Willow Sketchie Challenge...

Hurray...I have managed a challenge today...first one this week.

You could use anything you wanted with the added challenge of some 'texture'.... so I have used some embossed and glittered ribbon and turquoise beads on the flower.

The paper was from an all blue pack called Venetian Skies by Papermania and the stamp was Summer sitting Tilda by Magnolia.

Chocoholics party...

Thanks to all my wonderful chocoholic friends... I had £25 to spend last night on some lovely Easter treats!.... although I had a job to prise the catalogue from the sticky hands of a certain young lady....We had lots of tasters to try which were delicious! A great evening!

Bargain Blues..

Morning all..we have a beautiful sunny day here in Sussex.
I am just cleaning the kitchen and livingroom for my chocoholics party tonight and then I will be off to a meeting at the school.
Just used this beautiful blue paper taken from an all blue pack that I bought in Hobbycraft on Monday. It was a bargain at £1.99!
I thought that my little pink Tilda would look good on it.
I am going to be using it on a few Tilda cards as I can see it will look good with all of them.
It will make a nice change to do some cards for girls without using pink.

Buttons!

Just got in before a new day clicks over...

I was going to leave the computer alone this evening and go a day without a post but..here I am!

I was out at 8.30am this morning ...came in at 4.30pm...went out again until 6.30pm and the in for an hour and out again until now.... 11.30pm!

Been to the cinema to see Benjamin Button! Not sure what to make of it...It didn't make me cry

anyway.

Well I had to post up a card with a button on it so here are the Penny Black hedgehogs again.

Chocoholics party tomorrow night!!!......will post up some lovely choccy pics for you to drool over.

Party tags

Firstly, I'd like to say 'Hello' to some new followers...and 'Sorry' that some of you have been unable to comment as the word verification hasn't been working.
You can leave comments now so I hope to have something to read again..I have missed you all.
Thank-you to Jacky who left a message for me on craftbubble about it!

New cards are under wraps at the mo, as I have been using some very exciting new products which haven't been unveiled yet....
I am in school all day tomorrow and then it's swimming lessons and I am going out in the evening to the cinema to see 'Benjamin Button' so it will be a miracle if I get to post anything.

The photo up today is of some party invites that I made for my little ones 4th Birthday. The idea was from Debi Potter (Sizzix designer) who I have chatted to on craftbubble.
Her design was for a sleepover invite and I adapted it for a summer teddy bears picnic.
Chat to you all soon.

Red Butterflies Wedding Card

The card today is a wedding commission where the theme is Red Butterflies.
This will be going to it's new owner tomorow.

I have had a nice day...first having a chocolate hot cross bun and cup of tea with my neighbour a few doors down.....very yummy.....then I was playing with some lovely bits and bobs for my 'Beautiful cards' commissions. Once I decide which ones are going to be sent to the magazine I will show you some of the other options. I'm really pleased with the results so far!

I had a chat with the headmistress today about working with year 5/6 on some new artwork for the classroom displays. So I am looking forward to doing that next week.

I really want to do a few challenges this week...Penny Black's is a Get Well Soon Card and I could do with a few of those in my stock!
The colourcreate challenge is pink and grey...not got a lot of grey cards but I just might find a small square of something that would do!

Summer Tilda and Krispy kreme doughnuts!

A late post today as I have been out all day visiting my Dad in Crawley with my sister.
It's his birthday today, so we took him some foodie treats..Krispy kreme doughnuts!
We popped into Hobbycraft after lunch.....I was very good....just one pack of paper ...and some wooden bees!
I got the train home at 4pm and had dinner waiting for me at 5pm.... which was nice.
Quickly finished off another Summer Tilda to show you and now I'm off to have a cuppa and put my poor tired feet up.
Then I'm going to do some late night stamping , ready to do some colouring tomorrow.

Keeping it simple... for a change!

Well..I have finally managed to get on the computer!

We are going to have to draw up a house rota soon.

I've spent the morning making some broccoli and cauliflower soup with the left over veg from last nights cheese fondue...which was scrummy..... and finishing some cards.

The wonderful thing about using promarkers is that they make an image look so good you can make up quite a few simple cards in no time at all just using background paper and ribbon.

I need some quick cards at the moment as I often take far too long making up just one card...especially when I am doing commissions for people.

