I'm Not The Best Cook!

Hi everyone!

Hasn't it gotten so cold!!  The past couple of day have been freezing and I'm convinced I saw snow yesterday!  Hopefully it's just a little blip and will warm up a bit again, but I'm not holding my breath!  (cos it makes fog! lol)

I had my first physio appointment on Thursday which went well.  I've been officially diagnosed with whiplash in my neck and back and my spine has locked itself into protective mode!  She told me it could take two years before I'm back to normal! :(  Although she said that hopefully some physio will speed things up a bit. :)  She started some massage on the left side of my neck and back and my left shoulder which she said was very tight and boy did it hurt!  It definitely wasn't what I'd call a relaxing massage!  She also asked me if I felt anxious about being in cars since the accident, I said I am a bit but am getting better, she told me that she knows of some people who were in less serious accidents and wouldn't get back into a car - just saying that actually made me feel a bit better!
My Dad drove me to the appointment and on the way home he had to stand on the brakes which made me jolt forward and into the seat belt which hurt like hell!  I tried not to make him feel too bad though as what he did was probably better than running into the car in front when it braked hard!  It didn't help with the pain or the anxiousness about being in a car though!

Anyway, back to the cooking :)
It's time for the third challenge at Eclectic Ellapu - the second challenge for the Pink DT!  And it's the lovely NanaConnie's turn to host and the challenge she chose for this week is...

Recipe! - 1 Digi/Stamped image, 2 Patterned papers and 3 embellishments of the same kind!

As I said, I'm not a great cook and I usually always stray off a recipe and add a few other bits and pieces!  But, I tried to be good and this is what I did...

The image is a digi from Saturated Canary called Christmas Angel.  I coloured her with the following copics: Skin;E21,13,00,0000,R20. Dress;V12,06,04,0000,YG17,13,11. Wings;BG02,000,0000. Eyes;YG95. Hair;E49,39,35,31. Lips;RV34,32. Background;G21,20,C4,2. And some black prisma pencil.
I coated her wings with glossy accents and glamour dust so they're super extra sparkly!  I also used some decoart glistening snow writer to make little dots around the image.

The papers are Kaiser Craft; Christmas Carnival Collection.  I used Go Kreate large circle dies to cut the card base and layers and then I used Spellbinders circles, large scallop circles and Heirloom ornaments for the other elements.  My three embellishments are some really cheap Christmas decorations that I got years ago and have been lying in my stash all this time feeling sorry for themselves and thinking they'll never be used, but everything will get used sometime!  (Yeah right!)
The sentiment panel came out of the same paper pad and I used a CC Designs sentiment stamp with Lilac Posies Memento ink.

The inside uses up a scrap of the paper and a smaller size of the die with a wood mounted Papermania sentiment.

So pop over to the Eclectic Ellapu challenge blog to see the rest of the DT's fantabulous pieces of inspiration and join in the fun!

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Charisma Cardz; Don't be square
Crafty Ribbons; Christmas
Fashionista Challenge; Anything goes
A Gem of a Challenge; Polka dots/spots
Ladybug Crafts Ink Challenge Blog; I need a P!  I've used a pinky purple - does that count as 2 P's? lol!
Make It Monday; Always anything goes
Papertake Weekly; Fireworks (glitter)
Stampin for the Weekend; Anything goes
Whimsy Stamps Inspirations Challenges; All things sparkly
Saturated Canary Challenge Blog; Shaped card

Thanks for looking and a big hello and wave to my new followers!
 

Christmas Concertina Card

The 3 C's!  And all in aid of the other 3 C's!  It's time for another challenge at the Creative Card Crew!

But before I tell you about that I'm gonna make you all jealous by telling you about some good luck I've had lately!  I was at a Ball recently, that I've been to every year for the past 3 years, and they give away prizes each year.  My first year there I won a prize which was a night in a lovely hotel which I really enjoyed.  Well, this year I won another prize!  It was a night in another fancy hotel including dinner and  a spa treatment!  So I got it booked yesterday for myself and my best friend and I'm so looking forward to it as we've both been through tough times recently.
So last night I was at my little sister's school play and as we were going in I noticed people selling tickets for a raffle.  I joked that I wouldn't buy any as "knowing my luck, I'd end up winning and I want to give someone else a chance!"  So my sister said she'd buy some but realised that she'd forgotten her purse, so I gave her the money - and we only went and won!  It was a box of chocolates this time but I couldn't help laughing!

Anyway, onto the new challenge at the Creative Card Crew which is sponsored this fortnight by the fabulous Stamp Fairy

who are offering $10 to spend in their store to the lucky winner!

And to win this fabulous prize this fortnight we want to see your

Fancy Folds!

So come and wow us with your fancy cards or whatever you want to make!

Here's what I did...

