The simplest of toys...

I love this image of the little boy with his net from Pollycraft, it reminds me of one of my favourite photos of my son rockpooling in Wales on a holiday when he was little.
The papers are from a freebie digi set called 'extraordinary' but I'm afraid I can't remember who designed them, sorry. I ran the plain blue through the Cuttlebug Christmas stars embossing folder. The sentiment was a freebie from Scrap-a-licious and I found just the perfect button in my stash :-)

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:-

• Here come the boys- boys toys
• Corrosive- they say it's your birthday
• DYSY?- 4 legged friends

Baby's first Christmas...

I haven't blogged for ages, but I have still been crafting, so I thought it was time to get posting again. I have been continuing with my mission to use up printed and stored images so I made another First Christmas card as I had about 4 of these cute babies from Bugaboo with the sentiment I made around them. I used some papers from an old download from Papercraft Inspirations. To finish I picked some stash card in the colours from the papers to make the snowflake with my Marianne D dies and popped a gem in the middle.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:-

• Catch the bug- anything goes
• Challenge up your life- everything goes
• PTW- anything goes

'Tweet' wedding wishes...

Sorry about the grotty evening photo of this card but inspiration struck late and about 5 minutes after taking this photo the card was through my neighbour's door!

The image was from Elzybells (now closed down) and has been coloured with Promarkers. The papers are from a digi-scrap blogtrain called 'Morning solitude'. I created the sentiment on my computer and cut it out with a much neglected ribbon slider die from spellbinders.

Thank you to those of you who have been wishing me 'get well soon'- I am well on the road to recovery after my op now and life is starting to get back to normal- cleaning, cooking, walking the dog and driving my son about!!!

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:-

• DYSU- a little birdy told me
• Dutch Dare- sketch
• Paperplay- summer lovin'
• Moving along with the times- celebrate (no birthday)
• Southern girls- die cuts
• Creative Belli- wedding
• I love promarkers- die cuts
• Ruby's rainbow- things with wings
• Waste not Wednesdays- neglected stash

Bright bear...

Wow, managed to get a bit of bright sunshine to photograph this card before the sky turned grey and it threw it down!
I was really inspired to follow the sketch on Sketch Saturday- such great shapes! My papers are from a digi-scrap blogtrain from STS called 'Bicycle Blues' and my image is by Bugaboo. He is coloured with promarkers and his nose is glazed. The sentiment is from Sentiments4you and I ran it through the printer twice to have it on some of the plain DP. The stars have been cut with a sizzlet die. A few Candi to finish.

I would also like to enter this card in the following challenges:-

• Papertake- Cute
• Dutch Dare- birthday fun
• Totally Papercrafts- no pesky girls!
• Allsorts- for a man or boy
• CES- anything goes
• Craft your days away- all creatures great and small
• Pink Ele- polka dots and stripes

The good life...

Another of my pre-stamped images from 'the box' - this time I used a rubber stamp that I have had for ages from Paper Nation- I tend to stamp a couple as they are in a crate and when I've got them out and inked them I might as well! I teamed him with one of my favourite digi-scrap papers from an STS blogtrain called French Tulips- this check (I know more checks!!) is so versatile for guy's cards. I printed the sentiment from TLC straight onto the paper and finished the card with some foliage cut with a Crealies die and a few Candi.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:-

• Make it Monday- linky party
• Cupcake- Ooh la la (French Tulips papers- reds and blues)
• Cards for men- kicking back, relaxing
• Waste not Wednesdays- neglected stash (image stamped ages ago)

On the mend- freebie sentiment...

I printed off 2 of this image from MelonHeadz ages ago, one which my son made into a card for his friend and another which went 'in the box'- so, in keeping with my mission to use up printed images, I used it for this card! He is coloured with Promarkers to match the digi-scrap papers from an LDS Blogtrain called 'choose the right'.  I know- I need help for the 'check addiction'!! (and I still have another check card that I will post later!) The blue paper has been run through a folder called 'Christmas stars' but I flipped it to use the de-bossed side. Green card has been cut with MTF Large Ric-Rac die and faux stitching added. The star is a Sizzlett die and the button and baker's twine are from my stash.

I made the sentiment as I wanted it to say 'on the mend' and if you would like it please feel free to grab it. (Click to bring up full size then right click and 'save as'.)

