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.

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.

Pollycraft Monday # 97, A Gem of a Challenge # 23, Totally Gorjuss # 84, Sugar Bowl # 62, Flutter By Wednesday # 159, Stampavie # 145

Can't believe how long it is since I last made a card.  With Hollie being off at the start of the month for a week, we had a few nice days so we spent it doing some gardening.  Then I decided to sort out my craft shelves and then stamp onto white card every image that I have.  Didn't get it all finished but got most of it done apart from my wooden stamps and the freebie stamps.  Thought it would make it easier when looking for an image as I forget sometimes what I have.  Have spent the last week sorting out hall cupboards and doing more bookwork, so then this week the house can get a good cleaning before school finishes on the 30th.  Shannon finishes today as this is her last AS exam - French. Fngers crossed it goes well.

I am entering my card into six challenges :-

Pollycraft Monday # 97 - Ribbon and Flowers
A Gem of a Challenge # 23 - Bloomin Charmin (flowers and charms)
Totally Gorjuss # 84 - Flower Power
Sugar Bowl # 62 - Sketch and optional theme of summer
Flutter By Wednesday # 159 - Pink, Orange and Green plus fairy, butterfly or angel
Stampavie and More # 145 - Butterflies

Cardblank - Craftwork Cards
Patterned Paper - Fancy Pants - Beach Babe
Image - Sugar Nellie
Coloured with Distress Inks
Nestabilites - Lacey Ovals
Woodware Flower Punch
Tonic Butterfly Punch
Martha Stewart - Fence and Icicle Punch (turned the incicle punch the other way to look like grass, don't know if it worked)
Gems and Ribbon - Mei Flower
Butterfly Charm - The Works
Sentiment - Free with magazine

Went to my primary school reunion on Saturday night.  It covered those leaving in 1979/1980 as six people were in P7 for two years. I went with five others from my year.  We were given stickers to write our names on when we arrived and we laughed as we thought we would recognise most people.  After a while we were looking for the stickers to help us out.  Was a good night and ended up asking Shannon on Sunday to set me up on Facebook as everyone else was on it and then we could stay in touch.

Thanks for popping by, hope you all have a good weekend.

Papertake Weekly, Cute Card Thursday # 162, Lily of the Valley # 94, Moving Along With TheTimes # 96 and Totally Gorjuss # 78

We are having some fantastic weather at the minute, great for the girls when they are off school as it normally rains on school holidays.  They go back on Tuesday and then Hollie is off again on Thursday and Friday.  On Thursday we have local elections and her school is used as a polling station and on Friday she is getting off in lieu of the Royal Wedding as they were still on their Easter holidays.

I got a chance to start a card last night after another nice barbecue and before I started a load of ironing.  To warm to cook inside and great to get all your washing and bedding done and aired. Got it finished this morning, so thought I would post it now before I start to do some more gardening.

I am entering my card into five challenges:-

Papertake Weekly - Follow Sketch
Cute Card Thursday # 162 - Use an old sketch or one from another blog (Papertake Weekly)
Lily of the Valley # 94 - Love Is In The Air
Moving Along With The Times # 96 - Anything Goes
Totally Gorjuss # 78 - 123 Recipe - 1 patterned paper, 2 Punches (Martha Stewart Border Punch and Woodware Flower Punch) and 3 Flowers

Cardblank - Craftwork Cards

Patterned Paper - Local craft shop

Cardstock - Paper Mill

Martha Stewart Punch

Woodware Punch

Image - LOTV

Coloured with Distress Inks

Computer Generated Sentiment

Gems - Mei Flower

Ribbon - Doodlebug

Thanks for popping by and visiting my blog.  Any comments are greatly appreciated and I hope you all have a great bank holiday weekend.

Sugar Bowl # 58, Cute Card Thursday # 161 and Totally Gorjuss # 77

Hope everyone has had a good Easter weekend. 
Shannon was working yesterday and when she came home we had a family barbecue.  Today I made our usual Easter dinner of Turkey and Ham (same as Christmas dinner) and then got a chance to make a card.  Two posts in two days better not jinx it.

I am entering my card into three challenges:-

Sugar Bowl # 58 - Follow sketch and optional theme of buttons (I rotated the sketch, hope that is ok)
Cute Card Thursday # 161 - No text (works for this challenge as I couldn't find a verse/sentiment using a butterfly/rainbow quote)
Totally Gorjuss # 77 - Bling It On (hope my paper works - it is glittery but with a 3d glossy effect - not sure it shows up really well)

Apologies for the photographs as they haven't turned out to good.

