Happy's Circus....

So this was the big top at lunchtime yesterday on the school field. The children were allowed out to have a look at it being put up throughout the day. I was with reception children and having my first assessor observation, so a very busy day!

The Ringmaster and two of the ariel acrobats.


These were taken inside during the evening, so apologies for the poor quality.
What a fantastic show...just so funny! The pictures don't convey the atmosphere.
There were the two main clowns, a father and son..Happy and Pip who introduced each act with a little sketch...lots of adult and child humour! Buckets of water and running through the crowd. we all giggled ourselves to sleep last night.
Back with some more cards soon I hope!

Welcome baby....

Hello there blog friends!
I have been in bed most of the day...still got a blocked nose and some aches and pains but the sore throat is almost gone.
I was struggling to find a new card to show you but I did find this baby one and I'm hoping that I haven't posted it before. It was just for stock as I had a run on them recently. I have been asked to make 30 bookmarks for a Year 3 class for a friend of a friend so I am going to work on that next.
We have an exciting day at school tomorrow...The Circus is coming! We booked it 18 months ago as part of our Spring fundraising, so I will be at school from 8.30am til 8.30pm in the evening. It should be good fun! Look out for some photos!

Where have the blue skies gone?

Well..What a horrible rainy day...Sorry for spouting off yesterday about the lovely sunny weather.
Just a short post as I have a streaming cold. I stayed in all day but I couldn't do any cards...nose running, head pounding etc....So I curled up and watched some t.v.
Just picked the girls up from school so I am going to blob again now.
This is a card for a regular customer...Can't resist using this Tilda!

Honey Bee...

Hello all..
What a lovely sunny Sunday!

I have been doing some cardmaking this morning while watching the London Marathon. I used to live and work in Wapping so I have fond memories of watching the runners go through St.Katherines Dock by Tower Bridge in the late 80's and early 90's.

My card today is made using a stamped image that I have had for a while but I have given it the promarker treatment. It's lovely to finally have some nice sun to inspire the summer colours to come out.
Hope you are all enjoying your weekend!

Raspberry Ribbons Sketch 20

Here is my second post today. My date has sorted itself out, which is good!
So this was my Design Team card for Raspberry Ribbons Sketch 20.
I love this Sizzlits set...the other dies in the set include an Ice-cream which ties in nicely to the new Raspberry Ribbon Kit which has Ice-creams on it! Just right for some summer birthday cards.
So pop over to the RR blog and make a card using the sketch..leave a comment I can come take a peek. I'm off to check out that Ice-cream ribbon coz it sounds yunmmy!

Just Magnolia Challenge - Pink and Green

Morning all...So It's Saturday morning...Whatever my date says...
Maybe I will do a couple of posts today and see if it rights itself!
This is my card for the 'Just Magnolia' Challenge which this week is a colour one!
Pink and Green. A very pretty combo! I used 'Tida in Fall' as I love her basket and scarf!
I am going to have a lazy at home day today with the girls and play with some of my new stamps!

Cutie Clothes Line.....

Another busy day for me...and according to the dates on my blog posts I have missed a day somewhere..no time for that!
In class this morning and this afternoon and I am chairing a PTA meeting to start planning the Summer fair at the end of June. Today's card is a cute little baby girl one...just made for the stock box!
NVQ News....I have never seen so much paperwork! I have to write 3 reflective accounts for two weeks time..one has to be numeracy lesson and one a Literacy and another lesson I choose..with witness statement. Some sheets I have been told to photocopy 35 times. Good job I like writing!

Colourcreate Challenge-Black,White and Pink

So the Colourcreate Challenge was Black, White and Pink with the added extra, if you so wished, to add polka dots! Heaven!!
My favourite 'going out' colour combo!
Never one to turn down some spotty paper..this was crying out for a girly shopping card. I used some of the lovely flowers that I bought on Monday in The Glitter Pot with some spotty brad centres! The paper you may recognise as Clare Curds from 'The Big One' pack.
Another early post as I am in school today. I have a meeting with my assessor from college for 2 hours and then I am turning the role play area into a Beach Shop!
So much FUN!

Summer Cupcakes...