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:-

• Cute card Thursday- one for the boys
• My time to craft- happy healing (get well)
• Craft-room challenge- emboss it
• creative craft challenges- anything goes
• Oldie but goodie- die cuts
• The perfect sentiment- get well, without saying 'Get Well'!

I'm addicted to checks...

It's official, I am addicted to checked papers! Yesterday's card had checked papers, as does this and another I made but haven't blogged yet- and when I was looking back through my photos of cards there are alot of others too!
Continuing with my mission to use printed but uncoloured images up- I chose this Stella image from Bugaboo from my box to make this card. I cut her out with a nestie that I must use more often and drew around it on Core'dinations for a neat mat. The papers are from a digi-scrap kit called Apple Pickin' and I coloured Stella to match with my Promarkers. The flower was cut with a Sizzix Originals die using paper I printed from the kit for a perfect match and the little swirls are cut from a Marianne D swirl using the Core'dinations. The sentiment reads- The more candles, the bigger the wish. It was a freebie from Bluebirdflats and I coloured the tiny candles to match the card. A few Candi to finish.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:-

• Simon says- anything birthday
• Dutch dare- spring has sprung
• One stop- celebrations
• Secret crafter- sketch
• Catch the bug- anything goes
• Make it Monday- linky party

I've been dying to try these..

I have been dying to try these Suffolk Puff flowers for ages and I finally got around to it- Love them!!

The fabric is a pack of quilters 'fat quarters' which gave me a lovely selection of colours to go at. They were cut out with a nestie, which went through 2 layers without a problem but 3 layers did not cut the last properly! I then hand stitched a smallish running stitch around the circle and left them flat until needed. When I was ready to make this card I gathered them up and tied off the threads. I had ordered some slightly larger buttons- but as they are coming from Shanghi they aren't here yet- so I was careful to make sure the small buttons covered the gathers when I sewed them on.

I am on a mission to use all the images that I have printed, to fill up the page, but not used so I chose this trendy Cherry Kisses girl by Pollycraft and coloured her to match the papers from a digi-scrap blogtrain called 'April Fool'. The ribbon was saved for me by my son- who knows better than to throw away anything that could have a crafty use- it was on a valentines chocolate lolly and has Thorntons printed on the back of it!

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:-

• Papertake- anything goes
• Simon says- anything birthday
• Little red wagon- stitch it up (hand stitched Suffolk Puff flowers)
• CRAFT- use buttons
• Fairy fun- photo inspiration (I took girly and purple)
• One stop- celebrations
• Totally Gorjuss- sketch
• Make it Monday- linky party

More baby cards...

Well it has been a few weeks since I last posted because I have been in hospital for an operation and am just beginning to feel up to sitting at the computer. I made these cards at the same time as the last two I posted and, like before, I decided the image would work for boy and girl versions. The image is from Bugaboo and the sentiment was a freebie from Create with TLC. The papers are all by Pink Petticoat.

I would like to enter these cards in the following challenges:

• Totally Papercrafts- Things with wings
• Prairie Fairy- anything goes
• Paper Sundaes- anything goes
• Stamptacular- anything goes
• Here come the boys- cards for tiddly peeps
• Make it Monday- always anything goes

I'm hoping to feel up to making a card or two this week so should be back later in the week with more to show you.

Job congrats and a FREEBIE senti...

Well, I'm managing to keep up with making the odd card and entering a few challenges and I even have a freebie sentiment for you today.
This card has been made with 'Maurice' by Pollycraft and he has been coloured with promarkers to match the papers from an LDS Blogtrain called 'Called to Serve'. The little stars have been cut with a Sizzlett die from card from my stash.

I made the sentiment and if you can use it please feel free to help yourself! (Click on the image to make it full size then right click and 'save picture as'.)

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:-

• Totally Papercrafts- male card
• Allsorts- 3 in a row
• Make it Mondays- always anything goes

Oops- a 'belated' card...

Trying to keep up with posting my cards in challenges again. This one is made with a Sugar Nellie rubber stamp called 'Blossom' and coloured with my Promarkers. The sentiment is from Elzybells. All the papers are from a digiscrap freebie by Shabby Princess called 'Festival'. As you can see it is an easel card.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

• Allsorts- say it with flowers
• Cupcake- Going dotty
• Hooked on Crafts- more than one fold
• Make it Monday- anything goes

I'm still here!...

