Blue.......again?

Morning! There's a new challenge starting today over at Sunday Sketch and Stamp and this week, I decided to make it a 'Pick a Sketch' week, which means you can use any sketch from our past challenges that you want! I used Sketch #158, which I'd designed but then hadn't got around to working with - here's my card:

I've used the cutest Sylvia Zet Wee Stamps digital image, coloured with Promarkers/Spectrum Noirs. The papers are Maja Design's Vintage Spring Basics - love, love, love these papers!! The sentiment stamp is Whimsy, the smaller blue flowers are Kort and Godt and the rest of the flowers are Wild Orchid Crafts. I've also added lace and pearls from my stash and a bark heart, which I painted with crackle paint, from Live and Love Crafts. And yes, my card's blue again - I can see a bit of a theme developing here!!
I'm also going to enter my card into the Alphabet Challenge - L is for Lace, Card Makin' Mamas - Monochromatic Challenge, Inspire Me Fridays - Anything Goes, Dutch Dare Card Challenge - Floral Frenzy, Crafting for all Seasons - Challenge #56 Bingo (Flowers, Digi Image, Pearls), Deep Ocean Challenge - #56 Blue and I think that's it!
I hope you like my card, thanks for visiting and any comment you might leave - and don't forget to join in over at Sunday Sketch and Stamp!  TTFN................xxx

Beautiful Blue...

Morning! It's Friday and so there's a new sketch over at the Friday Sketch Challenge - this week it's a fab, versatile one by Carole, and here's my take on it:

I've used Digistamp Boutique's Rosie with Flower coloured with Spectrum Noirs and Promarkers. The papers, ribbon and bow are Papermania's capsule collection 'Burleigh Blue' and the Flower Cabochons, which I thought were a nice addition and worked with the sketch - are from My Mum's Craft Shop. I love this beautiful deep royal blue and it's makes a change to make a girly card in blue instead of pink for a change!!
I'm also going to enter my card into Crafty Ribbon's Challenge #53 'Clean and Simple plus ribbon', Digistamp Boutique's Monthly Challenge and My Mum's Craft Shop Challenge #7 'Just for Girls'.
I think that's it! I hope those of you in the UK are coping with this heatwave - I think it's going to be a scorcher today!! Don't forget to join in over at the Friday Sketch Challenge - Bye for now.........xxx

Bloglovin'

I know I've left it pretty late in the day but after all the rumours flying around about Google Reader being retired, I didn't quite believe it until now!! Silly me! I've exported all of the blogs I currently follow into bloglovin' so if I follow you now, I'll continue to do so and I would love it if you would continue to follow me too. I really appreciate each and every one of you and the comments that you leave me. Hope to see you on the other side........ xxxx

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

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