphabet Set, 'Easy Peasy' Alphabet Set
Paper: Basic Grey 'Archaic' (I think!)
Accessories: Brown and white polka dot ribbon from stash

Soldiering on I will continue in my quest to make a great male card! I look to you all for inspiration :o)

Royal 30!

Hey there everyone. I know two posts in two days, amazing for me huh?!

I have a card that I'd like to share with you tonight. I've been meaning to put this on for AGES. I made it for my Swedish friend's 30th birthday. She loves crowns and black and white so it was perfect for her. She's fab, like a sister to me. I wanted to keep it quite simple but classy (a bit like her lol) Only joking Sis!! Hope she liked it :o) I'm going to be in SO much trouble if she reads this entry! ;o)

I cut out a piece of black/silver DP and using my *new* Martha Stewart hole punch I punched a strip of black bazzill which I stuck at the bottom of the card. I wrapped a piece of white ribbon around the top of the DP before matting it onto a piece of silver card. I then cut out a crown in silver, adding swarowski gems. I finished it all of with a '30th' sticker.

Dies: Crown - Cuttlebug 'Paper Dolls' Cartridge
Paper: DCWV 'All Dressed Up', Bazzill cardstock in black, silver cardstock
Accessories: Swarowski Gems, 30th sticker and ribbon from stash, Martha Stewart punch

Have a great evening!

Ps.. What do you think of the bright pink background? That's the colour of one of my new studio's walls. I don't usually 'do' pink but I LOVE it!

Summer Fun

Hi everyone. How has your week been? It's been absolutely baking hot here this week. Now, for most people that would be fab, but for me I prefer all of the other seasons. I don't do muggy heat very well!

Today is Corrosive Challenge day over at the Corrosive Challenge Blog! Janet has come up with yet another great challenge for you all, the prize this week is a stamp from PMS.

I can't believe it's Sunday already. Where has this week gone? I'm sure the weeks are going by quicker and quicker, or is it just that I'm getting older and noticing?! Don't answer that one please!

The challenge for today was to create something with the theme of summer fun. I went to a craft show yesterday and picked up a few new bits and pieces, one of which was this paper with lots of summer messages on, perfect for the job in hand :o)

For this card I cut out a rectangle of my summer paper, then I added a strip of yellow and aqua glitter at the bottom of the card on an angle. To this I added the word 'Relax' and then using a little tag from Craftwork Cards I added the 'It's Your Birthday' sentiment. I added a couple of legless brads either side of the 'Relax' and another on the tag to add some interest. I then cut out a palm tree in green and brown, to which I added little coconuts. I doodled around the edges of the leaves.

I then set to work on my Hula girl. I used some K & Co 'Sola' stripey paper for her skirt and little legless brads for her bikini top, I thought she needed a bit of a boost, she was looking a bit flat-chested lol. Using my Nesties (yes, I have now FINALLY used them!) I cut out an oval for my Hula girl but it needed a little something extra so I added a bit more doodling.

To finish I added a few Prima flowers to follow on the Caribbean type theme.

Dies: Sizzix - Tree, Palm, Sizzix - Girl, Hula, Sizzix 'Easy Peasy' Alphabet Set
Paper: 'A Shore Thing - Cool Pool Chatter' by Imaginisce, glitter card, yellow Bazzill, K & Co 'Sola' paper from mat pad
Accessories: Tag from Craftwork Cards, Prima Flowers 'Essential 4 Dude' and 'Totally Tropical' legless brads by Craftwork Cards

Doesn't that Hula Girl just make you wish you were on a tropical island somewhere?! Well, as long as they have air conditioning for me, that is!

Enjoy the rest of your day x

Bling Alert!!! (put your shades on!)

Happy Sunday!

How are you all? Are you having a fab weekend making cards/crafty bits. I hope so!

Today's card is for the Corrosive Challenge Blog. The theme was to make something using a flag or something related to your country. Well, I went for a flag. Now this idea SO didn't work out how I planned. It is bling at its best!!!! I really don't like it, but unfortunately didn't have time to make anything else so had to go with it. I am sure to get no comments on this one lol, not nice ones anyway!!

To make the card I printed out a flag and mounted it onto red glitter card. I then embossed a piece of white card through my embossing folder and added the word 'queen' in red. I then threaded a little crown embellishment through some red ribbon and wrapped this around the embossed section. I mounted this onto a piece of blue card. I then cut out a crown and added some gems. Finally I added the words 'for the day' and a silver arrow for even more bling lol. Oh dear!!

I've been really bad at putting my little recipes up for my cards lately, sorry! Here's the one for this card.

