Another fab Blog Award

I've been given this blog award by Val (The Crafting Pad) and Poppy (Poppy's Place), I'm very touched that you both thought of me and felt my blog was worthy of an award, thank you very much ladies. Please go and visit Val's and Poppy's Blogs, both are wonderful blogs with some gorgeous cards.

Right, now I need to pass this award on to 10 people, again all the blogs I follow I believe are worthy of an award, but this time round the 10 I've chosen are:

1. Emma's Blog - Crafty Emma

2. Cazz's Blog - The Cazz Bar

3. Joey's Blog - Joey's Stuff

4. Hazel's Blog - Dido's Designs

5. Ju's Blog - A Little Bit of Cornishmist

6. Lynsey's Blog - Lynsey's Place

7. Jill's Blog - Jill's Cards

8. Jilli's Blog - Jilli's Paiges

9. Bev's Blog - All the things I love

10. Bev's Blog - Bev's Crafty Bits 'N' More

Some of you may have already been given this award, but hey, here it is again and just means your blog is even more special.

Please go and have a look at their blogs, they are all worthy of this award. Well, I best hop along and let them all know.

Thanks again Val and Poppy xxx

Spread the love...Blog Candy

Katarina is offering a fab chance to win some blog candy to celebrate her 10th anniversary with her fiance. This candy will grow with the more people who enter....

"The candy starting out is a PB clear hedgiestamp+text. For every person that joins I will add something (within reason) so the more you spread the word the bigger the candy will be. Love gets bigger the more you share it, right?! You can earn an extra entry if you write about someone else's candy or a DT call. It has to be a new candy or DT call though, (nothing I or any of the other participants has written about.)"

Hop on over to Katarina's blog, Kamadesign to find out what you have to do to be in with the chance of winning this fab growing blog candy.

Secret Crafters Saturday Challenge #9

This weeks SCSC #9 is a sketch by Sue. I've done a birthday card this week for my brother as I didn't quite know what to do, so I thought I'd wait to see if this week's challenge could give me some inspiration and thankfully it has. I've so enjoyed doing cute cards lately, but my brother doesn't really do cute...lol (doubt many guys do). The image is decoupaged and matted on to black textured card. The backing papers I designed myself on the PC. I've stuck to the layout of the sketch but turned it round.

Below is this weeks sketch.

Albert Woof

These cuties are from the new range from Pollycraft Designs. I'm loving using the Pollycraft stuff at the moment. These cards are for family orders, one for a grandson and the other for a granddaughter.



This is a pre-coloured Albert, I used the two images and layered Alberts front portion and mounted him on to blue card and punched snowflakes on the top and bottom edges, the background is glitter card and this time punched the snowflakes to the sides. Added elasticated silver cord with a few beads and snowflake sequin and hung the tag from the cord using a jump ring.




As you can see Albert has gone feminine this time by colouring him myself using a mix of whisper pens, watercolour pencils and sakura clear stardust. Cut the image and matting card using circle wavy nestabilities. The backing paper and clear wavy vinyl are some scraps I had. Added silver cord with beads again and attached the tag with a jump ring. The vellum and holographic plastic snowflakes are from my craft stash. All corners were rounded with a corner punch.

My Blog Candy - CLOSED

To celebrate 2,500 hits to my blog I have some Blog Candy up for grabs. It's the Forever Friends Christmas Stamp Set.

To be in with the chance of winning all you need to do is two things:

- Post a link on your blog to my blog, spreading the word of my blog candy

- Leave a comment on this blog candy post

There that wasn't to painful...lol

All entries need to be in by 6:00 p.m. (UK time) on Wednesday 3rd December 2008

A winner will be chosen by random.org on that evening

Please do not comment more than once, I do have to approve each post so any duplicates will not be published. And I will randomly check that a link to my blog candy is on your blog.

I will post worldwide.

Thank you to everyone who has been visiting my blog and good luck to you all xxx

***********ENTRY NOW CLOSED**************

Pollycraft Challenge #4

For this challenge over at Pollycraft there is a choice of two challenges the first being a sketch by Paula and the second using some free downloadable papers. You can do one card, both cards or one card combining the two. I hope that makes sense, but if you pop over to Pollycraft you'll see it explained far clearer, along with a DT members call and what you need to do.


I've done 2 cards, one for each challenge. The first is my take on the sketch by Paula:






I've used for this card the "Funky Flowers Reindeer" and co-ordinating papers (available for download at Pollycraft Designs). I've added a die-cut 'Merry' from my craft stash next to the printed 'Xmas'.




For the second challenge I've used two of the downloadable papers. The image is from the "Milly Snow Day" download, again from Pollycraft Designs. The image and printed sentiment have both been mounted onto one of the papers attached by brads. The base card is turquoise and I've used a mix of both papers on the background and run four strips of circle printed ribbon between each paper.

