Normal Service Will Be Resumed As Soon As Possible...

Today I am having my hip replacement operation & I can't wait.  I am so looking forward to being able to get back to "normal" (all being well) & have a list of places I want to go/things to do when I have recovered :o)  Sorry I've been AWOL but hopefully I can soon get back to crafting & visiting your fabulous blogs again & get lots of inspiration.  

Unfortunately I have had to leave my beloved All Dressed Up Design Team & I have had such a wonderful time with such a brilliant group, I will miss them & using Wendy's fabulous designs (though I will still be using them obviously lol).  So I thought I'd post some of my favourite ADU creations: 

Thanks for looking & hopefully I'll be back soon :o) xxxx

Keeping It Simple

 Sorry I've been a bit AWOL lately (definitely not been blogging every week as I wanted to) but to be honest it's been a rough year.  I've had a cough since January.  I've had various tests which were clear & medicines which didn't help (& as my job involves LOTS of talking this has made it worse).  Now the doctors have referred me cos they don't know what else to do.  This is on top of the fact that I need a hip replacement op, I've been putting it off but the last few months it has got progressively worse & now they've said I might not be able to have my op because of the cough.  So as you can imagine I'm a bit fed up & to top it all my mojo went missing too!  That is why my creation for the new All Dressed Up Anything Goes challenge is very simple.  I used Wendy's fabulous Shoes image which I coloured with chalk & just added a crochet flower & a couple of buttons & put it in an old frame I had :o)  

The challenges:

Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes

Crafty Gals Corner - Anything Goes

Crafty Creations - Anything Goes

Crafting by Designs - Anything Goes

Crafting with Friends - Anything Goes 

Creatalicious - Anything Goes

Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes
Gem of a Challenge - Anything BUT a Card
Art by Miran - Anything Goes 

I hope you're all okay & having a lovely weekend xx

Check Out These Gorgeous New Images

All Dressed Up have some gorgeous new images showcasing today :o) for my card I used Fairy Flowers which I coloured with chalks & Sakura pens.  Wendy always brings us such beautiful designs.  Don't forget the All Dressed Up challenge too if you have the time to enter.  

The challenges:

Our Crafty Corner - Anything Goes

Eureka Stamps - Things with Wings

Crafting From the Heart - Anything Goes

Bunny Zoe - Lovely Layers 

Crafty Catz - Add a Butterfly

Ching-Chou Kuik - Pearls & Lace 

Paper Creator - All About Flowers 

Little Claire's - Butterflies

Crazy 4 Challenges - Make it Floral

Dragonfly Dreams - Say it With Flowers 
Simon Says Stamp - Summer Garden

I hope you've had a lovely start to the week.  We're on holiday from work.  Yesterday we looked for curtains, lampshades, paint...etc as we're redoing our bedroom & today we went out for afternoon tea which was a Christmas pressie from our son & DIL.  It was absolutely wonderful, especially as the weather is summery at last :D - there's nothing much better than tea & cake (I think it is the answer to everything lol).

Where Did Those 2 Weeks Go?!

I can't believe how quickly this year is going.  Perhaps we'll get some summer soon ;o)  There's a new challenge starting at All Dressed Up today (anything goes as always + an All Dressed Up image) & for my card I used Wendy's cute "I Love My Teddy" image.  Don't forget if you haven't got any All Dressed Up images you can try before you by with the FREEBIES :D  I hope you can join us.

I decorated the inside for a change too

The challenges:

Come & Get It - Use a Doily

Crafty Sentiments - Gems or Pearls 

Through The Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Dream Valley - Add a Doily

Melonheadz Friends - Ribbon/Lace/Twine

Broken Fairy Designs - Anything Goes twist Vintage/Shabby Chic

Star Stampz - Hand Coloured Image 

Cardz for Galz - Vintage or Shabby Chic

My Sheri Crafts - Accessorize 

Thanks for looking & Happy Crafting! xx 

Card Recipe:

All Dressed Up I Love My Teddy image

ProMarkers

Digital Papers Carte Bella Baby Mine from Jessica Sprague

Lace from Fairy My World

Doily from Docrafts

Pearls

Sentiment

Just a Quickie...

cos unfortunately I've been ill all weekend :o(  

It's a new challenge at All Dressed Up starting today "Anything Goes" (+ an All Dressed Up image).  I used the cute "Little Treasure" image which I coloured with Prismacolor pencils (the jumper & rabbit are paper pieced.  Lots of cloud paper some die cut tage, ribbon & stamped sentiment.  I hope you can join us.

I hope you're all having a better bank holiday weekend than me! xx 

All Dressed Up & Looking Good!

