Get Well Lady Bug

Hi there. Have you all had a good day?

I did some ironing on and off in the morning, did my Pilates exercises, walked around town for a bit, and then we took Lulu out for a walk when Ian got home from work. Ian and Natasha were chasing her around the park while I watched. (No, not being lazy, I'm having a really bad back day today, it's been extra bad the last few days for some reason) :o( My card making has been my friend over these past months, it helps me take my mind off it :o) Well, you would think Lulu would be worn out after all that running around, but na!! She has been stealing socks all night! She has also done that embarassing 'let's bring out Mummy's knickers from the washing basket' thing, luckily not in front of guests..yet!

So onto my card. I have been thinking about doing the 2 Sketches 4 You sketch #20 by Laura all week, and have been back to view it I don't know how many times, but everytime I do I keep getting a ladybug/ladybird pop into my mind, so I thought I might as well go with it! Can you see where I am getting the ladybug from?? I am inverting the sketch for this card, hope that's allowed?? I'm quite pleased with how it turned out. It's nice and cheery, which is what you need when you're feeling rough. I haven't anybody to send it to yet, which is a good thing of course ;o)


I cut out a piece of 'Phoebe' paper and inked the edges, and cut another larger piece to lay it onto in black cardstock.

I die cut a circle, then cut it into two for the wings, and added a piece of black card between the two wings. I cut out some flowers and spots and added gems. I cut out a smaller black circle for its head and then used a letter 'L' for the antennae and cut out two smaller circles for the 'bobbles' of the antennae. (I'm sure there's a proper word for them, but I like to call them 'bobbles' .. hmmm, maybe that's why people say I'm quirky?!) I then pop dotted the finished ladybug. I printed out the sentiment, Heard you caught a bug...Get Well Soon' onto white cardstock on my computer and cornered/inked the edges, again matting it onto black cardstock. I punched out a flower, added a circle for the centre, and finished by adding gems to the centre of the flower and three on the right hand side to add some balance.

Dies: Sizzix 'Circle #1', 'Circles #2', 'Flowers & Stems', 'Lipstick Love Letter' alphabet
Paper: Basic Grey 'Phoebe - The Presidio, Bazzill Classic and black cardstock
Accessories: Paper Shapers, 'Retro Flower' hole punch, swarowski gems

Ooh, I keep meaning to mention that Adrienne has some blog candy over at Scrapping with Adrienne. I'm very forgetful at the moment! I think that comes from not working. I used to have to use my brain all the time in my role in HR, but now I don't need to I have to write everything down. Now, if you are going to leave a comment please promise you won't tell me it's my age instead!!! Pretty please!!

A Year In Cards

I had kind of challenged myself to join in the Kristina Werner's 'A Year In Cards' class this week, over at 2 Peas. You can get the video and links on Kristina's blog here. The idea is that there are cards to make each month so that you can add to your stash throughout the year. This month's theme is 'Thank You'. You basically join the class by creating a card and uploading it. I liked the circular card best so decided to make one of those. I got to make little paper flowers which was easy and good fun. It was like being back at school again!

Yay, that's one of my challenges done for this week, stamping a card is still outstanding!

Dies: Cuttlebug 'A2 Combo With Gratitude'
Paper: Dream Street Papers LLC, 'Near & Dear - Andrea', Sandylion 'Fresh Lemonade'
Accessories: circular hole punch, brad from stash

Have a good evening ♥

Fred!

My next card has been made because our friends have just bought a new dog and called him Fred. He has been poorly treated but is now with two of the nicest people you could meet. I think he's a long haired terrier. We wanted to welcome him to his new home so we are sending a card with a little gift.

The name Fred is always a source of fun in this house. Natasha, like any other girl of her age, loves cuddly toys, but more specifically in her case 'Yoohoos'. Now for those of you who don't know what a Yoohoo is here's a pic for you.
They are rather strange, but cute somehow too.. I think! Well, she has 53 of these things now. Pocket money/birthday money/good behaviour money has all been wasted, I mean spent, on these adorable little creatures. Each time she buys one I get asked what she should call it so I always say, 'Fred'. I usually get the 'Oh Mummy' face when I say it of course! Well, when she asked me what our friends' dog was called she didn't believe me when I said he was called Fred, which we all found highly amusing!

