Simplicity!!

I have decided to take the simple approach to some of my Christmas cards that way i can send more out........lol.

Here's one i made last night and i have a few ideas along the same theme ready to put to practice later. I do like the simplicity of the card myself but the picture really doesn't do anything for it!!

You can't see by the picture but the background is clear glitter sticky paper. The tree is a shiny white paper with clear stickles over parts and mounted on gold mirri board. When the light hits it at different angles (thats not hard with the Christmas tree lights flashing frantically!!) it's really sparkly and looks very Chrismassy!!

Thanks for stopping by. x

The same but different!!

My little girl really liked the HM card i made for the Let It Snow challenge and asked if i could make one for her Nana. I offered to use a different stamp and showed her all my papers but no!! she still wanted the same. I find it VERY hard to try and make two of a kind so i did manage to alter it slightly so it would still look the same but a bit different.........lol. My dughter and son decided to play spot the difference between the two cards heehee!!

For this one i used my copics to colour the image as i wanted to get it done a bit quicker. I was also having a 'bad ribbon day!!' and the bow just wouldn't lye where i wanted it to so i secured it with a brad. I also added a thin gold mirri card frame around the image as i wanted to use up some old gold brads and wanted it to tie in.

Ribbon scraps

This card won't be everyones cup of tea as i have used black and white for this Christmas card but i quite like it. It's a very simple card and a great way to use up ribbon scraps. The card i have used is a 'skinny' so it's narrower than a DL card.

Not the best photo as the sun is shining through every bit of my conservatory making my pics a bit dark!!

While i'm here i will shar a pic or two of my Christmas tree. Very un-traditional this year......lol.

The tree is 6.5ft slimline cream tree. You can see in this photo that the kids have already been re-arranging some of the decorations leaving a bit of a gap in the middle on the top!! Never mind i'll just have to buy more to totally fill it......lol

You can see all the colours i have gone for better in this photo!!

This flower is a gorgeous turquoise colour and is made of feathers.

Also had to show you this flower. Again i just LOVE the colours - a rich deep purple with turquoise and deep blue.

Right i'm off to re-arrange my trimmings (again!!)............lol.

Thanks for looking. x

House Mouse - Let It Snow!!

Our challenge this week on House Mouse & Friends challenge blog is let it snow!!

This week we would like to see snow on your work. This could be the word 'snow', paper with snow flakes, a snow themed stamp, white puffy 'snow'................... the list is endless

Here's the card i made...................

I kept the card quite white and simple which i think sometimes gives a more striking effect. I'm still into colouring with distress inks and this is the first House Mouse image i have coloured this way and i'm sure it won't be the last as i love the way you can get the colours so bold.

Thanks for stopping by. x

Sketch Saturday #28

I didn't have time to post my card over the weekend and then i lost my internet connection for just over a day so i'm finally playing catch up.

It was Mariska's turn to set the challenge and this is the sketch provided:

My oval nestabilities were to small for the image i wanted to use so i had to settle with a rectangle with the corners rounded. As pink cat studios are sponsoring us this week i used this image from their QT Owl plate - my favourite.

The papers are BG Granola. Sentiment stamp from catslife press, flowers by papermania, image - pink cat studios coloured with distress inks and spica glitter pens.

Stampavie Group Challenge 2

Stampavie (the company who manufacture Sarah Kay and Rachel Anne Miller stamps) have a group over on Paper Craft Planet and the latest challenge set was another sketch (I do love sketch challenges........lol).

Here's the card i made.............

On the sketch the ribbon was along the bottom and the sentiment down the side but i wouldn't beable to fit it that way on this card so i swapped them around.

The papers are BG Boxer. Used my crop-o-dile to make the wholes and set the eyelets. Ribbong and metal sentiment from stash. Image was coloured with distress inks (again......lol).

Thanks for looking. x

WOJ - Guest Designer Call!!

Now if you love these stamps as i do then why not enter in there Guest Designer call. You can view all information needed here. I have followed the sketch given pretty closely with the exception of my sentiment being round rather than a rectangle. Here's my card..........