I am sooo lucky to be on the All Dressed Up design team & get to use lots of Wendy's fabulous images :o)  One of those is one of this month's new releases called Looking Good.  I haven't had quite so much time for crafting this last week as I've had lots on & I've been doing some sewing too (I made a patchwork denim cushion which I will put on my sewing blog when I get chance & some cushion covers with some gorgeous "London" fabric I bought).  It has been gorgeous here today (at last) sunny & warm but at the moment we're in the middle of a storm with torrential rain, thunder & lightning so it's nice to be in my craft room.  

The challenges:

Creative Corner - Flower Power

The Corrosive Blog - Girls, Ladies, Women...

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Crafting From the Heart - Anything Goes

Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes 

Let's Get Girly - Melonheadz Friends

Great Impressions - Ladies Night 

I hope you're having a great week & have time to fit some crafting in (it's soo relaxing isn't it).

Card Recipe:

Looking Good Image from All Dressed Up

ProMarkers 

Whiff of Joy Die-lights Heart Die 

Martha Stewart Double Loop Weave Deep Edge Punch 

Hand Crocheted Flower (I was so chuffed when I learned to make these!)

Rose Cabochon from Bunny Zoe Crafts

Digital Papers (can't remember where from)

Sanding Block & I distressed the edges with scissors (can't find my seam ripper that I usually use)

All Dressed Up Challenge Time :o)

Today is the start of the new challenge at All Dressed Up (always Anything Goes with an All Dressed Up image).  I thought I'd make a Christmas card & this is my first one this year (doesn't seem to matter how early I start I always end up with lots still to make last minute lol) but it IS a start ;o).  If you want to join us but don't have any images you will find some fab freebies HERE.  I did some paper piecing for the cat & dog.

The challenges:

Fab 'n' Funky - Christmas 

Sweet Stampin' Christmas - Cute Christmas

Creative Fingers - Anything Goes

Simply Papercraft - Anything Goes 

Crafting With Friends - Anything Goes

A Beautiful Mess - Anything Goes 

Alphabet - C is for Cats

The Paper Shelter - Buttons

I hope you're having a lovely weekend.  We've had the week off so the weekend isn't quite as special as usual but I'm still certainly going to try to enjoy it :o)

Card Recipe:

All Dressed Up Christmas Post image

Prismacolor pencils (postbox)

ProMarkers (dog's hat & scarf & cat's bow)

Frosted Lace Stickles (snowflakes)

Polar White Flower Soft (snow)

Christmas Buttons from Trimcraft

Red card, brad, bone button & sentiment from my stash

Paw print & bone paper free with a magazine

Ribbon recycled from some chocolates

Thank You!

Everyone one likes receiving thank you cards & they are a joy to make & send so it's a Win, Win situation lol.  I made this card with the new All Dressed Up stamps from Little Darlings.  

Today the weather is awful with torrential rain, luckily it is my day off so I have been catching up with the housework (have to do that if not I feel guilty crafting lol) & a friend I haven't seen for ages came to lunch :o) I hope your week is going well.  I'm still waiting for Spring to arrive lol.

The challenges:

Crafty Boots - Something for the Lady

Paper Nest Dolls - Anything Goes  

Sweet Stamps - Anything Goes

Lemon Shortbread - Anything Goes 

Creative Card Crew - Chicks  

Clear it Out - Patterned Paper Over a Year Old
Stamping Sensations - Flower Power 
Crafting With Dragonflies - Girly Cards 
Allsorts - International Woman's Day
Inky Impressions - Let's Hear it for the Girl 
 

Card Recipe:

One of the 3 Girl's Night Out Stamps

Prismacolor Pencils

Papers from my stash

Resin Flower

Organza Ribbon

Sentiment from Pink Petticoat (so sad they closed)

We R Memory Keepers Tab Punch

Die Cut Border

Wear With Style!

It's All Dressed Up Team A's time for a new Anything Goes challenge.  I chose to use one of the gorgeous Wear With Style girls, I coloured her with Prismacolor pencils & paper pieced her dress and headband.  I hope you can join us, there are so many gorgeous images to choose from :D

The challenges:

Seize the Birthday - Birthday! 

