Cute Card Thursday # 149 and Colour Create # 63 and Moving Along With The Times # 83

This is a card I made this weekend in between doing taxi service for Shannon and Sophie on Friday and Saturday night.  Shannon was at her friends on Friday night and working on Saturday and Sophie went ten pin bowling on Friday and cinema on Saturday.  As you are out and in, you don't get a lot done or a chance to sit down and relax. 
Took Hollie into town on Saturday to see what she would like for her birthday.  Her birthday is on Valentine's Day and she will be nine.  She picked a signet ring and a pair of Canterbury tracksuit bottoms and hoody for P.E. and Hockey at school.   Now just have to make her birthday cards. 
It was my birthday on Tuesday this week but it sort of past by without notice, with all that has been going on with hubby's shop.  Got a bouquet of flowers (something I don't really like receiving, as they never last and they are so expensive) and was taken out for a meal last night.  Unfortunately was sick when I came home, think I just ate too much.  It was three courses for £10.00 and they were big portions. Hubby has told me when things get sorted  he will get me a present then.  Have hinted at the Grand Calibur, but don't know.

Anyway onto my card and I am entering it into three challenges:-

Colour Create Challenge # 63  - Green, Yellow and White - extra option - charm (which I fogot to put on)
Cute Card Thursday # 149 - Sketch by Lynn
Moving Along With The Times # 83 - Spring (first time entering this challenge)

Cardblank - Craftwork Cards
Cardstock - Paper Mill
Patterned Paper - Echo Park
Sentiment - LOTV
Image - Sugar Nellie
Coloured with Distress Inks
Ribbon - Making Memories
Martha Stewart Punch
Woodware Punch
Gems - Mei Flower

Thanks very much for popping by and visiting my blogs.  Your comments are very much appreciated.  I would like to say hello and thank you to my two new followers Sandra (soleil) and Janie.

P.S.  There is a new challenge blog starting on the 27th February - Dream Valley Challenges - with challenges every two weeks.  It is being started by one of my blogging friends Melly and I thought I would mention it in this post to give her my support and to wish her all the best with it.

A Spoonful of Sugar # 136, Bunny Zoe's Crafts # 8, Paperake Weekly # 52 and Pollycraft Monday # 77

Got the chance to make another card or rather start one.  Liked the theme at Pollycraft Monday for black, white and one other colour.  Thought I would choose red as it would work for challenges that were for Valentines.  However, I couldn't find any black or red paper only cardstock. 
When I first started scrapbooking and then cardmaking, I only used cardstock as I couldn't get my head around patterned papers.  Now with using patterned paper, I couldn't get my head around cardstock only, so this was a bit of a challenge for me.
When I started the card, I had to leave it as it looked very plain.  Had the idea in the middle of the night (as usual), to add some black and white ribbon.  Found some and it started to look a little better.  I then decided to add the little red hearts in the MS border rather than use another layer of red.  As my daughter Hollie thought I had too much red and she is only 8, going on 28.
Card was left again as I didn't have any images that would suit for a Valentines card.  Not much planning or organisation to this card was there.  Then I remembered seeing this little image on KennyK's as a free download.  I still haven't got used to digi's but thought I would give it a try.  When I printed the image, I thought it was too small but after layering it seems fine.  What do you think?  Added a few black gems and card finished - no.  Forgot about the rest of the sketch.  As I didn't have any heart punches, I used my woodware flower punch. Was going to stickle it like little veins, when hubby came in the kitchen and said no no, it just needs a little dusting or frosting.  He definitely has watched How To Lose A Guy in Ten Days too often.  You will understand if you have watched this film.  Then for the text, I thought it would take away from the card where it was to be placed so added the letters with the heart in the image.  Quite like how that turned out.  Finished inside of the card and job done.  This morning I decided to add a little bow to the front and a sentiment inside the card.  It really is finished now.  Has turned out better than I thought and quite like it, which is surprising as I always find fault with my cards. 

Anyway I am entering my card into four challenges:

A Spoonfull of Sugar - Valentine
Bunny Zoe's Crafts - Love is in the Air
Papertake Weekly - Sketch
Pollycraft Monday - Black White and one other colour

Cardblank - Craftwork Cards
Cardstock - Paper Mill
Black Gems - Mei Flower
Image - Kenny K
Woodware Punch
Martha Stewart Punch
Stickles
Distress Inks
Ribbon and letter stickers from stash

Sorry about the long winded post. Sometimes I get a bit carried away and it sort of explains it all back to me.  If that makes sense.

Hope you all have a good weekend and enjoy some crafting time.

