As easy as 1,2,3

Morning you lovely people!! Here I am to shout about the new challenge at

Oldie But A Goodie 
and this time I'm afraid the theme is my fault and it's

1,2,3

1 (image),  2 (papers),  3 (embellishments, that could be three types or three of a kind).

I used a cute stamp (old but unused!!) from Sugar Nellie, Posy Pip and coloured her with Promarkers to compliment the beautiful Bazzill papers, Vintage Lace. I used (old) tonic punches to make the three little flowers and a Craftwork cards sentiment to finish off. Oh and the border die I used on the floral panel is from Lawn Fawn.

I am playing here

My Mum's Craft Shop #21 - Dies or punches (I've used both)
Di's digi designs challenge - Girly
The Sugar Bowl#117

That's all from me for now. Have a good day xx

The Cuties are 3!!

Happy Monday everyone and it's a rather special one today as The Cutie Pie Challenge is 3 years old.

We would love you to celebrate with us and share a CUTE card using multiples of 3.

Here's mine...

...and I used 3 colours, papers, panels, buttons, sentiments and three glittered chocolate chips on the cookies too!! Our sponsor Just some lines gave us the fabulous images to play with.

I'm entering these challenges...

Brown Sugar #113
Creative Fingers #50 - Anything Goes
Crafty Catz - Birthday celebration/Anything Goes

Hope you will come and play, you'd be most welcome!!

Digi time

Hello everyone, hope you are well as we fly towards another weekend. Mine is going to be particularly comfortable as we are having  new lounge furniture delivered tomorrow...yay!!
Suzy still gets to keep her sofa (not that we encourage her mind you, heaven forbid!!)

Before that though I have a bag to share which is my DT piece for

As You Like It Challenge where the theme this fortnight is "Your favourite digi and WHY?"

I use a lot of digi stamps but my absolute favourite has to be Barry from (the soon to be closing down) Stampfairy. He is such a character and has led such a busy and varied life that his antics lend themselves to any situation you can imagine!!

Here he is coloured with Promarkers to match the gorgeous spotty papers that jumped out of my bits box. The sentiment on the tag is from a Paper Smooches set and I used a bow template for the paper bow.

I'm taking the bag to play here...

Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge #47 - AG + spots & dots
Crafting from the heart #37 - Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly - Oh how cute
Delightful Challenges - Cute and Cuddly

Hope you will join us with YOUR favourite digi!!

Toodles for now xx

A bunch of Autumn

Hello my crafty buddies.

As promised, more card and less waffle today, although I must thank you for taking the time to read my blurb and then coment too!!

Here is another autumnal creation to celebrate the colours that will soon be around us.

 The lovely digi image is by From the Heart and was coloured with Pro/Flexmarkers to match the papers which came from a book of papers that was a magazine freebie a couple of years ago. The IO butterflies were cut out of sections of the same paper and I added marcasite style gems to their middles. I used a Martha Stewart punch for the border and just added some twine for a bit of texture.

Here's where I'm going to play

Delightful challenges - All Fall Down
Crafting 4 All Seasons #86 - Colours of autumn
4 Crafty Chicks #212 - Fall


Thanks for stopping by xx

I've been "tagged"

Happy Monday everyone. Have you noticed The Creative Blog Hop that happens on a Monday? Well I am honoured to  have been tagged by the lovely Jenny at Cardsarus who amazes me, every time, with her magnificent cards and boxes. She does things with dies that are beyond my comprehension!! So I urge you to  go and spend a while with her if you want some serious die-lightful inspiration!!

So, here we go...question time...

1)   What am I working on now.

Being a  fairly organised kind of girl I like to have my DT work done well in advance so there are two cards in the pipeline at present. I am also still practicing my crochet so there is currently another "work in progress"  on my hook. Added to that a knitted rabbit that needs stuffing and dressing and the pieces of a skirt that need sewing together. That much?! oh dear it looks bad written down!!

