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Friday 30 September 2011

Linda's Birthday card.... and a really dim moment

Hello!!

OK, I'm going to explain the dim bit first before showing you Linda's card.

OK so Tuesday was my fortnightly class at Scrapbook Sisters, and the project was fabulous this time out - I might get to take pics of it soon and I'll share it - so I had my arms full as I left the shop, got in HB's car and drove home.  Wednesday night I went to make Linda's card and couldn't find my craft bag - you know the sort with ALL of your essentials - cutter, scissors, ruler, stamp block, craft knife glue etc etc - and I couldn't find it ANYWHERE!!  HB convinced me that I definitely had brought it in from the car and put it by my desk, so the kids were duely accused of moving it... and I spent ages looking everywhere the little wotsits might have squirrelled it.  And where was it??? Still at the shop where I had left it!  The thought I had left it had crossed my mind, but HB was adamant that i'd brought it in and I believed him :-D  Never mind, I'll get it back on Saturday at the crop :-D

It did however make putting this card together quite a challenge as I have no cutter, scissors, or anything, and I was thinking I'd have to tear the papers to size, I luckily had some spare glues and tape lurking, but I found my old craft knife in my tool box, using the measures on my mat and a bit of spare acrylic HB brought me home as a makeshift straight edge, I think the card looks pretty good considering the lack of my always used tools!!


I saw this Kraftin Kimmie image and have had it stashed away to use on Lin's card for a while, and that has been SO tough as I REALLY like to play with new stuff!!  Anyway, it's perfect for Lin - she's a colleague at work who got into crafting through seeing what I do, and now is the proud owner of her very own, soon to be completed crafting cabin... me... jealous... yes!!!


I've got here a little crafty pressie too, although she has the bug big time and seems to have accumulated more that I have in half the time, so fingers crossed she's not already got it! :-D

I hope she likes it!

Please can I enter these Challenges

Sue xx

Wednesday 28 September 2011

Scrapbook Sisters Card Challenge 54 - Leaves

Hello!!

It's Wednesday so that can only mean it's time for another Scrapbook Sisters Card Challenge, which this week is 


LOL, we are sure to be covered in them soon, so why not add a leaf or two to your crafty projects this week and join in the dun?

I decided to keep to an autumnal colour pallet this week- although summer is making a late burst this week in my little corner of the world, we are sure to be covered with leaves before long!!


This pic so does not do this card justice, but I was forced to use the flash which is hiding all of the lovely detail... boo, don't you just hate it when working gets in the way of taking a decent picture of your creation!!  

I made a circular card with the aid of my little compass cutter thingy and then cut a brown mat and then stamped loads of leaves using a freebie stamp from Craft Stamper a couple of months back in Cocoa Momento and then rubbed Tea Dye, Vintage Photo and Antique Linen distress inks all over them.  I cut them out and covered half with Glossy Accents and half with Crackle Accents and left them to dry while I sorted the centre of the card out which is a Whimsy download which has been printed out, distressed, and I've added a couple of gems to the centre of the flowers.



I really love the effect the GA and CA have added to the flowers - they really look like fresh and dried out leaves that have fallen, prefect for the season :-D

Thanks for stopping by

Please may I enter these challenges

Little Darlings Challenges - Fall/Halloween
I brake for Challenges - Fallin' for you
Craftin for all Seasons- Fall Colours
The Stamping Boutique - Changes of the Season
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
Sue xx


Tuesday 27 September 2011

Ladybug Crafts Ink Challenge - Folds and/or Autumn Colours

Hello!

Hope you are all well and are having a great week, I've been a bad blogger and have been neglecting my blog for the last couple of days - life has been getting in the way of crafting, some good stuff and some not so great but hopefully I can get creating and posting more regularly again this week!

Before I get started on this weeks LCI DT card, wow!!  How popular was last weeks new release, for the first time ever LCI has gone digi with some cracking new images - if you haven't seen them yet, check them out here - they certainly seemed to go down well and a huge thanks to everyone who played along with both the challenge and the blog hop, and a very hearty congratulations to the winners and top three!!