Sketch Saturday # 139, A Gem of a Challenge # 13 and Totally Gorjuss # 64

Thought I would take a little time this morning and make a card. My little niece Eva is three in March, so thought I would make her a birthday card.  She watches angelina ballerina and this image should be perfect for her. 

Have been busy the last few days getting everything finalized for the assessors. Finally got it all posted this morning and e-mailed as well.  Shop still not opened but might be allowed to start painting our new premises by the end of the week, so hopefully will get opened shortly, otherwise we will have lost all our customers. 

I am entering my card into three challenges this time:-

Sketch Saturday # 139 - Follow Sketch
A Gem of a Challenge # 13 - Debby's theme - Ribbon and Lace
Totally Gorjuss # 64 - Hot hot hot - Use hot colours

Have used ribbon and raffia lace (which I won on Bev's candy) and thought pink and orange were nice hot colours. Hopefully it will suit these challenges.

Cardblank - Craftwork Cards

Cardstock and Patterned Papers - Doodlebug

Image (Melly's candy) - LOTV

Coloured with Distress Inks

Stickles

Gems - Mei flower

Ribbon from stash

Raffia Lace - Bev's Candy - Paper Cellar

Sentiment - Molly Blooms (free with magazine)

Nestabilities

Sissix - Cherish Alphabet

Had tried using my circle cutter again but it just seems to tear the paper and the circles don't cut properly.  Going to give it a miss from now on and maybe get a few more Nestabilites.  Was surprised when these two fitted perfectly together. 

Thanks for popping by, hope everyone is well and getting a little bit of craft time.  Any comments are very much appreciated.

A Spoonful of Sugar # 135, Cute Card Thursday # 148, Flutterby Wednesday # 138, Lily of the Valley # 81, Simon Says Stamp

Got another card started last night and then finished it today.  Apologies for the photograph as it is not great. Shannon was working last night from 6 - 9pm and Hollie was at a Movie Night at school from 7 - 9pm.  Sophie was having a lazy night as she is out tonight at Exodus for a UV party and I have to pick her up at 11.30pm.  So took the opportunity for a little bit of crafting. Maybe I'll get another card started tonight.

Anyway I am entering this card into 5 challenges:-
 
A Spoonful of Sugar # 135 - Blue and Green
Cute Card Thursday # 148- Recipe 3 2 1 - Three papers, 2 Flowers and 1 Image
Flutterby Wednesday # 138 - Open theme but use a fairy, angel or butterfly (think this image will suit)
Lily of the Valley # 81- Follow Sketch and use LOTV image
Simon Says Stamp - Bingo Challenge - Follow Grid horizontally, vertically or diagonally and use these three items - I went diagonally and chose Gems, Flowers and Punch (MS punch border, MS branch punch and flower punch)

I hope my card is suitable for these challenges. This is the first time entering Simon Says Stamp Challenge and it is the first time I have entered a card into this many challenges.  For some reason it all came together for me and I am pleased with this card.

Cardblank - Craftwork Cards
Cardstock - Paper Mill (just heard it is closing down)
Patterned Papers - K & Co K'ology Addison
Image - LOTV
Coloured with Distress Inks
Ice Stickles
Gems - Mei Flower
Woodware Punch
Martha Stewart Punches
Sentiment - Molly Blooms (free with magazine)

Thanks very much for popping by and visiting. Any comments are very much appreciated.  Hope you are having a good weekend. Take Care.

Papertake Weekly, Stampavie and More # 125 and Truly Scrumptious # 49

Just a quick post from me today.  Really need to get sorted before I go for my daughter Sophie's parent interviews today at 4 - 6.30pm.  Went to see Alexandra Burke in concert at The Waterfront in Belfast on Tuesday night.  Not really my type of music but Sophie and her friend wanted to go and then Hollie said she would like to go, so I took them up.  Pity you have to drive 60 miles there and back and especially on a school night.  Was a good concert and they enjoyed it so that was the main thing.


Anyway I am entering my card into three challenges this time :-


Papertake Weekly - Ribbons and Pearls
Stampavie and More # 125 - Follow Sketch (first time entering this challenge)
Truly Scrumptious # 49 - Colour Combination - Brown, Green and Pink

Enjoyed working with this sketch and loved the colours.