My latest commission got me in a bit of a spin...a little girl who liked Dragons.

But alls well that ends well.... and special THANKS to Nikki, who came up with the Lily of the valley stamp!

Off to have my Sunday Roast now...being cooked by hubby...his forfeit for doing Sunday morning football.

A Sunny Day!

At last.. a lovely sunny day!

Just right to show you Summer Tilda sitting watching the butterflies.

I'm glad I had the windows cleaned yesterday. The sun is streaming through the house.

The girls are back to school on Monday, so they have been outside on their bikes soaking up the sun and the freedom and my eldest has just gone with some friends and another mum to the beach.

I am finishing off some commissions and still making up some Tilda cards. I want to have a few done for next Friday evening as I am hosting a Chocoholics party. I have a feeling that they are going to be very popular.

Perfect Ribbon match!

I bought this sheet of paper last spring in Hobbycraft.

I have had this stamp image about a week and coloured it with my promarkers, that I have had for 3 days.

The ribbon I bought in a local craft sale in a hall in North Yorkshire ...10 years ago!

Don't you just love it when you can bring in all together! Fantastic!

Tilda in Fall- Willow Sketchie Challenge

I'm doing well with the challenges this week.

Here is my second Tilda card which I've done for Sharons Willow Sketchie Challenge.

I've ordered the Garden Design Promarkers as well now to go with the comic sets, as they have a red and yellow and some lovely shades of green which are essential. My obsession with them meant that I had to order the wallet to put them in. Oh well ...bread and water for the kids again for lunch!

Penny Black Saturday Challenge

Here is my card for the Penny Black Saturday Challenge.

I love Pink and Lime at the moment and I quite enjoyed following the sketch. The ribbon was in a pack that I bought at the Brighton Show and the dark pink spot paper was from a freebie pack in 'Beautiful Cards' a while back.

Here is Tilda and her muffin.

So here they are ....my first cards using my promarkers.

The mermaid Image is by Lily of the Valley. Thanks to Nikki for introducing them to me.

And here is Little Tilda with her muffin. I just love her. I have been stamping so much in the last 24 hours that I have got repetative strain in my right shoulder.

I'm off to play outside for a bit with my 5 year old and then I can colour in later on in peace.

Official DT member for Wild Rose Studio!

I'm nearly ready to show my first Tilda/Promarker card....not long to go now.

Charging up the camera battery ready for the morning so I can photograph and post.

My sister is visiting for a couple of days and when I showed her my new things she was very impressed...so much so that she is going to get some. We were up until midnight colouring in!

I had an e-mail from Dulcie of Wild Rose Studios to last night to officially invite me to be on her design team. So I have got my DT banner up. Very excited and waiting for some Easter goodies.

We went shopping in Chichester today which is a lovely historic place with the Cathedral right in the centre of the town. I bought a great recycled red shopping bag in M&S. Its made from plastic bottles and looks like felt. I am going to jazz it up and show you the before and after. I'm thinking felt flowers and buttons....

I'm hoping to get some challenges done tomorrow and I've just received my commissions from Marie at 'Beautiful cards'.

Hope you like my Auntie Bear card.

Tilda and Promarkers have arrived.

I was up and out early today for my Dentist Appointment. I like going to the dentist. If I had loads of money I would go and have more done..I find it very relaxing just laying there. Once the injection is done I could go to sleep.

I drove back via the coastal road and had a quick look at the sea. Not many people on the promenade, then whizzed into The Works for some card and some black skinny jeans for daughter no.1.

Home by 11am and what was waiting for me...Tilda stamps and Promarkers!

I have spent the rest of the day colouring in. They are soooo lovely.

Well, my sizzix machine is gathering dust at the moment as I am having a bit of a stamping moment. No finished cards to photograph so here are some Sizzix tag cards that were featured in Practical Crafts magazine a few years ago...

Crafty Connections!

Here's a little story..

Just after moving in to my current house 6 years ago, I found a little craft shop, down a little lane nestling in the corner of a Plant Nursery car park. So I went inside and met a lovely lady called Caroline. I became a regular customer of this little shop and I loved buying little packs of cut out doll shapes which Caroline used to cut out with a machine called a Sizzix machine. She showed me all her dies and showed me how to make Tag cards and Tag notebooks. Then the little Shop got sold and I bought my own Sizzix machine.