Back to normal this week though and it's Amanda's turn to pick the challenge and she would like to see your folded cards and/or autumn colours - you can do one, or the other, or both!

For some reason giving me two things to do stumped me this week though, but I got there in the end, making a tag card thingy.  Why on earth I didn't take the more obvious route and make an easel card I have no idea!!  I did glue my folds shut, so hope that is ok... hmmmm, with hindsight I wish I'd left them open, was having a bit of a dim moment I guess!!


I was also struggling big time for papers.  I'm not going to admit this to my HB because he wouldn't believe that was possible considering the space my papers take up, but I settled on a DCWV pad - I think it is one of the middle east collections, as I thought the colours of these pages were fairly autumnal :-D


I love the Shoes 'n' Bags stamps - this one is called the ruffle and I coloured it in autumnal colours and added a small hint of sparkle to the shoes and some glossy accents to the metal bits.

The sentiment stamp is from the Sentimental Numbers set - this is one set that is always on my desk and I reach for over and over as the sizing is PERFECT!!

Hope you like it, and are able to enter the challenge this week

Please can I enter these challeges
Sweet Stamps Challenge - Criss Cross Cards
Woodware USA - Happy Fall
Incy Wincy Designs - Fancy Folds

Sue xx

Wednesday 21 September 2011

Scrapbook Sisters Card Challenge 52 - Autumn Colours

Hello!

This is SO late for me, I'm normally so sorted with my cards and posts, but I got all behind and had to pull a late one last night to get these done!  Tusk, must be more organised next week and get my DT cards tonight /tomorrow as we are going Castle Combe for a mini-only track day on Satuday and are leaving on Friday with the aim of getting there in daylight.  I haven't been in years, so am quite excited, even though we are trailering someone elses car down as ours isn't a track car and we don't want to risk it, but I have been promised a lap or two, so I might be able to share a pic or two over the weekend.

Right enough blah, blah, blah from me and onto today's card!!

This weeks Scrapbook Sisters Card Challenge is Autumn Colours, and I used some MME papers, well I guess they are Halloweeny, but as they are just pumpkins not too much so.  I ended up making two cards again, although not intentionally this time as I cut my papers and then realised that the direction of the papers didn't work with the image I had coloured... not to worry another image quickly coloured and two cards done!!  Mind you it is a CASish layout so it wasn't too much of a trauma!!

Anyway, here's the first card which uses Black Witches Shoes Digi designed by Sally West and available from Scrapbook Sisters


I typed and printed the sentiment onto CS, distressed it and cut it up.  Don't know why I thought of this as a sentiment, in my defense it was VERY late!!

The second card is the same design, but portrait, and using the Mummy digi by Gayle Bond for Scrapbook Sisters


I'm not entirely sure about the sentiment, I think it's WAY too big, so I can see it being replaced for a smaller one!

Please can I enter these challenges

Thanks for stopping by

Sue xx

Tuesday 20 September 2011

Ladybug Crafts Ink Goes Digital!!

Eeek!!  Can you believe it!!   This week is a really special one over at Ladybug Crafts Ink Challenge as we are celebrating the first digi stamp release of a new range of Magnum images to compliment the brilliant stamp range, and we are having a blog hop to celebrate - hopefully you should have arrived from the very talented Tams, and already have your blog hop banner (above!!) proudly displayed on your blog, leaving each member of the DT a comment as you go :-DAnd the prizes??  First prize... is the whole release including Remote Control, Cat Flu, Missed a Bit, Add-On Magnum, and all the Christmas Add-Ons. Plus five runner up prizes of one digi each!!
And we would love to see all of your animal friends, but especially the new digi images - as they are only £2 each for the Magnum images and between £1.25 and £1.50 for the add on images... and delivered straight to your inbox, no having to wait for Mr Postie with these cuties!! This week though you can order the entire release for the discounted price of £16 - what are you waiting for!!   These images are brilliant and I was given Cat Flu, LOL just love Magnum, the poorly puddy tat :-D, Lily the mouse looks like she is enjoying winding him up no end :-D  If there was any doubt Magnum is definately a male cat... just check out the sorry for himself expression and countless tissues :-D