Creatalicious - Add a Charm

Polkadoodles - Tic Tac Toe (sentiment, lace, flower)

Dragonfly Journeys - Flower Power

The Stamping Boutique - Ribbon &/or Lace

QKR Stampede - Birthday Cards

Really Reasonable Ribbon - Celebrate (with Ribbon or Trim)

Crafty Friends - Floral
Deep Ocean - Lovely Lace 
Inky Chicks - Ribbon &/or Lace
Try it on Tuesdays - Feminine & Fancy
Craft-Dee BowZ - Anything Goes with a Handmade Bow

Card Recipe:

All Dressed Up Wear With Style image (includes 4 images) 

Prismacolor Pencils

Paper Flowers

Broiderie Anglaise Lace

Handbag Sentiment from Craftwork Cards

Charm made using a stamp (can't remember which one) & Shrink Plastic

Jump Ring

Gem

DP from my stash

Edges inked with Brilliance Pearlescent Coral Ink Pad (as usual)

Have a wonderful week everyone! X

Cute Just Got Cuter!

Hooray, that week is over!  It was a pretty testing one (well the work part was, the rest was pretty good luckily).  Any way weekend starts here :o)  Today I'm sharing a card I made with an All Dressed Up  freebie  image, anyone who follows my blog or visits regularly (& I really DO appreciate it) knows that I love All Dressed Up images & am lucky enough to be on their DT.  

The challenges: 

Cute Card Thursday - Florals

Whimsy Stamps - Anything Goes

Passion for ProMarkers - Dies &/or Punches

Fan-Tastic Tuesday - Include an Animal

Ike's World - Going Round in Circles 

Mod Squad - Animal Fun

Little Red Wagon - Furry Friends

Crafting By Designs - Button Up

Little Miss Muffet - Anything Goes

Wags 'n Whiskers - Furry Friends

Crafty Girls - Anything Goes

Simply Papercraft - Anything Goes

Card Recipe:

All Dressed Up Cute Just Got Cuter free image 

ProMarkers

Paper Scraps from my Stash (I think they're all from an old Anna Griffin kit from QVC)

Whimsy Stamps Celebration Pennants Stamps (not sure if these are available any more)

Circle & Small Scalloped Circle Dies (Spellbinders)

Provo Craft Flower Die  

Felt

Embroidery Floss 

Brilliance Sky Blue Ink Pad 

Have a fantastic weekend everyone! xx

Love is in the Air!

Do you remember the song Love is in the Air by John Paul Young (I had to look up who sang it), it was 1978 so I was 15.  Today there are some fabulous new releases at All Dressed Up & I chose this gorgeous Love Birds image & thought it would be perfect for the InLaws anniversary next month :o)  I kept it simple with a bit of paper piecing. 

Did you know that All Dressed Up are on Pinterest & there's lots of inspiration to be found there & also we have a Facebook Group to share your cards & have a chat :o)

The challenges:

Creatalicious - Love is in the Air

Whimsy Stamps - With Love

Gem of a Challenge - Love is in the Air

Allsorts - Clean & Simple 

Crafty Calendar - Love is in the Air

My Time to Craft - Love is All Around

Brown Sugar - Valentine/Love

Creative Corner - Happy Valentine's Day/Love

Polkadoodles - Love & Romance

Simply Create Too - Love or Valentines

Thanks for looking :o) I hope you're all having a great weekend.  I had a bit of a sort out in my craft room yesterday (I had to you could hardly get in the door & there was no worktop space so it had to be done) & then made hubby's valentines card which I will blog when I've taken a pic.

All Dressed Up...New Challenge

I hope you've all had a great start to the week.  I was determined to start the new week feeling better but unfortunately not - I'm getting fed up now, it's over a week & that's just not on!  I have so much stuff I want to do but my craft room looks like a bomb site & I just haven't had the energy to sort it & I really want to play.  Luckily I made my card for the new All Dressed Up Anything Goes challenge a lil while ago :o)  I used Birthday Monkey, I love this cute image.  If you haven't seen Wendy's gorgeous images you can check them out HERE & if you want to "try before you buy" there are some fab freebies HERE :D

The challenges:

Crafty Friends - Animals/Birds

Lacy Sunshine - Anything Goes

Simply Papercraft - Anything Goes

QKR Stampede - One for the Kids

Crafting with Friends - Anything Goes

Brown Sugar - Anything Goes

Suzy Bee's - Anything Goes (twist add an animal)
Ellibelle's Creative Moments - Critters & Creatures

ABC - A is for Animals
Passion for ProMarkers - Show us Your Favourites

Card Recipe:

All Dressed Up Birthday Monkey Image

ProMarkers & Chalk 

Circle & Small Scalloped Circle Dies (Spellbinders)

Memory Box (Poppy Stamps) Meadow Leaf die

First Edition Animal Antics Paper Pad

Kraft Card Blank

Time to Relax...

