A quick catch up

Hi followers

I am so sorry that I haven't been around lately but as you know this year hasn't been the best.  I finally thought things were looking up and I would be able to join you all again when my fabulous husband suffered two strokes, one he didn't even realise he had had,  so as you can imagine it has been a really bad time.  I had just spent the day at the NEC with my Mum at the Cake Show when it happened.  He is on the road to recovery but it is going to be a while before things are back to normal.  The worst thing for him is that it has affected his speech which he's finding really frustrating as it wears him out, not only with getting the words out but for his brain to form them in the first place.  It has been such a rollercoaster ride with his emotions especially as he didn't realise it had already happened once without knowing, now he is so scared it will happen again, he is also so tired all the time.  Mind you it still could have been so so much worse but at 54 you don't expect it to happen at all.

I have a couple of cards that I had made before to share with you but will try and join you all again as soon as possible.

Ruby Wedding

Some friends of my parents celebrated their Ruby Wedding recently and asked me if I would make their invitations.  I decided to use my Cricut and cut out 2 hearts for each invite.  Once cut I embossed the fronts with a cuttlebug folder (I think it was the Victoriana one).  In Photoshop I merged a photo of their wedding with a picture of them both now, reduced the opacity printed them out and then cut them into hearts with the cricut too.  All the layers were then joined using some Ruby ribbon.  I added a small layered mat and a rose to each front.

They loved them I am pleased to say.

Thanks for stopping by.

Benn's Birthday Card

As you know I haven't been around much recently and certainly haven't had any time for crafting.  When I have had, the mojo has been missing so I thought I would show you a couple of things over the next few days that I have had sitting on my computer from a while ago.  This is the card I did for Benn for his 14th Birthday back in May.  It is using one of Linnie's Whoopsi Daisy great boy images and definitely a must for anyone who has a teenage son.  I have decided to step down from all my DT now as I was really struggling to find the time to participate and not feeling great with everything was putting more pressure on myself.

My headache has eased enough now that I am at least starting to get the itch to start playing but we shall have to just wait and see.  The doctor has decided to send me to a Neurologist to try and get to the bottom of it which will be good as at least I will find out what is causing it.

Well have a good week but I promise I will be back in the next few days to show you a couple more.

Whoopsi Daisy Challenge

Good Morning everyone

Gosh I didn't realise how long I had been away.  It has been so busy over here what with one thing and another but hopefully you will see a bit more of me in the weeks to come.

This month over at Whoopsi Daisy Linnie wanted to see "Pile on the flowers".  This is an easel card I did for a very good friend's birthday and when I saw the flower theme I knew it would be just perfect for this card.  I used my Gypsy to make the heart easel card as I thought it couldn't be that hard to do with different shapes just as long as I could weld them together and ta ra, it worked.

The beautiful little Daisy can be found here and was coloured in using my promarkers.  I added some adorable roses that I got from Wild Orchid Crafts which are so much prettier in the fresh.

Another Birthday

Well I told you that I would be using some more of that paper as I thought it was perfect for these stamps.  I made this one for another friend of mine who celebrated her birthday last week.  I used my Martha Steward Scoreboard on this one and scored a cross hatch onto some beautiful pearlescent card.  I then added some swaroski crystals to finish it off.

Well I had better get a move on as I still haven't made Benn's card and his birthday is on Saturday.  Do you find that you always end up doing the family's at the last minute, I know I do.

See you again soon.

Birthday Card

Well I am sad to say that the sun didn't stay out for very long last week and has made only a few fleeting visits since.  It has been a really busy week starting with seeing Westlife in concert at the O2 area.  Benn thinks it is hilarious and that I am really sad.  He is probably right but my friend and I have been going for the last 12 years ever since they first started and really enjoy their shows.

Anyhow, onto my card.  I made this for a friend of mine who celebrated her birthday last week.  The gorgeous stamp is from the Whiff of Joy City Girls collection.  I got the background paper when I was up at Ally Pally, it is called Perfectly Posh, Chic Speak by Imaginisce.  Goes so well with this image don't you think.  I used my white grosgrain riibbon and coloured it magenta to match the promarker that I used to colour the image.  I still have a bit more of this left so watch this space as I am sure I will be back with some more using it.

Retirement Card

Well the sun has finally decided to make an appearance in here Bedfordshire (gosh, I am so in need of some sun), I hope it has your way too.  I am really hoping that this summer will be glorious especially as I feel a lot of people of going to be staying in England this year due to the volcanic ash disruptions.