The papers used are BG Wassail (again.....lol). Vellum Christmas sayings from stash. Text stamp by Catslife press. Flower bought in a bunch off a local market last year (real bargain at only £1 for a bunch containing 12 flowers).

Image stamp - By Whiff of Joy. I decided to colour this image with distress inks again and i'm very pleased with it as it was my second attempt. It's so easy to work with.

I made this card last week but was unsure as to whether i should submit it as an entry or just for fun. I decided to give it ago and if nothing else i'll boost numbers..........lol (not that they need boosting!!). As you are allowed to enter as many times as you like i may just see if i can come up with something better.

Thanks for looking and i'd love to know what you think and any advice regarding distress inks are welcome. xxx

Sketch Saturday #27 - Sponsored by WoJ

Yes that's right! sponsored by Whiff of Joy

And look at the prize that you could win!... one of Whiff of Joy's brand new designs from their Winter & Christmas collection, designed by Elisabeth Bell,

Herb with bird, isn't he soooooo sweet!...

Here's the sketch for this weeks challenge...............



I loved this sketch and found using it so easy. I have a few stamps (well quite a few) from Whiff of Joy so i thought it would be nice to use the same stamp as the prize offered. Here's my card.........

I'm not too happy with my photo's at the moment as i think i may have messed with the settings on my new camera a bit too much as the pictures are a bit blurred. I know it's my fault and not the camera's as it's a 14.2 Megapixel DSLR - looks like i'd best learn how to use it quickly so i can get some good pictures over Christmas!!

Sarah Kay - Time for apple pie

Well i have to say that the new Sarah Kay stamps are gorgeous. I have managed to find some time to make this card for the challenge over at the Stampavie group on PCP. The challenge is a sketch (I love sketches as the layout is the part that takes me the longest).

I have used BG granola papers - they are so lovely, and i've coloured the image with distress inks. It's the first time i have used these inks to colour with and i'm pleased with the results they give. I have been practicing a bit with the inks but decided to go for the first one i done so it would be special to me (as i hope it will be special to the friend that receives it).

Thanks for looking. x

Losing my mind!!

I remember making this card for a challenge blog but!!!!...............I can't remember which one and it's been sitting upstairs for a couple of weeks so i will have no chance in remembering now. I have been delaying blogging it incase i remembered but thats not going to happen............lol.


For this card i used my Forever Friends stamp again and BG Granola papers. The 'thanks' stamp is a clear stamp from Studio G.

House Mouse #15

I can't believe how quick the weeks are gong and that we are already on week #15 on House mouse and friends challenge blog. I'm also sure the DT members have excelled themselves again this week - just when you think they can't get any better, they do!! There must be something in they're water..........lol, wish they'd bottle some up for me heehee!!.

The challenge this week is............

Our challenge this week is :~ Polka Dots!!

Polka dots.......Don't you just love them and they seem to be back in fashion!! With us crafters at least. We would like to see polka dots on your creations.

I wanted to go for the more funky look than cute and soft this week, not sure if it quite works with this stamp but i am loving these papersDon't forget to check out the DT's fantastic work. Thanks for looking. x

Sketch Saturday #26

Another great sketch from Jo this week. I decided to make a Christmas card as not only do i need to make a few but i have so much Christmas stuff that i can't let it go to waste........lol.

For this card I have used BG Wassail papers, i think they have quite a traditional feel to them and thats why i chose this stamp for the card.

Thanks for looking. x

Sketch #25 - Win some seasonal goodies!

Well i couldn't believe what i done this week!! I thought i had done my DT card a while ago for challenge 25 but it turned out i had done #26 instead.......ooops!! least i'm prepared for next week.........lol. Anyways i finally managed to get a card done today which wilol be for my Nain for Christmas. It was only afterwards when i thought about it - she really doesn''t like mice!! Hopefully she will find these ones cute,

Thanks for stopping by. x

House Mouse & Friends #14

The challenge over on HM&F this week is real easy...............as long as it is Christmas related you can make anything!!! I have quite a few Christmas cards to do so i just made a card.