I made lots of cards using my Sizzix machine and won some competitions and then started designing for magazines. Fast Forward 4 years and I joined Craftbubble and met Stamperlou.

Lou and I were talking and she told me that Caroline now co -runs a ribbon company called Raspberry Ribbons. So I found their website and left a message and this evening Caroline got in touch and became a follower on my blog. How's that for Crafty Connections!

So Hello again, Caroline. Hope you like my Sizzix cards.

Magnolia Tilda Stamps on order.

I spent a good part of last night looking at the Magnolias 'Tilda' Stamps. I've seen that a lot of people are using them at the moment and I'm not surprised. They are just gorgeous. So I ordered some. Watch this space.

I have only done a little bit of cardmaking today. A wedding card commission that I will post later. My little one was poorly this morning so I have been keeping an eye on her. I have got a dentists appointment tomorrow first thing so with any luck I will have a bit of time after that.

The card showing today 'Geisha Garden' was made for one of Dawn Bibbys QVC Competitions.
I didn't win but it's one of my favourites anyway.

Easy, like a Sunday morning...

Happy Sunday!

Time for a chill out today. The girls are playing WIi Music at the moment. Eldest had a friend for a sleepover last night. I am blog hopping and going to check through my stash for the Colourcreate Challenge this week which is Red, White and Blue with an optional extra of a travel theme. Great combo!

I had a lovely pack of stamped images sent to me yesterday from Nikki. I was after a knight and Dragon and she sent me lots of others from her Lily of the Valley stamps. Thanks again Nikki! Can't wait for my promarkers now so I can colour them in.

We are going to watch 'Castaway' on T4 at lunchtime. Just love it! Last years was excellent. I always seem to be a Tiger rather than a Shark?

The card today is Mrs Tiggywinkle, made from this months 'Quick Cards' freebie.
My sister and I had all the tapes and books when we were little. The last holiday I had with my late mum was 10 years ago when my eldest was 6 months old and we went to Yorkshire and to the Beatrix Potter museum. Just lovely!

It's Valentines Day!

Happy Valentines Day everyone.

Hope you are all loved up with your significant other. My hubby went off to football today so I have spent the day with girls making some cards. My girls made cards for both myself and hubby. My daughter got a card through the door from a boy at school. She had made a card for him so hubby dropped it off with some little choccies on way out.

We bought some bits and pieces for a quiet night in at Sainsburys so I have just layed the table and popped food in the oven for a yummy chinese meal for two, complete with candles. Hubby has bought Thorntons chocolates and some Roses.

I made the cards above using a free gift from Quick cards.

A lovely Beatrix Potter pop out decoupage Kit.

Enjoy the rest of this Valentine evening.

Fairytale love

No cardmaking today as we had to do some shopping.

Popped into Thorntons for a birthday present for 10 year old boy. Got him a football boot with personalised icing. I was looking for a net of chocolate hearts but didn't find any. I couldn't persuade hubby to buy me the large red heart box full of yummy chocolates. He just kept muttering about how much things cost on Valentines Day. I am babysitting for friends tonight so I bought my own nibbles to take with me.

Picked up a copy of 'Quick cards' so I could read interview with Dulcie and then off to Sainsburys to do food shopping.

Hopefully I can do some crafting tomorrow. In keeping with the love theme, here is one of my favourite cards for a fairytale theme engagement party.

Letraset Promarkers

For the past few weeks I have been looking at blogs and cards and the 'in thing' for colouring your stamps appears to be Letraset promarkers. The cards I have seen look flawless.

So I did a bit of research today and I have ordered a couple of sets.

I can't wait to get them now and try them out.

I've got into a habit now of stamping images and then colouring them in while I am watching t.v in the evening and then making cards up the next day. It seems to be easier while the girls are at home to do everything in stages.

So last nights film....'The Reader' with Kate Winslet. A typical Bafta Film. It was very good and I do think she is an incredible actress but it was so sad. The guy who plays the young Michael is excellent but we all came out a bit de-flated. We are going to see 'He's just not that into you' next, so we can have a bit of a laugh.

BOO BALLOONS

I have got to make cards for 3 two year olds and I thought that Boo Bear would be perfect.