This card is for the Cupcake Craft Challenge #28 this week. I like the simplicity of this sketch, it's handy when you need to make up a quick card.

I cut the dog bone paper into two separate strips, cut out an orangey strip of Bazzill for the centre and added paw prints. I then used my NEW(!) Nesties for the background for the dog, which I cut in Bazzill Bling and cream linen cardstock. I added the Cuttlebug dog using 'pop dots' (3d foam pads to you guys - you'll get used to me, I have weird names for things!) and added a little brad at the bottom right (see mini pic) using my NEW(!) Nesties again!! I love them, they're fab!



I had to take a little pic of this brad, don't you just love it! It's so cute! By the way that isn't a dirty mark on the card around it, it's just a shadow! The perfectionist in me would die if I had a mark on it! lol

Dies: Cuttlebug 'Kids 2 Step Dog' (Hmmm, didn't realise it was for kids, oh well, still love it!), Cuttlebug 'Dog' Die
Paper: The Paper Company Studio 'Paws and Claws - Dog Bones', Bazzill Classic/Bling
Accessories: Nesties, brad from stash

I'm hoping to post something else later, but dinner is calling me right now. Maybe see you later for another posting :o)

Sweet Flourishes

Hi there. How's your day going? I am trying to get in a bit of blogging before we have to start packing for our house move. I am going to have to be one of those divas that directs everyone where to pack/put things because I can't do a lot with my back prob! I hate that though, don't you? It sounds wonderful not being able to lift a finger, but in reality I find it cringy. It makes me look really pretentious lol. I'm looking forward to moving but I hate all the upheaval, not knowing where everything is. I've already said that my craft goodies are coming in the car with us, nobody is getting their hands on them, and I can set up everything asap then! Mind you, I'm wondering how we will fit in the car with it all, there's SO much!

Anyway, I was asked to make an anniversary card for one of my Mum's friends, and I wanted to use some of the new downloadable papers by Pink Petticoat, called 'Sweet Flourishes'. I download a lot of the papers from there but only occasionally actually play with them. I don't know why, I just tend to turn to my 'tactile' papers first instead of my 'virtual' ones! They are great though because you can just match them up without having to leave the house because you've run out.

I decided to use the sketch #3 over at The Pink Elephant Challenge Blog because it had a flourish on it, which I could handily match up with my new papers. I printed out the cranberry white flourish paper, and cranberry solid colour. I love the flourishes that are out at the moment, I've just ordered one from SU. I'm really looking forward to using it. I've not been on this site before, but the winners cards look fab, don't they?!

Ok, sorry I'm digressing, so for this card I then cut out three rectangles, one in black, one in cranberry and one in white and rounded the top two corners. (I am SO excited, I bought an X-Cut Corner Punch and it actually works, it's fab, so you might see a few rounded corners on my cards until the novelty wears off!) I cut out a flourish in black using my Big Shot machine and attached this to the card, overlaying the white card. I cut a heart in Sweet Flourish, and the outline in black. I cut a strip in cranberry and used my SU scallop punch for the black and stuck this over the bottom of the rectangles. I then stamped (yes, I really stamped something again..I'm getting good at this!) the sentiment onto white card, and layered it onto black, and rounded the corners again. To finish I rounded the corners on the card, and added random swarowski crystals.

Dies: Sizzix 'Swirly' and Cuttlebug 'Hearts & Stamps'
Stamps: Penny Black 'Happy Anniversary'
Paper: Pink Petticoat 'Sweet Flourishes' & Bazzill Classic
Accessories: Stamping Up! scallop punch

Hope you like it. I've got a few more postings to come, I was having problems with Photoshop so couldn't upload, but it's all resolved now!

My Very First Blog Awards - Woohoo!!

Guess what... I just got my very first Blog Awards!!! I'm soooo excited about it. I kept on seeing other people getting them and felt a bit left out! Now I have some of my very own, how cool is that?!! They are from Sarah-Jane over at 'Cards and a Cuppa'. You should check her blog out, she has some really great cards on there. Also check out her calendar, I really like that idea and I love the colours she's used for the girl in January. Here's my awards;





I feel that I should have prepared a speech like they do at the Oscars, you know the kind of thing...I'd like to thank my man, my daughter, my dog, my Mum for having me etc etc (!!)but I will just humbly say a great big THANKS to Sarah-Jane! You made this little ole cardmaker a very happy girl today!!

