I Love A Good Book!

Hi all!

I was away on Saturday night for a girls night in with my sister and a friend - it was a sort of reunion as it's just over 10 years since we went to New York together.  I thought I would've been home earlier but ended up not getting in until late last night and I've got that flu that has been doing the rounds (if it had've been a night out instead of in, I wouldn't've made it) and really didn't feel like I'd be up to sitting at the computer so I've left doing this post until today.

So, it's time for a new challenge at Eclectic Ellapu and this week it's the Pink team and Dawn's turn to host.  Dawn chose a fab theme for the challenge this week!  It is....

Black and White and Read All Over!

Use text and only black and white.

Great theme!

So here's what I did;

 The lovely Elaine put a link to a tutorial for making a book card on our team site and I thought it would be perfect for this theme!  I've never made one before and it's so easy and so much fun to do!

The papers are by Prima and are called Printery.  I raided my stash and the metal frame, metal corners, studs and lace were put to use.  The "60" are die-cut from the Memory Box set Typewriter Numbers and I used Frantage embossing powder on the numbers and also on the metal corners.  The Mum is glittery stickers that I got at the NEC.  I used black and white embossing powder on the other wording (the frantage powder was a little big for stamped wording).  The Magnolia swirl finishes the front off.

The inside uses up more lace and another black sequinny lace that I've had in my stash for ages!  A diamante swirl behind the magnolia tag with the Wild Rose Studio sentiment completes the project.

It's my mum's 60th birthday at the end of March so I will have to make a box to match before then.  (probably in a rush!)

So pop over to the Eclectic Ellapu blog to see what the rest of the Pink team have done and join in too!

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

Bunny Zoe's Craft Challenge; Anything goes
Crafts & Me Challenges; Vintage
Crafty Boots Challenge; New - New card technique
Love To Create Challenge Blog; Anything goes with a sentiment
Moving Along With The Times; Bling it on
Scrappy Frogs Challenge Blog; Try something new - new card technique

Thanks for looking!
 

Flowers In The Snow

Did you get much snow?  We've had a fair amount of it - I haven't been able to get to work as I work up a mountain and live up another hill!  So it would be tricky - especially as I haven't been the most confident traveller since the accident.
We've had freezing fog all morning accompanied by the occasional flurry of snow but I don't think we'll get too much more.  The forecast is giving rain by the end of the week so that will get rid of the snow!

Anyway, onto another challenge and today it's a new one at the Creative Card Crew!

The challenge for the next fortnight is...

Girly!

A nice easy one!  And we are being sponsored by the fabulous Crafty Sentiments Designs

and they are offering one lucky winner a choice of 3 digi's from their shop!

The design team were also lucky enough to be given some of their digi's to work with and this is what I did:

The gorgeous Crafty Sentiments image is called Tess Summer Fun and I coloured her with the following copics:  Skin; E21,13,00,0000,R20. Dress; BG18,15,13. Hair; E49,39,37,35. Flowers & leaves; RV09,06,04,R29,27,24,V09,06,04,B95,93,91,YR07,04,YG97,95,93,07,05,03,100. Background; E31,30. Plus some black, white and brown prisma pencil.

The papers are called Fly Away by Typo and the flowers were from my stash.  The ribbon came from The Ribbon Girl and the border die is also from Crafty Sentiments Designs.

The inside matches the layout on the front and the sentiment is by Wild Rose Studio (my old faithfuls!)

So go and have a look at the rest of the DT's fabulous work at the Creative Card Crew blog.

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

All Sorts Challenge Blog; Flower power
Bunny Zoe's Crafts Challenge; Anything goes
By The Cute & Girly; Cute & girly
Creative Inspirations; One for the girls
Divas By Design; Make it girlie
Dream Valley Challenges; Girls girls girls
Stampin For The Weekend; Something girlie
The Squirrel & The Fox; Anything goes
Whimsy Stamps Inspirations Challenges; Fancy edges
Whoopsydaisy Challenge; Use a digi

Thanks for looking!
 

Get Your Skates On - Or Maybe Skis?

Hello everyone!

Have you had any snow?  I was expecting to wake up to loads this morning but we had none - it has been snowing now for a while but is only just starting to lie.  If you have any I hope you stay safe, warm and have fun!

I am still attending the physio and yesterday she did a lot of work on my shoulder - it was so sore last night and still is today.  I just hope having to go through this pain helps the original pain!

Anyway, time for a new challenge at the Alphabet Challenge Blog and it was my turn to choose the theme.  We're up to Y so I chose....

Y for Yummy!

So any card or layout with food!

Here's what I did

The image I used is by The Paper Shelter and is called Cool Waitress.  I coloured her with the following promarkers: Sunkissed pink, Oatmeal, Blush, Pastel pink, Gold, Mustard, Daffodil bloom, Magenta, Carmine, Cerise, Rose pink, Baby pink, Pale pink, Leaf green, Meadow green, Apple, Warm grey 5,4,3,2,1, Ivory, Blender. and I finished off with a few prisma pencils.