2)   How does your work differ from others in your genre?

 I don't tend to follow a particular genre but my own, I like to think. I dabble in most styles from time to time but do favour cute images, usually with very few frills .

3)   Why do I do what you do.

Because I love making things. My Mum has always knitted and made mine and my Sister's clothes when we were girls. So, I was taught to knit as a girl and dabbled in sewing, making cushions and curtains when I married but the cardmaking really took off when I was invited to a cross stitch party in the early 90's where I bought a kit, which led to cross stitch magazines, then card making magazines and I am now completely addicted!! It is also a nice balance to my outdoor and work life and gives me a little respite from the sport that so often dominates the house!!

4)How does my creative process work.

When cardmaking I choose a stamp first then the papers and generally have  "plan" in mind. I always make the card base first after deciding whether I am going to use a sketch or "wing it". Then I colour the image to match the papers. 

So, my friends, that is me!!  I would not be here but for Bev Rochester whose blog was the first I ever read having seen one of her cards in a magazine. Then came The Ribbon Girl and Wild Orchid Crafts as a result and the associated DT members at that time. Funny how things evolve isn't it? I finally took the plunge and blundered my way through setting up my own blog a couple of years ago ( you can see my first post here ) and the rest, as they say, is history!!

 If I take nothing else from my time spent in blogland it's the kindness and generosity of those I have met and am proud to call my friends  that make every minute spent here worthwhile (and sometimes expensive...you know who you are!!). 

Which leads me nicely on to my nominees 

Mojca - Soul Sanctuary
whose papercrafting skills are exemplary.

Lisa - One Happy Little Crafter,
 is a fabulous and brilliant DT "Boss lady" She also makes the cutest cards in blogland!!

Michelle - Laughing Ducks,
whose blog I have followed from the start and watched her evolve into a truly inspirational cardmaker.

Thank you for sticking with it!!

See you tomorrow with more card and less waffle xx

At last......

.....I have finally got my act together and made a card to support 

The Great Penguin Challenge of 2014

being hosted by the fabulous Squirrel.

Now, here's a thing I did not own a single stamp with a solitary penguin on it...how disgusting is that?! So, as in the "Bella" case, I had to put it right and found this adorable chappie in digi form at Whimsy Stamps. He was coloured with Promarkers. 

I am taking him here too...

Sweet Stampin' - Ribbons and bows

Allsorts #277 - Film Inspiration (Happy Feet)

Winter Wonderland - Use Two ribbons

Inky Impressions #177 - Primary Colours

That's me for now folks, best go and get lunch prep underway!!

 Have a lovely Sunday xx

Fairies

Unusual, I know, for me to be posting at this time of day but I remembered that I really wanted to enter a challenge and time is running out!! 

The gorgeous digi is from Whimsie Doodles coloured with Promarkers and this is the sketch

Off to play here

Sketch Saturday #327

Di's Digis - Checks and/or stripes (both)

Fairies in Time #1

Moving Along With The Times - Away with the Fairies

Ooh, and I remember what I was supposed to do yesterday, so I was quite pleased to discover I'm not losing my marbles!!

Toodles for now xx

Christmas Buddies

Hello my crafty friends and I hope you are well today. 

I've not shared a Christmas card for a little while so
 here is another of my Cuddly Buddly DT  pieces, using a new Christmas digi called
  Christmas Buddies , aren't they sweet?!

I used Promarkers to colour these cheeky chappies and their pom poms were pearlised using a Viva decor pen and Glamour Dust adds a bit of twinkle. The papers are from a Marianne Designs collection  and to finish off I used pearl trim along the top of a border die. 

I am off to play along with these challenges

Passion for Promarkers #265 - Make it digital

Christmas card Challenges #42 - Colour Challenge

Completely Christmas #29 - Anything Goes

Winter Wonderland - Boys will be boys

I have an awful feeling that I "should" be doing something today but, for the life of me, can't remember what!! Ever get those days!? I expect I'll find a note to myself later and then remember!!

