Sweet Blossom

Sorry for the lack of posts, been  looking after my little nephew until last weekend and then my daughter had her graduation -  BA Hons in Spanish with French with a Diploma in Professional Practice (International), (she worked in a school in Linares, Spain for her placement year).

Recently sorted through all my crafty supplies and came across stamps that I had forgotten about and some that had never been used.

Made this card with Sweet Blossom from Whimsy Stamps - she is really cute and lovely to colour

Image - Sweet Blossom - Whimsy Stamps
Paper - Echo Park - Hello Summer
Flourish and Flowers - Spellbinders Shapeabilities Die D-Lites - Floral Corner One
Tattered Lace - Pin Dot Decorative Rectangles
Coloured with Distress Inks
Sentiment - free with magazine

Sentiment - Stampendous
Nuovo Drops


I am entering my card into 10 challenges :-

Bunny Zoes - Summer
Craft Your Passion # 319 - Anything Goes
Stampavie # 266 - Flowers
Creative Moments #97 - Anything Goes
Inspiration Destination #93  - Anything Goes
In the Pink #98 - Pink and All or Nothing Embellishments
Simply Papercraft #32 - Anything Goes
Sisters of Craft - Anything Goes
Creative Ladybirds #17 - Anything Goes
Crafty Calendar Challenge - Punches or Dies

Thank you for visiting and any comments you leave are appreciated x

Stampavie - Cheeky Boy

Another card today which I am entering into five challenges :-

Moving Along With The Times - No 20. Man or Boy
Bunny Zoe's Monthly Challenge - Lovely Layers
Inspiration Destination # 85 - Anything Goes
Sisters of Craft - May Challenge - Anything Goes
Our Crafty Corner # 9 - Anything Goes

Image - Stampavie - Cheeky Boy
Coloured with Distress Inks
Embossed Edge Border Punch - Martha Stewart
Picket Fence Edge Punch - Martha Stewart
Spellbinders Nestabilites Standard Large Circles
Spellbinders Nestabilities Large Labels
Paper - My Minds Eye - Fine and Dandy
Ribbon from stash
Kite Embellishment from stash

Many thanks for visiting my blog and any comments you leave are much appreciated x

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.

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

Finally getting to post my first card of 2012.  Coloured this image on New Years Day but never got the card made until last night.  Needed a new calendar card for my hall so thought it would tie in with the challenges for Happy New Year.

I am entering my card into four challenges:-

Simon Says Stamp - New Something - (New Year)
Moving Along With The Times - Step Back In Time - Music/Retro Related - (thought this image would suit the challenge)
My Mum's Craft Shop # 38 - Something New - (New Year)
Paper Play #1 '12 - Happy New Year

Apologies for the photographs

Cardblank- Craftwork Cards
Cardstock- Bazzill
Patterned Paper - My Minds Eye - Hattie
Image - Stampavie
Coloured with Distress Inks
Ribbon - Local craft shop
Woodware Flower Punch
Gems - Mei Flower
Calendar - Stationery Shop

Thanks for popping by and any comments are very much appreciate. 

P.S. Hollie just posted the candles she made onto her blog - http://holliescraftingblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/candles.html

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.

Papertake Weekly, Samuel Taylors, Colour Create # 85, Moving Along With The Times

Just a quick post from me tonight.  Been really busy helping hubby in shop and have had Sophie off school last week for revision for her mock GCSE exams this week.  She only has two mornings and one half day to go in this week and then that is her until January. 

I am entering my card into four challenges:-

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes (sketch is from last weeks challenge but never got the card finished until yesterday)
Samuel Taylors - Anything Goes
Colour Create # 85 - Red, White and Green
Moving Along With The Times # 127 - Last Minute Christmas

Only noticed forgot to colour in one of the penguins flippers.  Before I could photograph it again after colouring it, Hollie had wrote and sealed it for her teacher.

Cardblank - Craftwork Cards
Cardstock - Papermill
Patterned Paper - Doodlebug
Gems - Mei Flower
Image - Stampavie
Coloured with Distress Inks
Ribbon from local craft shop
Stickles
Sentiment - Hero Arts

Thank you for popping by, hope to catch up with you later tonight or tomorrow.

Forgot to mention I won Day 1 on the LOTV's 12 Days of Christmas Candy.

Two Christmas Cards

Back tonight with a couple of Christmas cards that I made but never got posted.

Cardblank - Craftwork Cards
Cardstock - Paper Mill
Patterned Paper - Echo Park
Image - Stampavie
Coloured with Distress Inks
Gems - Mei Flower
Woodware Snowflake Punch
Sentiment - Hero Arts

Cardblank - Craftwork Cards
Cardstock - Bazzill
Patterned Paper - Echo Park
Image - Stampavie
Coloured with Distress Inks
Gems - Mei Flower
Sentiment - Hero Arts

Went to Altnagelvin Hospital with Hollie on Tuesday. Sat for about an hour, then was called to see the doctor, only to be told Hollie needed an x-ray.  Another half hour later and three more x-rays, the doctor said her finger was definitely broken.  They strapped two of her fingers together and gave her a review appointment in another week.  Basically they only did what our local hospital had done on Sunday.  Hollie was not happy that she missed a day off school.

