Cute Card Thursday - Sketchtastic!

This week over on the Cute Card Thursday Challenge Blog we have a sketch for you....and it's one from me....and it's only the 2nd one I have ever done.


For my card I have used one of the Charmed Crafts & Cards downloads, the collection is Holly & Maddie. I have printed them and coloured them with Copics using the following colours...
Skin - E000/E00/E11/R20
Eyes - B12
Hair - E50/E51/E53
Clothing - R20/R21/C1/C3/C5
The papers are all October Afternoon "Cherry Hill" layered with Bazzill Bling and Bazzill cardstock. I have used my Martha Stewart & Stampin' Up punches and embellished with Stampin' Up "basic gray" taffeta, bow and feather from Craft Fairy, bling from my stash and a sentiment by Craftwork Cards.

So please come over to the Cute Card Thursday blog and join in with my Sketch.

TGF Sketch #7

Here is a card I made with one of The Greeting Farm Digi images that I coloured over Christmas while I was away visiting the family. She has been coloured with Copics using the following colours...
Skin - Eooo/E00/E11/R20
Hair - E50/E51/E53
Lips - R20/R21
Eyes - B12
Clothing - R02/R05/BG10/BG11/BG13
Wings - R02/R05
The papers are all My Minds Eye "Bloom & Grow" and I have layered them with some Bazzill cardstock and embellished with flowers by Wild Orchid Crafts that have been "glimmered & glamoured" (Pearl Glimmer Mist & DecoArt Glamour Dust), rafia from Hobby Craft and a sentiment by Craftwork Cards.

The sketch is #7 over on The Greeting Farm "12 Days of Sketches" challenge...

Anyone for Anya? - Sketch #5

This week over on the Anyone for Anya? Challenge Blog we have a sketch for you provided by the lovely DawnyP. We are also sponsored this week by another of the DT...the lovely Renata...and a fabby prize it is too. For my card I have used one of the Digi stamps coloured with Copics. The papers are by Collage Press and are layered with some random cardstock from my stash. I have also added some gorgeous cherry blossom flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts which I have glimmered and glamoured (pearl Glimmer Mist & DecoArt Glamour Dust), some lace from Tabby Crafts, a couple of heart pins, a ribbon bow from Craft Fairy, some bling from my stash and finished off with a sentiment by Craftwork Cards.

Only a quick post from me as I have limited internet connection here at my Dad's...LOL

Blog Candy Winner

Just a quick post to let you know the winner of my Blog Candy...

True Random Number Generator Min: 1 Max: 118 Result: 24 Powered by RANDOM.ORG

So the winner is...Caroline - Angel4031

Please email me your mailing address and I will get them off to you next week.

Thanks to all of you who joined in. I hope you have all had a lovely Christmas, and that you have a wonderful New Year.

Please drop back on Sunday, as I will have another card to show you for this weeks Anyone for Anya? challenge.

My 1000th post...and a little candy!

PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR NEWER POSTS, AS THIS POST WILL REMAIN AT THE TOP UNTIL DECEMBER 24TH...

A huge milestone for me as this is my 1000th blog post. Back in 2006 when I first set up my blog I had previously said that having a blog was a load of old b******s....so when I was eventally persuaded that I should have one I decided to call my blog "A Load of Old Blogocks"...it just seemed fitting. So now three and a half years later I have reached my 1000th post.

During this time, I have made online friends and met up with some amazingly talented and lovely crafters...this is the power of the internet.

So in honour of my 1000th post I am going to offer a little candy....which will run until midday (GMT) on Christmas Eve. I will then use Random.Org to pick one winner who will receive goody bag which will include a set of Miss Anya Rain Snow Shine stamps...as shown below....
In the goody bag there will be a bit of bling, some flowers, pins...basically a little of all the things I love to use.

So all you need to do is leave me a link to your blog post mentioning my candy. Remember, you have until midday (GMT) on December 24th....

So on to my card....

I used the sketch over on Sketch Saturday again...as I thought it was so fab. The image is another of The Greeting Farm "Wild Sprout" digi images which has been coloured with Copics using the following colours...
Skin - E000/E00/E11/R20
Hair - C1/C3/C5/C7
Clothing - R37/C7/C9
The papers are all October Afternoon "Cherry Hill" layered with Bazzill cardstock. I have embellished with flowers by Wild Orchid Crafts which have been glimmered and glamoured (Pearl Glimmer Mist & DecoArt Glamour Dust), Stampin' Up "Basic Gray" tafetta ribbon, a star pin from Tabby Crafts and finally finished off with a sentiment by Craftwork Cards.