It looks a bit plain and simple looking but with the stamp being quite big (my card blank is 150x150mm - 6x6") you can see how big the stamp is. I think if i would have used anymore layering or added text it would have started to become to busy. The papers i have used are from the BG Wassail collection (loving them).

Thanks for looking. x

An Award

I've been given an award (well i think i have received a few in the past but always forget to do a post then i forget where they were........lol). The lovely Ann gave me the award, so thanks Ann for thinking of me. x

So now to the rules...

1. The winner may put the logo on their blog.

2. Put a link to the person who sent you the award.

3. Nominate 5 blogs.

4. Put links to their blogs.

5. Leave a message for your nominees.

Simple!! I hear you say, well you would think so but after visiting a few blogs most have already been given this award and i don't want to pester them by giving the same one again IYSWIM, the other blogs i would give it to, well i don't feel familiar enough with the owners.

Now if anyone wouldn't mind receiving the award from me please leave a comment here and i will add your name to my list and pop on over to your blog.

Thanks. xxx

Cogsmo card

I love the Cosmo Cricket paper ranges, they do soft and romatic papers to cool and funky. The Get Happy and Cogsmo are great for boys cards and in Blue Peter Style!!! Here's one i made earlier using the Cogsmo papers.............

I can't remember where i got my image stamp from, i just found it in my ever growing stash of stamps - I'm sure they breed!!! The sentiment stamp is from a clear set from Penny Black.

Thanks for looking. x

House Mouse & Friends #13

This weeks challenge on House Mouse & Friends is..............

Our challenge this week is :~ Junk!!

I'm sure we all have at least one in our house, junk drawer that is.......lol. Your challenge is to use something from your pile of junk on your creation, it couldn't be easier!!

Here's the card i made for the challenge:

My 'junk' is the leather flower. It was in the drawer of junk we have in the kitchen (actually it's the kids drawer). The flower is an interchangeable part from my daughters sandals she had in the summer. She lost the matching one to this one straight away but we kept this one 'just incase' we ever found it......................Wonder if she'll spot it's missing..........lol.

I have also done a 'natural' feel to the card as to make up for not being able to participate in last weeks challenge!!

Hope you like it and can't wait to see what you make. x

Sketch Saturday - #24 - Win a Sarah Kay stamp!

Wow!! Don't these weeks come and go far to quickly, Christmas will be here before i get prepared at this rate!!

Here's this weeks sketch over on Sketch Saturday (Jo is great at these sketches). When looking at the sketch for some reason 'boy' came into my head, so i looked through all my stamps (as there's loads still unused that i forget i have.........lol) and found a boy one by Elzybells. I EZ mounted it and got stamping. This is the end result....................

Thanks for looking. x

Fancy Pants............

I so love this stamp from Stampabilities, it makes me giggle every time i see it on peoples work so naturally when i decided to stock these lovely stamps i just had to have this one!!

It was just a quick card as i just 'had' to make one.......lol. I then decided to make another card using the left over papers. It was going okay for another 'quick' card until i decided to handwrite on the white bits!!! It looked like a child had writtien on it and i was about to put it in the bin but decided to try and save it. This is how it turned out....................

..........yep i cut all the white bits with the writing off..........lol. Can't say it's a great card and don't know if i really like it, but it's different (i will probably put it in my charity box)

Forever Friends

I have loved these stamps since i first saw them but just never got the chance to have a play when they first came in. I wasn't sure how to colour them in as i'm not experienced enough to do them with my copics (too much space and shading to get wrong) so i opted for my prisma pencils.

I kept the card very simple (partly because i wasn't 'in the mood' and had lost my mojo) but quite like the way it turned out.

Birthday Boy at 80??

The other week a neighbour of mine called round and invited us round for a drink and a piece of cake. When i asked if i could ask how old he was his sister said 80!!! WOW!!!............80 years of age, i couldn't believe it as i thought he was around 65.

With this in mind i decided to make a quick card to celebrate 80 years young - hence the birthday boy..........lol. I don't really like making male cards but found this one easy and made a card for my dad similar (forgot to take a photo).


