Friday Already??

Where has this week gone ?? Did someone steal it ???

Seems like it ... and the weekend is going to be busy too so if I blink I'll miss that too!
Had really slow internet today, so decided to have a little play and make a birthday card.

Started with a black deckle~edged card which was folded in half and then added paper from the DCWV All Dressed Up Paper Stack. The front panel was then scored and folded back before adding the circle tag with the peel off greeting. The chipboard letters were coloured with a blue permanent pen and then glittered in silver. A self adhesive sparkly gem was used for the dot over the 'i' ... just a little bit of bling.

Inside is more of the lovely turquoise swirl paper and the message panel (cut from an envelope), was randomly silver embossed round the edge before adding a small ribbon bow and greeting.







Yesterday I came home from work to find the Magnolia stamps I'd ordered the other day from SassyCrafts had arrived. Can't wait to have a play with them but goodness only knows when that will be. Until then I will just gaze at them and look forward to opening the packets.

Today ... the postman delivered me more delights which made me smile in the form of a RAK from my fellow CB friend Copse aka Karen.
There are some lovely papers and a fab ATC ... and as a super thoughtful bonus, some 1st class stamps.

So even though I haven't been around CB or blogland much this week, I haven't been forgotten which is very reassuring.
I did try to get onto the CB forum to say 'Thank You' but without success so will post here for now.

"Thank You Very Much Karen!"

'Doodles' of Daisy and Cupcakes

'Tiggertastic' ... aka Sarah ... is a fellow member (and extremely generous RAK sender) from CB forum who just happens to be a multi talented crafter too.
Just check out her blog HERE and you'll see what I mean.

She recently did some 'Doodling' ... personally I prefer to call it art, but it's all down to perception isn't it? ... and she invited the CB members to have a play with her images.

Here are a couple of cards I made using 2 of them. Thanks Sarah xxx They were very easy to play with.

Black versamark ink was used on a scroll stamp and then stamped randomly on the textured orange base card.
I then added some white 'doodle swirls' with my gel pen, in an attempt to match with the swirls on the orange background paper, onto which I'd printed Sarah's doodle daisy. I also decided that white was all the colour needed for the 'Daisy Doodle.' This was then matted and layered onto black and yellow cardstock.

The cupcakes were printed onto green floral paper, and then red glitter glue was used to colour the cherries, silver for the icing, (which overran a bit because I hadn't allowed enough drying time ... whoops!), and the yellow sponge was paper pieced from another printed sheet.
A vertical strip was cut from the card face and a semi~circle was cut away using decorative edged scissors.
*Note To Self: I really will need to invest in a circle punch for better results.*
Rub on words from my stash and paper flowers in pink and green were layered, cut in half and glued top and bottom of the front, with a couple of gems for the finishing touch.
The background papers used were courtesy of the free Crafts Beautiful pattern pack downloads.

A Max Make ... or maybe 2 !

I've managed to fit in some crafting this week.
Not as much as I would've liked but let's be honest ... that's never going to happen and it's better than nothing.
If only I was more organised it would be so much easier.

The first offering is a quick and easy baby girl card where I was playing with my new Dovecraft Footprints border punch. and the cute paper was a free download from Crafts Beautiful. The BABY block letters were stamped onto pink card and silver embossed, then cut out and mounted on foam pads.

The second card is an A4 piece of plain white card scored to form a gatefold, with coloured textured paper on the front panels.

The pretty image of pansies and background paper were free downloads that Wendy at Ooh~La~La Creations offered for her recent Spring Challenge.


The chipboard letters were from the Lets Make Cards Words Kit and the embellishments are real dried flowers.

Inside silver mirri card forms the backdrop to which was added background paper, sheer ribbon and another of the pretty dried pansies.

Thanks for popping by to see what I've been up to.

Heart Card

While I was offline I did manage to make something ... but as is usual with me ... what started as one thing grew into something else entirely.

This card started life as a Bookatrix heart card
and

developed into more of an accordian card ...

with the help of some pretty pink heart embossed card.

Hey ho ... I just go where my ideas take me.


The pink and blue felt letters were from the Let's Make Cards kit so I entered into the Crafty Challenge at CB.

RAKs ... and so much more!

Once again, I have been the lucky recipient of some super RAKs from my CB friends since I last posted here.

As you will see the generosity of the members is just overwhelming at times and I feel so lucky to have such wonderful crafty friends.




Thank you so much Sequin, Maggie50 and Tiggertastic for your beautiful gifts of scrummy papers, ATCs, notebooks and fabulous jewellery ... not only for me but for my precious daughter too who loves her chunky T~bar necklace, her super charm and her horsey notebook made especially for her by Tiggertasic.