Be sure to enter my Blog Candy to win the set of stamps plus embellies....Please use Mister Linky.

ETA - I will post worldwide!!!!

Cute Card Thursday - Happy New Year!

This week over on the Cute Card Thursday Challenge Blog our theme is "New Years!", we want to see your New Years Cards.

For my card I have used a free digital image available on The Greeting Farm blog, and I have also used one of the sketches from 12 Days of Sketches. I have coloured the image with Copics using the following colours...
C1/C3/C5/R20/R21/R22
The papers are all October Afternoon "Cherry Hill" and I have layered them with Bazzill Bling Cardstock, I have kept it pretty simple by just adding some bling from my stash.

Be sure to come over and join us we have another fab Digi sponsor this week...so the winner won't have to wait for the holiday post...YAY!!

It's Christmas Eve and we are now at my Dad's...tomorrow we are off to the Christingle Service at 5pm, and apart from that have a pretty unplanned day...just dropping some food and pressies around to my Sisters in preparation for the big day.

Lili of the Valley - Happy New Year!

This week over on the Lili of the Valley Challenge Blog our theme is also New Years.....make a New Year card.

I have used one of the cute new bunny stamps and it has been coloured with Copics I used the colours that Jacqui used in her tutorial. The papers are some scraps from an old DT kit from Crafty Angels, and I have added some gorgeous lace that I got from Tabby Crafts, some flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts and I finished off with a sentiment by Cats Life Press.

TGF Sketch #4

Here is a card I made using sketch #4 over on The Greetings Farm blog. The image is from the Miss Anya Love set and has been coloured with Copics using the following colours...
Skin - E000/E00/E11/R20
Hair - E50/E51/E53
Clothing - B12/R37
Necklace - R37
Shoes & Socks - R37/B12
The papers are all Collage Press and I have layered them with some random cardstock from my stash. I have embellished the sketch with flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts, a heart pin, a couple of ribbon bows from Craft Fairy and a sentiment by Craftwork Cards.

So we really are experiencing a cold snap (for us) here in the UK, with daytime temperatures remaining below zero. At the moment we have snow, heavy frost and also freezing fog....I think we are expecting some sun and rain before the end of the week.....

Papertake Weekly - DawnyP's Sketch #30

Here is a card I made using the sketch over on Papertake Weekly Challenge Blog.

For my card I have used papers by Cosmo Cricket "Earth Love" layered with some DCWV cardstock. The image is one of the new Miss Anya Love by The Greeting Farm and I have coloured her with Copics (forgot to write the colours down for you). I used my Martha Stewart double scallop punch and have added some raffia and a sentiment by Craftwork Cards....plus of course a little bling.

We got more snow yesterday (from 5pm until about midnight) and now Georgia is happy as we have enough for her to use her sledge...so you can guess what her and Daddy are up to after lunch....

Crafty Angels Weekly Challenge Week 15 - It's All New!

This week over on The Crafty Angels Weekly Challenge Blog it is my turn to set the theme....and I chose "It's All New!". I want to see you make something for the first time....whatever you like, but I want it to be something you have never tried before. I decided to make an Easel card....I was a little worried as I am not a crafter that follows written instructions, and that was all I could find. Then on Saturday what should drop through my letter box but a gorgeous Easel card from DawnyP....and because I could see how it was made.....I could make it.

For my card I have used the DCWV "Rose Tinted Christmas", layered with some random pink cardstock from my stash, and also some scraps of Doodlebug Sugar Coated cardstock in Beetle Black. The image is by The Greeting Farm, she is a Wild Sprout called Vivi, and I have coloured her with Copics using the following colours...
Skin - E000/E00/E11/R20
Hair - C1/C3/C5/C7
Clothing - R85/C1/C3/C5/C7
Parcel - R85/C1/C3/C5
I have kept the embellishments simple by just adding some snowflakes punch with my Martha Stewart Punch, and also a Hero Arts bling snowflake and finally a sentiment by Craftwork Cards.

Anyone for Anya? - Last Christmas!

This week over on the Anyone for Anya? challenge blog our theme is "Last Christmas!", we want you to make a final Christmas card for the year. I am sponsoring the challenge this week....2 sets of Anya and Ian...Dress Up and Wardrobe 1....go over to the blog to see a pic of them.

For my card I have used one of the Wild Sprouts called Vivi. She has been coloured with Copics using the following colours...
Skin - E000/E00/E11/R20
Hair - C1/C3/C5/C7/C9
Clothing - R85/C1/C3/C5/C7
Parcel - R85/C1/C3/C5
The papers are all DCWV "The Christmas Multi Stack" and have been layered with some random pink cardstock from my stash, I have also used some gorgeous Doodlebug Sugar Coated Cardstock in black and a sentiment by Craftwork Cards. I have added some DecoArt Glamour Dust to her hat for added sparkle.

