I'm loving a bit of Pollycraft!!

Evening peeps! I'm a bit late with my posts today cos it's the end of my first week back at work and so I need to get myself into a routine of getting my posts scheduled for during the day, now I'm not around all the time to do them as and when! After my hard week at work (!?!), I'm dedicating this weekend to what I love to do most in this world - crafting, blogging and catching up with my commenting!!
But first, here's the card that I'm going to enter into the Pollycraft DT call - for those of you that don't already know, Pollycraft has recently reopened following a bit of a break and I, for one, am totes thrilled!!! I'd just got into Pollycraft digis and I'd been entering the Pollycraft challenge for a while and had just been placed in the top 3, then I won and then Paula made the sad decision to close the store. So - I bought out all of her images in the closing down sale and I've been gradually working my way through them but there's nothing like a new release, eh!!??

I've used the Pollycraft image 'Luna Bitterfrost - Steampuck Rocks' which I've coloured with promarkers and spectrum noirs. The papers are Papermania's Chronology, which I love for steampunk or men's cards. I've used a Kraft card blank and kraft card to mat some of the layers and I've embellished it with Tim Holtz Metal flowers and a hinge clip. Then I've added a rub on sentiment and some pearls from my stash.
I'm also going to enter my card into the following challenges:

• Cards Galore - May Challenge 'Tim Holtz homage'.
• Delicious Doodles - Challenge #37 Steampunk.
• The Kraft Journal - Anything Goes with Kraft.
• Incy Wincy Challenges - Metal Mania.
• The Stamping Chef - Metal Challenge.

Right, I think that's it. I hope you like it and wish me luck! I'll be keeping everything crossed cos it would be a dream to be on a team working with Paula's images but lots of people have put their name forward - lots of talented people too, I might add - but then, you'll never know if you don't try, eh?! TTFN.........xx

The Conductor

Evening! I hope you've all had a good weekend?! I went to the cinema yesterday with my Dad and Sam to see the latest Star Trek film - I loved it but then I am a bit of a trekkie (yes, I'm sad, I know!!) Today, I went and did a Home Check for a lovely couple who are wanting to adopt a dog - I've been doing homechecks as a volunteer for a few months now. Oh, and of course, I've been doing a bit of card making! It's been a beautiful day today - which is just as well cos I've got no heating and hot water at the moment. I think the thermostat on my central heating went a bit haywire yesterday morning because even though I'd turned it right down, it was like a green house in here. It was soooooo hot, it was ridiculous. I'm surprised we didn't have a police raid on suspicion of having a cannabis factory ha, ha!!! In the end, I rang the emergency number and they told me to switch the boiler off but true to form, I couldn't book an appointment til Monday morning so god only knows when it'll end up getting fixed. Anyway, enough about me! What have you been up to?
Here's a card I made to enter the latest Techno Stamper Sketch Challenge -

I've used an image from Tiddly Inks called 'The Conductor' (which seems like such a serious name for such a little cutie!!!!), I've coloured him and his train in with promarkers and spectrum noirs. The papers are My Mind's Eye and I've added a wooden train from Hobbycraft and a button from my stash. All the edges have been inked with Tea Dye distress ink. As soon as I saw this image, I knew exactly what papers I wanted to use! I had been planning to send this to my cousin's little boy who'll be 2 in a week or so but do you think the colours are a bit too 'old' for him??
I'm also going to enter my card into the following challenges:

• A Little Bit Crazy - Kraft It!
• Timeless Tuesday - Challenge #220 Blue and Green.
• Lady Anne's Challenges - Anything Goes.
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes.
• Nutcrafters - Challenge #43 Use some Kraft.
• Crafty Creations - Challenge #222 Keep it Simple.
• My Heart Pieces - Anything Goes.

 Well, I think that's it, I must go and make myself a cuppa! Bye for now.............xxx

Really exciting news!!!!!!

Morning! I've got some really exciting news to share with you today.....for those of you that don't know, I had to give up work in 2006 after being diagnosed with thyroid cancer - of course, every cloud has a silver lining because it was through being ill that I discovered my love of crafting!! Before giving up work, I worked for an advertising agency in central London and last week, someone I used to work with (who I've stayed in touch with), sent me an email asking how I was doing and if I would be interested in going back to work. So - I went for an informal chat and realised that despite my ongoing health problems, there was a possibility that I might be able to make it work. Then I had an interview last week with the two Directors of the company and yesterday, I was offered the job!! From next week, I'll be working at Dawson Walker Communications, who are a PR/Marketing/Advertising agency in London. Obviously I won't know until I try whether it really will work out for me, health wise but they've agreed hours to suit me - I'll be working from home, 2 days a week and from 10am to 3pm in the office, 3 days a week. I'm really excited, but a bit nervous so keep your fingers crossed for me!! My first day is on Tuesday!
Anyway, enough waffling about what's going on in my life. It's the second week of the challenge over at the Friday Sketch Challenge, so here's my reminder card:

I've used a Saturated Canary image, coloured with promarkers and spectrum noirs and I've used Docrafts Kraft Note papers. The shape in the middle and the corner, were both cut with my Slice, I used a Memory Box die to cut out the butterfly and a Marianne Design die for the flowers, then added some twine, a charm and buttons from my stash. I hope you like it - I do love the colours in these papers.

