Papertake Weekly, My Mum's Craft Shop # 38, Simon Says Stamp, Moving Along With The Times, Paper Play # 1 '12, Dream Valley # 23

This was another image I coloured recently and as I liked the way my last card turned out, I decided to make another easel calendar card, this time for my living room.  My daughter Hollie has also made two of these which she hopes to put on her blog later. Think someone is after my crafting supplies. ( http://holliescraftingblog.blogspot.com/)

I am entering my card into six challenges:-

Papertake Weekly - Die Cute Special - Flowers and Swirl
My Mum's Craft Shop # 38 - Something New - New Year and New Marianne Die that I haven't used before (flowers and swirl)
Simon Says Stamp - New Something - New Year and New Marianne Die again
Moving Along With The Times - Step Back in Time - Image
Paper Play # 1 '12 - Happy New Year
Dream Valley # 23 - Anything Goes

Cardblank - Craftwork Cards
Cardstock - Bazzill
Patterned Paper - My Minds Eye - Gertie
Image - Stampavie
Coloured with Distress Inks
Marianne Die - Swirl and Flowers
Gems - Mei - Flower
Calendar - craft shop

Thanks for popping by, hope to catch up with visiting your blogs later.

Pollycraft Monday # 121, Papertake Weekly, Allsorts # 134 and Dream Valley # 22

Finally got my last two cards made and posted today.  Now only have my family cards to make.  No presents wrapped yet and still shopping to do.  Girls finish tomorrow so maybe get caught up as it helps when there are no school runs, etc.

I am entering my card into four challenges:-

Pollycraft Monday # 121 - Punch It
Papertake Weekly - Last Christmas Card of the Year
Allsorts # 134 - Blue and Brown
Dream Valley # 22 - Christmas

Cardblank - Craftwork Cards
Cardstock - Bazzill
Patterned Papers - Bo Bunny - love these papers
Image - LOTV
Coloured with Distress Inks
Martha Stewart Punch
Woodware Punch
Ribbon from local craft shop
Gems - Mei Flower

Inside of card and as usual, as it is Christmas cards, I made two.

Off now to collect Shannon from work.  She is working three nights this week from 5.45 - 10.15 and then Saturday from 9.00 - 6.30pm.  Think she will probably sleep through Christmas. 

Thank you for popping by and I want to wish everyone a very Happy Christmas and Best Wishes for the 2012. 

Papertake Weekly and Dream Valley # 22

Another quick post.  Could do with a couple more weeks to get organised for Christmas.  Still got some cards to make and a thank you card, as well as my gift tags, sweetie bags and snowman soup. Not to mention the fact that I still have shopping to do.  Definitely not organised this year.  Not get crafting much tonight as it is Hollie's school carol service, so will pop by later to catch up on your blogs to see what I have been missing these last few days.

I am entering my card into two challenges :-

Papertake Weekly - I'm Dreaming Of A (fave colour) Christmas - traditional red and green - hope this ok for the challenge
Dream Valley # 22 - Christmas

Cardblank - Craftwork Cards
Cardstock - Paper Mill
Patterned Paper - Echo Park
Image - Stampavie
Coloured with Distress Inks
Pearls - Mei Flower
Ribbon from local craft shop
Martha Stewart Punch
Marianne Poinsettia
Stickles

Again I have made two of these, helps me to catch up a bit. 

Although I was running out of the paper I used, so the insides of the two cards are different.

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

A Gem of a Challenge # 33, Pollycraft Monday # 117, Papertake Weekly, Dream Valley # 19, Simon Says Stamp

Another card to share tonight. 

Took Hollie back to the hospital today for her follow-up appointment and they said that her finger is starting to heal, although it was a very nasty break. Have to take her back again in two weeks and I asked if she could be seen at our local hospital and thankfully they said yes.  An 80 mile round trip just to sit in a waiting room, then get an x-ray and wait a while longer just for a one minute consultation.