Cardblank - Craftwork Cards
Cardstock - Paper Mill
Patterned Paper - Wild Rose Studio and Best Creations
Image - Sugar Nellie (Simply Sassy)
Coloured with Distress Inks
Glossy Accents for the Paint, Picture and Paintbrush
Crafts Too Flower Punch
Buttons from stash
Cotton Twine

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

Friday Sketchers # 145, Lily of the Valley # 87, Bunny Zoe's Crafts # 10 and Totally Gorjuss # 71

Got a chance to make a card last night and finished it off this morning. 

I am entering it into four challenges:-
Friday Sketchers # 145 - Sketch by Jacque
Lily of the Valley # 87 - Say it with Flowers
Bunny Zoe's Crafts Monthly Challenge # 10 - Happy Birthday with lots of pearls
Totally Gorjuss # 71 - Pearls and Lace

Cardblank - Craftwork Cards
Cardstock - Paper Mill
Patterned Paper - Kaisercraft
Pearls
Image - LOTV
Coloured with Distress Inks
Sentiment - LOTV
Happy Birthday Sentiment - Free with magazine
Woodware Punches
Martha Stewart Punch
Paper Cellar - Raffia Lace

I also want to show you photographs of two bracelets that Hollie and I made this weekend, using beads and safety pins.  Hollie was watching me and asked if she could help and she really enjoyed it and wore her bracelet yesterday.

My washing machine broke on Friday night.  Can't help thinking what is going to be next as so many things have broke already this year and it is only March.  Engineer is coming out tomorrow and I am hoping he will tell me that they will replace it with a new machine.  The drum has collapsed, which means the rubber around the door is twisted as well.  The drawer and kick plate at the moment flew off during the spin cycle and they won't go back on again.  The slot for the drawer has totally dismantled and the electrics also seem to be broke too.  It was quite scary, as we were having our tea and the machine started to make strange noises and everything started flying off it and items fell from the utility shelves and our poor dog was so scared.   Mum is doing my washing for me as I still had the uniforms to wash for the girls for school today.  So fingers crossed for a new machine.

Thanks for taking the time to pop by and visit.

Sugar Bowl # 52, Totally Gorjuss # 65, Flutterby Wednesday # 140, Papertake Weekly

Another card made but it is one of those that you can't put your finger on what is missing.  It just seems to be lacking something.  Maybe I choose the wrong papers or image.  Anyway, a few flowers and gems later and it seems a bit better. I have left the sentiment off as i couldn't really think of one.  Was going along the lines of - This girls got art-i-tude, but decided against it.

I am entering my card into four challenges :-

Sugar Bowl # 52 - Sketch - optional theme love (didn't use this)
Totally Gorjuss # 65 - Anything Goes
Flutterby Wednesday # 140 - Open theme just use a fairy, butterfly or angel
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes plus flowers

Cardblank - Craftwork Cards
Patterned Papers - Echo Park
Cardstock - Paper Mill
Woodware Punch
Gems - Mei Flower
Image - Sugar Nellie
Coloured with Distress Inks
Butterfly Charm - stash
Raffia Lace - Paper Cellar

Thanks very much for popping by, I know it can get very busy sometimes.  Your comments are much appreciated and I would like to say thank you to Debby and Alison on their advice on the Grand Calibur.  Must check it out a bit more.  I do have the big shot and the cuttlebug (which sit on a shelf and rarely get used), it was just I liked the shaped cards that I see a few people using. I also want to say hello and thank you to Lena another new follower.

Off now to the supermarket to get a few things for the girls packed lunches and maybe nip into town before I have to start the school runs and make tea as it Girls Brigade tonight, so will be busy later.

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.

Sugar Bowl # 47, Totally Gorjuss # 56 and Pollycraft Monday # 70

Got to make another card yesterday.  Definitely was a good weekend as I got to make three cards.  I know that doesn't seem a lot but for me that is so good.


I am entering my card into three challenges:-
Sugar Bowl # 47 - Follow Sketch with added option of ribbons and bows.  (Didn't do the option)
Totally Gorjuss # 56 - Christmas - Traditional Colours
Pollycraft Monday Challenge # 70 - A Glittery Christmas


Cardblank - Craftwork Cards
Papers - Echo Park
Image - Sugar Nellie
Coloured with Distress Inks
Stickles
Martha Stewart Punch (another of my new punches)
Sentiments - Echo Park
Brad from stash

I am really enjoying these Martha Stewart punches.  I only had the Doily Lace and it didn't always give a clean cut as it is so intricate.  These ones are just so easy to work with and I will definitely be using them more than I thought I would.


Thanks for popping by on this cold foggy frosty morning.  Off now to do the housework, well Sophie's bedroom anyway as she had her friend Chloe to stay for the wekend and you probably can imagine what her bedroom looks like.  