Now, I'm new to all this but I think I'm supposed to pass them onto someone else. Ok, well I have a few people's work that I really love, so I am going to pass the awards onto them (in no particular order!)

The first person is someone's work that I have been in love with for a very long time. I'm always seeing her work published. It's Jo Kill over at 'We Don't Do Duvets'. Her work is just so very different, I love it. She has a distinct style, and I love the way she doodles on her cards and uses lots of black and white, it's fab!

The second one is going to go to someone's blog that I have just recently come across, 'Paper Playhouse' by Karen Motz. She has inspired me to get back into stamping. I used to stamp all the time but when the die cutters came along I got a bit bored with it and thought it just wasn't for me. She's made me realise that stamping doesn't have to be old fashioned, it can look fun and funky! I love the way she paper pieces her work, she is the paper piecing queen! I think I will always be someone that enjoys die cutting more than stamping, but at least now I will be doing a bit of both thanks to Karen's inspiration.

The third person I would like to give an award to is Kristina over at KWerner Design Blog. Her blog was the very first one I started following. She inspires me with her Color Inspiration Challenges, and she really does go the extra mile to keep us creative people motivated. I love the way her work is stylish yet quick and easy. I'm just about to join in on the Two Peas in a Bucket Classes that she's doing, that's my goal for this week anyway. My other goal is to stamp a card this week!

I'd also like to thank my followers. (Still can't believe I've got some!!) Thanks to each and everyone of you for thinking my work is good enough to come back and see! Big hugs to you all!

Spent lots of my man's money!!

Ooh, I've had fun today. We went to a craft show and I spent loads of my man's money. It was hard work though, my back was killing me so I had to keep sitting every few minutes, but it didn't stop me too much! I've finally got my Nesties, some Copics, some edge cutters, and a corner punch that actually does what it's supposed to do. The list goes on...!! I will be playing this week so you might get a glimpse of some of them!

Must dash, we have friends coming over tonight, gonna grab a nice hot vanilla coffee and chill before they arrive!

Funky Lily

Hi again. Ok, so just a very quick post for this one. Natasha is waiting to play a game with us, so I can't stop for long.

I thought I would enter the 2 Sketches 4 You Challenge Sketch #20 by Kazan this week. Have you seen the card that she made, it's divine! She is SO creative.

I have been wanting to use these Basic Grey papers for ages, so I was really pleased when I saw this challenge and my idea came together quite quickly. I really love using papers with brown in. I especially love blue and brown together, but there are so many combinations that brown works with. I've also wanted to use this lily cutter for a while and I think it works really well with this paper. This blogging is great fun. I'm starting to dig out all of those things I keep saying 'I will use that one day', and shaking the dust off them ready for use. Card ideas are slowly coming off my 'to do' list and coming to life! Don't you find it really makes you much more creative to? I love that I'm starting to get 'chatting' to people, it's made card making so much more fun.

So onto the card... I cut a square of background paper and adhered this to the card. I then layered the inner square, using dark brown and coral. I added a strip of dark brown across the card before putting on the final layer of BG paper that I cornered with a corner punch. I then cut out the lily and punched some small circles in coral and cream. I wanted to add the detail on the petals to match the paper. I then attached the finished lily to the top right hand corner of the inner square. I added another narrower brown strip at the bottom and stamped the sentiment which I layered onto coral card. Finally I used a dark brown chalk pencil to add some detail to the top of the coral petals of the lily.

It would be great to hear what you think, and also to see if my comments are now working! If not, as before, please could you mail me to let me know. I miss my comments :o( !! It's great getting the feedback. You know if you're on the right track then!

Have a great day!

Cheery Flower

Hi there everyone. Happy Saturday! It's been tricky doing/posting cards this week because my little girl is on half term. I always feel guilty card making when she is around, it's not fair on her. She is playing in the garden with Lulu at the moment so I thought I would quickly post while I can!

I love playing along with Kristina Werner's Color Inspirations #42. This week's one was a real challenge. I just couldn't get the colours to look good, so in the end I opted for the easy way out by using a lot of white and the other colours as accents. I don't have the SU! colours so I used Bazzill Basics that were close to them. As usual I'm one of the last on the list of entries. I work better to deadlines!! That's my excuse anyway!