Anyway, whatever you are doing (meant to be or not!!) have a good day xx

My first "Bella"

Hello Friends, hope you are well today. 

It was only recently that it dawned on me  that I didn't have a WRS Bella stamp in my collection so set about rectifying that situation!!

 Here is the result...

... brand, spanking new NBUS!!

I decided to make myself a drawer easel  to store my pink buttons!!

I made the drawer and easel with some cardstock that (I am ashamed to say) has been loitering in my oddments drawer. I have a feeling it was bought from Create and Craft years ago and was part of a kit. The beautiful gathered ribbon and string of pearls came from a local haberdashery and was buried among more never before used schtuff!

Here is a little angled shot too.

I think I can safely say that this Bella won't be the last!!

Here are the challenges I am entering

Crafty Cardmakers #123 - Ribbon/lace & pearls
DJkardkreations - NBUS #2
Crafty Boots #120 - Anything Goes
Not just cards #2 - Anything Goes

Take care and see you soon xx

Autumn bounty

Morning all!! A flying visit to say that today is the start of a new challenge at

Oldie But A Goodie 

and it's AUTUMN

so get out those autumnal stamps, digis, papers and dies (don't forget that something must be six months old or more) and come an play!!

Here's what I did

The digi and sentiment are by From the Heart and coloured with Promarkers to compliment the papers which have been in my scrap box forever!! Twine and a button seemed a nice rustic finishing  touch.

Craft Your Passion #231 - Harvest Time
The Shabby Tea Room #236 - Autumn bliss

Thanks for stopping by xx

Autumn Colours

Good Morning peeps, hope you had a good weekend and that the weather was kind.

 I can't lie, I'm not enjoying the mornings now, especially on the days that  I work, as it's dark when Suzy and I go and do stable duties!! Surprise looks at me with sleepy eyes as if to say " you expect me to go out in the dark?" Autumn is most certainly on it's way, which leads me nicely to my card for today which is my DT creation for

The Cutie Pie Challenge 

where we would like a CUTE  creation using autumn colours.

Here's mine...

using an image kindly given by our  sponsor Bugaboo. She was coloured with Pro/Flexmarkers.

I used a LOTV sketch (#24), papers were  from a Doodlebug pad with a touch of hessian ribbon for some texture. I managed to crochet the flower myself (yay!!) and added an enamel dot to the centre.

I am joining in with these challenges

Milk Coffee - Colours of Autumn
Divas by Design - Anything Goes
Moving along with the times - Texture

Have a good day and see you tomorrow with another autumnal creation xx

Favourite Rubber stamp? Now there's a dilemma!!

Hello crafty people. Now here's a question for you, do you have a favourite rubber stamp?

You do? Good, then head on over to

As You Like It Challenge

and share it with us in our new challenge!!
 (remember to let us know why too!!)

This is my contribution...

...she's been showcased a couple of times before here and here. When the card making addiction first struck me down, I bought quite a few stamps from the Bildmalarna range, this was the first and she's called "Mimosa, Lovely moments". She is so easy to colour and is perfect for most occasions, the flowers could be made Christmassy and the bird could even be a robin ! The papers are MME Dolled up and the lace was lurking in my ribbon drawer!! I would like it known that the lace is straight, alas my photography, clearly, is not!!

I'm off to play here

Crafting with dragonflies #34 - Girly & lacy
Creative Corner Challenges - Cute animals
Passion for Promarkers #264 - Four legged friends

Cute Card Thursday #338 - Too Cute
Charisma Cardz #20 - Lace & pearls

Toodles for now xx

Romance

Hello everyone and I hope this finds you well. 

I have a sweet little twosome to share today that would suit  any romantic occasion I thought.

A bit of a LOTV showcase too!! I coloured the stamp with SN pencils, blossoms from my stash and the sentiment stamped onto a tag from a couple of CB sets.