I coloured him with Copics and added a touch of glossy accents to the scarey looking syringe Lily is holding and the cap of the thing (nope, no idea what it is called!!) on his head, and his nose


Supplies:
Cat Flu Magnum; Woodware sentiment
Black, White and Green CS; PebblesInc, Bo Bunny, MME and Fancy Pants Papers
Flowers; Prima Lace; Olive Sheer Satin Stripe Ribbon
Spellbinders Labels 4; Marianne Die

Thanks for stopping by
Sue xx

P.S.  Please can I enter these challenges
Die Cut Dreams - Flower Power
Hooked On Craft Challenge - Ribbon and Lace
Kaboodle Doodles Challenge - Lots of Layers
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
Ooh La La Creations - Punches and Dies
Corrosive Challenge - Punches/Dies
Sweet Stampin - Flowers, Flowers, Flowers
Card Mad Fairies Digi Days - Lots of Layers
Aud Sentiments Challenge - Get Well Soon
Nettie G's Digital Gems Challenge - Anything Goes
Digi Design Challenge - Anything Goes

Monday 19 September 2011

I'm so excited!!

Hello!!  I hope you enjoyed your weekend, mine was going OK until I did something or other - no idea what - and my neck has gone all funny and OMG it HURTS!!  Painkillers are my new best friends and it has not been helped by my HB pointing out that I am moving with all the grace of a Thunderbird puppet if I want to look left or right further than my eyes can see I have to move my whole body, rather than just turning my head.  So he has been calling me Lady Penelope all day.  Honestly I didn't realise I married a comedian :-D  Luckily I managed to get a couple of cards done before it went, although I am behind on what I should have got finished this weekend, but I was in agony and had to stop.  I don't do being ill, it annoys me so much not being able to do what I need to do without wincing :-D  


I made this little card using one of my gorgeous Kraftin Kimmie fairies and sentiment, along with some of the Authentique papers I had left over from a recent scrapbook class at Scrapbook Sisters.  If you haven't seen these papers before I stongly recommend you check them out, as they are a great weight and have a lovely texture - think how some of the MME papers are... but better!

Anyway I thought she would look fab on them, along with some felt from LCI.  There are loads of lovely new colours and I can see I'm going to have to get some more soon.  They are lovely quality too, and cut beautifully with scissors, a cutter, or with dies, and I like the extra texture it gives to a card.

A blingy button, some lovely stretchy lace, narrow grosgrain and some blue crystals finished my card


I don't know why, but I DO like to cut fairies out - it makes them look like they are flying :-D  Oh dear, maybe I've overdone the painkillers!!  Thanks for looking,  Sue xx

Saturday 17 September 2011

Autumnal Fairy

Hello!!

Hope you are OK and are enjoying your weekend, we are having a quiet one as the last few have been pretty busy, and the next few weekends are going to be pretty busy too :-D
  

Well I say quiet, but my kids seem to have other ideas!!  Still I'm hoping to get some crafting done in between the normal weekend jobs, and todays card is one that I have been tinkering with on and off for the last few days.


I used some more of the papers from me MME Paris and Co pad, I love this one and it was one of those can I really bear to cut this paper up and stick it on a card moments!!  But I was brave and LOVE the end result!!  The Kraftin Kimmie fairy is sitting on top of a Marianne Tag Die.


Just a touch of Glanour Dust on her wings and shes to give her a bit of sparkle :-D  I love how the wings of the bird kinda echo the pattern of the paper

I couldn't help but decorate the inside with the offcuts


That's it from me today - hope you have a great weekend

Please can I enter these challenges

Thanks for looking, Sue xx

Wednesday 14 September 2011

Scrapbook Sisters Card Challenge 52 - Indian Summer

Hello!!

This weeks Scrapbook Sisters Challenge is Indian Summer, although I don't think so as it's looking quite miserable out of my window at the moment!!  Still here's hoping!!

I decided to be good and use up some of the masses of papers that I have lurking - this one is a Fancy Pants design from a couple of years ago, and I really liked the ethnic pattern in quite a modern colour.  I also decided to ink up one of my lovely Gorjuss girls to create a tent card - although you can't see it is in the photo that well - sorry!!


