Wednesday 27 January 2010

Oh my goodness look at this gorgeous CC Designs Sugarplum Spring Kit candy...

Aren't they just gorgeous stamps!!! The giveaway is for 9 Sugarplum kids, 2 accessory stamps and one set of Spring Sentiments. Wow, wow, WOW!!! To be in with a chance of winning these beauties you need to post about the giveaway of these brand new stamps on your blog then hop over to Kellie's candy post and register your interest. Good luck everyone xxx

Tuesday 26 January 2010

A bit of a different card from me!

I really like how this card has come together and think it's a bit different to my usual 'style'. A lovely friend of mine, Ali was kind enough to send me some dinosaur stamped images using her Basic Grey Archaic stamps (Ali sent me a fab selection of different dinos and on different card and paper). I've matched them with some Archaic papers and some brown fibres. I really like it. I've followed the sketch for the current Lili of the Valley challenge.I'd like to enter this card for the following challenges (I think I meet the criteria!):

Basic Grey Challenges Week 12 - Animals


Stash used:
Square card blank from Craftwork Cards
Basic Grey Archaic papers
Basic Grey Archaic stamped images (on kraft paper)
Brown fibres from ribbon stash stapled onto card - first time I've used staples on a card and I love the look of them ;-)
Card candy dots from Craftwork Cards (centres of distressed punched circles)

Not only did Ali send me the fab dino images but also sent me this lovely card...

Sunday 24 January 2010

Is it a card or is it a box???

A lovely friend of mine called Debbie, created a fantastic 'easel card on top of a box' and I just had to have a go and make one too. Debbie very kindly provided instructions on making the box and the card to pop on top and here's what I made. I love the idea that it's both the card and present. It is for my mum for Mother's Day. Not sure what to pop into the box yet? I used basic white 12x12 cardstock from the Papermill Shop, MME Spring papers - free with Cardmaking & Papercraft magazine this month, Pretty Pottie image from Pink Peticoat coloured with Promarkers. I printed the sentiment on the PC and added a tiny heart punched from pale pink vellum.

I would like to enter it into the current Allsorts challenge, week 36 Hearts and Flowers.

Friday 22 January 2010

Anyone for Lemon Cake?

Well Debbie's recipe this week over at Country Heart and Home is for a Lemon Cake with Crunchy Topping. Sounds yummy doesn't it so I made sure I got some lemons this week to have a go. I have always used this wooden lemon juicer or just squeezed the lemon with my hand a la Jamie Oliver style but saw a lemon juicer in Sainsbury's today for 12p so had to buy it to make this cake. Yep, I did really say 12p :-)

Here it is, 12p for this...

And it works a treat. collects the juice in a bowl beneath too!!! Much better than my old wooden thingie and gets more juice out than using my hands. 12p well spent I think.

Here's the finished cake, cooling in it's tin (excuse my very poor effort at lining the tin, I was in a rush!)...

Can't wait to get it out of the tin and try a slice, or two... Thank you for the fab recipes Debbie xxx

A Pretty Card

I have wanted to own the Tilda with Birdcage Magnolia stamp for ages and when I saw it in the sale at Dies to Die For, well I just had to buy her!!! I have made this card for no particular reason but wanted to make a card with my newly acquired stamp and a new Paper Make Up sentiment stamp I sneeked in at Quixotic Paperie, £1.50 - bargain ;-)

I would like to enter this card for the following challenges:

I have used: a square card blank from Craftwork Cards; Core'dinations Gemstones cardstock (in the sale at The Glitter Pot); MME papers (freebie paper stack with this month's Cardmaking & Papercraft magazine); my new Tilda with Birdcage stamp in the sale at Dies to Die For coloured with Promarkers; gorgeous sentiment stamp by Paper Makeup from Quixotic Paperie; I used my Fiskars scallop edge punch; 2 pieces of pale pink ribbon from my stash; XCut Retro flower punch and last but not least 3 card candy dots again from Craftwork Cards. Hope you like it x

Thursday 21 January 2010

Baby Boy Card

A friend of mine that I know from Thomas' preschool has just had a little boy so made a new baby card. I used my absolutely favourite ever stamp, do you know I can't remember his name, something like Little Cotton Rabbit Baby. I've kept the card pretty simple, I like simple for baby cards :-)

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges if I may:
So, stash I have used: a square card blank from Craftwork Cards, gorgeous baby boy papers by Imaginisce, blue ribbon from my stash, pale blue card candy from Craftwork Cards, my lovely much loved and used bunny stamp from Sugar Nellie/Funky Kits, a blue scallop oval and white plain oval for matting/layering bought from ebay an age ago (I don't have fancy cutting gear - sob, sob, poor me!). The strip of dotty paper was cut with a Fiskars edging punch. Thanks for looking x

Wednesday 20 January 2010

Card For Several Challenges

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges if I may:
I have used a large square card blank and lots of gorgeous Cosmo Cricket Earth Love papers. The kraft scallop circles are made by Craftwork Cards but I bought them from the Glitter Pot (bargain in the sale) as is the very cute butterfly (also a sale bargain). The pale green card with fancy edge was a freebie from Dies to Die For that came with a recent order (thank you Tracy!). The ivory dew drops (flower centres) are from Sarah's Cards. The ivory satin ribbon was from my stash. I used punches for the scallop circle cut from flowery paper and the flowers, both by Woodware. I have distressed the straight edges of the papers with a pair of scissors after seeing the technique on the brilliant Poppet's Place blog (cheers Poppet x). It sometimes feels weird making a card with just paper and card but I love the effect, hope you like it too x

Saturday 16 January 2010

Friday was a cooking day!!!