I made a concertina card using a tutorial that I saw on Splitcoast Stampers.  It was surprisingly easy to do!
The image is Tommy, Here Comes Santa by The Stamp Fairy.  I added the text on my computer before I printed him out.  I coloured him with my promarkers: Skin;Sunkissed pink, Oatmeal, Blush, Pastel pink. Suit;Forest green, Lime twist, Lime zest. Fur;Umber, Burnt sienna, Caramel. Bauble; Plum, Amethyst, Orchid. Hair; Cinnamon.

The papers are from the Snow Day collection by Crate Paper.  After I had made my base card and covered it with the papers I gave the top edges a coating of snow-tex.  I love the effect this stuff gives but boy is it fiddly to put on! lol!

I then got some elasticated thread and threaded across the centre part of the card with seed beads and some jingle bells.

And lastly I added some little snowflake confetti along the edges of the back of the card.

I hope you'll come and join us at the Creative Card Crew - I know you will when you see how creative the rest of the DT have been!

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Anything Goes Challenge Blog; Make your own embellishments
CRAFT Challenge; Use metal (my jingle bells)
Fashionista Challenge; Anything goes
I love Promarkers; Anything goes
One Stitch At A Time; Use a digi
One Stop Craft Challenge; Anything goes
The Poodles Parlour; Anything goes
Stamp n Doodle; Anything goes
Stamptacular Sunday Challenge; No rules
Totally Papercrafts; Christmas

Thanks for looking!
 

Trick or Treat?

Morning everyone!

I was at the Odyssey in Belfast last night to see the comedian Michael McIntyre and almost laughed my leg off!  He is just so funny!  And I was amazed at how much was ad-libbed - my mum and sister had been at it the night before so we were able to compare nights and I think last night was funnier!
It was a long time coming though as I bought the tickets over a year ago and gave them to my family as Christmas presents - so I wished them all a Happy Christmas as we were leaving!  We did get some funny looks!

Anyway, I missed the last Alphabet Challenge due to my injuries but I was determined not to miss another so I finally got back to my craft desk to make a card - it was slow moving but I got it done.
 Our new challenge for the next fortnight was chosen by the fabulous Caz and she chose...

S for Skeletons, Spiders - anything Spooky!

And here's what I did:

The fabby image is from Stitchy Bear Stamps called "Chains of Love" and I coloured her with the following Copics: Skin;E21,13,00,0000,R20. Dress & Hair;110,C9,7,6,YG07,05. Background;E43,41,40,C4,2.  And a wee bit of black Prisma pencil.

The papers are from 3 different makes - Stampin' Up! for the background one, the dotty one is from Doodlebug Designs and the other one is My Minds Eye; The Spider's Web.  The web ribbon and green ribbon are from my stash.  The sentiment is a Waltzing Mouse stamp from the Halloween Party set.  I used a Viva pearl pen in anthracite to do the dots around the image, in the corner and on the spider.  I think I went a bit overboard around the image but it's a new toy so I got carried away!  I'm impressed with these pens as I've tried different ones over the years but never really liked how they sagged a bit when they dried but these ones really kept their shape and shine.  I'll have to get some more colours.
I cheated a bit as I hadn't got any card in the right shade of green for the base card so I used white card and coloured around the edges with my YG07 copic pen.

The inside uses the same papers and sentiment set and a smaller version of the Curved Rectangle Mega Nestie that I used on the front.

So, come and join us over at the Alphabet Challenge Blog and scare the living daylights out of us!

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

All Sorts Challenge Blog; Too cute to spook
Bearly Mine Challenge Blog; Anything goes
Delightful Challenges; Halloween treats
Dream Valley Challenges; Halloween
Fashionista Challenge; Anything goes
No Matter Which Challenge; Halloween creations
Divas By Design; Something spooky
Papertake Weekly; Fright night
Simon Says Stamp Challenge; Eerie inspiration
Stampin For The Weekend; Something spooky

Thanks for looking!
 

Exciting Day!

Hi everyone!

Sorry I'm so late posting this evening, but I haven't been feeling great the past couple of days and the pain in my back and shoulders is leaving it difficult to sit at my computer.
But as I said in my title, it's an exciting day!
There's a brand spanking new challenge blog in blogland and it has just gone live today - and I'm on the DT!
Eclectic Ellapu is a fab collection of some of the most talented  ladies in blogland.  The DT has been split into 2 teams - one for every other challenge - the Pink team and the Purple team with a new challenge every week and there are some fantastic challenges coming up!  The Pink team have the pleasure of hosting the very first challenge and I'm delighted to be part of the Pink team!

So for our very first challenge, which Elaine is hosting, it's a lovely easy peasy one!

Anything Goes!

One of the things I love about this new challenge blog is that the winners are not chosen randomly but by the host of each weeks challenge, so it doesn't even depend on just one persons taste!  So let us see all your fab creations in our Anything Goes challenge!