Honestly what an idiot, fancy not taking a picture from the side... duh!!  I used some dark red/rust CS to mat the paper onto and also to cut a flower thingy with a Marianne die, then a couple of lengths of browny bronzy organza and I've adhered her so she's perching on the edge of the card apature.


I'm still working on the hair colouring thing, I'm getting there, but I can now see what colours I need to make a difference as I think the E15/E18/another couple I used but can't remember which(!) are darker than I intended, but overall I think she looks OK.  I should give myself a break really as before last year I didn't think I could colour at all!!


Thanks for stopping by

Sue xx

Tuesday 13 September 2011

Ladybug Crafts Ink Challenge 38 - Flowers

Hello!!

Can you believe it's Tuesday already, and time for this weeks Ladybug Crafts Ink challenge!  It really doesn't seem like a week since the Wrinklies were released and we were hopping all over!  Thanks to everyone that joined in with the hop and linked up their cards, my jaw was hitting the floor at so many gorgeous creations, so very well done to the winners and top three!!

Anyway, this week it is the turn of the fabulous Michele to set the challenge and she would like to see 

Easy peasy huh?  You can make your own or use ready made, the choice is yours :-D

Actually flowers often find their way onto my cards, but oh my, this week I had a nightmare, and hated the blooms that I originally put on here, fortunately the glue wasn't dry and I was able to remove them and change it about a bit, so it's not as I'd intended to start with but I think I rescued it!!

Right, no more waffle, here's my card


I used more of my MME Paris and Co papers (and was so chuffed to find a matching button in my stash!!) and coloured up Daydreaming Ruby - just love her, she looks gorgeous on a CAS card as much as one that is more elaborate!


I LOVE her sparkly shoes and hair slide!!

Please may I enter these challenges


Thanks for stopping by

Sue xx

Friday 9 September 2011

Flying by

Hello!

Thank goodness it's nearly the weekend, as I've had a shocker of a week!!  In short, STILL don't know what is happening and if I am being made redundant or not - we have been told that we will find out more tomorrow... ahhh!!!  I do wish they'd hurry up and get on with it all, it's coming up for three weeks and I still don't know much more than I did on day one!

So it was the perfect timing for my washing machine to develop a fault and refuse to pump water in (I think it caught a gremlin off the fridge, which is still trying to cook the food instead of keeping it cool) and for me to get a puncture... oh deep joy... there goes the wages that I don't know if I'm going to be getting after this month :-/

The only positive is that my mum (and MIL) are doing my washing for me, and bless my mum, not only has she washed our clothes but they have all been returned ironed!!  I have been handwashing (I have a blister on my left index finger to prove it!!) our "smalls" though... I know she loves us, but there are limits :-D

Anyway, enough rambling, onto today's card

I bought some Kraftin Kimmie stamps from Zoe Bunny's on the bank holiday as they had a sale and HOW could I resist!!


I teamed the Emilia with some Lime Twist "Out of the Blue" papers (I got mine here) which seemed a great choice.  I love the little plane which comes with this image, as I can see it being used on it's own or as a background stamp.

Oddly I raided my scrapbook stash and used some Thickers foam letters to make the Hi sentiment.  I'm going to be honest and say that there has been a bit of a rush on my cards that can be used as notelets from my colleagues whose children are off to Uni this year, but I might just keep this one for myself... actually might not have a choice if come the end of the week I have no colleagues!! 

Ahh, good job I have a sense of humour about things!! 

Back to the card, I've been trying REALLY hard to improve my colouring, I think I'm getting there with the hair, but I still have muck ups... and I'm still struggling with where the light is coming from, and I'm clinging onto the comment from the uber talented Gayle who assured me that light can come from any direction...  I'm not sure she meant all at once, but hey I'm clinging onto threads!!


I also think my Momento is running out of juice, do they do a re-inker for these?  If you know pop me a comment!  I don't know why but I sometimes really struggle to get the Kraftin Kimmie stamps to stamp cleanly all over - maybe one of those rockabloc things would be a good idea - again if anyone has any views please let me know!!