The card was actually really easy to construct, once I'd got my head around it! I embossed some white cardstock with my Cuttlebug embossing folder. I then cut out the flower/leaves with my Sizzix cutter, added a few strips of colour at the top and bottom of the white and then stamped my sentiment. I wanted to make a card that I could keep for any occasion so went for my 'Hugs & Kisses' stamp, that way it will work for a 'get well', 'thanks', 'thinking of you' kind of card. As you can see I still have wonky pictures, but hey ho you get the drift!

Dies: Sizzix 'Paper Sculpting, Daisy', Cuttlebug 'Bloom Dots'
Stamps: Hero Arts, 'Hugs & Kisses'
Paper: Basic Grey (yes again! I LOVE these papers, can you tell?!) & Bazzill Classic

I'm off to post now, back soon!

Problem with Comments

I seem to be experiencing problems with comments at the moment :o( Apparently when some people are trying to add a comment they are not able to. I am trying to work out what's wrong, but not coming up with much so far. If you want to leave a comment, but are not able to please could you drop me a quick e-mail just so that I know the extent of the problem. I am in the process of troubleshooting it. If any of you have had this problem, and know how to resolve it I'd love to know :o) I will be posting a few cards tomorrow, off to bed now :o)

Papertake Weekly & Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge

Hi again

I needed to make a card for my friend's birthday, and wanted to do a package to match to put her little gift in. I was looking through the 3d Design Challenge blog and came across a recent challenge to make a treat pouch and thought it would be perfect. I made one version but my card was a bit too thick, so I made it again using a slightly lighter card. It was SO easy to make. I really thought it would be hard work. Once I'd made the pouch I then punched a hole in the layer that you fold down, tied on the ribbon and added three flowers with a brad. As I tied on the ribbon I added a stamped tag before doing the bow just to add a little interest. I will definately be visiting that site again, that was great fun!

I then made the card to match, using the same sketch from 'The Sweetest Thing' that I had used for the Anniversary card in my last posting. I have only just come across this challenge blog, it looks great fun. Yet another sketch challenge place to add to my ever growing list!!! The cards that Karen has made on there are gorgeous. On this card I created a pocket for the tag to sit in by only sticking down the three sides of the paper. I also added some faux stitches around the pocket, but I'm not sure if you can see that in the photo.

I thought the pouch and card would be a perfect entry for the Papertake Weekly Challenge, where they said that 'this weeks challenge is to make a matching set! You could make a matching card and envelope, a card and tag, a card and ATC, a LO and a tag - the combinations are endless!' If you haven't entered this already I would encourage you to make something, it is so much fun trying to think up a matching set, they're right the combinations are endless.

Dies: Sizzix 'Tags, Scallop Combo', Quickutz corner die
Stamps: Hero Arts, 'Friendly Greetings'
Paper: Imaginisce, ''For Peep's Sake, Drapin' Daisies, Bazzill Classic
Accessories: Swarowski gems, K & Co Wild Saffron brads, ribbon from my stash

I hope you like this set, I'd love to hear your comments.

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge

Hi everyone. I've managed to get some time to add my cards to my blog tonight. The first card is for the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #5. I really like the simplicity of this sketch. It's nice to do intricate cards, but sometimes it's refreshing to do something simple. I have used this sketch twice this week, once for this challenge, and again for another challenge on Papertake Weekly, which I will be posting shortly. For this challenge I made a simple Anniversary card.

I used a Sakura pen to add detail to all of the edges of the petals, and also to the Basic Grey patterned paper, but unfortunately the picture doesn't pick up on this detail. It actually looked quite pretty!

Dies: Sizzix 'Flower Layers, Lily', 'Decorative Accent w/Flower
Stamps: PSX - Happy Anniversary
Paper: Basic Grey, 'Sugared' paper, Bazzill Bling
Accessories: Swarowski gems

I'm off to post this now. Wish me luck. Not that I'm holding out much hope, I never win anything!!

Sorry!