Here are a couple of photographs of my second daughter, Sophie, going to her friend Andrew Crawford's formal - St Joseph's on 13th October.

You may recognise this dress as it was the one Shannon wore last year to her formal. Lucky it fitted Sophie too as I wasn't for buying her two formal dresses. Will show you Sophie's own formal photographs which was last Thursday night on my next post.

Thanks for popping by and hope to get caught up with the rest of my commenting tonight or tomorrow.

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.....

A Gem of a Challenge # 25, Pollycraft Monday # 101, Simon Says Stamp, Stampavie and More # 147, Allsorts # 112 and Totally Gorjuss # 89

Not much crafting time at the minute as I have decided to do some decorating.  I find when you do one room and it looks so much fresher, you then want to do all the rooms.  Shannon's room was the first to be done and it is now finished.  Then I did her en-suite, which both her and Sophie share and now I am starting the bathroom. Would love to get Sophie and Hollie's rooms done before they go back to school but they still haven't decided on bedding yet. So maybe the kitchen will be next after the bathroom is finished.

I am entering my card into six challenges :-

A Gem of a Challenge # 25 - Lets Hear It For The Boys
Pollycraft Monday # 101  - The Great Outdoors
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Stampavie and More # 147 - Birthday
Allsorts # 112 - Free and Easy
Totally Gorjuss # 89 - All About Boys

Cardblank - Craftwork Cards
Cardstock - Paper Mill
Patterned Paper - My Minds Eye
Image - Stampavie
Coloured with Distress Inks
Bunting - Molly Bloom - free with magazine
Martha Stewart Punch
Sentiment - Free with Magazine

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

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.

Sketch Saturday # 152, Simon Says Stamp, Stampavie and More # 139, A Gem of a Challenge # 19, Craft Us Crazy # 6

Just a quick post from me today.  Isn't the weather beautiful.  Not often the girls are off school and have good weather.  Lets just hope this is not our summer. 

Got a chance to make a card last night while watching Holby and between taxi runs for my daughter Sophie who was watching a football match for U16's.  More likely the boys she was watching and not the game.

I am entering my card into five challenges :-

Sketch Saturday # 152 - Follow Sketch - (left off sentiment and put it inside instead)
Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Anything Goes
Stampavie and More # 13 - Pearls
A Gem of a Challenge # 19 - Pearls and Swirls
Craft Us Crazy # 6 - Thinking of You with sentiment and/or animals (didn't use animals)

Cardblank - Craftwork Cards
Cardstock - Paper Mill
Patterned Paper - Echo Park
Woodware Punch
Swirl - Marianne Design
Pearls - Mei Flower
Image - Stamapvie - Sarah Kay
Coloured with Distress Inks

Off now to make Shannon some tea before she goes to work.  She is not getting to enjoy much of the sunshine between working and revising for her AS levels.

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

A Spoonfull of Sugar # 148, Bunny Zoe's Crafts # 11, Papertake Weekly and Stampavie and More # 138

Hope everyone is well and enjoying this lovely weather.  Sorry for the lack of posts but haven't had much crafting time as it has just been so busy.  Had a couple of GB rehearsals and then the GB display, Hollie won the shield for her section and also best squad, went to the craft show in Belfast, gave the garden its first cut and lots of weeding and strimming, went shopping in Belfast with the girls on Thursday and of course taxi service for the girls.  

When I did get a chance to make a card it just wouldn't work and I just left it, as I don't think I was really in the mood.  Have tried this sketch (Allsorts) since last week and have made three or four attempts using different papers and then when I went to put it all together last night and checked the challenge, I was too late as it had to be uploaded before 6pm.  So I then repositioned the image and added the embellishment and sentiment in a different place and I am a bit happier with it but not much, although I did get it finished.  Was a hard sketch for me. 

I am entering my card into four challenges now:-

A Spoonfull of Sugar # 148 - Let's Celebrate (Birthday)
Bunny Zoe's Crafts Monthly Challenge # 11 - One for the Boys
Papertake Weekly - Spots N Stripes
Stampavie and More # 138 - Birthday

Cardblank - Craftwork Cards
Cardstock - Paper Mill
Patterned Paper, Embellishment and Letter Stickers - Echo Park
Image - Stampavie (definitely one of my favourite from their last release)
Coloured with Distress Inks

Sorry for the poor photos, it looks much better than this and I had edged it with blue distress ink which doesn't really show up.

Thanks for popping by and I wish you all a very happy Easter and hope the weather continues to be good.

Truly Scrumptious # 52, A Spoonfull of Sugar # 142 and Simon Says Stamp

Very wet and cold here today with the forecast for more snow. Where did spring go, was nice for a few days.