Cardblank - Craftwork Cards
Cardstock - Paper Mill
Patterned Paper - My Minds Eye (free with magazine)
Image - Sugar Nellie - Gorjuss Girl
Coloured with Distress Inks
Gems and Pearls - Mei Flower
Sentiment - Molly blooms (free with magazine)
Ribbon - Dovecraft
Martha Stewart Punch


Thanks for popping by and visiting my blog. Much appreciated.  Very cold and frosty today was -4.5 when I was doing the school runs.  Hope you are having warmer weather. Take Care.

Friday Sketchers # 137 and Lily of the Valley # 80

Back today with a card I finished yesterday, although it was to dark to take a photograph.  The photograph isn't much better today as it is very sunny and it seems to be reflecting badly.


Anyway, first of all, hello to my two new followers, Sj and Kezzy.  Thanks very much for popping by and thanks to everyone for the lovely comments.

I am entering my card into two challenges :-
Lily of the Valley # 80 - Things with wings (thought this new dandelion clock image would suit)
Friday Sketchers # 137 (Had to move the sentiment, as it didn't look right, hope that is ok)

I don't usually do a close-up photograph  as it shows all my flaws but as the main one hasn't turned out very well, I have taken this one as well.

Cardblank - Craftwork Cards
Cardstock - Bazzill
Patterned Paper - K & Co - Small Wonders (Girl)
Martha Stewart Punches
Martha Stewart Circle Cutter (still not cutting very well)
Gems - Mei Flower
Sentiment - Elzybells
Image - LOTV
Coloured with Distress Inks
Stickles

Update on our shop - Still not open, landlord not going to fix the shop, so we have been offered better premises in the same area and I think we are going to move there.  Finished itemising all the stock that we lost and are not waiting on the loss adjuster to come out and inspect and check everything.  Hopefully this week sometime and we can maybe open by the end of the month. 

Thanks for popping by, hope everyone is well and getting some crafting done.

A Gem of A challenge # 12

First of all I would like to thank everyone for all their comments on my last card.  I was totally blown away and also would like to say hello to Fleur another new follower.  Wow, I have 24 followers.  Ok I know its not many compared to the rest of you, but for me, I think it is fantastic, that you have taken an interest in my cards and have decided to leave a comment or become a follower.  THANK YOU.


Last night I got an e-mail from Mieke, one of my recent new followers, to let me know that I had won the raffia lace that was candy on Bev's blog. Thank you Mieke. Was very happy last night going to bed, hubby kind of just looked at me and laughed.  Thank you to Bev for the candy as well.


Anyway onto my card.  I am entering this into A Gem of a Challenge # 12.    This was to follow a sketch by Debby.  Although the image was supposed to be on a circle shape, my cutter just wouldn't cut today and kept tearing the paper, so I hope i can still enter with this.

Cardblank - Craftwork Cards
Patterned Paper - My Minds Eye (free with a magazine)
Cardstock - Paper Mill
Gems and Ribbon - Mei Flower
Image - Pink Gem
Coloured with Distress Inks
Woodware Punch
Martha Stewart Punch




Thanks again for popping by and hope you have a good weekend.

Friday Sketchers # 136

Decided to make another card this morning instead of cleaning.  While doing the school runs and thinking about challenges, the idea came for these papers and this image and sketch and I then remembered that the card had to be in before midday.  Don't think I have ever made a card as quick or one that turned out ok. Must go and do some tidying, etc., now before the girls come home from school, before I feel guilty at making a card yesterday and today.


Cardblank - Craftwork Cards
Patterned Paper and Flowers - K & Co Wild Saffron (these are one of my favourite papers)
Image - Sugar Nellie - Sweet and Sassy (another of my favourite images)
Coloured with Distress Inks
Gems - Mei Flower
Sentiment - Pink Gem
Woodware Punch

I am entering my card into Friday Sketchers # 136

I am keeping a promise to myself to finish the inside of cards as I make them.  Always find that when you need one and it needs finished you have either ran out of those papers or don't have any spare time.

Thanks for popping by, your comments are very much appreciated.

 
 

Truly Scrumptious # 48 and Cute Card Thursday # 146

Thought I would take a little bit of time out this morning and make a card.  Have been busy cleaning since the girls went back to school and have just the kitchen and utility to do.  Always like to give the house a really good clean after Christmas and do out wardrobes, move furniture etc., makes it feel cleaner. I know I am sad and could have been making cards instead.