Thanks for stopping by

Sue xx

Wednesday 7 September 2011

Scrapbook Sisters Card Challenge 51 - Ho Ho Ho

Hello!!



I went through all my Father Christmas stamps and settled on this one, which is one of the first stamps I bought (by Rubber Stamped from eBay for the bargain price of 99p - for a wooden stamp!!) and it is still one of my all-time favourites, so full of whimsy.  I'm still in my distressing phase, so got the inks out and started playing.  Apologies if i'm getting a bit samey but I'm enjoying myself :-D

In the end I ended up making two cards

My first card is using MME papers (it's a reverse of a halloween paper!!), distressed with vintage photo distress inks and overstamped with some Autumn Leaves stamps.  I then swept a versamark ink pad round the edge of the card and embossed with a copper embossing powder


The image has been stamped onto a stampboard oval, coloured with distress inks and then I scratched into it with my pokey tool (I do have a scratchy tool somewhere, but it was hiding and the pokey tool worked!!)  Some lace and Bias binding finished this card off


For my second card I got busy with the Antique Linen, Bundled Sage, Tattered Rose and Barn Door distress inks, combined with my Autumn Leaves, Papermania, Prima and Crafty Individuals stamps


I stamped the image, coloured Father Christmas' face with copics, distressed the rest of the image, and then painted rock candy crackle paint over the top


I love this look, it works so well with the image :-D

So there you go, two cards, similar but they look totally different

Please can I enter these challenges

Brown card

Red/Green card

 Thank you for looking,

hugs, Sue xx


Tuesday 6 September 2011

Ladybug Crafts Ink Challenge 37 - New Release and a Blog Hop!!

Please scroll down for my Try It On Tuesday GD post, or click here!!

Is it just me, or are most of the images available quite young?  Or those that are more suitable for those not in their first flush of youth a bit, well, frumpy?!  Well, this is no longer the case because the fabulous Kerry, aka Queen Ladybug has just released a brand new range of stamps - called the Wrinkley's - and each image comes with three semtiments , available from today from Ladybug Crafts Ink and they are perfect for those who refuse to grow old gracefully :-D

and, to celebrate the DT are having a little blog hop... hurrah!!!  As we know no-one will have the new images the challenge is 


You should have arrived from the lovely Pinky, if not and you want to play along head on back to the start which is Kerry - if you get lost the full list is available on the challenge blog here

The blog hop prizes are:
The First Prize is the full set of all 6 stamps, and if that wasn't generous enough 3 runners up will receive one stamp of their choice from the new release.
And if you don't win.. you can still enjoy the stamps at a discount price as the stamps will be on sale from today for £5.99 ( Normal RRP £6.99)  till next Tuesday

There are 6 new stamps in the release and I was given the You Know Too Much Wrinkley


 I love these new MME paper packs, they continue to break my no new papers rule!

We all have friends like these who are around through thick and thin, but I'm sure at one stage those ice creams would have been Margaritas :-)  LOL


I used the left over bits of paper to decorate the inside, and used one of the fabby sentiments from the set.


So what do you think, brilliant images huh!?

I'm sure you know the rules already, but just a recap, honestly it's such a responsibility being the last on the hop, if it all goes wrong at this stage I'll feel SO responsible!!

a) Visit each of the DT members in order and leave a comment on each of their blog hop posts.
b)  leave a comment on the challenge blog stating which is your most favourite of the new images once you have finished the hop.
c) Display the blog hop banner, below, either in a post or on your side bar.


your final stop is back to the Ladybug Crafts Ink Challenge Blog, where you can add your comment as to which of the new release is your favourite :-D

Please can I enter my card into these challenges

Willow Sketchie Challenge

Two Sisters Challenge - Friends
CR84FN Colour Challenge



My Craft Spot - Friends are Best 

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoy the blog hop,

Sue xx

Try It on Tuesday GD

Hello!!

I was delighted to win a recent challenge over at Try It On Tuesday and even more delighted  to be invited to join the hugely talented team for this weeks challenge!

It was a perfect challenge for me too as the theme this week is one of my favourites...