Here are the challenges I'm entering

LOTV - Pretty Papers

Addicted to stamps #86 - Pastel

Crafting for all Seasons #85  - Wheels and/or cogs

Divas by Design - Tags

Aud Sentiments #118 - Not Birthday

Before I go, this is what Dorset looks like this morning...

aren't mobile phones great!??

Have a lovely day and thanks for sharing it with me xx

Bestest Friends

Happy Friday everyone, don't the weekends come (and go!!) quickly?

 Anyway I have some news, I am now a member of the Cuddly Buddly Design Team, which just goes to show that fortune, does indeed, favour the brave. I am so happy to share the first of two makes for this month and am showcasing Bestest Friends. 

They were coloured with Pro/Flexmarkers to coordinate with the pretty papers. The trusty Marianne die came out for the mat and the ribbon, gems & sentiment tag from my stash. 

I have lots of these digis stored away and had forgotten how lovely they are so am going to have such fun showing them off in the future. 

Crafting from the heart #34 - Anything Goes

Clear it Out - Anything Goes

Fan-tastic Tuesdays - Anything Goes

Papertake Weekly   - Anything Goes

Crafting by Designs - Anything Goes

Penny's paper-crafty challenge #193 - Anything Goes

Crafty Girls #26 - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by xx

Krafty Christmas

Hello one and all. I have another Christmas card to share today that was inspired by some current challenges.

The paper is from a new Dovecraft pack (that happened to fall in my basket on a recent visit to Hobbycraft) and I coloured the image with Pro/Flexmarkers. The poinsettia die set is by Cheery Lynn and the gems from my stash.  

I'm off to play at these challenges

Winter Wonderland - Gingham or checks

Allsorts #274 - Early Christmas makes

CHNC #192 - People matter

Christmas Card Challenges #40 - Anything Goes

ABC Christmas - R for Red ponsettias

Better go and do something useful now the sun has put in an appearance, it was quite misty and chilly when I rode earlier this morning. 

Whatever you are doing I hope it's a good day xx

A little bit of stitching

Morning all and I hope this finds you well. I have another DT card to share today, this time for

Oldie But A Goodie where the challenge theme this fortnight was chosen by Helen and is

  Stitching 

The "old" on my card is the lace and the pearls which have been in my stash for a very long time. I did however break into my Coffee in the Arbour pad (which brought me out in a cold sweat!!) and used an LOTV sketch (#4 this time) as a starting point. All the edges were distressed after I'd stitched all the papers, which in itself was quite distressing as I was afraid I would make a mess of them!. However, all was well!! The digi is from A Day For Daisies and was coloured to match the papers with Pro/flexmarkers and SN pencils. Last but not least, the banner was coiled around a mini reel and stamped with a sentiment.

I'm playing along here

Moving along with the times - A stitch in time
Crafting when we can #77 - Borrow a sketch (LOTV #4)
ABC Challenge - S for Shabby Chic
A Little Bit Crafty - Distress it

Thank you for calling today and for your lovely comments on my recent makes. It's appreciated xx

Two's Company

Pinch, punch 1st of the month and I'm here to share my DT make for a new challenge at

The Cutie Pie Challenge and it's

  Two's Company

which means we'd like to see two people/characters on your card.

Here's mine

I used a sweet stamp from a very old Kanban Little Friends set called Big Hugs coloured with Promarkers. The papers are by Marianne Designs and I used another LOTV sketch, #3, for the layout. Ooh, nearly forgot, the embossed border is from a Tattered Lace embossing folder set Ditsy Dots.

I would like to play at these challenges

4 Crafty chicks # 209 - Old and new
Old stamp set and new embossing folder set
Delightful challenges - Layer it
Cute Card Thursday #336 - Anything Goes

That's it for today folks. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you'll have time to play along this fortnight.
See you soon xx