We are off visiting family today. My Sister, Dad & I are going to the crematorium as tomorrow would have been my Mum's 60th birthday. Hard to believe this is our 7th Christmas without her.

Crackers...

After watching Kirstie's Homemade Christmas the other week, I was inspired to make my own Christmas Crackers. Well having started a little late I won't be able to make a personal one for everyone, so I decided to make a cracker to wrap my Sisters pressie in....and here it is...
The paper is gorgeous flocked wrapping paper that I got from Paperchase for £3.50 a roll. I requires 3 toilet rolls to construct the cracker but only one stays in the middle, as you tie the end the other 2 crackers slide out. I have also used some ribbons from HobbyCraft and some Bazzill Tulle. Since the pic was taken I have also added a little tag that I cut using a Stampin' Up punch and some Doodlebug Flocked Cardstock. Inside there is a snap, but no hat or joke....however there is one of the large purple sweets from the Quality Street tin plus my Sisters Christmas pressie.

We woke this morning to about 4-5cms of snow....which looks pretty. Thankfully the school is still open for the last day, so Georgia is there, and at 2pm there is a Carol Service at the school....so I will be there too.

Cute Card Thursday - Aperture Card

This week over on Cute Card Thursday our challenge is to make an Aperture Card. We are sponsored this week by Nicole of Inky Impressions, who has kindly donated a $15 gift voucher for one lucky winner. We also have a new Guest DT....Anne.

I don't often make aperture cards, so spent ages trying to think of what to make....and then I remembered the Patchwork Pals kit I had from QVC....and decided one of those would be perfect. All I have added to the pit are the heart pins, pearl bling and the rafia.

Below is a picture of the inside which is also all decorated with bits from the kit.

Sour Cream Cartons...

I have been asked by Andrea... "how did you make those, and how did you manage to seal them - would so love to know!!"

There are many instructions out there, but here is a rundown of how I made mine...

1. Take a piece of patterned paper (one that is not too thin more like cardstock) and cut to 4 x 6 inches
2. Add DST to the long edge and stick the sides together forming a tube.
3. Squeeze one end together and seal with DST, I then used a paper crimper for added effect.
4. Fill with whatever you like, mine usually have some kind of sweets, and the squeeze the open end in the opposite way to the other end, so that it forms a triangle, like the sun lollies that we have here in the UK...once done seal with DST and add a little tag.

I hope that makes sense, if anyone has more questions please feel free to email me and I will do my best to answer...I may even make another one and take pictures of each stage....but not this week...LOL

Just Magnolia - It's Christmas!

This week on the Just Magnolia Challenge Blog the theme is "It's Christmas!". For this challenge I decided to make some Snowman Soup for Georgia's teacher. I have used one of the new Magnolia Snowmen coloured with Copics and a little DecoArt Glamour Dust for added sparkle. I then printed the poem that I copied from the internet....and Volia! The bag contains 2 packs of Malteser Hot Chocolate Drink, mini marhsmallows and 2 chocolate stirrers from Costa Coffee (the look like spades). Here is a close up...
For all the children in Georgia's class I made sour cream cartons containing sold chocolate coins.
Things are busy here....as I expect with many of you...what with work, Christmas preparations, school plays, carol concerts, parties, gym.....I feel like I will meet myself coming back (as my dear Mum used to say...)

Take care, and I hope you are all enjoying the build up to the big day!

Club Anya Blog Hop...

Well it is now officially the 15th December, the Club Anya Blog Hop and the release of the new Anya stamps.

Those who know me know I am a mahoosive Anya Fan. Having found these cuties back in November 2008 and unable to find them in the UK, I ordered from Marie...thankfully they are available easily in the UK now....I hate waiting for my new fix...LOL I can proudly say I was one of the first people in the UK to find them.....and have championed them, even getting one of the first stockists in the UK to contact Marie.....now that's addiction.

So for the Blog Hop I have made a Christmas Cracker....

And some Place Settings...


To get back to the blog hope...click HERE.

Crafty Angels Weekly Challenge - Week 14 "Tear it Up!"