Thank You is just not enough ... nor will it ever be.

Decorating For MCC

Many grateful thanks to my CB friend Martine who has kindly created a beautiful new header for My Creative Corner.
Isn't it lovely? ... especially considering I didn't give her many clues as to what I wanted. All she had to work with was I would like swirls and to keep the colours blue and light grey to match the template.
You're a star Martine!

Blog Candy At Deb's

You have just got to check this out ... such a super selection of Blog Candy on offer at L'il Deb's Happy Place as she is celebrating 2000 visitors to her blog.

All you have to do to be in with a chance is post a link back to Deb's blog on your blog and let her know (or if you are a non~blogger, then e~mail your crafty friends with a cc to Deb) and you could be the lucky winner of all the scrummy goodies shown or if you prefer a $40 shopping spree. How cool is that??

You've got to be 'innit to winnit so off you go!

Fairy Birthday Card

Found time this afternoon to make a birthday card with some paper I bought the other week.

The fairy was cut from a sheet of gorgeous paper in the Dovecraft Fantasy range of Designer 12" x 12" papers and then mounted onto silver mirri card. A swirl stamp added some inerest to the wings.
I used the flower portion of the same paper as a background to matt onto a pink card blank. Added a few sparkly gems and a stamped message to finish ... VOILA!

Spring Beauty

I was leaving for work this morning and this was what greeted me as I opened the front door.

The pink azaleas which skirt the front path are in full bloom and what a gorgeous, dazzling display they make. I only wish they lasted longer.

An Award ... or 3

Grateful thanks to Susie at White Ribbon Cards who has kindly decided I deserve these awards. They are much appreciated and will be displayed with pride.
There are several similar awards doing the rounds at the moment, so rather than nominate specific people, (who may already have been awarded), I would like to offer them to anyone who visits my blog and takes the time to leave a comment. You deserve an award just for being here LOL!

Blog Candy

Everyone and their aunty knows how impossible it is to get 'Hanglar' Stamps in the UK. They're rarer than hen's teeth!
SO ......if you want the chance to win a 'Hanglar & Stanglar' stamp and 30 images ... yes NO KIDDING!!! ... then hop over to visit Heidi's Blog ... post a comment and a link on your own blog and then ... like everyone else ... keep everything crossed.

While you're there take a look around because she has some fabulous creations on display.

Ooh~La~La Creations Challenge

For those of you who enjoy challenges and like the opportunity to win prizes, check out the new 'Ooh~La~La' Creations Challenge Blog' for the chance to win a crafty CD.
You may use the free images provided or, if you prefer, make a Spring Card using your own supplies. Go on ... you know you want to!

This is my entry to the challenge created using the free images provided by Wendy at Ooh~La~La Creations.

Ribbons Galore !!

Scrummy yummy ribbons arrived today ... loads 'n' loads of them ! LOOKY !

These narrow decorated ribbons are so pretty and I have 20 metres of each apart from the ducks and the alphabet which were only 14 metres!
My favourites have got to be the duckies and the alphabet.


The yellow gingham ribbon is wired and there are 6 rolls with 2 metres on each one.

The floral fruity fabric ribbon is fray resistant so perfect for cutting out and layering on cards. There's 10 metres of that.
There's also 20 metres of red and lace ribbon which is airing outside as it smells a bit damp but it may just be absorbed from the envelope.

All of that (150 metres of ribbon) only cost £21 including postage and if my sums are correct that works out at 7.14p per metre.
Found them all in the 'clearance' section at Ribbonmoon ... they do gazillions of buttons too if anyone is interested.

The green tassle braiding and black fringing were already in my stash ... bought them as decoration for cushions many moons ago but found them last night when I was digging.

A Max Make ... or maybe 2 !

The CB forum was out of action last night as was the MSN group I belong to, so after struggling with them both for a while I gave up and decided that as no one wanted to be my friend I would just have some playtime instead.

What started as a simple idea 'morphed' into something a bit more the longer I played around ... and eventually I ended up not only with this Accordian Book ... (actually it's more of a folder) ... but an enormous mess which was the result of much digging through my stash for what I wanted. Funny how what you want is always at the bottom of the pile isn't it? LOL!
I will be personalising the front but couldn't show you or that would give the game away who it is for.

It will soon be winging it's way to the 'secret someone' I had originally intended to make a simple card for ... just hope it gets there safely and they like it when it lands. I have filled the envelopes with bits and bobs which I hope will be useful to the intended victim .... ermmmm I mean receiver LOL!
While I was waiting for the glue to dry on the folder thingy, I busied myself making a card using the Let's Make Cards kit ... just a simple one but quite pretty all the same.