Well here is a quick card I did for a lady at my husband's work who was retiring.

The papers are by Bo Bunny and Bazzill.  I welded all the words together using my Gypsy.  The font is a mixture of Basecamp and Gypsy Font.

Thank you for visiting, I can't tell you how much it means when people leave me comments.

1st Birthday

I know, I know, 3 posts in a week you are saying.  Well to tell the truth I have had this one for a little while but just haven't had the time to post it.

This little card was made for my husbands Grandson Luke who celebrated his first birthday on St. Georges Day.  I can't believe a year has passed already.  Here he is with his Uncle Benn, he so loves being an uncle (he has 3 nephews and 1 neice) and is so good at it.

Well you know I told you that I had finally got my Expression and also my lovely, lovely new Gypsy but hadn't even had time to play with them yet, unfortunately I still haven't on my Expression except for cutting out this little card, but the Gypsy certainly made light work of creating something unusual.  First of all I welded all the numbers and letters together using the shadow feature on Basecamp and baloon from Celebrations, duplicated and flipped it and then welded a rectangle (George) to the bottom and a scalloped circle (Mini-Monograms).  I then cut them all out again using patterned paper, stamped the lovely whiff of Joy "Henry" stamp holding his cake with a candle on top, coloured Henry with my Promarkers and there you have it.

Quite effective don't you think, I just can't wait now until I get a chance to cut out some more things that I have now managed to make using the Gypsy while I have been sitting at football practice and things.  This is the good thing about it, I may not have time to cut them out when I am home but while sitting hanging around waiting for Benn I can at least get some playtime on the Gypsy.

Hope you like it, now all I need is some time to play with my Expression and find out how to use the centre point (this is one of the main reasons for wanting it apart from the bigger size) and then I will be doing the happy dance.

I am entering this into the following challenge.

Spoonful of Sugar - 3D (Little Henry is 3D'd)
Papertake Weekly - Do Something Different
Your Next Stamp - Going Dotty
Crafty Catz - Spots
Allsorts - Animals (I know a mouse is technically a rodent)

Thanks for stopping by.

First Whoopsi Daisy Challenge - As you Like It

Well today is the first challenge day for Whoopsi Daisy where the challenge is nice and simple "As you Like It".  This challenge blog will run for a whole month which gives you plenty of time to get those challenge cards in.  I have used one of Linnie's lovely little Daisy images that can be found here.  It would be great if you could join us as we love looking at all your lovey creations.

I am going to nter this in the following challenges

Sweet Stampin - Summer
Creative Craft - Bloomin Marvelous
One Stitch at a Time - Flowers
Sir Stampalot - Butterflies & Blossoms

Well off now to go to my local craft shop to pick up a few more supplies.

Lily-Boo May Challenge - Shaped Card

Morning all

What a super sunny Saturday it is today which is nice after all the horrible weather we have had this week.  On to nicer things though, it is a new month and a new challenge over at Lily-Boos Too where we are asking to see Shaped Cards.  I decided to go with one of these (not sure what the name of it is) as I think they look really cool and I hadn't done one before.  I have used a Nitwits download for my backing papers along with
one of the really cool new images that Sam has drawn from the Dog collection that can be found here.  Isn't he just the cutest.

I am entering this into the following challenges:

Cupcake Craft - Don't be Square
Craft - Shaped Card
Melijen's Designs - Show us your shape
Penny's Challenges - Shapes

I have had a very busy week with Brian being away on business.  I have had Parents evenings, exam information evenings and football practice too and on top of that one of the worst migraine's I have had for a long time, so no crafting which I really needed to be doing as I have so many still to do, but I am sure I will catch up soon.

Well off to finish some more but come back later as I have my challenge card for the very new Whoopsi Daisy Challenge card.

Wedding Card

Good morning everyone, it is another beautiful day, and no before you say it, I haven't managed to get my blog layout fixed.  I have been all through blogger and it seems to think there are funny symbols in my HTML.  Well I have tried looking at my HTML and it is a mine field so I have finally given up.  If my silly sidebar wants to stay down the bottom then it jolly well can.