Anyway the card I made, I am entering into two challenges :-


Truly Scrumptious # 48 - Follow Sketch and Optional Theme - Dreaming of Summer
Cute Card Thursday # 146 - Out with the Old (use old stash)


Cardblank - Craftwork Cards
Patterned Paper, Cardstock and Ric-Rac - Doodlebug
Gems - Mei Flower
Image - Sugar Nellie
Coloured with Distress Inks (managed to get a few re-inkers yesterday)
Woodware Punch
Martha Stewart Punch
Sentiment - Molly Blloms - free with magazine

I have had these Doodlebug papers and cardstock for a couple of years and still had some left over from scrapbooking.  The Daisy image was one of the first images I bought last year.  Thought this would suit Cute Card Thursday's  challenge.  Daisy also suited Truly Scrumptious's challenge for Dreaming of Summer.  Think we are all dreaming of summer with the amount of snow, etc. we have had this winter.


Update on the shop.  Got our insurance broker to contact the loss adjusters as we were getting nowhere.  Things are progressing a little further but still not in our premises yet.  May take a couple more weeks. 


Hope you are all well and getting some crafting done.  Thank you for all the lovely comments on my last post and I would like to say hello to my new followers.  It is very much appreciated.

Sugar Bowl # 50 and Winter Wonderland

Sorry I haven't been around much but things have just been very hectic with our shop flood.  Still hasn't been sorted out.  Insurance assessors have been out and told us to clear out the shop to get the builders in and they would e-mail us with a list of criteria they required.  That was on Tuesday.  Contacted them again on Thursday to be told, not to worry they would put us in temporary premises.  Then on Friday got  another phone call to say that wasn't the case.  Too many people doing the same job but don't know what the other is doing.  Unfortunately for us that is now two weeks our shop has been closed due to the shop next door flooding.  Not a great start to the year so far. 

Anyway I thought I would take some time out and make a card.  I am entering my card into two challenges.  Sugar Bowl # 50 - Follow sketch with optional theme of embossing.  Was going to use my cuttlebug dots folder, eventually, but then thought it would be too much and Winter Wonderland - Theme - Let's Go Dotty.

I am also going to do the insides of all the cards I make as I make them, rather than when I need them. 

Cardblank - Craftwork Cards
Cardstock - Paper Mill
Patterned Papers - Kaisercraft
Image - Sugar Nellie - Simply Sassy
Coloured with Papermania Pencils (didn't have colours to suit in my Distress Inks and most of them now need re-inked)
Gems - Mei Flower
Sentiments - Molly Blooms - Free with magazine

Thought I would upload my photographs to my new laptop and do my post and linking from it while watching the Skate-Off for Dancing on Ice.  No such luck.  My laptop wouldn't let me open more than one page at a time or let me highlight.  Ended up using our family computer to finish. Must look at the set-up manual and get it fixed.  

Thanks very much for popping by.  It is very much appreciated. 
Can I also say a big Thank You to my followers for their support and encouragement throughout 2010 as I am still learning and not that quickly. Hopefully 2011 will be better and I can craft more often.  Take care and I hope you have all had an enjoyable weekend. 



 

More Christmas Cards

Happy New Year.  I hope everyone had a good Christmas and New Year.


Just thought I would post three more cards that I made. 

Card One

I made this card for my aunt and for Melly, one of my blogging friends.  Melly had a Christmas candy draw and I won, so thought it would be nice to send her a card.


Cardblank - Craftwork Cards
Cardstock - Paper Mill
Patterned Papers - Cosmo Cricket (Mitten Weather, I think)
Image - Stampavie
Coloured with Distress Inks
Stickles
Gems - Mei Flower
Sentiment - Personal Impressions



Card Two

 This card I made for my two brothers and sister-in-laws.

Cardblank - Craftwork Cards
Cardstock - Bazzill
Patterned Paper - DCWV
Image - Stampavie
Coloured with Distress Inks
Stickles
Gems - Mei Flower
Sentiment - Personal Impressions

Card Three

I made this card for my mum and dad and hubby's parents.


Cardblank - Craftwork Cards
Cardstock - Paper Mill
Patterned Papers - Echo Park
Ribbon and Gems - Mei Flower
Image - Stampavie
Coloured with Distress Inks
Stickles
Woodware Punch
Martha Stewart Punch
Sentiments - Personal Impressions




Did anyone get anything nice for Christmas.  I got a laptop.  I was really surprised when I opened the box.  Had said I would like one but knew they were expensive, so wasn't really expecting one and thought I would save up for one.  Now I can save for more craft instead. My eldest daughter got a laptop for her sixteenth birthday but the rest of us use a family computer and sometimes it is hard to get near it. 

Thanks for popping by.  I really do appreciate all the comments and support that I have received since I started cardmaking.  THANK YOU. I am going to try and make cards more often this year and get a head start on my Christmas cards as I never got my hubby's or my daughter's cards made this year.