Another award

WOW...two awards in two days, what a lucky girl I am. This award was designed by and kindly given to me by Sue, thank you Sue, I'm really touched. Now Sue has informed me that there is no limit on who I wish to award to, so I have decided that I'll leave this award open as yesterday with my first award I said I'd love to give one to all the blogs I follow, well it would be ridiculous to list every single blog I follow and would probably take me a week...lol. So if you would like this award please help yourself and pass it on, and get this award going around the blogs. This is what Sue has asked about passing this award: "Send to anyone who you really cherish"

Well I cherish all the inspiration and joy I get from looking at all the blogs I follow and since I've started blog hopping my mojo has stayed firmly put, so thats a thank you to everyone, your inspiring creations keep my mojo fed.

Please be kind enough to leave a comment if you decide to take this award and also visit Sue's Blog when you have a minute.

Golden Wedding

My friend asked me if I could make a card for her mother and father-in-law's golden wedding anniversary.

I cut the 50 out of gold mirror card then stuck stringed gold and clear gems round the edge. Used gold matte card gatefolded as the base. The 50 was stuck to the left hand side of card and a spray of white & gold flowers tied with white ribbon was attached with silicon slightly over the 50. Two gold coloured rings and a small tag showing the date of the wedding hangs from the bottom of the spray. Happy Anniversary printed ribbon runs down the left hand side of the card and on the right hand side of card a printed sentiment in the shape of a heart was attached.

I've Been Tagged

I've been tagged by Joey (Joey's Stuff), thank you Joey xx Ohhh and I've been tagged again by Sue (ScoopysStuff), thank you Sue xx
Well it's the first time I ever had one of these or even seen one of these before, but it sounds like fun.
With this tag I have to give 7 interesting facts about me (not sure they'll be interesting..lol) and pass the tag on to 7 more people, so here it goes:

1. My middle name is Christine.

2. I have a BSc (hons) degree in Psychology, graduated in 2002.

3. My favourite colours are lilacs and purples.

4. My dream is to own my own craft shop, big enough to have room for classes and groups. (awaiting a lottery win for this dream to become reality, so I think it'll stay a dream)

5. I love Black Pudding and always trying new recipes with it.

6. I dislike flying, though I do fly if I really have to, but managed to avoid it now for the past 5 years.

7. My favourite place abroad is Nice in the South of France (when we travel there by train...lol)

Well thats my 7 not so very interesting facts about me. Here's my 7 to tag:

Sarah's Blog - Sarah's Blog

Carlz Blog - Carlz Cardz

Kath's Blog - Kathleen's

Bev's Blog - Bev's Crafty Bits 'N' More

Hev's Blog - Vanilla Hev'n

Val's Blog - The Crafting Pad

Gina's Blog - The Card Kabin

For those of you I've just tagged, hopefully now you've seen this, you'll see what I was actually tagging you with and not going completely mad. Just copy the picture on to your blog, write 7 interesting facts about you and pass it on to 7 more people.

Some more fab blog candy up for grabs...

Hop along to the Crafting Pad . Val has some scrummy blog candy up for grabs to celebrate 2,000 hits.




Lynsey has some gorgeous blog candy to celebrate 5000 hits to her blog. Hop over to Lynsey's Place

Ohhh My First Blog Award

Thank you to Hazel for this lovely award, I'm very touched as this is my first blog award. Please hop over to Hazel's blog, Dido's Designs and take a look at her wonderful inspiring cards.

This award states that:

This blog invests and believes the PROXIMITY- nearness in space, time and relationships.These blogs are exceedingly charming.These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends,They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement.Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated,Please give more attention to these writers.

The award also states that I have to award it to 8 more blogs. I know this award has been recieved by many of the blogs I like to follow, so forgive me if you have already recieved this award, but I thought you deserved another and if I could, I'd give all the blogs I follow this award. Here are the 8 blogs I'd like to give this award to:

Louise's Blog - The Lou-natic Asylum - Louise has some stunning cards and ATC's on her fab blog, she's had a bit of a hard time lately, but Lou just keeps smiling like the trooper she is. I hope this award brings a smile too, Louise, it's well deserved.

Helen's Blog - Cards by Helen - Helen has some wonderful cards and her blog is full of inspiration, if you don't believe me go and hop over and take a look.

Mel's Blog - The Creative World of Melly Moo - More beautiful cards to be seen, loads of cutie one's. So please go take a peek your guaranteed to go awwwww.

Poppet's Blog - Poppet's Place - Poppet's cards are stunning and is another blog for all you cutie image fans who need some more awwww's. A fabulous blog, which I'm sure you'll want to visit again and again.

Dawn's Blog - All Pink Girl - Gorgeous cards and oozing inspiration from Dawn's blog, hop along and see for youself.

Chris's Blog - A Wellnifty Place - Stunning cards to be seen from Chris, especially the art deco one's of late. Please hop over for a look.

Poppy's Blog - Poppy's Place - Well I know Poppy does have this award already, but another is well deserved, her cards are beautiful and her blog is fab, go on take a look.

Sue's Blog - Hammersue's Blog - Not only does Sue do some fab cards and other papercrafts, but she also makes some stunning jewellery. She's just acquired a craft robo, so can't wait to see what she'll come up with that piece of equipment. But don't wait for that, go take a peek now.