Today I have a card I made for my brother in Australia.  He wanted a wedding card made and sent over for some very good friends of his.  I found some lovely teal papers by American Crafts to match some card by Papermania I had in my stash.  The gorgeous image is by Mo Manning and the monogram letters are from my new cartridge Tie the Knot which I managed to get from the US for $23 plus $9 shipping.  It is gorgeous and I know I will be using it a lot.  I used my Martha Stewart Doily Lace punch added a coulple of ribbons and pearls and voila.

I am entering this into the following challenges

Polkadoodles - Wedding

Crafty Angels - Favourite things (mine is Weddings)

Practical Scrappers - Glitter & Bling

By the Cute & Girly - Fairytales

Allsorts - Petals & Pearls

Thanks for looking.

Aaagh

I am sitting here getting more and more frustrated by the day.  I noticed on Saturday that when I go into my blog, whether it be on my laptop or main computer all the information other than my post (my profile, list of challenges, followers etc) has moved to the bottom of the page after all the posts yet if I click onto where it says how many comments have been left I can view it all in the correct place.  I have tried changing templates, logging in but nothing is working.  I have tried looking in my settings, layout but everything seems normal.
If anyone has any idea as to what I mean and can help me fix the problem I would greatly appreciate it, if not you may find me here going slowly mad (I know, but I am a virgo and I hate it when things are not right lol).

Mother's Day Card

What a fabulous week we are having with the weather, I was so in need of a bit of sun after the long winter we have had. All the daffodils are out now and Summer is starting to edge closer.
Today I have the Mother's Day card I made for my Mum to show you (yes I know, I should have shown it a while ago). I am unsure of the backing papers as they were in my stash but the lovely little box of chocolates that Tilda is sitting on is an Alota one that I picked up in a sale, isn't it adorable and so versatile. I have also used the Deep Edge Daisy by Martha Stewart (another punch I love but unfortunately don't yet own - thanks Sue).I am a bit down today as my parent are off on their regular 3 months abroad trip and I really hate it when they are not here. I am very close to my parents and brothers and already hate the fact that my 2 older brothers live in Australia. But unfortunately this is life and they have to live the way it suits them best (just wish it was a bit closer). Anyway, they will all be back the week before my baby brother gets married at the end of July and I will be very busy with wedding preparations which will hopefully make the time go quickly.
Hope you all enjoy the beautiful weekend we are in for and will be back soon.

Designer Bag

A few days ago while blog hopping I came across this very talented lady called Adela Rossol who creates the most adorable templates.
I fell in love with this one immediately as for my 40th birthday my lovely hubby bought me a Mulberry bag in exactly the same shape as this. As soon as I saw this the possibilities that came to me where endless and I had to have a go straight away. I have got to say that it is just so easy to make up and it is just so cute.
The one I have made here was to give to my stepdaughter to hold her birthday present. I can certainly feel a lot more of these coming on.
Thanks for stopping by and leaving such lovely comments, it really means a lot to me.

I'm Back

Hi everyone, things seemed to have settled down now (well for a while at least) so I thought I would share with you a card that I made for this month's Lily-Boo Too challenge which was to make a spring card using Yellow and Green.

This lovely image is one from the Easter collection as I thought what better image to use being as it is Easter. The background papers are Bazzill and DCWV.

I am off first thing in the morning to go to a Hotel and Spa for a pampering weekend with my Mum. It is a present from my lovely Daddy as a thank you for making my Mum and his 50th Wedding invitations etc last year but I have only just had time to use it. Isn't he lovel. Well I hope you all have a lovely weekend and don't eat too many eggs.

Christening Card

I know I havent been around a lot recently but I do have a couple of things to share with you over the next couple of days.
We are having a lovely sunny day here today which is good as we are off in a about 30minutes to our Grandson Luke's christening. He is a really cute little thing and such a good baby.
Here is the card I have made for him.

I cut the mat layer with his name on with my Cricut after welding the letters, using Base Camp to a square from George. The scallop circles are from Mini Monograms. All the background papers are either Bazzill or DCWV. The Praying Hands is a Sizzlit die and the Cross is a Quickutz one.

Thanks for visiting but come back soon as I have a few more things to show you.

Cute Daisy May

Phew, finally got a chance to show you my card for this week's challenge over at Cute Daisy May. This week the theme is Mother's Day and was set by yours truly. I love how this card came out using little Daisy enjoying a well earned soak in the bath and can be found here on sheet 182. All the papers come from a Nitwits Collection called The Bunnyhops collection.