Well I've had my relaxing over Christmas & now it's back to the daily grind but I'm sure I'll fit in some relaxation (hopefully in the form of crafting) somewhere :o)  "Time to Relax" is also the name of this gorgeous image for All Dressed Up by the super talented Wendy. Unfortunately my mojo has gone walkabout so I'm not happy with this card & you will see that the other DT members have done a much better job of showcasing it. I used some scraps of paper & some satin hearts I've had forever (New Years resolution coming into play ;o)  & finished off with a die cut flower, brad & some pearls.  

The challenges:

Whimsy Stamps  - Winter

Pile It On - Anything Christmas/Winter

Scrapbook Cardmaking (Bastel-dream) - Winter

Sisters Of Craft - Anything Goes

Oddball Art Stamps - Christmas or Winter
Crafting From the Heart - Anything Goes 
Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes 

I hope you've had a great start to the week xx

Last All Dressed Up Challenge Before Christmas

Hello, sorry I've been AWOL but I had an accident on my bike when it was icy early in the morning on my way to work & have been out of action for over a week, I'm still struggling & can hardly walk & I can't drive (& definitely can't bike, not that I want to at the moment anyway).  I did go back to work this week but it is very tiring.  Anyway on to the challenge, which is Anything Goes as usual (+ an All Dressed Up image).  I haven't been able to do much crafting but I just about managed to colour this gorgeous image called Little Angel & recycled a card I had made a while ago.  I hope you can join us :o)

The challenges:

Winter Wonderland - Add Some Sparkle & Bling 

Crafty Hazelnut - Use Die Cuts or Punches (the tag is a punch)

Sparkle Creations - Anything (Christmas) Goes

Creatalicious - Merry Christmas

Cute Card Thursday - Fairies & Angels

Craft-Dee BowZ - Handmade Bow

Always Playing With Paper - Non-Traditional Christmas Card 

Inky Chicks - Merry Christmas

A Snowflake's Challenge - Winter/Christmas

I wanted to put our Christmas tree/decorations up at the weekend but couldn't, I definitely doing it this weekend but I think Mark (hubby) might be doing most of it - with my guidance of course! ;o)  I hope you're all having a great week xx

A Little Reminder...

There is still time to join in the fun of the All Dressed Up Blog Hop & the chance to win some fabulous images :o)  I little while ago I posted a pic of an elephant I made using one of Wendy's digital images (you can see the post HERE) & I tweaked the pattern a bit & here is the 2nd elephant (It's still a bit lumpy lol but I think elephants are a bit lumpy ;o)  I used an old scarf for his body & some scraps of fabric for the ears.

I hope you're all having a great week.  Thanks for looking xx

All Dressed Up Birthday Blog Hop! (Win, Win, Win) & a Freebie!

At All Dressed Up we are having a Blog Hop to celebrate our 2nd Birthday :o) & there is a wonderful freebie for you all, how cool is that!  There are also 4 gorgeous new Christmas digital images released to day & the lucky DT got to choose which image we wanted to use - not an easy choice cos they are all wonderful but I went with "Christmas Star",  I added lots of sparkle in the shape of glitter card for border, stars & wings & Glamour Dust on large star (well if you can't go ott on sparkle at Christmas when can you lol).  The image was coloured with ProMarkers & I finished off with some ribbon.

If you visit each of the DT's blogs & kindly leave a comment there will be the chance to win the image that they have used :D  How amazing is that - 14 chances in all!  So you need to start at the All Dressed Up challenge blog & visit the DT members in turn.  

So you should have arrived here from our lovely Shelia's blog & last on the list is Vannessa & I'm sure you will get lots of inspiration from her & all the other DT members gorgeous creations. The blog hop will run for a week so there's plenty of time to enter :o)

The challenges:

Unicorn - Christmas is Coming 

Card & Scrap - Christmas

Fan-Tastic Tuesday - Stars 

A Snowflakes Promise - Christmas/Winter

City Crafter - Getting Ready for Christmas

ABC Christmas - V for Very Cute

Fab 'n' Funky - Die Cuts or Punches

Southern Girls - Twine, Tape or Ribbon

Crafty Girls - Anything Goes

I also made a bookmark with the freebie:  I die cut a bookmark shape covered with DP added a bit of ribbon & a cupcake sticker & of course that gorgeous image :o)

Challenges:
Creative Knockouts - Lace, Twine, Ribbon
Sassy Studio -Anything Goes 
Not Just Cards - Anything Goes
Doodle Pantry - Digital
Cutie Pie - Pretty in Pink 
Deep Ocean - Chocolate, Coffee or Tea 
Crafty Addicts - Anything Goes/Use Die Cuts
Cute Card Thursday - Food/Drink

Thanks for looking & I do hope you will join in the Fun :o) xx