WELL!

After announcing my intentions to blog more regularly and join in with some challenges again, wouldn't you just know that the 'real world' would scupper those plans.
February flew past before I could even blink ..... March stomped in boldly and then charged out again taking Easter and Mother's Day with it ..... and as for April!   It's advanced at an alarming speed and is showing no inclination of slowing down any time soon!  
Sooooo ... I've decided to make some marks here before May makes it's presence felt or I get jumped by June.

Let's get things rolling with a card for
Crafter's Companion UK April Challenge - Flowers

I had printed off one of their free Valentine downloads, but never got around to actually making anything with it, so thought I'd just see if I could make it work for this challenge. 
Simple flower embellishments were made by cutting out some of the hearts and curling the edges. They make perfect petals when glued together to form a circle.  The large flower centre was made by snipping into one of the printed border strips and then gluing it onto a small punched circle ... both flowers were then decorated with a coordinating button to finish.   The fancy flourish doubles up as a very pretty leaf don't you think?  Hero Arts stamps provide the simple greetings and the little birdy gets a wing from half a leftover heart.

Inside is simply decorated with one of the downloaded backing papers matted onto black card and finished off top and bottom with pieces of the border strip. 
So there you are ... that's how you use a Valentine themed download for a flower challenge. I'd also like to submit to the following challenges...
Ladybug Crafts - Leap Into Spring 
Brown Sugar Challenge - Spring 
Crafts and Me Challenge - Spring Flowers 
Crafting For All Seasons - Floral Delight 
Allsorts - Spring Has Sprung 
Here are a few of the other cards I was busy with in February ... it was a fairly heavy month for special landmark birthdays with numbers on.

My Nephew became a teen

My Brother celebrated being 21 ... with 29 years experience!

For Naomi's bowling pal

Fizzy Moon For My Niece

A bit of Decoupage

**SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT**

I cannot finish without telling you that after 4 cancelled bookings since September 2012 due to bad weather, my 17 year old daughter Naomi finally got to do her Skydive from 10,000 feet on 23rd February 2013, raising well over £1000 for Edinburgh Sick Kids Foundation. 

Proud doesn't even come close!

If you'd like to see the awesome footage click on the photo.  The music is muted so as not to breach copyright.

A 'Par-Fect' Day

Forgot to show the card I made for my dad for Father's Day using this free funky image from Kenny Kiernan, who was a much loved artist from my PSP (Paint Shop Pro) days.     As he is an avid golfer this guy was the PAR-fect choice ... tee hee.   
He was coloured with Promarkers and matted onto several layers of card and background papers from my stash.  The sentiment was computer generated and popped onto a scalloped circle decorated with white gel pen.

 

There is a brand new Kenny K's Krafty Girls Challenge Blog due to begin in July and they are looking for DT members if anyone is interested but submissions must be in by 26th June so you'll have to hurry!
Thanks to my very dear friend Ann, it was easy to find several challenges looking for male themed projects. 
Can you believe she updates her new Challenge Mania Blog listing all the current challenges and updates them EVERY DAY?  You should check it out!
I decided to enter a few ...
Charisma Cardz 25 - One For The Boys
Magical Crafts 17 - Male/Father's Day
One Stop Craft Challenge 85 - One For The Boys

It's Bah! Humbug! Day tomorrow ... wow! ... 2 posts in 2 days!
Whatever next ? LOL!