So I started Friday making some biscotti which is something I've always fancied trying to bake but just never gotten around to. We're having friends round for dinner on Saturday night and I'm making lasagne so thought biscotti would make a nice after dinner treat with a cup of coffee. I used a really easy recipe from the Good Food Magazine, the biscotti is flavoured with orange zest, chocolate chips and hazelnuts.
Next is my ragu sauce for the lasagne. I always think the taste improves if you make it the day before and make up the lasagne on the day (also saves time on the day too!!!). I use a recipe by Rachel Allen, very simple but oh so yummy. I am also making garlic bread (butter, parsley and loads of garlic smeared all over a baguette and baked in the oven).
Next is a carrot cake made using Debbie's wonderfully easy recipe. Do go and have a look at Debbie's blog, she is inspirational in so many ways!!! This is my finished cake...
And this is the cake after my boys got their mitts on it...
So tomorrow I need to make tomato bruschetta for starters, make up the lasagne and garlic bread, put together a creamy lemon dessert using limoncello - yum yum. Can't wait for dinner!!!

Friday 15 January 2010

One Card For 3 Challenges!!!

I have made this card to enter into the following 2 challenges:
Colour Create Challenge - kraft, blue & white
Susie's Sassy Designs - card for a boy with the option of an animal
I have made a Valentine's Day card for my lovely OH without using the usual pink/red shades. I used a scallop edged card, pale blue Glitterations cardstock, kraft paper, some card candy dots, creamy brown inkpad, XCut flower punch, alphabet stamps from Studio G, a cute owl charm and an even cuter owl stamped image from Pink Gem, I love him! The owl is coloured with Promarkers (sandstone, cinnamon, ivory, blush and cool aqua) and I added a few dabs of Stickles Icicle glitter glue to the little stars around the image. Thanks for looking x

Thursday 14 January 2010

Quixotic Challenges #9 Judy's Sketch

Over on the Quixotic Challenge blog this week the challenge is to follow this great sketch...
Here's the card I made. I used a scallop square card, some gorgeous Cosmo Cricket Earth Love papers (it was hard to choose which ones cos they are all beautiful!) and a cute Forever Friends stamp that was free with a Docrafts magazine. I coloured the image with Promarkers, cut him out and stuck him onto a small piece of Bazzill Swiss Dots card inked round the edge with Colorbox Creamy Brown Fluid Chalk Inkpad. The sentiment is from Craftwork Cards and I've also inked the edge. I added some dinky cross stiches in the corners of the stripy paper. Hope you like it and thank you for a gorgeous sketch to follow x

Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge Week 121

The challenge this week over on Mojo Monday is to follow this beautiful sketch...
So, here's the card I made following the sketch. I used some pretty Cosmo Cricket Early Bird papers, piece of Glitterations cardstock punched with a Fiskars edge punch, a piece of cream satin ribbon and an oh so cute teddy bear stamped image from Elzybells coloured with Promarkers. Thank you for a lovely sketch x

The Sweet Stop Challenge - SSS38

The Sweet Stop Challenge this week is to follow the gorgeous sketch below, When I saw it I had to make a card, I think the sketch is fab!!!
So, here's my card for the challenge. I've used a scallop edged card, some gorgeous Basic Grey Nook & Pantry paper, a super cute bear image from Elzybells coloured with Promarkers, some paper (red) and fabric (green) flowers, big pearl brads for the flower centres, I cut the leaves with a Woodware punch from Bazzill card and the sentiment is from Craftwork Cards. Hope you like it and thanks for a great sketch x

Stamp Something Sketch Challenge

This week over on the fab Stamp Something challenge blog, the challenge is to follow this sketch...
Here's my take on the sketch. I used my usual scallop edged square card, some gorgeous Cosmo Cricket Early Bird papers and an ultra cute Forever Friends stamp coloured with Promarkers.
Thank you for a lovely sketch to follow x

Wednesday 13 January 2010

Cupcake Craft Challenges - Challenge 73 Going Girly

Here is my card for this week's Cupcake Craft Challenges Going Girly Challenge. I have used a square scallop edged card from Craftwork Cards, pretty paper from Cosmo Cricket Early Bird 6x6 paper pad, cream Core'dinations cardstock (for scallop circle), piece of cream satin ribbon and the prettiest stamp set from Basic Grey (birthday pressie from my friend Mel). I have toyed with the idea of adding some red Stickles glitter glue to the cherries on the tree but stopped myself as think this would be a bit ott? I have added a red dewdrop for the cherry at the base of the tree.