The papers are all Pink Petticoat.  The dies are all Spellinders - wonky rectangles and grand nestibilities - decorative elements and cirlce.  Ribbon is from my stash and the sentiments are computer generated.

 And lastly, the inside to compliment the front.

So go and have a look at the rest of the DT's fab work at the Alphabet Challenge Blog and have a go yourself - I'd love to see you there!

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

Sketch Saturday; Sketch
Bunny Zoe's Crafts; Anything goes
By The Cute And Girly; Cute and girly
Creative Inspirations; One for the girls
Divas By Design; Make it girly
Fab And Funky Challenges; Get moving
I love Promarkers; Layer it up
Moving Along With The Times; Happy Birthday
Stampin For The Weekend; Something girlie
Whimsy Stamps Inspirations Challenges; Fancy edges

Thanks for looking!
 

Phew!

Why does everything take so long to do?!
My antivirus program expired yesterday so I decided to renew it today.  I know there are free programs available but I'm not entirely convinced by them yet and I'm sure you have to put up with adverts etc, which I couldn't be bothered with!
I had un-ticked the automatic renew thing last year and I'm so glad I did - they would've charged me £60 to renew but by buying the product as new I got it for £25!  From the same place!  It was a bit of a nightmare to install though as I didn't think to un-install the first one and then it wouldn't install the new one and then it installed a free trial one instead of the one I paid for but I eventually got it sorted out.  And I made sure to go back in and un-tick the automatic renew thing again!
Computers, who'd have em!

Anyway, how about a new challenge to get you going for the start of the week?
It's time for a new one at Eclectic Ellapu and it's the Pink teams turn this week, and the lovely Laurian's turn to host.  The challenge she chose for us this week is...

A Recipe; 1 die cut, 2 patterned papers,

3 embellishments (can include digi)

and ribbon!

So, here's what I did;

The image is a digi from Paper Pretties called Snuggle Bunny and I coloured it with the following promarkers: Aubergine, Plum, Amethyst, Lilac, Cyan, Denim Blue, April Shower, Powder Blue & blender.
I edged the image with Decoart snowwriter for a bit of glitteryness!

The papers are DCWV, Nana's Kids.  I love this paper cos it's so textured - the glitter you can see on the bottom and the spots at the top are embossed too. 
The sentiments are by Pink Petticoat called Tiny New Baby which I printed onto safmat and attached to the image.  The buttons are gorgeous and are from House of Zandra, but I got them at the NEC.
And my die-cut is a Simple Banner by Memory Box which I've hand-written the name of the new arrival onto.

The inside has the same elements as the front including the ribbon from my stash and a button charm.

  
So take a trip to Eclectic Ellapu to check out what the rest of the Pink team did and have a go too!

Oh and can I just say that I have been having some trouble leaving comments.  On some blogs when I click to post my comment it goes to the white "503 error" page.  I have tried several times to leave comments and have even opened up Chrome to try there (even though I don't really like it!) so apologies if my comment didn't go through or if you've gotten several of the same comment from me!
I wish blogger would sort out all these issues - life is just too short! 

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

Crafty Ribbons: New beginnings
Divas By Design; Anything goes 
Dream Valley Challenges; Anything goes 
A Gem Of A Challenge; New beginnings 
613 Avenue Create; Anything goes 
Joanna Sheen Challenge Blog; New beginnings 
One Stop Craft Challenge; New beginnings 
Papertake Weekly; Happy new ? 
Totally Gorjuss; Spotty 
Totally Papercrafts Friday Challenge; Ribbon 

Thanks for looking!
 

Don't Be Fooled!

Evening all!

I am totally exhausted!  I started back at work yesterday and than had to take down all my Christmas decorations when I got home - and it wasn't easy with a knackered shoulder!  I'm now waiting on someone to come and help get the boxes back up into the attic as I had a hard enough time getting the empty ones down by myself never mind when they're full!  So for the time being my tiny kitchen is full of boxes!

Oh well, at least they're not in my craft room!

Time for another challenge!  The Creative Card Crew challenge is back from our Christmas holidays and we're raring to go!
The challenge for the next fortnight is sponsored by The Stamp Fairy

And they're offering one lucky winner $10 to spend in their store.

So the challenge is..

Snow & Ice!

 I decided to get a head start on next years Christmas cards!  But don't be fooled, it doesn't mean I've got caught up with everything else just yet!  Here's what I did

 The design team were lucky enough to be given some of The Stamp Fairy's gorgeous stamps to work with and I couldn't decide which one  to use so I used all 3!  Donny4, Donny6 and George 1 were coloured with the following copics:  Fur;E49,39,37,35,33. Hats and scarves; B95,93,91,V09,06,04,RV09,06,04. Carrot nose;YR07,04.  I used the B91 to shade the snow and then used a glue pen and glamour dust for a little sparkle.