Anyway, I am entering my card into five challenges:-

A Gem of a Challenge # 33 - Cold and Frosty (if it doesn't fit the challenge, please delete)
Pollycraft Monday # 117 - Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes (had followed the sketch from last week's challenge but didn't get it entered in time)
Dream Valley # 19 - Anything Goes (second entry)
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes (second entry)

Carblank - Craftwork Cards
Cardstock - Paper Mill
Patterned Paper - My Minds Eye (free with a magazine)
Image - Pink Gem
Coloured with Distress Inks
Stickles
Martha Stewart Punch
EK Success Corner Punch
Nestabilities

Thanks again for popping by. Your comments are very much appreciated.
Ribbon from local craft shop

Simon Says Stamp, Sugar Bowl # 70 and Dream Valley # 19

Back with another Christmas card and photographs of Sophie at her own school formal on the 20th of this month. 

I am entering my card into three challenges:-

Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Sugar Bowl # 70 - Follow Sketch - optional theme - clean and simple
Dream Valley # 19 - Anything Goes

Cardblank - Craftwork Cards
Cardstock - Paper Mill
Patterned Paper - Echo Park
Gems - Mei Flower
Image - Sugar Nellie
Coloured with Distress Inks
Sentiment - Hero Arts
Stickles

Here are photographs from Sophie's second school formal. Definitely a costly night out and she had TWO of them.  Her other formal photographs are on my previous post. Shannon's formal is on Wednesday night, so will show these hopefully over the weekend.

Had a busy house that night as all the other parents were there as well as both sets of grandparents.  The limo driver had fun trying to get to our house with so many cars parked in the street. Anyway she had a great night and she looked beautiful.

Thanks for popping by, as your comments are always appreciated.  Think I got caught up last night with all my commenting. Apologies again for not being around recently.

Truly Scrumptious # 61, Moving Along With The Times # 107, Dream Valley # 11

Well I got the Bathroom decorated and decided to replace all the accessories as well so I think I will leave the Kitchen for a week or two, and do some crafting and cleaning instead....   

I am entering my card into three challenges :-

Truly Scrumptious # 61 - Follow Sketch
Moving Along With The Times # 107 - My Favourite Things
(Stampavie image, Distress inks, Woodware flower punches and Martha Stewart punches)
Dream Valley # 11 - Summer Theme (hope the image is fine as I normally associate summer with lots of flowers in the garden)

Cardblank - Craftwork Cards
Cardstock - Paper Mill
Patterned Papers - My Minds Eye
Image - Stampavie
Coloured with Distress Inks
Woodware Flower Punch
Pearls - Mei Flower
Martha Stewart Daisy Punch

Thanks for popping by, hope everyone is having a good summer despite the weather, feels more like winter it is so cold and wet.  Think we had our summer over the Easter holidays, it gets earlier every year.....

Lily of the Valley # 102, Totally Gorjuss # 86, Colour Create # 73, Dream Valley # 10

Sorry for the lack of posts and commenting but it has just been really busy and don't know where the days have gone.  Sophie finishes school tomorrow and Hollie fnishes on Thursday and I still have things to do before then. 

Took a bit of time out last night and made a card, just to kind of chill out after a lot of cleaning and tidying.  Also trying to sort out some things to maybe go to a car boot sale or two over the summer. 

I am entering my card into four challenges:

Lily of the Valley # 102 - Sketch by Donalda
Colour Create # 73 - Blue, Grey and White
Dream Valley # 10 - Ribbon
Totally Gorjuss # 86 - Ribbon and Lace (if my card doesn't suit this challenge, I apologise, I used my Martha Stewart Doily Lace punch)

Liked how it turned out for a change, so made two.  Two more Christmas cards made.

The doily lace punch doesn't show up very well but it does look nice at the edge.  Ran out of paper too for the insides as there was only two 6x6 sheets of each and had used them for the front.

Cardblanks - Craftwork Cards
Cardstock - Paper Mill
Patterned Paper - Echo Park
Image - Lily of the Valley
Coloured with Distress Inks
Charm - Pink Gem (got these for last Christmas and never used them)
Ribbon - Making Memories
Martha Stewart Doily Border Punch
Nestabilities

I must apologise for not visiting your blogs, but I hope to get caught up over the next day or so and comment on all the cards I missed last week. 

Shannon passed her theory test last Saturday, so hopefully will get to do her driving test soon. Hollie had her sports day on Monday evening instead of during school.  Wednesday evening was out for dinner with leaders and helpers at Girls Brigade and planned for next term.  Friday night, went to see Bryan Adams in concert.  Totally amazing, two and a quarter hours of non stop music, never even stopped for a drink until his encore. Saw him in concert 4-5 years ago but this was definitely the best concert.  Want to go again.  Hope he comes back sooner this time.