Dies: Sizzix 'Easy Peasy' alphabet, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, 'Swiss Dots', Sizzix Dingbats #1, Diva w/crown
Paper: Bazzill cardstock, red and silver glitter card from stash
Accessories: Crown, stick on gems from Mei Flower

Well, I'm shooting off now. Don't forget to hop on over to the Corrosive Challenge Blog for this week's challenge, they have weekly prizes and Janet sets some fab challenges too! I would love to see what you guys come up with for this one. I found it really hard this week

Have fun and good luck!

Going Retro

Hi guys

How's your weekend going? It's been really muggy here all day and we finally have a thunderstorm and lightning which should clear the air.

I am not at home today but I had five minutes to do a quick posting of a card I made the other day. I thought I would try and go a bit retro! I needed to make my cousin's other half a card for his 40th birthday but I wanted something a bit more colourful, rather than the browns/greens/blues for men's cards that I normally use.

I also wanted to use some string and this simple card is what I came up with. I cut out two pieces of paper, rounding the right hand edges. I then cut out a star from a piece of DP and mounted it onto a black circle. I tied some string around the top layer and added the white circle which had been matted onto black. I added the '40th' sticker. Having stuck down the bottom rectangle I pop dotted the top one to allow for the string and then added the star.

Don't forget to enter the Corrosive Challenge competition today. The theme is for a folded card this week. I really enjoyed moving away from the traditional square/rectangle card. It was fun. Head on over there now, there's still time to join in!

Enjoy the rest of your Saturday :o)

A bit of yellow to brighten your day!

Hello there :o)

I hope you're all having a good day. This is a very quick posting from me today. My little one went to her friend's party the other day so we picked her up this bag for her friend who is really into High School Musical. For a bit of fun I thought I would make a card to go with the bag. (I couldn't get the image any bigger but I'm sure you get the drift from this!)

I wanted to follow the theme of the bag so used yellow and red. Using a black base card I cut out a yellow rectangle which I stuck onto the black card. I then cut out various shapes in red and stuck them randomly onto the card. I cut out the letters 'H', 'S' & 'M' and the number '8' to match the lettering on the bag. The alphabet set is called 'In My Heart' so each letter has hearts cut out of it. I stuck red card on the back of each letter so that they showed through on the front. Finally to give it a bit of a lift I used my Sakura glitter gel pen on each of the red shapes.

If you are interested in the detail of it just drop me an e-mail and I can let you know the specific products I used.

Because it's based on Disney it's not a card that I would sell but I thought it would be a great quick card if you used different colours and swopped the letters 'HSM' for the person's name or something.

I hope I'm not breaching any copyright by posting this one! Does anyone know how that all works in the blogging world??

Enjoy the rest of your day :o)

Mr & Mrs :o)

Happy Sunday everyone!

Today is Corrosive Challenge day, so hop on over to their blog and join in on the fun. Each week there is a different challenge and the opportunity to win a prize :o) This week it's a vintage scrapbook and some ribbon.

The challenge was to make a folded card. I don't often do folded cards so I had to put my thinking hat on for this one! I thought I would play around with an idea for a 'Mr & Mrs' card.

By the way, do any of you watch that over in the UK? It used to be shown over here when I was very little, many many years ago. They are now running it with celebrity couples. Basically the husbands and wives have to answer questions about each other and the winners get money to give to charity. It always sets off a few giggles in our house because we all play it together. Natasha usually comments on what she thinks and then we both say what we would have answered. Generally we are right, so no arguments so far lol. For those of you that have watched it you may identify with me when I say once you hear the tune you can't stop humming it. This card became quite annoying after a while lol.

Ok, so onto my card. I scored a sheet of 12 x 12 card into 3 sections then cut off the top of the folded card to make the angled top. I then cut out two strips of the background paper and adhered these to either side of the middle. I cut out the word 'Mr & Mrs' and stuck this on the centre panel.

Using my Cricut machine and the Paper Dolls cartridge I cut out 'groom' and 'bride' in silver, white and black as seen. I then pieced them together adding brads for buttons to the groom's suit, a pink hankie for the for his top pocket and sprinkled glitter over the wedding dress. That's it. Quite simple really, but a little time consuming piecing the bits together. I was quite pleased how it turned out. I had been thinking through a slightly different idea where I was going to cut around the clothes by putting them on the folds but it didn't look quite right and I ended up with this.

Hope you like it. Enjoy the rest of your day. It was supposed to be sunny here all day, but it's been a bit overcast, the sun is just starting to come out though, yay! I think we might pop out for a bite to eat now to make the most of it.

I'm hoping to start entering some challenges soon, it's just been a bit busy with one thing or another but I'm getting back on track now finally. I like my weekly inspirational challenges, don't you? ♥

A little bird told me...