The girls school is now closed for re-carpetting due to the flooding so I have had a few kids in and out today, but at least the sun did shine and they went outside for a runaround before going home.

I am off to the cinema tonight to watch 'The Reader'. Will have to drive the long way round because of the water on the road into the town.

BOO BEAR

I'm still playing with Nikki's background paper and my new purchases from the Brighton Show.
Boo Bear die and some lovely yellow buttons. I'm thinking Spring, even if it's raining outside.

Nikki's free download

Nikki posted a free download on her blog this morning.......Thanks Nikki! This lovely flower background. So I got to work straight away. I thought it went really well with this little hedgehog throwing flowers in the air....

My girls school is closed again today, this time due to flooding! I am supposed to be in tomorrow but it looks like we will be at home again. More cardmaking...yipee.

DCWV Flowers and Paper

Today I used some DCWV flowers and paper with this lovely Penny Black Pony stamp.

I was supposed to be making some Boo Bear cards but I had to wait for his eyes to dry so I got side tracked using my Penny Black Toppers that I had already made up.

The Chocoholics lady dropped in with my invitations so I will be filling them in tonight.

Colourcreate Challenge-Peach and Aqua

The Colourcreate Challenge on their blog this week is to make a card using the colour combination of Peach and Aqua. I hope this fits the bill.

BRIGHTON CENTRE-Stitch and Hobbycraft show

I have had a lovely day today at the Brighton Centre browsing the displays and having just a little bit of a spend. I didn't go too mad. My daughter and myself went with a new friend from craftbubble, Stamperlou. We started off our purchases with 4 reels of double-sided tape for £3, then saw a pack of lovely yellow buttons which I thought would be perfect for the centre of some white flowers to make them into daisies.

My addiction to spotty paper meant that I had to spend £1 on a 12x12 piece of glossy embossed red and white spot and then a little birdy stamp which was so cute. Some basic white card and envelopes were next, 50 for £3.99 with a Boo Bear Die and some glitter glue in white and lime green. I had to finish off with some ribbon. A reel of meow print, lime green, spotty and some best friend and kitten grosgrain from the Smirk range. Can't wait to play with my new stash.

Watch this space for some new cards using some of the above. In the meantime, here is a card using my favourite spotty paper for the background and the bunting.

Home Sweet Home Today

Well, we got back home at half past midnight last night with our 2 sleeping beauty's in the car.

The pantomime was excellent. My friend was singing in the Chorus, her hubby was in the lighting booth at the back and both their daughters acted and sang. What a talented bunch!

Today is Home Sweet Home for me and my youngest at least. Hubby has just gone to work and my other daughter has gone to a design a crazy t-shirt party.

I have actually sold a few cards today with a couple of friends popping in to check out my new makes. I have a few birthdays in February. My dad and my cousin on the same day and a good friend in Kent, so here is a nice Dad card made with some new farmyard friends stamps.

I'm off to the Brighton Centre tomorrow for the Stitch and Craft Show, so will let you know what I buy and see there.

Roll on SPRINGTIME!

I know that the snow looks nice and yes...it was fun for a couple of days but it's really been a grotty day weather wise today. Dull and cold rain all day. I have been inside listening to Radio 2 and doing some Springtime cards. A Butterfly commission and still using up my Penny Black toppers.

We are just off to see my Best friend and family. Her 16 year old daughter is taking the lead role in a local Theatre Company Production of 'Sleeping Beauty' in Berkshire. Best friend is in the chorus and hubby is helping in the sound department. So hopefully we will have no more snow tonight and we will get back before anything freezes. That includes me!

PENNY BLACK-Ladybird Love

I have been checking out lots of lovely blogs and came across The Penny Black challenge Blog. I have just been making some cards with a sheet of the hedgehog stickers and posted a picture of the 10 toppers I made. It got sent into Quick cards for a feature on credit Crunch Tips. So here is one of the finished cards.

CHOCOHOLICS PARTY.