This week over on Crafty Angels our theme is "That's Torn It", we want to see your cards and other creations with torn paper. As you can see from my card...I got a little carried away, and it was very liberating. I have used one of the cute Twinkle Tots by The Greeting Farm and coloured her with Copics using the following colours...
Skin - E000/E00/E11/R20
Hair - E47
Hat - YG03/YG06/V15/V17
Coat - E47/YG03/YG06
Scarf - V15/V17
Socks - E50
Shoes - E47
The papers are all DCWV "Latte", both the stamps and the paper pad can be found in the Crafty Angels Store. I have embellished with gorgeous lace and pearl pin from Tabby Crafts, flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts, the raffia was on something I bought recently...so a freebie. I have added some sparkle using pearl Glimmer Mist and DecoArt Glamour Dust on the flowers (you can't see it in the picture).

Had a fab day yesterday at the MK crop....even if we did arrive an hour late....opps. I am so pleased that I managed to remember the instructions on Kirsty's Homemade Christmas for making christmas crackers....and have one almost done (just waiting for the snaps to arrive in the mail)...and just need to add a little jokey and a the pressie I bought for my Sister. I also started to make the little sour cream gift boxes for Georgia's classmates (need to buy the sweets tomorrow). I also sold 10 of my cards to one of my fellow crafters....even the two I only made the night before...so what with the Panto yesterday and cropping today it has been a busy weekend...with more manic days next week to come.

Hope you all get a chance to pop over to the Crafty Angels Challenge Blog and take part.

Anyone for Anya? - Bling it On!

This week on the Anyone for Anya? challenge blog our theme is "Bling it On!, we want to see your bling-tastic cards. We are sponsored this week by Bryony @ Silly Monkey Crafts.

For my card I have used one of The Greeting Farm Digi Wild Sprouts called...Dressy Odette, and she has been coloured using Copics (cannot remember the colours I used as it has been one of those weeks). The papers are all October Afternoon "Cherry Hill"...I really do love October Afternoon 8x8 paper pads....I think I may have to buy them all again....maybe with some Xmas money.....sounds like a plan....LOL I have embellished with more of the stunning flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts, plus some raffia (which came off something I bought, although I cannot remember what), some pearl head pins, some pink pearl bling and a sentiment by Craftwork Cards. The flowers have also been "glimmered & glamoured" using Pearl Glimmer Mist and DecoArt Glamour Dust.

Be sure to check out the Anyone for Anya? blog to see what the rest of the DT came up with. I also couldn't resist using the sketch over on Friday Sketchers again....

The Panto was fabulous last night....Bobby Davro was so funny....I had truely forgotten how funny and close to the mark on the joke front it was....It is years since I have been, and will definately book again next year.

A Challenge Combo Card...

Here is a card I made for the challenges on All That Scraps Wednesday Challenge and Friday Sketchers.

For my card I have used one of the CC Designs images that was in the Winter Kit coloured with Copics. The papers are all Bo Bunny "Winter Wonderland" layered with Bazzill & DCWV cardstock. I have kept this pretty simple and just added snowflakes with my Martha Stewart Punch, which I raised between each layer with a bit of 3D foam.

Below I also made a gift box for Georgia's teacher containing some scrummy Lindt chocs... I kept it simple adding a border of Cosmo Cricket "Jolly by Golly" paper and then put some flowers by Wild Orchid Crafts which have been "glimmered and glammoured" (Glamour Dust in Pearl & DecoArt Glamour Dust). A tag attached with raffia and an mini magnolia (Wrapped Tilda) coloured with Copics....the base is with Bazzill shimmer cardstock and I used by Big Shot Bigz XL die to cut the box.
Now for another couple of boxes....both are Big Shot Bigz XL dies (Cake slice) and are decorated with ribbon or lace, tags and a large Prima blossom...

This evening we are off to see Cinderella at Milton Keynes Theatre....Georgia is fully sequined up....I will take a picture and show you later...

Cute Card Thursday - Sew Beady!

This week over on the Cute Card Thursday Challenge Blog our theme is "Sew Beady!", we want to see you use beads on your card or project. We are sponsored this week by our regular monthly sponsor...Simon Says Stamp.

This week I decided to make a little box for Georgia to keep her rings in...she loved the advent calendar that I made so much, that I thought this would be perfect for her. I have used a stamp by The Greeting Farm called "Sassy Suzi" which has been coloured with Copics (sorry forgot to write down the colours). I used premade craft match boxes for this one.....didn't have time to make those myself. The papers are all My Minds Eye "Bloom & Grow". I have also used my Nesties for the scalloped oval around the image and also for the top. I have further embellished with flowers by Wild Orchid Crafts, a heart pin, and rafia and lace from my stash. As you can see I have added a Prima flower to her hair and in the centre have added some pearl beads.

Be sure to pop over and take part....you never know, you might just win the $25 gift certificate...