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

DIY Jim

Evening! Hope you're all well? It's my lovely mum's birthday today which means it won't be a blink of the eye til Christmas now! I've probably told you this before but it's funny the way things work out in my family, it's my mum's birthday then two weeks later on 27th, it's my mum and dad's anniversary, then 2 weeks later on the 11th December, it's my birthday (whoop, whoop - all cards gratefully received ;-)) then 2 weeks later, it's Christmas day, then 1 week later, it's my son's birthday! We coulda planned it a bit better, eh!!?
The card I'm sharing tonight is one I've made for my aunt to give to my uncle - it's his birthday at the end of the week!

Ingredients:

Image - DIY Jim from Digistamp Boutique coloured with Spectrum Noirs/Promarkers.

Papers and Sentiments - Papermania 'Wellington'.

Other - Button and Twine from stash, Kraft card from Elzybells. Also used Slice machine to cut the numbers out.

I've followed the sketch over at Sweet Sketch Wednesday and I've used a Digistamp Boutique image, so I'll enter it into their monthly competition and I think that's it!
Right, I'm off to try and sort my TV out - has anyone else got Sky and is having trouble with there not being any TV listings showing on most channels tonight? TTFN lovelies............xx

Such a Cute Little Penguin!

Morning! How's everyone today? I'm off out in a minute to go Christmas shopping with my mum.....what was I saying yesterday LOL!?! But first....there's a new challenge over at the Friday Sketch Challenge and here's my DT card:

Ingredients:

Image - Lili of the Valley watercoloured with Distress Inks.

Papers - Basic Grey 'Jovial'.

Flowers - Wild Orchis Crafts.

Other - Red Card from Bazzill Basics, Oval and Scallopped Oval Nesties and Banner and Corner cut with Slice machine, Gems and Peel Off Greeting from stash.

I've loved this little penguin since it's release but I didn't buy him straight away and then I kept seeing such gorgeous cards around blogland made using him, I couldn't resist it any longer and when LOTV had their latest release, this one fell in my basket too..oops ;-) And these Basic Grey papers are some of my most favourite ever, I've not got many left now.
I'm going to enter my card into Lili's Little Fairies 'All things bright and beautiful' challenge - I hope it fits....a penguin's a creature though after all, isn't it?!?
Right, I'd better go - can't keep my mum waiting! Make sure you join in with the new sketch and I'll be round to do some blog hopping later on. TTFN............xxx

You Give Me Wings....

Evening! Sorry that I'm posting this a wee bit late - when I was typing it up last night, I thought I'd scheduled it but I don't know what I did! I must've been more tired than I thought LOL!! Anyways, there's a new challenge over at Sunday Sketch and Stamp today and this week, it's been designed by Uma. Here's my card:

Ingredients:

Image - Magnolia Tilda coloured with Spectrum Noirs and stickles on the wings!

Papers - Echo Park 'Victoria Garden'

Flowers - Wild Orchid Crafts.

Sentiment - Kraftin' Kimmie.

Other - Square frame cut using Slice machine, Scalloped Border MFT Die-namics, Marianne Designs Flourish, Pearls from stash.

I'm also entering my card into the following challenges:

• Craft Your Days Away - Challenge #52 'Farewell Challenge, Anything Goes'. (I'm gutted this challenge is closing down, I've entered it lots of times while it's been running).
• The Poodles Parlour - Winged Things.
• Stampin' for the Weekend - Challenge #16 Pearls and Swirls.
• In The Pink - Challenge #2 Lots of Pink and Winged Things.
• Inspire Me Fridays - Always Anything Goes.

After moaning about the holidays in my last post, we've had a great last few days - on Thursday, we had to go and get Sam's new school uniform cos he goes up to Secondary school in September and he's starting at a brand new school that's just opening. He looked so smart and grown up in his blazer - it nearly brought a tear to me eye...sniff, sniff. And then on Friday, I took Sam and a couple of his friends to Smyths toy shop near us because The Miz (a WWE Superstar for those of you like me who aren't fans!), was making a personal appearance and my son is THE biggest wrestling fan!! He couldn't believe he was holding the actual championship belt and meeting a wrestling star, bless him, he was soooo excited. And that's my news! Back down to earth now - it's a bank holiday here in the UK tomorrow, so we'll probably have a family outing somewhere. Hope you've had a good weekend, wherever you are. Bye for now...................xx

Summer Flower Tilda

Morning! It's a bright new day and hopefully a new beginning for me (please check out last night's post if you want to know what I'm on about?!)........ and a new sketch challenge over at Sunday Sketch and Stamp. This week, it was Gry's turn to set us to work and indeed she did! Here's my card:

Ingredients:

Image - Magnolia Tilda coloured with Spectrum Noirs with stickles on her wings!