I have been such a bad blogger lately that you must have thought I had given  up completely!

I have been making a few cards lately but I have not been entering any challenges so I decided that today was the day to get back into it! I would like to enter this card in 2 challenges: Totally Papercrafts- my favourite things and Paper Sundaes- Feminine flair. I love these papers by Summer Driggs called 'A little spring in your step'- I have used them so much! I also love Pollycraft images, using up tiny scraps to make embellishments with dies (the flowers and corner) and finally Card Candi because they avoid having to hide the 'legs' of brads!
I am also loving cupcakes! I seem to be on a baking binge at the moment and keep making them- and eating them :-)

Cards at last!...

Firstly I would like to thank my followers who have hung in there during my prolonged absence! It has been so long since I have made a card- two and a half months to be exact- but however much I enjoy cardmaking, I think I needed the break. Bryn, our puppy, is starting to calm down- although as he grows the crafting stuff that I thought was safely out of reach is now within reach leading to several chases around the house to rescue chewed stash!
On the subject of Bryn, he is the reason I have made these cards. I want to send some photos of him to a couple of people so I made these to send them in. The image and sentiment are both from Elzybells (now closed down) and I stamped the sentiment to fit within the die with the image. Bryn's markings were quite tricky to draw onto the image but I think I have got it as close as I can. Judge for yourselves...

... here he was a few weeks back. The top two cards have been made with digi papers from a Stuff to Scrap blogtrain called 'French Tulips' and the bottom one uses papers from Summer Driggs called 'Thanks for Giving'. All have some Card Candi and the fibers on the botton one are wool from the £1 bin in the market!
My son was desperate to get Bryn but the reality of a puppy in the house and the extra work it entails lead to him getting rather fed up with him, although he wouldn't admit it. He got a shock at the weekend- he was walking him with a friend and paying more attention to chatting with his friend than what Bryn was doing. Bryn pulled the lead out of his hand and ran off at a rate of knots and Matthew thought he would never see him again! He gave chase and then arrived back at our house, only to find Bryn waiting there for him in the front garden! He came in saying " It's alright, I found the dog!" to a very surprised us, who had been unaware until then that he had been missing! It obviously made him realize how much he loves him as Matthew got really upset in the evening about what could have happened if he had not found him or if he had got to the main road. I think the bonds of friendship grew stronger this weekend! (I was also pretty impressed and relieved that our 4 month old puppy can find his own way home!)

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

• Charisma- Cutesy
• CRAFT- Cute
• DYSU- inspired by a song (How much is that doggie in the window?- we saw the advert for Bryn in the coffee shop window!)
• Challenge up your life- friendship
• Pollycraft- friendship
• Make it Monday- always anything goes
• Hooked on craft- punched or die cut (nestie 8 for mat)

Peaceful puppy allowing crafting! After he did battle with his bed to turn it upside down as he is incapable of sleeping in it normally!

Cards for Men challenge 18 and a freebie sentiment...

Well, here we are, almost at the end of August. This time at Cards for Men we have 'G is for...' as our challenge. This one had me thinking to start with, but I eventually thought of green, grey, golf, Grandad, gnome, gardening and the one I finally used- guitar!

I dug out a wood mounted rubber stamp from Jolly Nation that I haven't used for ages for this one! Jolly Nation was my first stamping addiction, but not my last! My son plays electric guitar so I bought this to make a card for him. I coloured him with my Promarkers.
The papers were a freebie download  from No Reimer Reason called 'Americana'. I carried on the star theme by die cutting a star to mount the button on.
I made the sentiment myself and used a PNG file this time which allowed me to print it directly onto the paper. If you would like it, please help yourself!

We are sponsored by Letraset for this challenge and you know how I love my Promarkers! Pop over to the Cards for Men site for details of the prize and to see the rest of the fabulous DT cards. You have until 11th September to play along.



I would also like to enter this card in the following challenges:

• Totally Gorjuss- Anything goes
• Challenge Up Your Life- For a man

Indulge...