We had some fantastic entries last week and we hope that you will come and play again this week as we love looking at all your wonderful creations and also it will give you a chance to get your Mother's Day cards made if you haven't already.

See you again soon.

60th Birthday

Morning everyone, just a quickie before I pop off to work and wow is my first week going fast. I am loving it but feel as if my head is so woolly at the moment with everything to take in. Never mind, things will start to make sense soon I am sure.

Back to my card, this was made for a lady that is celebrating her 60th birthday and I have used gorgeous Tilda , coloured with Promarkers and surrounded by Lillies. The papers were from my stash and the flowers were from Hobbycraft. I have also used my new Martha Stewart "Flower Beds" punch. My sentiment has been cut out using my Cricut and the Base Camp cartridge.

I am entering this into the following challenges.

Passion for Promarkers - Back to Nature

Just Magnolia - Birthdays

Get Funky Challenge - Girls, Girls, Girls
Clearly I Stamp - It's Hip to be Square

March Challenge -Lily-Boo Too

Yes, it is that time again. This month over at Lily-Boo the theme is Mother's Day so for this card I have used one of the fabulous new images from Lily-Boo's new Mothers image sheet and can be found HERE. They are really cute but they can also be used for other occasions too.

If you haven't seen already, we are also looking for some new DT members to join us, so if you fancy joining us and having a great time being able to use all of Sam's great images then pop on over to the Boutique to get all the information, and you never know, you could be joining us next month. Even if you don't fancy becoming a DT member it would be great if you fancied joining us with this months challenge. You don't have to use a LB image to join in but obviously it would be lovely if you did.

This week over at Cute Daisy May it was Pinky's turn to choose the theme and she chose to use a sketch, wasn't it a good sketch. The beautiful image is one of the new ones and can be found here on Sheet 192. The papers are from an old Hot of the Press pad that I have had in my stash for ages along with some Bazzill. I have coloured little Daisy with Promarkers and also used my new Martha Stewart punch.

Why don't you hop on over and join in with us this week, we would love to see how you interpret the sketch.

Baby Girl

Had a little bit of time this week to craft which was lovely and also because I needed to make a new baby card for a friend thats brother and sister-in-law had just had a baby. This little image is one of Linnie's new images from Sheet 186 and can be found here, isn't it just too cute.

Well I have had my last day at my old job and am ready to start my new one on Monday. It was a lovely day and I found it very emotional. My boss took us out to lunch and bought me a lovely bouquet of flowers. I am really going to miss them but know that at the end of the day I have made the best decision for our family, doesn't make it any easier though.

Well I hope you all have a lovely weekend, I am hoping for a bit of crafting time and a good read of Tim Holz's new book (yes, it arrived and looks fabulous).

Lily-Boo Creations and Design Team Call

I am entering this card into the Friday Sketchers challenge.

Well, the sun didn't stay out for long, did it? It is snowing again here and has been on and off for the last two days.


Have you all been watching the fantastic Tim Holz on QVC, isn't he lovely. I have ordered my TSV and am hoping that it is going to give me the hints and tips to enable me to get better at this distressing lark (we'll just have to wait and see won't we - watch this space).


Have you been over to Lily-Boo's recently. If not, pop on over there are we are looking for some new Design Team members to join us. It is a lovely team to be part of and you will thoroughly enjoy working with Sam's images as they are just adorable. If I have wet your apetite then go to the boutique where you will find all the information you need. Can't wait to see all your lovely creations.

Here are a couple of cards I have made using the gorgeous Easter designs. Sam has also added some gorgeous new designs just ready for those Mother's Day cards.

Thanks for visiting, it really means a lot. I would also like to thank everyone who is followng me and for all the lovely comments you leave me.

Flower Power - Cute Daisy May

This week over at Cute Daisy May the theme is Flower Power. Isn't Daisy cute, this little beauty can be found HERE on Sheet 182 . I decided to use some My Minds Eye papers that came free with one of the magazine, and aren't they lovely. The sentiment is a Quickutz rub on that I have had for ages and never seem to use.

I am entering this into the following challenges:

Polkadoodles - Wanted a sketch plus a bird so I can't now enter it as I forgot the birdie lol.

Allsorts Challenge - Tag or Label

Totally Gorjuss - Flower Power

Digital Tuesday - All things Girly

Spoonful of Sugar - Touch of Spring

Well I had better get off to work especially as I have looked out of the window only to find the snow has started again. Roll on Spring.