Papers - Nitwits 'Petal Fresh'

Flowers and Seam Binding - Wild Orchid Crafts.

Other - Bazzill Basics Kraft card, Shapes cut with Slice machine, Pearls from stash and butteflies cut with my new tonic punch!

Hope you like it! I finally got around to using one of the hundreds of magnolia stamps I've got. I seem to have a bit of an addiction to buying crafty stash and then not getting around to using it - if it just me or is it a general crafting afflication?!? I'm also entering my card into the following challenges:

• Magnolia-licious Challenge blog - Photo Inspiration challenge.
• Totally Tilda - Challenge #53 Tilda using Kraft card.
• Sweet Stampin' Challenge - 'Things with Wings'.
• Inspire me Fridays - #71 Always anything goes.
• Clearly Inspired - Challenge #57 'Things with Wings'.
• Hanna and Friends - Challenge #151 Summer card.
• Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes.

OK, I think that's about it for now. I hope I've still got some visitors left, I really appreciate you sticking with me - Sam's off to his aunt's for a few days tomorrow, so I'll have all day to craft and come round and visit you all, uninterrupted ;-) Bye for now..............xx

Sk8er Boi

Morning! There's a new challenge starting today over at My Mum's Craft Shop Challenges and this week it's 'The Great Outdoors', which you can interpret however you like really! Here's my card:

Ingredients:

Image - Pollycraft coloured with Spectrum Noirs.

Papers - My Mind's Eye.

Dies - MFT dienamics notebook edge.

Other - Bazzill Basics Kraft Card, Prima wall background stamp, Slice machine to cut banner for sentiment, Doodlebug Rub one letters for sentiment.

I'm also entering my card over at the Pollycraft Monday Challenge #137, which is the fabby sketch that I've followed.
Don't forget to hop over and check out my teamies gorgeous cards over at the MMCS challenge blog and make sure you join in with the challenge this week - we're being sponsored by Pollycraft, who are giving away a fab prize of 5 digis! Oh, and talking of Pollycraft, in case you didn't know already, they're got a very generous offer on at the moment - enter the code APR50 to get 50% off their digis!!!! I used it the other day to take advantage of the yummy new releases!!
Well, that's it from me for now. Have a good day...................xx

Pearls and Swirls (and just a few butterflies!!)

Greetings! The challenge starting today over at My Mum's Craft Shop Challenges is 'Pearls and Swirls' and this week, we've been lucky enough to be sponsored by Emerald Faeries (who will provide the winner with 2 yummy digis!) Here's my card:

Ingredients:

Image - Emerald Faeries watercoloured with distress inks, with chalk background and stickles on the wings.

Papers - First Edition 'Dream Catcher'.

Cardstock - Bazzill Basics.

Sentiment - Craftwork Cards.

Dies/Punches - MS Butterfly Punch, Circle and Scalloped Circle Nesties, Corner die and Cuttlebug, MFT Rolled Rose die and Swirls cut with Slice.

Other - Pearls from stash.

I had intended making a quick card but ended up spending ages on it (and I hope it shows LOL!!) I'm going to enter it into the following challenges:

• Anything Goes - Challenge 60 Bingo (Swirls & Pearls, Animals, Shaped Cards, Die Cuts/Punches, Make your own Flowers).
• Whimsy Inspirations - Challenge 26 Anything but a Square Card.
• Truly Scrumptious - Challenge 74 All Creatures Great and Small.
• Flutter By Wednesday - Challenge #190 Anything with Wings.
• Divas by Design - Challenge 22 Wings and Things.

 And I think that's about it! Hope you like it - thanks for visiting xx And of course, don't forget to join in with the challenge over at MMCS Challenges! Bye for now, my lovelies xx

Bee My Valentine..........please x

Morning! There's a new sketch by Maggie today over at Sunday Sketch and Stamp. Apologies for being a wee bit late with my post today but I've come down with this dreadful cold that seems to be sweeping the nation at the moment and last night, I was up nearly all night cos I couldn't sleep what with the dripping tap nose and one thing and the other - and then I fell asleep this morning and so wasn't awake to do my post on time doh!! Anyway, here's my card....