Morning all...I'm up bright and early this morning as I am in school all day!
My trip to 'The Glitter Pot' has inspired me to get back to my Sizzix machine and to make some yummy summer cupcake cards. I will be doing some chocolate ones as well as all the pink ones.
I saw so many lovely new dies and I fancy making some boxes...they looked great!
Hope you all have a lovely day...It's sunny here already!

Boo and his Balloon...

I am back to Die-cutting again as I had a couple of orders for cards for One year old boys and I thought that Boo holding a balloon would be just right.

I had a lovely mooch around 'The Glitter Pot' yesterday. I bought some doodlebug papers and some Penny Black stamps. A Circle Sizzix Die and a beautiful organza bag filled with flowers! I'm sure I will be using them soon.
I could have bought so much more...they have a whole wall of Tildas but alas not the one with her holding the Ladybird! It's coming soon!!!

I went to pick up some Sizzix Dies today. Caroline from pretty-pink-cards was selling off some of her stash. I am looking forward to using the Snowman for some christmas cards(It needs to be started soon)..so Thanks Caroline.

Flower Shower...

Morning All...The Kids are back in school....both ran in quite happy to see their teachers and classmates again.
I have persuaded hubby to have lunch out..somewhere in the region of the 'Glitter Pot' today as I must check out some of those Spring Tildas and Nestabilities.
My card today is Wild Rose Studios Louis...he is under a 'flower shower' with his little friend. Have a good one!

Penny Black Saturday Challenge

After yesterdays sketches which took me a few agonised hours..... I decided for this weeks Penny Black Challenge to do an 'Indiana Jones'!
Remember the scene in the first movie where he is so tired he just shoots the black robed swordsman dead. Well, I'm shooting from the hip today and getting the job done..no messing!
I saw the sketch..found the stamped Image..coloured those candles in bright colours and decided to do the same with the sketch in blocks of colour. No flowers...No frills... I added a few stars and that is that!
I'm off now to have a cuppa and relax with the family!

Just Magnolia Challenge Sketch

The new 'Just Magnolia' blog opened it's doors yesterday and the first challenge was a sketch. I've actually done two cards using this sketch as I wanted to try it as it was shown and then rotate it. I already had some Tildas coloured in, so it was just a case of picking some paper and embellishments!
I love the red and lime colour combo with 'Summer Tilda'... but I did spend quite a while fiddling about and in the end I think I have over done it a bit. There were a few gaps and things didn't seem to gel on it.
'Tilda in fall' has worked out better...so I thought I would show them together anyway....Two very different cards using the same sketch.

Colourcreate Challenge - Chocolate, Coffee and Cream...

What a difference a day makes!! Tilda was looking all clean and fresh yesterday..but today. Well.. the challenge on Colourcreate was Chocolate, Coffee and Cream and you could add some distressing if you wished.
Way out of my comfort Zone. I just don't do shabby chic very well, however hard I try, but it's not turned out too bad.
A smudge of chalk here and there and some ink around the edges..that's about as much as I could 'rough' her up without feeling a bit distressed myself! I frayed the linen square as well!!!

Some new Tilda's and an Edwin arrived yesterday....so watch out for them soon!

Sweetie Tilda with Muffin...Papertake Weekly Challenge

Back to Tilda again today for a yummy Muffin card. She is a 'Sweetie'. I used a free download of cakes which went really well.
I saw that the 'Papertake Weekly Challenge' was 'Pastels'..I think this might fit in with it.
We had a lovely day walking all along the promenade yesterday and having lunch in a seaside cafe called The Lobster Pot. We were joined by my brother and the girls saw a little friend from school.
Today I have finally finished doing all the writing for a 'Beautiful cards' commission...The girls have been very helpful playing outside with some friends and letting me get on.

Rain or Shine.....

After all the rain we had last night I thought that this card would be a good choice.
I did a bit of decoupage as I thought it would look good to create the overhang on the umbrella....Added some glitter for the glistening rain..hope you can see it!
Off to take the girls for a walk along the beach now as it has cleared up and the sun is shining.

here come the ..BOYS!