Cute Card Thursday, Papertake Weekly and Totally Gorjuss

This is one of my newest stamp purchases. I love the image and it was beautiful to colour, but I am not sure about my card.  When I had inked up my stamp and coloured it, these were the first papers I came across as I had bought them recently at the Paper Mill shop.  Normally I only buy cardstock but they had these papermania papers on offer, so I purchased them and they were still sitting in their  bag as I hadn't had a chance to put them away as yet.
Anyway the papers aren't too bad, but maybe it is just because the reindeers are not all going the same way, so it just feels as if something is wrong.
I am entering my card into 3 challenges - Totally Gorjuss # 48 - An animal
                                                            Papertake Weekly - Animal Magic
                                                            Cute Card Thursday # 131 - Follow Sketch
Cardstock - Paper Mill
Patterned Papers - Papermania
Ribbon - Dovecraft
Charm from stash
Image - Stampavie Design by Penny Johnson (purchased from Dies to Die For)
Sentiment - Pink Gem
Ice Stickles
Coloured with Distress Inks


I hope to do a bit of crafting this weekend but who knows. My eldest daughter Shannon is working tonight and Sophie my second daughter has a friend coming after school and having a sleepover. My youngest daughter Hollie will maybe have other plans for me or maybe she will craft as well.
Thanks for popping by, I do appreciate your comments and I hope you have a nice weekend.

Pink Gem, Totally Gorjuss, Paper take Weekly and Flutterby Wednesday

Finally got round to making a card.  Have had a busy few days and not much time for crafting.  My other half took a few days off at the end of last week and we took the girls to The Ulster Folk Museum in Bangor and Ice Skating at Dundonald on Friday.  Saturday we went to go to Belfast Zoo, only it was very wet when we arrived, so instead went out the coast road to Portaferry, across on the ferry boat to Strangford and then home in time for the X-Factor. Sunday was not to bad a day, so decided to get a little more fence painting, etc done in the back garden, so that it is ready for the winter. Then on Monday I started to get uniforms, etc labelled for going back to school as my youngest daughter Hollie started back today (Thursday) and is in P5.  Seems like only yesterday she started P1 and cried for the whole year as she didn't want to stay.  Tuesday was a big day for my eldest daughter as she got her GCSE results.  She got 4A's, 2B's and 4C's.  Although one of the C's is being checked as she had got a 'B' in her maths in January and the mark is shown as her re-sit in June, which was lower.  Anyway, I was over the moon at these results, but she was not happy as she thought she wouldn't get back to do AS/A levels, as you need B's in the subjects you want to do and she got a C in Home Economics.  Had an interview in the afternoon and she got back into Lower Sixth and she was really happy and said that meant more to her than getting the results.  She is for doing Spanish, French, English Literature and hopefully Home Economics.  Will know later today about that subject.  Tomorrow will also be my eldest daughter Shannon's birthday and she will be seventeen, so I suppose it will be driving lessons for her.  So onto my card eventually.  Sorry for all the waffle, but it keeps like a little diary for me, you know with old age and all that forgetfulness you get.
As I have missed a few challenges and am doing a little bit off catch-up, I am entering this card into four challenges.
Pink Gem - Follow Sketch
Totally Gorjuss - A Star - (hope the star on the little fairy/sentiment is ok for this challenge)
Papertake Weekly - 3,2,1 Recipe - 3 Layers, 2 Designer Papers and 1 piece of Ribbon
Flutterby Wednesday - Open Challenge - Just use a fairy, butterfly or angel - used a fairy
Cardblank - Craftwork Cards
Cardstock - Paper Mill and Doodlebug
Patterned Paper - Doodlebug
Martha Stewart Punch
Sentiment - Elzybells
Image - Pink Gem
Ribbon and Gems - Doodlebug
Coloured with Distress Inks
Stickles
Thanks for popping by, it is very much appreciated, as are all your comments.  Hopefully will get a bit more crafting done again after the girls are all back at school on Tuesday.