Thanks for popping by and will be round to visit you all later.

A Gem of a Challenge # 21, A Spoonfull of Sugar # 152, Craft Us Crazy # 8, Dream Valley # 7, Moving Along With The Times # 99, Papertake Weekly

Got a chance to make a card this morning as I didn't see much point starting housework, etc when Shannon was only in school for 2 hours or so for her AS English Literature exam. She had her Spanish and French orals last week and her Spanish AS written exam is this Wednesday.

I am entering my card into six challenges:-

A Gem of a Challenge # 21 - Aqua, Lemon and Pink
A Spoonfull of Sugar # 152 - Anything Goes (too late)
Craft Us Crazy # 8 - Something New or Favourite Embellishments - Papers are one of my most recent set and the woodware punches are my favourite flowers
Dream Valley # 7 - Dig out the old to use with the new - Papers - New - Image Old
Moving Along With The Times # 99 - Sketch
Papertake Weekly - Bloom & Grow - Use flowers or Molly Bloom image - Flowers
Hope my card is suitable for these challenges

Have put in these two photos as wasn't sure which one was better

Inside of card

Cardblank - Craftwork Cards
Papers - Dovecraft
Image - Pink Gem
Coloured with Distress Inks
Sentiment - Pink Gem
Pearls - Mei Flower
Woodware Punches

Tried to distress the edges again with my blender sponge but smudged the flowers by accident.  Not really happy with this card but at least its a start at making them again.

Have been really busy this last week or so as it had been our local road races - North West 200 - and we are either out at the practice racing sessions or at the pitts during the week.  Race day was on Saturday and was a disaster. Weather played a large part in it as it was really wet and isn't safe for the riders.  We were on one of the grandstands at the paddocks and got soaked.  First race went very well and Hollie was cheering her favourite rider on - Cameron Donald - he finished second and she was really chuffed.  Wasn't able to see him this year as everytime she went round to his paddock stand he wasn't there, so she was disappointed.  What happened next you couldn't have predicted - an announcement to say due to circumstances beyond their control, could everyone please leave the paddocks - security alert.  This was at 12.15pm and they said racing would commence again at 1pm.  You couldn't really check and make a large area safe in 45 mins.  Racing was held up indefinitely and it just got wetter and wetter.  Time for home.  Watched the rest on the red button on the tv.  No more racing, when they had a practice lap, a bike was leaking oil and it wasn't safe.  They tried to clean it up but it was just made worse as it was only resurfaced recently.  Should have been called off long before 5.30pm.  Felt sorry for the riders as they sat on the grid all afternoon wanting to race.  Spectators waited but ended up going home after  seeing no more racing.  Really disappointed in the whole event this year. Even before race day it lacked atmosphere, etc. Here are a couple of photographs which I got on Friday night.

William Dunlop and Hollie

Michael Dunlop and Hollie.  Both brothers but race for different teams

Gary Johnston and Hollie

Adrian Archibald and his son with Hollie

Apart from the racing, this is one of our favourite things to do, spot the riders and get photographs and autographs.

Anyway, sorry for the long post and if you are not interested in road racing.  Thanks for popping by and I hope you have escaped the weather we are having.  Today showery with very strong gales.

Craft Us Crazy # 7, Dream Valley # 6, Pollycraft Monday # 91, Papertake Weekly and Sketch Saturday # 153

Just a quick post tonight as I am watching the football match.  At the minute it is two nil to Man United.  What a final it will be if it is Man United and Barcelona. Knew I wouldn't be able to craft tonight so made this card earlier today after doing a lot of bookwork for hubby as it is the vat quarter and end of year accounts.

I am entering my card into five challenges:-

Craft Us Crazy # 7 - Flowers or Mothers Day - (went for flowers - hope the flowers on the papers and image and new spellbinder die count)
Dream Valley # 6 - Flowers - (again hope flowers on papers and image and spellbinder die count)
Pollycraft Monday # 91 - Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Sketch Saturday # 153 - Follow Sketch

Sorry for the poor quality of the photos, think I left it too late to take the photo.  Have put them on as large size as Katina asked me to do this.  Not sure about the size as I think a lot more of my flaws will show up.