Here are the instructions ...

Use a ready scored pink card blank from the kit and adhere the green floral paper to the lower part covering about 2/3rds.

*Optional*
Round the corners and also cut the outside edges of the card with decorative scissors / trimmer.
Cut out the paisley pattern flowers from another paper and glue them in a flower shape onto gold mirri card ... then cut around the shape leaving a narrow border.
Stick green pearl gems to the centre of each flower petal and add an epoxy greeting.
Gold mirri card provides the stem to which is added a small pink bow made from the ribbon in the kit.
2 small diecut butterflies, also in the kit, and a teeny bit of pink glitter, add the finishing touch.

Wonder if I've missed the closing date for the challenge. Will check that out later.

More RAKs!

After feeling pretty yukky for the last few days with a tummy bug, it was nice to wake up this morning feeling more like my usual self and although the weather is rather grey and dull outside, I was happy.
This was only to improve further when the postie arrived because he brought with him more lovely RAKs from my CB friends and a delivery of some fabby ribbons I had ordered to cheer myself up. What can I say? They were a bargain buy!!

The first RAK was a lovely butterfly card and message from Dee which made me laugh.
You are such a sweetheart ... thank you.



The 2nd RAK came from Pinkpuppy who kindly sent me some lovely papers, a beautiful ATC (with another butterfly) and a personalised Get Well Card (even more butterflies!!) Thanks Louise ... you are very kind and have helped get my weekend off to a good start.

Whoops ... I forgot to photograph the ribbons ... you'll just have to check back later!

RAK ... Random Act of Kindness

After a virtually sleepless night ... most of which was spent in the bathroom ... (say no more!) ... I was feeling rather tired and listless to say the least.

However ... I was soon to be cheered up this afternoon when a super RAK from Martine dropped through the letterbox.

It was absolutely packed full of lovely papers, pearlised cards, peel offs, ribbons, and so many other luvverly goodies too many to list but suffice to say ... it made my day and I am going to bed tonight much happier than when I got out of it this morning!

Thanks Martine!

Thank You Card

I was gutted the other day to discover that the Thank You card I'd made for The Crafts Beautiful team after being selected for MOTM never arrived ... especially as it was one of my better efforts and was an improved version of the 'Floral Flap Over' card I made HERE.

Thanks for nothing Royal Mail!

However, I decided to just make another one and hopefully it will arrive on Jenny and Kate's desk safe and sound.


This time I used fabric squares for the back and front and made a concertina type pop up for inside, which I covered in some scrummy floral papers from HOTP ... all held together with some bright, shiny turquoise ribbon.

Amazing Artwork!

Most of my online friends and forum buddies know that my 12 year old daughter is passionate about horses and sometimes prefers being around them to people.

Her other favourite hobby is drawing and, in my opinion, she has a definite talent for art. She often sits in the evenings sketching, doodling or colouring in pictures and finds it a good way to chill.

One of her friends asked her to do a picture of a horse and the other night I sat and watched Naomi draw this for her friend.

At the risk of being a braggy parent I decided I just had to show off her artistic talent ... isn't it amazing?

Here are another couple of drawings she has done ... she has always been fascinated with dinosaurs.

Birthday Cards

It's been a busy week between one thing and another and a combination of work, family happenings and the good weather has kept me away from crafting and I've been too tired for much PC time.

However I did manage to find a little time and a smidgeon of motivation to make a couple of cards for family members who have May birthdays ... so hip hooray for me LOL!

The first one is for my younger sister and the other one is for my brother in law.

Sorry about the reflection but as we all know mirri card is a devil to photograph.

Hello Peeplings!

Hello Peeplings!
It's been a while since I blogged hasn't it ? ... I'm not the best nor the most reliable of bloggers ... but I never said I would be either of those things.

Anyway ... I have some things to show you if you care to take a look.

Firstly ... I made an ATC Accordian style wallet this week, following directions taken from a crafting magazine. (I think it may have been Papercraft Inspirations but am not entirely sure).

The papers are K & Co (which I love) and the ribbon is some lovely gold organza from my stash.



The Friends tag was a clear stamp from a HOTP kit, which I gold embossed before adhering it to gold mirri card and then mounting it with 3D foam tape.

I can't take any credit for the rest of what I'm showing because they were lovely RAKs sent to me recently by my online friends. Thank you Queenie, Copse and Jude. You really know how to make people feel special.