Truly Scrumptious # 38, Cute Card Thursday # 125 and Totally Gorjuss #43

I have made this card for three challenges and hope it fits in with them all ok.  The first is Truly Scrumptious - Follow sketch with the optional theme of Golden Oldie.  I don't really have any old stamps as cardmaking is only new to me, but this would have been another one of the first stamps I would have purchased. The second challenge is for Cute Card Thursday - Theme of trees and/or leaves - this is one of only two similar stamps I have with a tree on it and the third challenge is Totally Gorjuss - Colour Aqua.  I have had these papers for a few years for scrapbooking and never used them as never seemed to have the right photograph for them.  As the paper wasn't double-sided I think I would like a little gem for the folded corner, but don't have any in these colours, so will add one later.
Cardstock - Doodlebug
Patterned Paper - Doodlebug
Image - Pink Gem
Coloured with Distress Inks
Ribbon - Doodlebug
Sentiment - Free with magazine
Cardblank - Craftwork Cards - Normally I just would cut my cardstock to size and make a card, but have seen quite a few people  use these card blanks, so thought I would give them a try.  They are really sturdy and come with matching envelopes, which is good, as quiet a few of my earlier cards, I can't get envelopes to fit.  6 x 6 is just too small and 8 x 8 is too big.  

Thanks for popping by and your comments are much appreciated.

Sketch Saturday 114 and Totally Gorjuss 41

I made this card last night and I am quite pleased with it.  I have never made a baby card before and didn't think I had any images that would suit, so wasn't going to enter the challenge at Totally Gorjuss, which was a baby theme.  However, on checking my stamps I came across Arthur.  I had got this stamp in the goody bag from Funky Kits, some time ago and at that time, didn't think it was an image I would use.  So if I hadn't being doing this challenge, I probably still  wouldn't have used it.  Glad I did.  When I first purchased this goody bag, I wasn't sure about the stamps that I got, but have since used two,  they might not have been my choice of purchase, but they have certainly been very useful, so maybe I need to think a bit more about stamps that I purchase in future.
The card is being entered in Saturday Sketch 114, although I have rotated the sketch and Totally Gorjuss - birth, christening or first birthday.
I was going to use the card for a first birthday, until I found this sticker for new arrival, which matched the papers I was using.  I have had these papers for at least two years and never used them.
Cardstock - Bazzill and Paper Mill
Patterned paper and sticker - K & Co
Martha Stewart Punch
Woodware Punch
Doodlebug Brads
Image - Sugar Nellie
Coloured with Distress Inks

Sorry, photo looks a bit blurry.
Thanks for popping by and have a nice day.  Weather wet as usual.  Summer is definitely passing us by again this year.

Sugar Bowl #39 and Totally Gorjuss #40

This is a card that I have made for two challenges again.  The first is for The Sugar Bowl # 39, which was to follow Lilian's sketch and the theme was the colour blue. The second was for Totally Gorjuss # 40 which was the theme of congratulations.  I hadn't entered the Sugar Bowl as I hadn't decided on a stamp or theme and then when Totally Gorjuss was for congratulations, I thought I would combine the two with the new Manga Scooter Boy and it would be for passing a motorbike test. Hope this card applies to both. The stars spell out congratulations and well done, as the photograph doesn't really show this very well.
Cardstock - Die Cuts with a View
Patterned Paper - Sassafras - Amplify paper pad
Image - Manga Scooter Boy - Sugar Nellie
Coloured with Distress Inks
Star Woodware Punch
Black Fineliner Pen - Promarker
I am quite pleased with this card, as I never make cards for boys as I have three daughters, so I never really buy anything that is suitable for boys, although I thought this new manga stamp was so cute and as they were on offer for the four new images, I couldn't really resist.

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

Saturday Sketchers # 112 - Totally Gorjuss and Pollycraft Monday

Here is another card that I have made for my mum for her birthday.  This will be from my daughters.  It is the first time that I have made cards and actually given them, as I still would go out and buy cards.
I followed the sketch from Sketch Saturday.  Pollycraft Challenge, one that I haven't entered before, was for Happy Birthday and Totally Gorjuss, another one that I haven't entered before was Thinking of You.  Not sure if my card would apply to this challenge, but I thought the Sugar Nellie image called Reflective was as if she was thinking and I then wrote thinking of you on the inside of the card. Normally I only enter one challenge at a time, so am trying to find challenges now that I can use together.
Cardstock - Bazzill
Patterned Paper - K & Co - Wild Saffron (I really love these papers)
Computer generated sentiments
Sugar Nellie Image - Reflective
Embellishments - Gems, flowers, butterflies and ladybird- K & Co embellishment kit.  This is a kit that I purchased from QVC last year and didn't want to use it as it was so nice. Think the colours match well with the papers.
Coloured with Distress Inks
Fiskars circle cutter
I also distressed the sentiment and edges of the image with antique linen distress ink to soften and blend it with the papers.  Think I need lots more practice at this as well as cutting out the image.  Got this tip from Mina's blog Pinkpuds.  Thanks Mina.

Anyway thanks for popping by and hope you have a nice day.  We have sunshine today which makes a change as it has been very wet, especially yesterday, when it was like winter and we had to put the heating back on. Hope the sunshine lasts a little while. Donna