Unscripted Sketched Challenge #37 and Craftwork Cards Card Candy Challenge

Over on Unscripted Sketches this week there is a fab sketch to follow...And on the brand new Craftwork Cards Blog the challenge is to use their fab card candy on a project.

I have used a square scallop edged card for my card (I nearly always make square cards!) and chose to use some beautiful purple paper given to me by my lovely friend Karen (think it's LLB but not completely sure?). I don't usually do purple on cards but I love the paper so matched it with some purple paper flowers and card candy and a cute Forever Friends stamp coloured with Promarkers. The ribbon is actually white but looks sort of lilac in the pic. Thank you for 2 great challenges x

Tuesday 12 January 2010

A Cute Bear Card

Made this card last night, was on a bit of a cardmaking roll last night, long may it continue!!! The image is a Lili of the Valley stamp and the paper is from err, can't remember, BG Nook & Pantry I think? Quite simple but I think I like it x

Cute Card Thursday Challenge Week 94 - All New!

Here is my card for the Cute Card Thursday latest challenge - All New! I have used a scallop square card from Craftwork Cards, gorgeous Cosmo Cricket Early Bird paper (new), a lovely cute owl stamp from Pink Gem Designs (also new) coloured with Promarkers, some cream satin ribbon (also new) and a circle sentiment from Craftwork Cards backed with a scallop circle cut from a Quickutz die. Hope I qualify for the challenge, I have had a bit of a splurge on new bits and bobs recently ;-)

Basic Grey Challenges Week 11 - Photo Inspiration

This week over on the Basic Grey Challenges blog the challenge is to create a card using the photo below for inspiration. I for one absolutely love the fresh feel of this living room and am madly jealous that mine looks nothing like it ;-)

So here is my card, I used beautiful papers from the Nook & Pantry range, some cream satin ribbon, a sentiment circle from Craftwork Cards (backed with a scallop circle cut using a Quikutz die), flowers cut from Glitterations cardstock with a Woodware punch and lots of ivory dewdrops from Sarah's Cards. So it's very simple and understated, like the photo above I think. Thanks for a fab challenge x

MSE Back to Basics Challenge

The lovely TomsMum set a new card-making challenge on MSE to make a card using a minimum of stash so I have opted to use a piece of patterned paper, ribbon and a sentiment. As the first card was so easy to make (and I think looks pretty nice) I decided to make a couple more with different papers, ribbons etc and I changed the orientation of the card for the bottom 2 cards which gives them a different look I think. I used Cosmo Cricket papers from my new much loved pads and the cupcake paper is Basic Grey Nook & Pantry.

For the ribbon on the cupcake card I knotted a piece of scrap cream ribbon over the top of the knot of the brown ribbon to add a different look.

I did the same with the ribbon on this card - this is my fave paper, love those rows of birds x

Monday 11 January 2010

The Craft Barn has a new blog...


The Craft Barn have launched a new blog and to celebrate are offering 3 prizes of a £10 voucher. To be in with a chance to getting your mitts on one of the vouchers you need to write a post on your own blog along with this image above. Then pop a comment with a link to your blog on the Craft Barn blog post here. Easy! The draw will take place on Wednesday 13th January.

Sunday 3 January 2010

MSE Sketch Challenge Card

So to kick the new year off we settled on a sketch challenge for the first MSE card challenge of 2010. I 'borrowed' the sketch below from the fab CPS Card Sketches blog...

This is my interpretation of the sketch. I have used my gorgeous new BG Origins papers and a piece of black Gemstones cardstock...
As you know I LOVE easel cards so had to make another one...
Additonal bits are paper flowers, black card candy dot, brad, mini yellow plastic tag, dew drops, heart charm. I used a Woodware punch to cut the flower shapes and a sentiment stamp from Elzybells.

Friday 1 January 2010

My fab Christmas stash swap pressies from Mel

Here are the beautiful pressies that Mel sent me for the Crafty Place Christmas stash swap. Mel has made me a beautiful notebook (far too gorgeous to ever use!!!)...
A beautiful ATC holder (god I love this, it's soooo clever)...
A box of beautiful flowers...
An altered jar of pink paper flowers and an altered matchbox of charms...
Several packs of beautiful stamps and a pack of gorgeous BG rub-ons with bling...
And last but not least, 2 packs of 6x6 cardstock, a pot of Stickles Frosted Lace Glitter Glue and some goodies for my much negelcted nails...
Well, how well did I do!!! Thank you soooo much Mel, I love everything xxx

Quixotic Paperie Challenges New Year Candy

I absolutely had to enter this challenge to win some lovely candy from the fab Quixotic Paperie online shop! The prize is £40 of stash!!!

What you have to do is visit the Quixotic Paperie Challenge blog and link it to your own blog and show a piccie of your favourite card that you made in 2009.

So, without further ado, here's my own fave card...

The card is out of my comfort zone as it is much brighter that most of the cards I make but I loved making it and am pretty proud of it.