While I was blog hopping yesterday I came across a blog http://curlygirlyme.blogspot.com. It belongs to a girl called Kerry and she had some free downloads on offer. Now like everyone ....my male card box and especially my teen boy box...is looking rather sad.
So here are the cards I made from her downloads...meet 'Cool Dude' and 'Bookworm'.
Aren't they great..so Thanks very much Kerry..they are just what I needed!

Thanks also to Nikki for telling me how to put my slide show at the top...I hope that you are all staying a little longer to enjoy it!

It's a Girlsworld....

I hope that those of you who are not at work are having a nice day off...going out...OR ..catching up on some crafting?
My girls are still in their Pyjamas eating chocolate eggs and happily playing 'Animal Hospital' together in a bedroom....so I am making the most of it and doing some colouring in and cardmaking. I stamped a few pages of images in a big stamping session the other night so I have a few things to do today.......and for the next few weeks really to build up my stock again for the May market.
I have been using my' Wild Rose Studio' stamps ...the girls and Louis bear.
I have ordered some more Tilda's from Magnolia and some more card blanks...so hoping they arrive tomorrow.

Bunny says....HOPPY EASTER..

HAPPY EASTER SUNDAY EVERYONE....

I was saving this Wild Rose Studio 'Bunny and Egg' card for today's post.
He is the last one now...until next year when he may be hopping around again. We have had some chocolate eggs..... at 9am this morning and Roast Lamb dinner and now we are watching Disneys Tarzan with tea and Chocolate cake ...(It's a lot like Christmas Day, isn't it?)

My sister is with us today and has been rooting through my craft room for card and stamped images to take home with her. She bought some promarkers after she saw what mine could do!
I am going to do some stamping soon so I can colour in tonight when the girls are in bed.

Hope you all enjoy the rest of the day!

Raspberry Ribbons Sketch 19

So here is my DT card for the Raspberry Ribbon Sketch this morning.

The image is from Wild Rose Studio and shows Louis being very gallant shielding his date from the rain....I kept thinking of the song so I used the words for the sentiment.

The beautiful sparkly jewelled heart was sent to me in a pack recently by Sarah at 'Quick Cards' as I sent her a credit crunch tip and photo to use and went well with the sparkly red heart ribbon.

I have used the sketch a few times so pop over to the Raspberry Ribbons blog and check it out!

We have done a few relative visits this week and the girls have both had sleepovers out so they are happy to chill this weekend...and eat some chocolate!!!!

Good Friday Girlfriends...

Dulcie at 'Wild Rose Studios' has sent me some lovely stamps recently and this one is just great for a girlfriends birthday...

I coloured the image with my promarkers and used a Dovecraft paper pack called 'Glamour'.

I just had to use the 'B.F.F..Best Friends Forever 'sentiment.

I also added a little bit of glitter around the edge of the image and on the flower and skirt bottom...(I think it just about glistens).

Raspberry Ribbons Sketch tomorrow and more DT cards for Wild Rose Studios.

I am making some Chocolate Krispie nests with my girls this afternoon...yummy!

A little birdie told me.....

I got given this card commission at the end of Jan for April 15th and as I read the 'brief '...birds in a garden' .... I knew I had nothing to do it with so I kept putting it aside.

I kept it in mind when I went shopping and eventually bought the bird stamp at the Brighton Show. Still nothing was coming to mind.

Finally sat down yesterday and put this together.

Amazingly it has turned out OK.. but it was touch and go!

Busy day today visiting relatives in Reading and then 8 of us went out for some pub grub for my friend Sophie's birthday.

Also received a nice surprise parcel of some ribbon, a rabbit stamp, glitter and body lotion for coming 3rd in a Craftbubble Easter card competition! How cool!

Colourcreate Challenge-Duck egg blue and Rose pink

The Colourcreate Challenge this week is Duck egg blue and Rose Pink.... just right for a Summer sitting Tilda.

I used a sketch from a few weeks ago as I love the layering. I think it was a Dawny P one.

The papers were from a freebie pack so they went well together and I could use them all.

My little one is going to have a 'play date' with her best friend 'Jacob' today and my eldest is making a date to go to tea with 'Christopher'. They do have friends who are girls but today is a boy day for them both. As usual I have loads to do today including some DT cards and a commission for the weekend.