Oh my goodness, where has the week gone?! Has it really been nearly a week since I've posted? It's gone 1am here so technically it's actually hitting a week! I'm hyper tonight, I think I've had too much Pepsi Max! I've been making cards this week but I haven't put them on yet so will do them one at a time over the next few days, just to keep you a little interested!!

So have you all had a good week?

I found out this week that I am going to get a free trollbead :o) For those of you that aren't sure what a trollbead is go to http://www.fabletrading.co.uk/. I had put the link in for you, but it's not working properly. Trollbeads are one of my obsessions, that along with cardmaking, vanilla coffee, chocolate .. etc lol. Hmmm, me thinks the least said about that little list the better!

Anyway, at the end of May I entered a competition to design a 'People's Bead'. It wasn't very good. I can't draw to save my life but anyone that entered won a bead! My friend entered too (with a fab design might I add! She *can* draw!) but she thought it had to be in silver. Well me doing it all last minute didn't read that bit so I sent in a design for a glass one lol. It did have a *tiny* bit of silver at the top and bottom but I doubt if that would count! Earlier this week I got an e-mail announcing the winner and saying that everyone gets a bead for entering. Woohoo! I LOVE my trollbeads. I have a birthday coming up in September and I'm hoping to get lots of beautiful little beads then. I'm crossing my fingers and toes for them. If you see anyone I know put in a good word for me, won't you?!!! ;o)

Enough of my nattering, onto a card. Today I thought I would share a quick make card with you. It was fun to do because the little birds are so cute, don't you think?!!!

The paper is by Three Bugs in a Rug and in the range they have die cut shapes to match. This range is called 'Happy Bird-Day', cute :o)

I think if you have the paper in front of you it's pretty self explanatory but basically all I did was stuck a piece of bird paper to the base card which I'd rounded the corners on, popped out the sentiment tag, and stuck it onto the back of the bird paper (it's double sided with polka dots). I rounded off the top corners and pop dotted it to the bird paper. I then added a polka dot strip at the bottom and made a pretend ribbon thingy to thread through the hole on the tag and voila, job done!

Hope you like it. I'll be back soon, promise!

PS. Don't forget to enter the challenge over at Corrosive Challenge Blog. There's a fab prize this week!

Have you been tangoed?!

Hi there

I hope you're all having a great weekend. The weather has been really nice here today so it's been good to get out into the sunshine. We went for a walk by the canal with Lulu and got chatting to a few of our new neighbours along the way. It was lovely. Mind you, Lulu is such a feisty little madam. She is so selective..friendly to some, snappy with others. You never know how she's going to behave. We've been told it's because she is scared since being pinned down by two big dogs so she needs more socialising with people/dogs. That's all very well if they don't mind being yapped/snapped at lol. All tips gratefully received! She's a perfect little puppy other than that. She steals the odd thing, but she hasn't chewed anything up or done anything that you would expect a normal puppy to do, but this is a bit of a problem with her.

I made today's card for the Corrosive Challenge Blog sketch this week. As soon as I saw the sketch I had an idea of what I wanted to do. Do you ever find that happens to you? It's quite rare for me. I tend to mull lots of ideas over, decide what it is I'm going to do and then end up with something totally different lol. This one actually looked like my original idea, yay! I really wanted to use some bright colours now that the weather is cheering up, and found this gorgeous orange paper which kicked off the idea.




Using an embossing folder I embossed two orange strips of card. I overlay a rectangular piece of orange flowery paper. I cut out a small and medium black circle. I pop dotted the small black circle on the top left, adding the number 40 which I had cut in orange as the main colour and then the shadow in white. I pop dotted the medium circle to the bottom right of the card and cut out an orange flower which I finished off with a black and white dotty brad. Don't you just LOVE that brad. I think it is FAB!!! I love all things dotty...no comments please lol. (Ian would say that's because I am dotty!) To finish the card I added a silver glitter topper.

Dies: Sizzix 'Lipstick Love Letter' alphabet, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, 'Bloom Dots', Sizzix Circles # 2

Paper: Bazzill cardstock, Sandylion orange floral paper (sorry the name was cut off the sheet so I'm not sure of the actual name of it)

Accessories: Topper from stash. (I keep saying I'm going to make a load of these myself. They would be ever so easy to do and you could do loads of different fonts/colours/sizes. I must add them to my to do list. If it's written down it might get done...one day!

I really enjoyed using this sketch and I think it's one I will keep returning to. (Thanks for the inspiration Janet!) It's great having a few templates to hand when you can't quite make your mind up what to make, especially when you're in a rush. So, go on, join in this week with the challenge, this week's prize is a Ketto stamp, and some lovely ribbon. It would be great to see what you guys come up with :o) I don't know if you've seen those little Ketto stamps but they are ADORABLE. I've just had a few arrive that I've yet to play with, sooo cute!

Have a great Sunday! x