Sorry I haven't done any postings. It's not so easy when Natasha's off school. All routine goes out of the window!! We are having a great time though, it's nice not having to work and being able to spend some quality time together. She's enjoying playing with Lulu too which is nice. I have made a couple of cards that I will share with you later. I've photographed them, I just need to get them uploaded. Have a good morning/afternoon (depending where you are!) and see you later. &hearts

Grey and Yellow

My last card for today. I liked the idea of this challenge over at Moxie Fab World this week because the colours are a bit unusual so I thought I would play!

To start with I cut wavy lines on three different pieces of card/paper as seen. I cut along the yellow curvy line so that the front of the card was removed to show the inside. I then cut some grey (light elephant!) card running along the same lines as the front and cut out the letters, 'B-R-O'. Finally I cut out the phrase and sponged some ink along the yellow curvy line to soften it a bit.

Dies: Sizzix Phrase, 'Happy Birthday #2', 'Junk Drawer' Alphabet Set
Paper: Basic Grey papers from 'Offbeat' pad, Bazzill Bling & Classic

Quick question..I had some feedback earlier that someone was not able to leave a comment because every time they tried their system crashed. If you have had a similar problem or my blog seems slow please could you mail me so that I can check it out if it's a problem with my blog. I'd really appreciate it :o)

I'd love to hear your comments on my postings ♥

Feeling Green

I liked the idea of the Daring Cardmakers Challenge this week, 'Feeling Green'. I thought I would do some trees! I really enjoyed making this card, I don't normally do trees, or use that much green really, so it was a nice change.

I cut out two strips of Basic Grey patterned paper, the bottom one I scalloped using my punch. I then cut out two circles, turned each of the circles over and drew the outline of the 'leaves' and then cut them out. I wanted to mimic the trees on the paper (see above for close up of paper). I backed the green circles with brown card, and then cut out some trunks. I then stamped the 'just a little note...' sentiment and added 3 gems.

Dies: Sizzix Circles #2
Stamps: Muse Art Stamps, 'Little Note'
Paper: Basic Grey papers from 'Offbeat' pad, Bazzill Classic
Accessories: Swarowski gems

Stay green!

I've been busy!

Hi again

I have a few cards to share with you tonight, but first I want to mention some people that have some fab blog candy to give away. The first one is from Sarah-Jane at Cards and a Cuppa. I've got my eye on those word stamps! I love her cards, you should go over there and check them out. The second is on Stamping with a Whiff of Joy, where they have a new Medieval Collection with the characters "Charlotte & Charlie" coming out. They look really cute. I love the medieval and tudor period so will definately be trying to win that :o)

Now onto cards. I'm a proud Mummy tonight, my little girl made this fab card with no help from me at all. It was for her 'Mama' (Grandma) for Valentine's Day. I was so impressed when I saw it.

The first challenge I'm entering is 2 Sketches 4 You - Laura's Sketch #19. I really liked their sketch this week, but to be honest I always do! This card was going to be a poodle!! I made it all up and then decided that it looked hideous, I had done it in pink for a bit of fun, but it looked horrid when I put it all together, so I took it apart and did a cupcake instead!

I love all the cupcake card making items around, they look good enough to eat, don't they?!

Dies: Sizzix Cupcake #3, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder
Stamps: PSX 'With Love'
Paper: Bazzill Classic and a scrap of patterned card from my stash

Ooh, ooh, I used a stamp, I told you I would!!!

Hope you like it, I'm going to link it over at 2S4U now.

Kiss Me!

Hi and Happy Valentine's Day to you all!

I finally got around to making some cards for the challenges that I have been meaning to enter. The first one is for the Kristina Werner Color Inspiration #40. As you can see you had to use red, black, grey and white.

Ok, so here goes...

I made a card for my man and I wanted it to be a bit of fun. Firstly, I cut out a rectangular shape in dark grey bazzill bling (not sure of the actual colour name, I always just call it 'dark elephant'!) I then cut a smaller one out in 'light elephant' bazill bling. (again that's my name for it, not theirs, sorry!) I cut out the word 'KISS' on my Cricut machine on the normal setting in black and then on background setting in white. I then cut out some luscious red lips in red cardstock, and a candy heart for the bottom left of the card with 'I♥U' in red. It hasn't come out that well in this pic though. I raised the word 'kiss' using foam pads and then stuck on the random lips and I also did the candy heart in 3d. I added a some black and white ribbon because it looked a bit bland.