The papers are DCWV "The Winter Stack" and I added some swarovskis and ribbon from my stash.

The inside has papers from the same stack and a computer generated sentiment.

So pop over to the Creative Card Crew blog to check out what the rest of the DT have made, they are all gorgeous!

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

Crafts & Me Challenges; Winter wonderland
Crafty Catz; Anything goes
Crafty Creations Challenges; Anything goes
Creative Belli Blog; Winter/snowmen
Dream Valley Challenges; Anything goes
Fussy And Fancy Challenges; Furry Friends
Love to Create Challenges; Winter Wonderland
Stampin' For The Weekend; Anything goes
Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge; Christmas with no Santa
Sparkles Christmas Challenge; Snowmen

Thanks for looking!

Twice In One Day!

Well, it's 11:30pm when I started typing so I hope it'll make it into today!

I was lucky enough to be picked as a top 3 in one of Quirky Crafts challenges  before Christmas and got the opportunity to join them as a guest designer!  I jumped at the chance as I was disappointed that I wasn't able to join them when the same opportunity came up just when I had my accident.
Imagine my panic when I switched on my computer on Saturday after it being off for 2 weeks to see that I had an email from the lovely Cazzy with the details of the new new challenge and I was already late submitting it!
So I fired off an email to see if I was too late and Cazzy replied nice and quickly and was lovely about me being late and I was still OK.  So I printed out the fabby image she supplied from one of their sponsors for this week - Bugaboo stamps no less!  And the challenge is:

Some Thing New, with Pink!

 

Like a busy bee I coloured and cut and stuck and glued and this is what I came up with:

The image is Just Married by Bugaboo and I coloured it with the following promarkers: Skin: Sunkissed pink, Oatmeal, Blush, Pastel pink.  Car; Pumpkin, Amber, Apricot.  Bumper & suit; Petrol blue, Marine, Turquoise.  Heart etc; Cerise, Baby pink, Pale pink.  Tyres etc; Black, Ice grey 5,3,1.
I printed the image out 3 times and 3D'd it up for lots of dimension. (and the glue gel seems to have seeped through the image unfortunately :(  )

The papers are My Minds Eye, Tickled Pink.  I used a Spellbinder lg circle die to cut out the image and I then used a small circle punch to punch out lots of cerise and blue circles for the border around the image, finishing it off with a few gems.  The sentiment is computer generated and highlighted with a clear Sakura Stardust pen.

 The inside compliments the front with scalloped dies and Memory Box Simple Banner die-cuts to match.  Again, the sentiment is computer generated.

So that's my card!  A huge thank you to Cazzy for putting up with me and to the Quirky Crafts Challenge blog for having me as a guest designer!  Short and sweet but I really enjoyed it!

Thanks for looking!

The Last Day Of My Lazy Break...

Hello Bloggers!

Long time no see!  I hope you all had a fantastic Christmas and a great new year!  I hope 2013 is good to everyone!
I had such a lazy time over Christmas!  When I wasn't away staying in other peoples houses I was on the sofa catching up on all the TV I had recorded over the holidays (I still have some to watch!) and I wasn't online once the whole time!
And there was me thinking I would get caught up on all the cards I had made during 2012 and hadn't got blogged - and get a head start on the ones I need for 2013.  So I'm starting the new year off exactly as I didn't want to, catching up and chasing my tail.  But I will try to get everything as I want it as soon as possible.
So to start with I'm gonna ask you all to check out the latest challenge at the Alphabet Challenge Blog - I didn't get a card made as I made a stupid mistake writing down the dates for the new challenge and missed it - I'm so annoyed about it, but not a lot I can do about it now.
You should also pop over to the Eclectic Ellapu challenge blog to see the fantastic inspiration from the Purple team for the new challenge that went up today.
And lastly, I'm gonna show you the last of my 2012 Christmas cards - these were made in a hurry!  I realised - almost too late - that I was running out of time to make all the cards I needed, so I came up with a quick and simple design that I could make loads of, quickly!

And here's what I did:

I made good use out of all the Christmassy digi papers I have by Pink Petticoat and printed off loads of sheets.

I printed the cards double sided so as the pattern that appeared on the Christmas tree on the front was replicated on the inside.  3 printed sheets made 4 cards!

The tree die is one I got when I was in Birmingham and I can't find it at the moment to tell you the details but will add them as soon as I do!
The top corners are home to a quarter each of a Whimsy snowflake die.  The sentiment is by CC designs cut out with an X-cut tag die, threaded with a little bit of contrasting ribbon.

The sentiment on the inside is also by CC designs and I was able to use up some scraps for the mat.

So 4 cards in each design and...

6 designs makes 24 cards in an afternoon!  That's good going for me! lol!

So now that's done I shall go and see what else I can catch up on!

Thanks for looking!