Not happy with the way this card photographed.  The layout, colours and image are fine but the colours in the image have photographed a lot lighter than they are on the card. The brown is a little lighter, but not that much, as it was my darkest brown in the distress inks that I used.  Think I may have to go and get a darker brown if there is one. 

I am entering my card into three challenges:-

Truly Scrumptous # 52 - Sketch by Mandy
A Spoonfull of Sugar # 142 - Vintage/Shabby theme (image)
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes

Cardblank - Craftwork Cards
Cardstock - Paper Mill
Patterned Paper - Die Cuts With a View
Image - Stampavie
Coloured with Distress Inks
Woodware Punch
Pearls 

Apologies again for the photograph, thanks for popping by and visiting. Any comments are much appreciated.

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.

Papertake Weekly # 53, Winter Wonderland and Craft Us Crazy # 2

Well I have finally got the chance to make a card tonight.  I have had a very stressful two weeks.  Have been helping hubby with orders in the shop, doing my dads accounts and doing the vat quarter for my hubby's accounts.  There has also been a lot of hassle with BT for the new shop but we got it finally opened on Monday, phone line in yesterday but have to wait for 5 days for broadband even though the order was placed on 4th February and were told it would take 10 days.  Who would have thought that a flood caused by a shop next door over Christmas would cause this much hassle and put us out of business for over two months and have to relocate premises. Just glad things are getting back to some sort of normality.

I am entering this card into three challenges:-

Papertake Weekly # 53- Follow Sketch
Winter Wonderland - Include an animal (also must be a Christmas card)
Craft Us Crazy # 2 - Brrr It's Cold Outside 

I know it seems odd to make a Christmas card now but you are never to early to start, so I made two.

Sorry for the poor quality.  As I was taking the photograph the table collapsed and one of the legs fell off.  It has been a bit loose and had asked hubby to re-glue it but he has just been so busy.  It is glued now and hopefully will be set for tomorrow or there will be no Sunday dinner.

Both of the insides are different as I ran out of paper.  I only had one sheet of each .

Cardblank - Craftwork Cards
Patterned Papers - My Minds Eye
Cardstock - Die Cuts With a View
Image - Stampavie
Coloured with Distress Inks
Stickles
Martha Stewart Punch
Gems - Mei Flower
Sentiment - Hero Arts

I received these awards from Lizzy on the 22nd February but I am only getting a chance to post them now. Thanks very much Lizzy for thinking on me, it is very much appreciated and I accept them both.

This special award - Liebster Blog -  is aimed at bringing unknown good blogs to light, and, in accepting this award I have to agree to the following ........


1) You have been tagged, do you want to accept? YES! then create a post on your blog and post the love blog photo.
2) Link back to the person who gave you the award and say if you accept.
3) Choose 3-5 of your favourite blogs to tag, link these in your post too and tell the lucky people they have been tagged.


As the aim of this award is to bring unknown good blogs to light, please don't tag somebody with 3000 followers.


I am passing these awards onto:

Mina - Pinkpuds
Debby - A Scrapjourney
Melly -Mels Craft Room
Christine - Dol Creations
Sandra - Cherry Pickin's

Thank you very much for all your comments and encouragement. Please feel free to take either or both.

Thanks very much for popping by and visiting my blog.  I appreciate all your comments.

Truly Scrumptious # 50

Started this on Friday night after tea before getting Shannon from work at 9pm and Sophie from her friends at 9.30pm and then thought I could make two of these cards and they would do for anniversary cards for our parents.  So got them finished last night.
My mum and dad's 44th anniversary is on the 25th March and hubby's mum and dad's 45th anniversary is on the 17th March (St Patrick's Day). 
I have wanted to use this image but didn't know what for and this seemed appropriate.  Although hubby thought I was maybe pushing it a bit and telling them they were "old." 
I wish I had got this image two  years ago as it would have suited hubby's grandparents better.  They were 94 and 97 when they passed away and this image would have suited them so well.

I am only entering my card into one challenge this time :-
Truly Scrumptious # 50 - A Sketch

I have left the message inside blank as I am looking on the internet for a nice anniversary quote or sentiment to add.

Cardblank - Craftwork Cards
Cardstock - Paper Mill
Patterned Papers - K & Co
Image - Stampavie - Mo Manning
Coloured with Distress Inks
Ribbon - Making Memories
Gems - Mei Flower
Woodware Punch
Nestabilities

Thanks for popping by and visiting.  Your comments are very much appreciated.  Hope everyone has had a good weekend.

Took Hollie to the cinema this afternoon to see Disney's Tangled.  Was very good although I cried at the end. Yes, I even cry at Disney films. Shannon and Sophie went to see A Little Bit of Heaven, I think that is what it is called and when Shannon came out, you knew she had been crying and Sophie said she cried throughout the film. Both said it was a very good film and they enjoyed it.

Must go and get the dinner started as hubby has been working in the new shop to try and get it ready for opening in about a weeks time.  Still getting nowhere with the loss assessors so we have contacted our insurance company directly to try and get it sorted. 

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.