For the bottom right of the card I cut out the word 'me' and then added an exclamation mark using my new 'Abbie Lover Duvers' alphabet set.














I took a photo of that for you so that you could see the dot of the exclamation mark...it's a heart, isn't that just SO cute?!!!

Dies: Sizzix 'Abbie Lover Duvers' Alphabet Set & 'Phrase, So Me! So You, So Us! Quickutz lips and candy hearts, Cricut 'George and Basic Shapes' Cartridge
Paper: Bazzill Bling and Classic
Accessories: Ribbon from my stash

I will be back later to add on some more cards, I'm off to the craft shop now to pick up some more supplies. I'm hoping I might even get a couple of Valentine's pressies from my man while we're there!!

Catch you later x

Chit Chat

Hi everyone

I hope you're all nearly ready for Valentine's Day and have finished those last minute Valentine's Day Cards. Hopefully you're not too sick of heart combinations either. I have to say I actually enjoy doing Valentine's cards the most.

I have been meaning to take part in a few challenges this week, but I haven't quite finalised what I want to do, so look out for a posting tomorrow when I will be back to share what I've created.

In the meantime as my friend said to me earlier, 'I wish you all a great day, with lots of love, joy and romance'. I added to it.. lots of chocolate, because let's be honest what more does a girl want?? Well maybe the odd diamond or two perhaps. Oh yes, plus more shoes/bags, but most importantly lots more papercrafting goodies!!!

Have fun ♥

My little puppy and the odd card or two!

Hi. I hope you've had a good day and have been making all those fab cards again! I thought I would share a couple of piccies of Lulu. She is SO much fun, but totally mischievous as you can imagine for a 5 month old puppy. Today I was typing an e-mail and felt my cardi being pulled. I looked down to see her pulling my belt out trying to get me to play with her!!! She also managed to find a scarf that I had made and ate a great big hole in it! The trouble is, like my little girl Natasha, she gives me those cute eyes and face and I forgive her anything! I'm such a pushover!

Speaking of Natasha do any of you get stressed out by your kids' homework?! I try and give my two pennies worth and a performance that deserves an Oscar breaks out here lol. Hmmm, I might stick to making cards, it's much easier.

Moving onto the cards I have a couple to share with you today. The first is a 'New Home' card. It was going to be for the Kristina Werner Color Inspiration but I never quite got around to submitting it in time.

The sign showing on the right was just cut out and then inked with dark brown around the edges.





To 'dress' the windows I just stuck some card pieces behind them. I then added hearts coming out of the chimney to resemble smoke ('heart shaped smoke'?? It sounds odd now I'm typing it out!!)

The background paper is from my K & Co 'Wild Saffron' pad again, boy that's getting some use now! I ran the yellow through a cuttlebug embossing pad, tied on the ribbon and then mounted it onto a piece of dark brown cardstock. I keep seeing big ribbon on cards at the moment, but I'm not sure if it looks quite right on this one. You will have to let me know what you think.

Dies: Sizzix 'Doodle Dies, Home Sweet Home', Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Floral', Quickutz signpost
Paper: K & Co, 'Wild Saffron', Bazzill Classic
Accessories: Ribbon from my stash, pearl stick ons

Can anyone tell me how to get my photos of my cards to look straight? They all end up looking a bit wonky down one/two sides. I use Photoshop to edit, but try to get a good photo first so that I don't have to edit too much. Not sure what I'm doing wrong. Any ideas?????

I also made a very simple 10 minute card for a friend, using my good old Lily cutter.

I cut out the paper, tied the floral paper with ribbon, then mounted it onto the bling. I then cut out the flower, layered it twice and added a third layer for the bottom two petals. I put the stamen on and added a pearl, again that little tip I got from my local craft shop. In each of the corners you might just be able to make out mini pearls. It just needed a little finishing touch and these were up to the job :o)

Dies: Sizzix 'Flower, Lily'
Paper: Basic Grey 6 x 6 'Euphoria' paper pad
Accessories: Ribbon from my stash, pearl stick ons, Stampendous peel offs

I will get into stamping at some point. You would never think I'm a girl that owns about 300 rubber stamps. I've just got into die cutting so much that I haven't done much on the stamping side. Now I've told you that bit of info I will have to do something with them, this blogging is good for me. If I commit it to writing I will have to do it now lol.