Summer Butterflies....

Hi there all!
Why is it now that we are going back to school and work is it nice weather again? We spent 3 days in London last week and it rained every day!
However, I was cheered up by going to see the show 'Tap Dogs'. Australian workman tap dancing stripped to the waist with water and sparks flying......mmmm....Know what I mean Ladies! My seven year old was NOT impresssed. " Mummy, I thought we were going to see some real Dogs dancing!"
I am just finishing up some card orders before I go back to work on Friday. The Summer holidays have just gone by in a blur....
I have carried on with the butterflies but just taken it up a notch as I had a special order for a First Wedding Anniversary card. So another Easel card was called for....

I used the same butterfly stamp onto some very pretty patterned paper..layered up and glittered as before but added some beads along the centre this time. I used a tiny daisy punch with the same paper and added a flower bed for the butterflies to be hovering above.

I thought that this very lovely swirly turquoise paper was great for the background and as I also had some same coloured heart paper I used that as well. I also didn't want to make it too feminine.

The advantage of using paper for the butterflies is that as the glitter dries in the sun it slightly curls the edges so it looks very effective for the wings.

And so for the challenges....
1. Flutterby Wednesday...your card must have a Butterfly, Fairy or Angel on it.
2. My Time to Craft...In the Garden.
3. Pollycraft Challenge...Add a little Nature.
4. C.R.A.F.T Challenge...Milestone Birthday OR Big celebration...(My card is for a first wedding anniversary)

I'm off now to check out the school clothes, start labelling and take up some trousers!
Gosh my life is so exciting!
Thanks for coming over to have a look! Hope you leave me a comment.
Bye......xxx

love is like a butterfly....

Hello!
Hope you are all having a good Bank Holiday Monday! Hubby has taken the eldest daughter out to do the food shop and little one is happy playing so I have snuck downstairs to the craft room, put on 'Glee Volume 3 Showstoppers' on at full blast and here I am!
I have been checking out some challenges and made some cards....

1.Penny Black Saturday Challenge...'Summer Love'...I got sent this gorgeous PB Butterfly stamp in a bag of goodies from a Craftbubble Competition. It's first time out!
2.Allsorts Challenge...Garden/Park inspiration.
3.Simon says Stamp...Their challenge this week is a technique one...'Paper Piecing'

The butterfly is stamped on various patterned papers from my scraps bag and then layered up and cut out. I added glitter and coloured sequins.
4.One Stitch at a Time Challenge...The Bubble picture below shows the Colour scheme inspiration and you can also do a girly card or a mix of both.

I've done a whole range of these so check back next time when I shall show you some more.

Just before I go I wanted to let you know that over on the Wild Rose Studio website you can see more of my cards as Dulcie has set up a designers page with lots of info and card ideas. I have received some new Christmas stamps and a paper pack so expect some WRS Christmas cards very soon.
Thanks for dropping by..TTFN...xxxxx

What a 'Charming' Challenge!

Afternoon all...Is it sunny where you are? It's a lovely day here in West Sussex.
I've been lunching around a friends house and even sold a few cards.
I've got a card for you today. This is Wild Rose Studios gorgeous 'Louis bear with heart'.

He is good for 2 lovely challenges...
I love promarkers...Charming challenge. Use a charm on your card and of course use your promarkers.
Just Cute bears Challenge...use Pink and Brown.

The heart charms are from The Works and at 6 for a pound are great value.

So...Well Done to my commentors from yesterday. Quite a few of you knew we had gone to Cadury World in Birmingham. We are a family of chocolate lovers and we certainly ate quite a bit on the way round. Did you like the photo of the gorilla playing the drums? We also enjoyed going to the Bullring in the afternoon for a spot of shopping.
My last photo today relates to one of my awards where I had to post up a photo that I love...well it was obviously going to be one of my girls but this one of my eldest daughter on New Years Eve playing snowballs in Central Park, New York, is my favourite. Lovely!!!

Hope you have a great bank holiday weekend...Thanks for popping by. I'll be back again with some more photos of some days out and some more cards!
TTFN...XXXX

Can you guess where I've been?

Hello there....
Just a few picture clues for you...
We have been away this week and the first part of our journey took us here...but where have I been....




I'll be back with some more photos and chat about my week away and a card, some challenges and yet another award!
Pop back later when I reveal all....xxx

Two awards for ME?

Afternoon All...
What a lovely surprise. I have logged on after a few days away to find 2 lovely blog awards waiting for me...
This 'One lovely blog' award is from Katina Killey who was a fellow designer with me at 'Beautiful cards' magazine, (Such a shame it is no longer going), so Thank you for thinking of me.
I have to pass this on to 7 others with lovely blogs. Now I believe when it comes to blog friends that its 'Quality not Quantity' as who can keep up with thousands of On-line friends. I certainly can't so I have a few select ladies who I know comment on my posts and whose blogs I look forward to reading and we exchange regular banter....
So I pass this to:
ZOE...Crafty Heaven.
JANE...The cupboard under the stairs.
HANNAH...Crafty Han.
JACKY...Scrappyjackylive
SUSIE...Sassy designs/Die cut Dreams.
DAWNYP...Pinkpiggywiggy.
JANE...Millies Marvels.
Thank you ladies...You are an inspiration to me!