Here's what I did...

The image is "Uptown Angel" digi by Kenny K and I coloured her with the following copics: Skin;E21,13,00,0000,R20. Top & shoes;RV34,32,10. Trousers;100,N9,7,5. Hair;E39,37,35,29. Lips;E09,07,04.  I used Tattered Rose and Black Soot distress inks for the background and then some Umount swirly stamps with the black ink and then after letting the image dry (I used my heat tool to speed things along) I heat embossed with holographic embossing powder.

The papers I used are Prima; Rondelle.  I used Spellbinders circle lg and labels 16 dies to cut and mount the image.  I used a small labels 16 die and cut it into quarters before adding a diamante brad from Stampin' Up! to each quarter and attaching to each corner with foam pads.  The sentiment it one of my old faithful Wild Rose Studio stamps embossed with Stampin' Up! embossing powder and punched with Stampin' Up! punches.  The ribbon is from my stash.

The inside uses the same papers and layout as the front.

So come over and join in the fun and excitement at Eclectic Ellapu, I can't wait to see what you do!

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
By The Cute & Girly; Birthdays
Crafts & Me Challenges; Anything goes
Creative Inspirations; Anything goes
Divas By Design; Anything goes
Ladybug Crafts Ink Challenge;  Flowers & embossing
One Stop Craft Challenge; Heat embossing
Simon Says Stamp Challenge; Dies and/or punches
Whimsy Stamps Inspirations Challenges; All things sparkly
Kenny K's Krafty Krew; Think pink

Thanks for looking!

Bird Is The Word

Evening everyone!

I'm a little late with this one today - totally forgot to schedule it last night, my head's all over the place!

It's time for another challenge at the Creative Card Crew and luckily I had my card made in advance so I have one to show for this challenge!

We are being sponsored by the ever-so-fabby Simon Says Stamp

And they are offering the lucky winner $20 to spend in their shop!

So to win this fantastic prize all you have to do is make something with the theme...

Bird!

Here's what I did:

My image is one I've had for a long time and it's a digi from Pollycraft.  I coloured him with the following copics: Owl;E44,43,41. Branch;E29,23. Leaves;YG97,91.

I used a Spellbinders Labels 10 die (available at Simon Says) to cut out the image and added some bronze pearls.  The papers are Imaginisce - Garden Party and some kraft card for layering.

The "Owl be there for you" sentiment is computer generated using the font "Angela" and was cut out by hand.  I added a few Swarovski's to separate the image from the sentiment.

The inside is extra simple and just uses some more of the die cuts.  The sentiment is also computer generated.

 So head over to the Creative Card Crew and join in - I'm looking forward to seeing what you do!

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Anything Goes Challenge Blog; Animals
Crafts & Me Challenges; My sentiments exactly
Crafts 4 Eternity; Lot's of leaves
Crafty Boots Challenges; Three (I have 3 crystals)
Fresh Brewed Challenges; Thinking of you
Joanna Sheen Challenge Blog; Down in the garden
Oldie But A Goodie; Inspired by a song (Friends theme-tune "I'll be there you you")
Papertake Weekly; All creatures great & small
Sentimantal Sunday; Anything goes
Totally Gorjuss; Anything goes

Thanks for looking!
 

AWOL

Hello everyone!

Another Friday is upon us and this one has another new challenge up on the Alphabet Challenge Blog!

Unfortunately, due to my accident last week, I have been unable to get my card completed for the team this week which I'm very disappointed about as I've never missed a challenge before but I just wasn't able to get my head around crafting nor could I convince my body to.

But that doesn't mean you can't join in and show me your inspiration instead!  The challenge for this fortnight was chosen by the lovely Roxx and she chose...

R for Recycle!

What a fab challenge, especially in this economic climate!  And I always try to be as "green" as I can.

So cheer me up and show me your recycled bits and bobs by linking up over at the Alphabet Challenge Blog!

See you there!
 

WOYWW 174

OK, it's past midnight, so technically it's Thursday, but to me it's still Wednesday!

Before I get on to my WOYWW post I just want to thank everyone for your lovely wishes and sentiments to me here, on the forum and on Facebook about my accident.  I'm feeling a lot better aches and pains wise, apart from my shoulder which is still really sore, and I got the paper-stitches off my face this evening so I'm getting there slowly but surely!
I went to a concert (a seated one otherwise I don't think I could've gone) in the same venue we were supposed to be going to last week, so we got to finish our journey.  Felt a bit weird going past where the accident happened but good to get it done!

So, because of what happened on Thursday, I didn't get to do any crafting so my desk is pretty much un-changed from last week.

Just the lap-top has been added.  And I still need to use up the salvaged bits of t-shirt!

If you fancy joining in with the weekly nose around the world's creative spaces, then check out Julia's blog.

Thanks for looking!