As I said before if I could I'd give this award to all the blogs I follow.
Well done to all above, a well deserved award.

Secret Crafters Saturday Challenge #8

This weeks SCSC was set by Jane, the theme is "Decoupage". My favourite technique and again it's a christmas card (must be something to do with the time of the year...lol). I've used a dufex decoupaged image of Mary & Baby Jesus, mounted onto gold textured card. Added a holly embossed ribbon down one side and gold peel-off sentiment.

Birthday Dufex Vase of Flowers

Another card for a crafting buddy, who celebrated their birthday last week. I've used a dufex postcard iamge, which I found in my craft stash. I've matted it onto what I can only explain as a type of pink see through vinyl which looks wavy and I've put Pink mirror card behind. Added pink organza ribbon down the side attached a handmade bow of the same ribbon and finished with a silver peel-off sentiment. A very quick card.

Secret Crafters Saturday Challenge #7

I'm a bit late with my challenge entry this week with all which has been going on, but I managed to make up the card today just in time...lol. This weeks SCSC challenge was set by DT member Claire and the theme is a cute image and button(s). I'm back with the christmas theme this week with a cute decoupaged image called Rodney from Pollycraft Designs. It's a baby's first Xmas card, the backing paper is from my craft stash, but I believe it's from the Dovecraft Blue Christmas Collection, I've added snowflake print ribbon with two buttons at each end, then finished with 3 blue vellum snowflakes, again from my craft stash.

Christmas cards for friends

These cards are part of my nan's card order, these are for her friends.

I have mainly used decorative ribbon here and layered some of the poinsettia's and added another poinsettia to the bottom corner. The verse sentiment was printed and matted on to red and gold card.

I used the cuttlebug holly embossing folder here. Some of the outlines were highlighted with an embossing pen then heat embossed with gold tinsel powder, then coloured using H2O's. Matted on to red and gold card and a gold bow was added to the stem. The sentiments are gold peel-offs.

The santa was stamped then embossed with the gold tinsel again and coloured with H2O's. I've used the clear sakura stardust pen to give the snow on the ground some sparkle (it can't really be seen in the picture). Matted on to red and gold textured card. Red and gold text ribbon runs down the edge and the bottom sentiment is printed and again matted on to red and gold textured card.

A touch of Christmas recycling

I've had a lovely day of crafting today, and to get me back into the swing of things I made some quick Christmas cards using recycled toppers/embellishments from cards I've recieved (not handmade ones, I always keep them) over the past few christmas's. Each card here is made up of something recycled and new.

The decoratings done, so.....

I can hopefully get back to my crafting tomorrow. Been a hectic few days, with Steve's birthday, some of the girls coming to visit, a ruby wedding party and decorating the lounge. We finished hanging the last strip of wallpaper last night, and today the new carpet was fitted. Just waiting for the new suite now, which should be coming in the next week or two, have had to wait 12 weeks for it. What makes me laugh is the shop we got it from and others alike were taking orders last weekend with guaranteed delivery before Christmas. So we must have ordered at the wrong time...lol. I don't know about anyone else but I hate waiting for things, when I buy it I want it now...lol
So apologies for not posting for a good few days, but if all goes to plan, I'll be posting my cards again very soon xxx

Ruby Wedding

One of Steve's cousin's is celebrating their Ruby Wedding this weekend with a party tomorrow evening. I've done two cards, one from us and one from Steve's mum.





The first card is from Steve's mum. The rose image has been pyramarged and mounted onto gold textured card. Peel-offs have been used for the outlines, corners and sentiment. The detail of the corner peel-offs have been coloured using H2O's.





This card is from us. I've used the diamond fold technique (you can watch a demo of this technique here ). The rose and hearts spray is from Ribbonbox and the bow and rings are from my craft stash. These were mounted onto gold embossed and red glitter card. I used the square wavy nestabilities to cut these. The sentiment and verse were printed onto gold paper and mounted onto red mirror card. Finished with some gold peel-off outlines.

A Pawfect Birthday

After Mollie's couple of very quiet days, she is full of energy and mischief today, just how I love her...lol. She was very willing to do a little photo shoot for me this morning with her dad's shoe. I wanted to get a picture of her with the shoe, to make a card for Steve from her. Whenever Steve takes off or changes his shoes, Mollie always manages to pinch one from him. She doesn't chew them, she just enjoys making Steve chase her for the return of the shoe. I had a play with the pictures in PSP and this is the finished card.

Pollycraft Monday Challenge #3

This is my first entry into the Pollycraft Monday Challenge

This weeks theme was set by DT member Poppet, and cards had to have 3 or more circles on it, any size. The only other criteria is that you must use something from Pollycraft Designs, even if it's only a backing paper.

I've used 'Pheobe & Tree' and Winter Backingpaper from the Pheobe and Maude Winter Kit. Even though the backingpaper has circles on it, I added some round gems to the ribbon.