Ingredients:

Image - Kraftin' Kimmie 'Valentine Willard' coloured with Spectrum Noirs.

Papers - MME 'Love Me'.

Other - Slice used to cut letters and heart and Gems added from stash.

Dont'cha just love Willard? I fell in love with the Christmas version of him and had to have this image but would you believe it's the first time I've used it? Slapped wrists for me!!! I am actually a big Kraftin' Kimmie fan and have got quite a few of her stamps that still need inking - I really am gonna make a concerted effort this year to ink up more of my neglected rubber!! Although I was naughty last week cos it was Kimmie's birthday and she had some amazing offers in her store which even made it worthwhile with the shipping from Canada!! And I was hugely impressed when they arrived yesterday, which I think is pretty speedy all the way from there!!
I'm going to enter my card into the following challenges:

• Totally Gojuss - Challenge 118 Lurve!
• CES Challenges - Challenge 72 Lots of Layers.
• Addicted to Stamps - Challenge 23 Valentines/Love.
• Crafting When We Can - Challenge 11 Valentines/Love.
• Dream Valley Challenges - Challenge 25 Valentine.
• That Craft Place - Challenge 6 Love is All Around.
• The Crafty Pad - Challenge 157 The Letter 'B' (as in the Bee on his nose!!)

Right, that's about it methinks! Anyhoo, ta-ta for now, I'll be doing the rounds in a bit......xx

Music Box.......

Afternoon! This week's challenge over at The Crazy Challenge is 'Vintage' and our sponsor is one of my old design teams, The Stamping Boutique, which was nice cos I had a few images to choose from, to work with! Here's my card:

Ingredients:

Image - The Stamping Boutique coloured with Spectrum Noirs with a bit of stickles and pearly pen!

Paper and Sentiment - Papermania.

Pink Card - Bazzill Basics.

Flowers and Lace - Wild Orchid Crafts.

Punches and Dies - MS Vintage Lace PATP and shapes cut with my Slice.

Other - Pearls from stash.

I hope it's 'vintage' enough! What d'you reckon? I've used pearls and lace and thrown in some vintagey looking paper, so I hope it works! And I got to use my Slice again! I'm determined to use it more and there are some great shapes that are useful for filling in any gaps. Have you made any crafty New Year's resolutions? Right, that's it from me for today, I'd better get on! Don't forget to pop over to The Crazy Challenge to check out my teamie's cards - and join in with the challenge, of course! Back again soon lovelies............xx

It'll be All White on the Night........

Boom, boom! I've always wanted to use that as a title and being as the challenge over at Southern Girls this fortnight is 'White on White', I've finally got my opportunity! Here's my card (get ready for a few pics!!)

Ingredients:

Image - Tickled Pink coloured with Spectrum Noirs.

White Card - Bazzill Basics 'Great White', DCWV Glitter Card.

Dies - Cheery Lynn Doily Die.

Punches - Martha Stewart Butterfly and Leaf punches.

Lace Butterfly - Wild Orchid Crafts.

Flowers - WOC and The Range.

Sentiment - Craftwork Cards.

Other - Ribbon and Gems from stash, Swirls cut using Slice.

Phew, I think that's it! Sorry about the pic and ingredients overload!! I'm also entering my card into the following challenges:

• Crafty Purple Frog Challenges - Anything Goes.
• Paperplay Challenges - Week 3 Ribbon Any Which Way.
• I Brake for Challenges - IBFCC17 Fancy Folds.
• Inky Impressions Challenges - Shape It Up (Shaped Cards).
• Heart Song Inspirations - Challenge #31 Glitter and/or White on White.

Don't forget to pop over to Southern Girls, my fellow teamies have really pulled it out the bag this time around with their projects! And we'll make it worth your while to join in ;-) - our sponsors this time around are Tickled Pink (where my gorge image came from), Artfull Crafts and Meljen's!!
Thanks too - to those of you who asked after my sickly son who was off school!! It must've been a virus because he had a temperature and one bout of sickness! I've kept him off for the rest of the week but I knew he'd started feeling better when he started talking the hind legs off a donkey as usual!!! Bye for now........xxx

Happy New Year!!!!