My second Award is from KathyK, a Craftbubble friend who has not long become a blogger!
I have to do a few things with this award...
1. Thank the person who gave you the award...Thank you, Kathy.
2. Post with pride...Done
3. List 3 things you love about yourself.... Easy going Nature, Being Creative, Honest/Trustworthy.
4. Post a picture you love...Will have to look through the Archives and pop it up in the next post...Watch this space.
5. Tag 5 other bloggers with this award.
As before...I love these blogs and look at them whevever I log on...Thanks Girls!
DENISE..The Crafty Den
LYN...Spyders corner
LEANNE...Leannes ramblings
KATINA...Katina Killy
MANDY...Little Space of my own.
I'm not going to link their blogs to their names as you can find them all on my side bar.
I will be back with more chat very soon....
Love and hugs xxxxxxxxx

My little one is 7 today!

Hello all....
We are awash with cake and pressies today as we celebrate my youngest daughters seventh birthday. Here she is with her caterpillar cake. Party this weekend with 18 little friends.


On the craft front, I was asked to make a tag to go on a pile of childrens books.
I love this cute Sizzix owl and thought that he would be suitable.
Charisma cardz challenge is 'Die Cuts' this week so this fits in nicely and
By the cute and girly challenge for August is 'Animal Antics'.


It is for a little one year old girl so lots of pretty pinks.

I added a corner with swirls and punched flowers with bead centres.
Here it is with the ribbon attached.

I have a few more orders in the pipeline that I can post up later...
Hope you are all enjoying the kids being at home.
Thanks for visiting....TTFN..xxxxx

Sunflowers...on a rainy day!

Hello...
I've been checking out some challenges and stamping some new images today while looking out my kitchen door at a grey drizzly day...(oh and I also made a cauliflower cheese).
So I thought that we were all in need of some sun...so how about some Sunflowers!

I used my trusty daisy punch with two colours of yellow card and used some dark wooden buttons for the centres. Check out 'One stitch at a time' challenge which asks us to use our Punches this week.

The papers are DCWV and Wild Rose Sudio. Finishing touch some yellow velvet ribbon. This is a really simple card and one that can be re-created in many different colours.

We took the girls to Marwell Zoo yesterday which was a glorious day. They seem few and far between this August. I will sort out the photos and show you some later.
I'm off to have some tea now and then do some colouring tonight....
Thnaks for visiting...please leave me a little comment...I so love reading all your news. TTFN..xxx

Another quick cake card..

Hello all...
I'm off out shopping soon organising cakes and party bags for my youngest daughters birthday party next weekend. I get told the countdown every morning!!

So it's not surprising that I'm loving making up these cake cards. I have been using up more scraps and trying not to break into some new card just bought from the Papermill shop. I had to go online as I went all the way to Gunwharf Quays to find out they had closed down the branch there. I was very upset. Good Job Marks and Spencers and the Cadbury Shop were there to help me get over it!

Another strange week weather wise here and a day at the beach was planned for Tuesday until it rained all day so we went Wednesday and braved the clouds and wind at West Witterings.
Lots to do today so I will be back later to catch up with all your blogs and share some more crafty news with you! TTFN....XXXX

Let's eat cake!

Hi all...
It's Friday again already and I have done my last market stall this morning. Now I'm a working girl I'm just not around in the mornings. However the cardmaking continues and here is a handmade, calorie-free cupcake for you.

I sat with my scraps bag again in front of the TV and mixed and matched a few patterned oddments together .Yellow Gingham, Red spot and some Pink stripes.

The gorgeous shiny buttons make fantastic cherries.

and the challenges....
1. My time to craft challenge...'Let's eat cake'
2. Die cut dreams...'Gingham'. I used yellow background gingham paper and red gingham ribbon.
3. Stamping vacation...'pick 3'. I chose Glitter, A bit of blue and patterned yellow paper.

On the home front...I've had a sort out in little ones bedroom this week. Getting prepared for her 7th Birthday. One bin liner of toys to the charity shop and a bag of outgrown clothes off to a friend with a 3 year old. We bought her a new desk for her room as this year she has really enjoyed her writing and drawing.
I'm sure you are all keeping busy inside while the rain, thunder and lightning has been going on. At least there are the summer challenges to keep us going!
Hope you leave me a comment and come back to visit me soon.
TTFN...X

and they called it... Puppy Love.

Hello again! Thanks for dropping by!
So here is my first Easel card... and I really enjoyed making it.

The stamp, papers and Puppy Love sentiment are all from Wild Rose Studio. I coloured in the puppy with promarkers but used a soft light red pencil for the flowers.

I added some punched flowers with button centres and some gingham ribbon.

Some challenges....
1. Charisma cardz...Something with a tail
2. Simon says stamp...Dotty
3. The Crafty pad...Ribbons and Flowers
I have lots more cards made with scraps coming up and another Easel card and lots more challenges.
Hope you visit me again....
Bye...xxx