Check out 'A stamping Chirping Corner' as Stamping Caz has got some blog candy. Scroll down and you can link to her via my side bar!

Penny Black Saturday Challenge

The Penny Black Saturday Challenge this week was an Easter card.

I was doing a mammoth make of easter Cards yesterday and saw this daffodil paper in my stash. My Honey Bee stamp has been very busy recently so I added a few and really liked the end result.

We are visiting my Aunt and Uncle and cousins today in Bournemouth.....weather is looking good so far! Enjoy your day dear blog friends!!

Some quick easter cards...

Today I have been rustling up a few quick cards to send out in the Easter card exchange on 'Craftbubble'.

I have a box that I keep die cuts/flowers and other bits and bobs in, that I have previously assembled but not used. I found these foam rabbit heads and some gingham fabric that I had already cut up into squares so these took me no time at all.

Good job really as I thought I would have some stock to send out! I've got a few more cards made up using the Wild Rose Studio bunny and then I think I am done with Easter for this year!

On to Christmas next!

What a Wild weekend!

And I have made it on to the computer!

What a weekend.. Friday was non stop...from one thing straight on to the next.
Lots of setting up and selling in the tent then Saturday was glorious weather and so many people came to support our Craft Event..friends and passers by walking along the lane on a sunny day. We got benches and chairs out for people to sit and eat cake and drink tea. Fionas beautiful bunting was fluttering in the breeze and the geese and lambs were quacking and bleating...

I'm now having to re-stock..so lots of new cards on the way!

Today was another lovely weather day so after dropping little one at a party, my eldest daughter and myself did a spot of shopping and then she was off to sing with the school choir at the wedding of two of the teachers at the village church. We all stood and waved them off as they left the church.. ahhhh.

Crafty Chicks Sale...

Morning all....welcome to the 'Crafty Chicks' Easter sale.
The Christmas sale was in a Barn....this time we are in a rather lovely Narnia tent!
Come and see what's inside......

Fionas beautiful Bunting......................

Sally's cards...........(that's me)

Pollys hand made textile treasures, wooden eggs and willow wreaths.

Would you like a cup of tea and a cake while you look around?...........................

Fanny is a potter and makes beautiful plates and bowls.....................................

Thanks for dropping by....hope to see you again soon for more news and cards from this Crafty Chick!

Penny Black Saturday Challenge

The Penny Black Saturday Challenge this week was a Spring Theme. I just love this little image and I used some DCWV ribbon which I thought had some lovely spring flowers on it.

It's stamped on watercolour paper so no promarkers this time but watercolour pencils and a waterbrush to blend.

This card is now whisking it's way to Yorkshire for my friend Zoes birthday on Monday.

I have had a good day selling cards today... will show you some 'Crafty Chicks' photos tomorrow.

Making Easter cards at school.....

What a lovely couple of days with the little ones making Easter Cards.

You can see the card I made and then we adapted some of the ideas for them. They are a very creative class and some of them come up with their own wonderful ideas.

I also saw my NVQ assessors..I have two now as one is a trainee. She looked at some of my display photos and said that once I had done my reflective accounts and wrote about the use of the displays in supporting the topic work, the ones I had already done would be enough to finish that unit! So happy days...

She also thinks that I can do a unit where I have to show learning support in a particular curriculum subject and choose Art as the subject.

Easter Egg Raffle at school, Market stall and Crafty Chicks sale tomorrow...another busy day!

Easter Staff Appreciation day today....

So Today at school was Staff Appreciation . This was an idea that was brought into our school last year by an American mum who was also a teacher back in Oregon. She was here just for a year with her family and we all loved her.... We all bring in treats for tea break and decorate the staffroom and make the tea and coffee..It's a lovely morning and the teachers really do appreciate it!

Ok...Jacky 'tagged me' and said that I had to show the seventh picture in my seventh file.

So here are Dora and Boots. They are shoe charms that go in the holes in Crocs and my hubby bought some as they were all the craze for the kids. We had some spares and needed a photo to put them on ebay!