Long time, no see (if ya know what I mean!?!) Yep, I know I'm a bit late but I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and here's to a very Happy New Year for all of us, eh!? I'm so happy to be back blogging - and with a new computer too!!
I guess I should explain my absence (although I must admit to being a bit sad not to have heard from a single one of you - 'specially those of you that I thought I could consider friends, but hey ho!) Before Christmas I was having an absolute nightmare with my computer, in the end I was avoiding using it because it seemed like it was doing nothing I wanted it to and was just stressing me out!! Luckily though cos my birthday was just before Christmas too, I was able to get a new 'puter!! Then in the week before Christmas I had to go into hospital for a week or so. I came out in time for the big day and had a lovely time over Christmas and the New Year at my mum and dad's (although they've not quite made it into the 21st century yet and don't have internet access at their house!!) I had to go back into hospital in the new year but now I'm home and ready to
get back to my blogging best!!
So - down to business! There's a new challenge starting today over at Sunday Sketch and Stamp and here's my attempt at the sketch:

Ingredients:

Image - 'My Heart' from D'arcy's Diaries coloured with Spectrum Noirs and Sakura glitter pen.

Papers - My Mind's Eye.

Crinkly Paper Ribbon (yes, that's a technical term!) - Bunny Zoe's.

Pink Card - Papermania, Kraft Card - Bazzill Basics from Dies to Die For.

Also used - Slice machine (to cut hearts, lettering and key), Buttons and Twine from stash.

Have you seen these gorge new images from D'arcy's Diaries? I saw a few previews but now the shop's open - although there are only 5 images at the moment, I can't wait to see more!! They're by the same lady who brought us Teddy Bo - and look what a huge success that's been, so I see big things for this character! And I've used my Slice quite a bit on this card! One of my 'Crafty New Year's Resolutions' to use it a bit more!! I love it, and I can cut some great shapes using the design cards I've got but for the most part it just sits there forgotten :-( I'm sure you've got equipment like that....I call it the crafter's curse LOL!! We have so much stash, we only use half (if we're lucky!) of it!!

I'm also entering my card into the following challenges:

• Blogger's Challenge - Wings and Things.
• Clearly Inspired - Challenge #43 Valentine's Day.
• Inspire me Fridays - Anything Goes.
• The Poodles Parlour - Button Up.
• Totally Papercrafts - Challenge 99 Spots and Stripes (there's spots on the word 'love' and lines on the background paper, so I hope it counts!?)

And I think that's about it! I'll be round to visit you all this coming week - although it's gonna take me some time to get round to you all - I've got a lot of catching up to do!! Bye for now..........x

J'adore L'Amore!!!!!

There's a new release over at Cupcake Cards and Crafts - the collection is called L'Amour and it's all different shades of pinks and reds. It is perfect for valentine's day but it could also be used all year round and if you ask me, it's absolutely gorgeous!!! You can also win the collection by taking part in the February challenge at the Cupcake Craftroom, where the theme is 'Love and Romance'. The card I posted earlier was made using these papers and here's another couple of cards I've made using them:

The first card was really easy to make but I really like it cos that paper is so striking. All I did was cover the bottom half of a square card blank with some pale pink Papermania card, I then covered the top half of the card with the Cupcake's paper - cutting the bottom of this piece at an angle then I covered the join with lots of different coloured pink hearts that had been cut with my Slice. The sentiment is also from the paper collection.
The second card features Magnolia's Edwin watercoloured with distress inks (another one from the new collection) - this really is my favourite medium for rubber stamping, I just love the effect. As well as the papers from the L'Amour collection, I've also used some grey Papermania card, which I used my Slice to cut a scalloped heart outline for Edwin to stand upon, Gems from my stash, the ribbon is from Papermania too and lastly, a couple of flowers from Hobbycraft.
I'm also entering my card/s into the following challenges:

• Sketches by Carly - Sketch #22 (The Edwin one).
• Mojo Monday - Week 176 (The one with all the hearts!)
• Karen's Doodles - Challenge 48 Love (Red, Pink and White).
• Lexi's Creations - Challenge 32 Valentine's.
• Stamping Scrapping Challenge Central - Valentine's.
• The Cheerful Stamp Pad - Challenge #10 Be My Valentine.
• Creative Cowgirls Challenge Blog - Challenge #6 Love is in the Air.
• Paper Sundaes - Challenge #54 Valentine's.
• Stamptacular Sunday Challenge Blog - Challenge #96 Whateva'
• Totally Gorjuss - Challenge 65 As you like it.

OK - I think that's about it!! There are sooooo many valentine's type challenge's going on at the moment! By the time it comes around I'm gonna be as fed up of making cards with hearts on as I was with Christmas cards!! Have a good day, everyone. I hope you'll leave me a comment. TTFN!