Thanks for looking. x

My cute but grumpy looking dog........lol

After annoying nearly all of my family with my camera i have found a new model!!! She may have droopy cheeks and look sad but don't she look cute heehee! and no she wasn't grumpy cause i was taking her picture - she always looks like that!!!


You would think these are the same photo - but nope they're not!!! she does the same pose....lol
Oh and here's one of my little girl (she didn't know i was taking her picture heehee!!Still no crafting as such for me yet but i did help my mum with a couple of cards as she stayed last night and had to get a couple made for a friend by tomorrow. My wrist is feeling a bit better today so i may try and get some stamping in later.

Have fun. xxx

So Spoilt!!

Last week my little girl broke our digital camera so i have been un able to take any photos, not that i can do any crafting at the moment as i've hurt my wrist but i have got a few cards here that i 'made earlier'.

I used to have an SLR camera, a Canon EOS 50E until it got nicked about 4/5 years ago. I was only learning about photography but i really enjoyed it but had to give it up as i could afford to replace my camera. I have been wanting to take this up again but could no way afford a new SLR (digital this time rather than wasting film after film as i used to). Anyway, me and my boyfriend were talking Saturday morning and i showed him our broken camera, i mentioned that i only want to replace it with a cheap digital one for now as i would rather get an SLR when i save enough.

My lovely fella then decided - thats my Christmas pressie sorted and seen as we were going off shopping he would let me chose one ready.

After a few hours in the shop this is what i decided on................. a Sony a350

Isn't it gorgeous. The best bit is that he bought it there and then and as i NEED a camera i don't have to wait until Christmas for it *woohoo* needless to say everyone in the house is sick of me putting the lens in there face heehee!!

Off to play with my new toy again!!

Too busy to craft!!!

Well i can't believe how busy the last week or so has been, each day has been the same routine.......

7am - get up and start doing VAT returns (shake kids off my leg and feed them junk to let me get on with work.....lol)
2pm - start packing shop orders, go for a shower and get kids ready, check for anymore orders and pack them ready to go to post office for 5pm.
5pm onwards - cook, clean and play with neglected children!!!

Well i'm pleased to say that the worst of it is over now as far as the day job (VAT) is concerned as i have finished all my end of month deadline jobs today *woohoo*.

I will be taking tomorrow off work (both the shop and VAT - still got loads of non payment ones to do) so sorry in advance as no orders will be sent out and also to my boss cause if he tries to ring me i'm not answering................lol. I'm going down to my mums for the day so i don't even have to look at any mess (not in my own house anyway.........lol).

I will also be taking a short while off crafting. Partly because i haven't been spending much quality time with the kids and partly because instead of relaxing me as it used to i'm feeling like i have to do this and i must get that done etc etc. It won't be a long break but a break none the less!!

Did i tell you all i have given up smoking???...........Well i have. I gave up on 19th October and started on the patches and WOW do they have some side effects!! I couldn't sleep and when i did eventually get to sleep the dreaming would wake me (slept 2 hours a night for three nights!!). My arms also felt like a dead weight, indigestion, stomach cramps etc - well by Wednesday of last week i was so fed up and tired that i cracked and had a fag......argh!!!

But the good news is, i found a way to make the patches work for me (just wearing one for a few hours early in the day) but even that wasn't great so since Saturday i have gone without the patches or anything else and i find it so much easier. So things are going well with the NO SMOKING at the moment.

Well for what started out as a short post to say why i haven't blogged has turned into an essay........lol. Oh and before i forget i haven't shown you my card for Sketch Saturday so here it is...................

Just Bex Challenge {Piece by Piece}

Over on Just Bex forum Nikky set us a challenge called piece by piece. We had to use pieces of paper to 'make' our pictures/designs.

Nikky gave a fabulous sample of a paper pieced house, i loved it so much that i decided to use her idea.
Feeling guilty for not coming up with my own idea i decided to make another....................A very simple card but i do like simple.........lol.

Thanks for looking. x