Cardblank - Craftwork Cards
Cardstock - Bazzill
Patterned Paper - My Minds Eye (free with magazine)
Pearls - Mei Flower
Image - Stampavie - Sarah Kay
Coloured with Distress Inks
Spellbinders - Flower Doily and Motifs Die
Ribbon - Amercian Crafts

Sponged around the image in blue distress ink to soften it a little and quite like the effect.

Thanks for popping by, hope you are still enjoying this gorgeous weather although we have rain forecast for tomorrow.  Off to watch the second half of the match and then collect Shannon from work at 9.30pm.

Dream Valley # 3

Sorry for the lack of posts but life has just been very busy.  Hubby has had "Man Flu" recently and Hollie was off school sick too. 

Went to see Taylor Swift in concert last Friday night and it was amazing.  She was totally overwhelmed with the audience and the girls had a great night.  I really enjoyed her support act, Ryan Sheridan, not often these acts are that good. Tomorrow night Shannon and Sophie are going to see McFly and on Wednesday night we are going to see Westlife.  When we got the girls these tickets for Christmas, we didn't realise they were quite so close together.

Anyway, I haven't had any time to do much crafting but got these items made last night and this morning for my mum for Mother's Day.  I have missed most of the Mother's Day challenges but think I am still in time for Dream Valley Challenges.

I had made my mum a calendar card for Christmas and she picked the papers, so I thought I would use the same papers and make these for her instead of buying a present as she can be hard to buy for and never asks for anything.

I made a tissue box.  This came as plain wood and I altered it with the new amazing Distress Stains from Tim Holtz, think this is my new favourite craft item.  I used K & Co Wild Saffron papers and K & Co embellishments.

Two bare wood tea light candle holders, again Distress Stain and K & Co Wild Saffron Papers and some gems and K & Co flowers.

Wooden calendar, Distress Stains and K & Co papers and Gems.  Image is one of my favourites, Daisy from Sugar Nellie.

And finally a Papermania word album - Family - K & Co papers and ribbons from stash. I have left it for mum to put on her own photos, etc. 

I hope my mum likes her gifts, I am nearly tempted to keep them myself as the colours would go so well in my home.

Hope you are all well and have had a good weekend. Thanks for popping by and visiting.

Friday Sketchers # 143, Stampavie and More # 130, Bunny Zoe's Crafts # 9 and Dream Valley # 1

I was hoping to have this card posted last night but unfortunately Hollie somehow broke the printer and I couldn't print out the sentiment.  She had been trying to print something out and it just started making weird noises and saying there was an error.  Hubby and I both checked it out but it just wouldn't work, so new printer bought this morning and card finished.  Could have done without the extra expenditure but these things happen.

I am entering my card into four challenges:-
Friday Sketchers # 143 - Follow Sketch
Stampavie and More # 130 - Welcome
Bunny Zoe's Crafts # 9 - Spring - Flowers - (flowers on papers and image as well as card
Dream Valley # 1 - Anything Goes

one of the pearls seem to have moved, only noticed it when checking blog entry, will try and get it photographed again and re-entered on blog

Cardblank - Craftwork Cards
Cardstock - Paper Mill
Patterned Paper - Echo Park
Image - Stampavie
Coloured with Distress Inks
Martha Stewart Double Edge Punch
Martha Stewart Branch Punch
Pearls - Mei Flower
Flowers - Melly's Christmas Candy
Sentiment - Computer generated

Katina had asked me what type of shop we have.  Never realised in my posts I hadn't mentioned this.  We have two shops and we sell guitars, drums, keyboards, etc and we also have guitar and drum lessons. 

I have also forget to let you know that my little niece is being called Lydia with her middle names being Kathryn Jane after her mum.

This is my eldest daughter Shannon with Lydia.  Shannon is besotted with her and couldn't wait for her to waken so she could get to nurse her.  We were all out for our dinner on Sunday evening as my dad's birthday is on Wednesday. 

Shannon took this photograph of me and Lydia.  I don't like getting my photograph taken but this one isn't too bad.

Shannon took this photograph on her mobile, although it is not that clear she looks so alert to be only 3 weeks today.

Sorry for the long post, thanks for popping by and visiting, all your comments are very much appreciated.  Off now to do some ironing, maybe get another card started and then tonight I am taking the girls to see The Saturdays in concert with supporting band Twenty Twenty.