I just love this time of year. Why? I hear you ask...because its the beginning of the chocolate season and I have been sent a Chocoholics Catalogue.
We all know that Chocolate is the wonder food behind every crafter. I found my spring catalogue in the PTA Pidgeon Hole yesterday so I have already phoned and booked a party for a few weeks time. I can't wait!!!!
I have been with Year 1/2 today in school and then watched my little one in her swimming lesson. She did lots on her back today. We have been practising 'showing her belly button to Mr Moon' in the bath. Just have to finish some bookmarks for school shop and then I have a full evening of T.V with ER and Greys Anatomy....Seriously!

EASTER MARKETS

This morning I have been to my annual stallholders meeting for the small indoor market that I sell my cards at on the first Friday of every month. As well as my handmade cards there is a Refreshment area and cake stall and a specialist Gingerbread company, A Country Centre and the local allotment commiteee with their home grown fruit and vegetables, a lady who sell knitted scarves/baby cardigans and a bag/bunting lady. Pies and preserves and a lady who makes soaps and handcreams from natural honey. It starts again in March so we were discussing marketing and advertising, raffles etc. As it is in the cricket pavillion next to the village hall and school we were looking at getting more school mums in especially those who drop off for the pre-school nursery.

So we decided to have a sunflower growing competition. The allotment commitee are going to make a little pack up of pot and soil, seeds and instructions, all wrapped in cellophane with a yellow bow for 75p. I will tie in with the idea and put together some mini card kits which will have all the things for children to make your own floral cards, die cut pot, leaves and different flower heads, ribbon bow etc. Do you think 'Country Living would like to do a feature on us? I will post up some pictures for all of you to view anyway.

Those of you who have come from Craftbubble might have seen the photographs of the Christmas Craft Barn that I did with my friend Polly. We are doing an Easter/Spring one in April and have just been discussing what to call this one. I came up with 'Crafty Chicks' which I hope will be on the flyer somewhere. Just for those who haven't seen the photos here are a few from December.. ooh and just want to say 'HI' to Sophie and Chloe, my friend and her daughter who have been following my blog every evening! Thanks guys!!

Ruby Wedding card

I did manage to make this card today as requested by the headteacher at school. It took me longer than I thought as I leaned over to move a pot of black and pink beads, the top came off in my hand and the pot and beads dropped into a basket full of large punches. Lots of rude words ..and then I had to empty everything out to retrieve the beads. Not an easy job to dislodge them from tightly woven wicker...although the basket looks really tidy now and I found some extra space from somewhere to pack a few more things into it.

A Wild Rose black cat.

I am still using up my test batch of this pretty Cat stamp. I coloured a black one this time. I must remember to send them to Dulcie for her Blog.

BACK TO NORMAL....Whatever that is?

There were a couple of sad little faces this morning as I logged onto the School website to see the newsflash......SCHOOL OPEN TODAY. The snowy fairytale adventure had ended after just one day. So back to the normal running around trying to find things and then as we were crunching down the road we had still forgotten a Guitar and a P.E Kit. (Big Sigh) even I feel a bit sad that we are back into the humdrum routine. So back out in a bit...

Time for a cup of tea and a couple of phone calls. I went to College last week to enrol on a Teaching support NVQ, so just checking some details about that. I have been volunteering in school for 4 years doing various arts and craft lessons/display boards, so it's about time I get a qualification while the brain is still willing. The ones shown are in a year 1/2 classroom where they are learning about 'Building'.

I have a Market meeting tomorrow morning in the next village so need to check that it's still on.

Hoping to get some crafting done today.

SNOW SCHOOL TODAY

Lots of excitement this morning when the kids discovered all the snow and we got the phone call to say the school was closed. So we were all outside by 8.15am throwing snow at each other.

They lasted until 10am then came in to graze on food and watch the t.v.

I have taken full advantage of a day at home and done a craftbubble challenge and finished off using the Wild Rose Studio cat stamped images from my test batch.

I must think about doing some Valentines and Easter cards, but its difficult to get inspired when Radio 2 are playing 'Walking in a Winter Wonderland'.

Paw print stamp

As promised in yesterdays post, here is another Cat card using my wild rose stamp and my new paw print. I coloured it in last night in between howling at Todd Carty trying to ice dance..poor thing! It always seems a shame that someone has to leave but I am tuning in another week to see Todd and Ray. The worst and the Best, so I am happy about that.

Sent my friend in Bolton some cards and she asked for these party girls cards for her daughters to send to their friends. I had loads of fun making them up in their party gear.