I decided to use one of my new Kraftin' Kimmie stamps and got busy... This is most definately one of my more-is-more cards!!


I love the greyscale look of this card, as I think it really makes the small amount of colour in the image really pop :-D


And I decorated the inside too, cos everyone moans about having to try to find a white pen to write on a black card base!!


Supplies:
Stamps: Elaine image and sentiment - Kraftin' Kimmie; Ticket Stamp - Whimsy; Rose - Kanban; Corner stamp - Studio G; Birthday Greeting - LCI
Papers & CS: Black and White Bazzill; Theresa Collins "Posh" papers
Other: Lace, Grosgrain ribbon, Button, (all from stash); Felt - LCI
Tools: MS Arch Border punch; Marianne Die
Mediums, Inks etc: Copics; Tuxedo Black Momento; Stone Grey Stazon

Thank you so much for asking me to join in with your fabulous challenge this week, it is such an honour :-D.  Special thanks to Janet for getting me organised!!

Sue xx

Monday 5 September 2011

Start as you mean to go on...

Hello!

Today is the first day back to school for my eldest son, and back to work for me after a relaxing weekend, I got cracking and made loads of cards after my mojo got well and truely knocked by the announcement of redundancies at work.  I still don't know if I'm going to be one of those that stay or go, I just wish they'd make their minds up and let everyone know as it isn't doing me any good worrying about things that may not happen!   Actually I hope they don't let me know today as it's a difficult day for me andI don't think it would take much to tip me over the edge :-(

Onto today's card

I was lucky enough to win Cute Card Thursday the other week, and was delighted to be able to pick two stamps from Kraftin' Kimmie - tough choice!  After much deliberation I made my selection, and inked them up as soon as they arrived... so without further ado, here's Samantha


She's a bit on the side of saucy, but not too naughty, if you know what I mean!! :-D.  I kept it simple and used some Creative Expressions papers, onto which I stamped a Kanban heart, and a Woodware sentiment, and I have cut around one of the wings and threaded ribbon through the paper (I HATE threading ribbon through paper, it makes me soooo nervous!!)

Please may I enter these challenges
Crafting When We Can - Anything Goes
Deep Ocean Challenge - Hearts
Inspire Me Friday - Anything Goes

Thanks for looking, hope you can stop by tomorrow as there is loads happening!!

Sue xx

Sunday 4 September 2011

I'm SOOOOO late!! (and a SALE!!)

LOL, this was the card I was supposed to post on Tuesday as a reminder of the LCI challenge, which is to use your favourite stamp, but i've been all down in the dumps and couldn't get going... HB has been out all day today though and for once the kids have behaved, so I have been able to get crafting, and got SIX cards done... which is some sort of record for me!!

Here's my card


You'd have thought seeing as I had so long to do it I'd have been able to take a better picture.  In my defence HB borrowed my camera the other day and has quite bviously done something to it!!


Actually I think it might be all the sparkle!!

Supplies
Papers, CS - Bo Bunny, Bazzill White and Kraft
Embellishments - Purple Organza; Gems; Blingly button; Lilac Felt (on snowflake)
Tools - MS snowflake punch; Cuttlebug snowflake embossing folder; Marianne Snowflake Die

Please may I enter these challenges
Christmas Cards All Year Round - Use anything one year old (mine is the stamps, the papers, the ribbon, and gems)

The DT moved to monthly challenges in July and August but from this week it's all back to normal.  It's all back to normal from tomorrow here to, as James starts back at school and Sam starts big school the following week.  I'm still waiting to find out what is happening about my job, which is very frustrating!!

Before I go, you still have a few hours to get your entry into the current "Favourite Stamp" Challenge, which closes at 9am UK time tomorrow (Monday 5th September)

and...

Kerry is having a flash sale over at Ladybug Crafts Ink!!  With an incredible 50% off all stamps - get 'em while they're on offer!!



and...

This week's LCI challenge is a blog hop... and a new release!!


You are going to love these new images :-D
and...

soemthing else is hopefully happening on Tuesday, but I can't tell you about that yet!!  I know aren't I a tease :-D

Have a great week

Sue xx