If you've made it this far, thanks so much for sharing my good news! Sending hugs............xx

Abi and her Flowers

Evening ladies (and gentlemen, of course!) I'm back to share a card I made to enter into the Sweet Sketch Wednesday Challenge #205 (I've rotated the sketch) and Digistamp Boutique's Monthly Challenge, here it is....

Grrrrr.....it keeps uploading it 'on the wonk' again!! I thought I'd cracked this problem because usually when it happens I save it rotated 90 degrees so that when it appears it's the right way up again but for some reason tonight, it's rotating the pic that's the right way up and posting the one I've rotated exactly as it's been saved!!! Does this happen to anyone else?
To make my card, I've used Digistamp Boutique's Abi with Flowers and coloured the image with Spectrum Noirs and Promarkers and I've used some freebie papers from a magazine with some flat blooms from Wild Orchid Crafts, Ribbon from Hobbycraft, a sentiment from Craftwork Cards and some pearls from my stash which I coloured with my pens. I hope ya like it! It's nice and bright - unlike the weather we're having right now!! And it's another card to add to my 'flat' collection that's more suitable for posting!
I hope you're all having a good week - I've put tomorrow aside to come round and catch up on my visiting, so I'll 'see' you all tomorrow! Lots of hugs..........xxx

Party Time Freya

Afternoon! Have you had a nice long Bank Holiday weekend? Mine's been nice and relaxing and I've actually got a fair bit of cardmaking done - whoop, whoop!!! Sam went to his friend's birthday party on Saturday from early evening until late and then by the time we got up on Sunday morning, he got dressed, had his breakfast and was off back to his friend's to stay the night and I've not gotta pick him up til 7pm. The weather's been gorge today!! Me and my Mum and Aunt went and did a little bit of shopping - I stocked up in the £ shop and I needed some printer paper cos I was down to my last few sheets. While I was in Staples, I got a Desk Tidy (the Martha Stewart collaboration range) to match my other craft desk bits for 40% off, so I saved nearly £6 - and it's a luverly Duck Egg Blue colour to match the Matthew Williamson wallpaper in my front room!!!
Anyhoo, here's one of the cards I made - to enter into Digistamp Boutique's Monthly Comp:

I've used 'Party Time Freya' from Digistamp Boutique coloured with Speccies and Promarkers with some stickles and glossy accents, Imaginisce papers and Chipboard Sentiment, MFT Open Scallop Border Die, Memory Box Bow Corner Die topped with some ribbon and gems from my stash.
I need to try and make some 'flat' cards a bit more often cos they're much better for posting! Hope ya like it! Enjoy your evening............xx

Where Flowers Bloom..........

Morning! It's time for the reminder post over at the Friday Sketch Challenge, so you've got one more week to get those entries in! Here's my attempt at the sketch:

I used a Lili of the Valley image coloured with Promarkers, Spectrum Noirs and stickled wings, the papers are the very lush First Edition Floral Pavilion and I've added a sentiment which was a magazine freebie, some Wild Orchid flowers, a Magnolia Doohickey die-cut fence and Metal Butterfly from my stash - both of which got the crackle paint treatment all topped off with some pearls!
Hope ya like it and I hope you're all well. Don't forget to join in with the Friday Sketch Challenge, it's a great one to work with! Bye for now........xx

Back from my Blogging Break xx

Morning Everyone. I hope I've still got some people visiting me. It's been a while since my last post (I'm beginning to sound like I'm in confession!) My aunt has been very ill for a long time with emphysema and heart failure and she was in hospital for a prelonged period of time - she sadly passed away on the 12th April and we've got the funeral next Tuesday. I've also been having a nightmare with Sam (my son) - he's 12 now and whether it's being a teenager or what, I just don't know but sometimes he stresses me out so much, it takes me ages to chill out once he's gone to bed!! Anyone else got teenage sons like this? Any advice!!?? So basically - to cut a long story short, I've had so much going on and whereas crafting in the past has been a refuge, this time around I just couldn't get my head into it, so I was sitting down to make a card and just shuffling papers for an hour!! But - my mojo seems to have made a return in recent days which I hope is a sign that things are getting back to normal.
For my first card of my return, I've followed Sketch no. 68 from Papertake Weekly's 'Sketchie Free for All' - and here's my card:

I've used a Time for Tea image (swiftly becoming one of my faves!) coloured with promarkers and spectrum noirs and some older My Mind's Eye papers and I've added some lace and flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts with a Craftwork Cards sentiment. Topped off with a little ladybird sticker from my stash!
I hope you like it and I hope I get around to visit you all soon - I'd love to know how you all are and if there's anyone out there still talking to me ;-) Bye for now...........xxx