I thought this image by MelonHeadz was just gorgeous and decided to use it to make a really girly card. The papers are from Summer Driggs 'A little spring in your step' freebie kit which I use so much. The sentiment is also a freebie from Scrap-a-licious Times. The flower was cut from DP with a joy crafts die and the swirl was a Marianne die.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

• Corrosive- girlie
• My time to craft- here come the girls
• Papertake Weekly- dies to die for

Smile! and a freebie sentiment...

I am loving Maurice from Pollycraft at the moment! I coloured him with my promarkers and did a 'dotty' ground for him. I haven't made a sentiment for a while so I decided to make my own sentiment to go with this image- although I think it could work with other images as well- I'm thinking Bugaboo's Gus?! I have made this one as a PNG so it has a transparent background which makes it easier to put DP under it. If you can use it, please help yourself- enjoy!

The papers are from a digiscrap set called 'Snips, Snails, Puppy Tails' by Scrappin' Serenity and a few Card Candi to finish off.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

• Make it Monday- always anything goes
• Make it Colourful- ground your image

Bright, bold cupcakes...

Not sure I like this now it's finished! I think the cupcake should be smaller. Anyway, the image and sentiment border were both freebies from Bird's Cards. The papers are all printed from Summer Driggs digiscrap kit- Sweet Cakes and I printed the sentiment onto a plain DP and also the cake so I could paper piece it. I didn't plan on making the flower when I started out but it needed something more and I had just enough offcuts of DP left to make 3 little ones!

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

• Allsorts- you've been framed
• One stop crafts- bold and bright
• Craft your days away- cupcakes

You're going to need your sunglasses!...

I'm really hoping my brother-in-law doesn't look at my blog as his birthday isn't until Friday! This card may need some explanation for those who are not as old as me or not in the UK!

 This is Brian the snail from Magic Roundabout. I checked with my husband that he doesn't mind the nickname and that it isn't one of those things that brothers call eachother because they know it annoys the other one! He said It wasn't so I went ahead and made the card.

The image is from MelonHeadz and it had been decoupaged to add dimension. The bright papers are from the Stuff to Scrap blogtrain 'Bouncing Beachballs'. I made the sentiment myself. I followed the sketch at Cupcake Craft for the layout and added faux stitching to all the edges to highlight the layout and mirror the border of the sentiment.

I would also like to enter this card in the following challenges:

• Pink Elephant- stitching, real or faux
• Spoon Full of Sugar- Happy Birthday

G is for gardener...

I dug out some of my wood mounted rubber stamps today- I'm sorry to say I hardly ever do that nowadays. I wanted this gardener image by Jolly Nation for My Time to Craft's 'G is for..' challenge and another stamp for a card that I can't show you yet!
I used digiscrap papers by Scrapping Sisters called 'one year older' and decided to make a center stepper card. The little pot is part of the image but as I cut them out I decided to use it as a separate element. I made the 'plant label' sentiment from some textured cardstock from my stash. I rounded the top corners with a small corner rounder punch abd cut the other end to a point. I stamped the sentiment then darkened the edges a little with some chalk.

I would also like to enter this card in:

• Stamptacular Sunday- Fancy folds
• Anything goes- Birthday/celebration
• Oldie but a goodie- great outdoors

Cards for Men challenge 17...

Well we are halfway through the school summer holidays here in England so we thought you might appreciate a nice easy one this time! So, we are having an 'Anything Goes' challenge at Cards for Men this time, but don't forget it must be for a man or boy!

The DT were lucky enough to have some Hope Jacare images to play with so I chose to use Trevor Turtle for this card and team him up with the brilliant sentiment from TLC. The papers are from an LDS Blogtrain called 'Fishers of Men'. I loved all the soft water and sand colours. After colouring Trevor with my Promarkers I cut him out and matted him on a circle of DP which I also used to print my sentiment onto. I made the little starfish 'candy' with a Sizzlet die and drew on the dots with a gelpen.

We are sponsored by Claire who draws the amazing digis at Hope Jacare for this challenge. Details of the prize can be found at Cards for Men. The rest of the DT have also used Claire's images so do pop over and take a look at the wonderful inspiration there and join in our challenge- you have until 28th August to take part.

I would also like to enter this card in the following challenges:

• Ellephantastic- August- add some layers
• One Stop- at the beach
• Here come the boys- critters