Just a Note

The papers used here are by we R Memory Keepers, and this was such a quick card to do. I cut the label shape out of a graph paper from the pad using my Go Kreate die, doodled around the edges a bit and stamped the sentiment. The flowers were cut from the pad, I distressed the edges with my fingernail as I don't have one of those fancy edge distressers, and freehand cut the stem and leaves. A button was definitely called for, and I found this huge orange one lurking in my button tin.
I was driving around the streets of Birmingham, hopelessly lost at 3.30am today - Mike has gone sailing around the Greek islands for a couple of weeks, and had to meet the rest of the crew at a sailing buddies house. We got there okay, well he was driving. Unloaded his stuff, said goodbye and off I drove into the darkness. My sense of direction is poor, well, let's be honest, it's non-existent. So there I was driving around, totally disorientated, peering out to see a familiar landmark.......the Brummies are a lively lot though, it was amazing how many cars were on the road at that time. So this hapless blundering went on for about thirty minutes before I remembered that I had a sat.nav (GPS) in the car, all programmed for HOME........ honestly, sometimes I think I shouldn't be allowed out on my own..

Challenge 2 on Polka Doodles

The first week on Polka Doodles was a resounding success, squillions of visitors and loads of great entries to the challenge. Another great sketch from Nikky this week, to join in go over to Polka Doodles to see what's going on......

We all used papers from the soon-to-be-released CD Sugar Birdies. I just printed out the cupcake ones that I wanted, the cupcake and cherries were coloured with copics, and glossy accents put on the cherries so they look just like those glazed cherries that my mum used to put on top of trifles at Christmastime! I followed this sketch quite faithfully, and used some more of the tiny making memories letter stickers for the sentiment, I have a bit of a love affair going on with them at the moment. The glitter is nice and even on the cup cake because I cut just the icing off another printed image and ran it through my xyron so that the front of the image was sticky, dump the glitter on top, then run it through again to make the back sticky. Perfect glitter every time.

Thank Ewe and Little Lady Bug - The Cutting Cafe

Regina Easter's latest set over on the Cutting Cafe site include backgrounds and a matching image, so I couldn't wait to do something with them. The little ladybug set included the background script that I printed out to cover the front of a scalloped card base. The ladybirds were cut from another printed sheet and coloured with copic markers. I found the googly eyes with eyelashes in the kids department of a craft shop, Jo-Ann's I think it was. I overstamped the little lady background with a scroll from a clear set by Inkadinkadoo. The ladybirds (ladybugs) were glossed with glossy accents. They look ready to fly away home....

For the second card I made a base card using the doily cut from wildcard, cut at 5", then printed the liner at the same size from the 'thank you' sheet, and again in black. White doodling on the black frame, a touch of copics and glitter to the little ewe and it looks so cute.
I went down to the local post office yesterday for the first time since my return to the UK, thought I was in the wrong town, it's a dreary building, always with a huge queue (line) of depressed looking people shuffling slowly forwards towards the counter. They have had a huge re-vamp. Now you take a ticket as you go in, and sit down on some rather stylish red leather curved sofas in the centre of the room, and wait happily until a disembodied voice tells you 'ticket 63 to counter E please'. You then go to counter E to be greeted by a member of staff in a brand new smart uniform, designed to match the decor, smiling happily and bending over backwards to help you............obviously whilst the floor was being installed the staff were all on customer relations courses. It was all rather pleasant, except that I have an almost overwhelming urge to go back just to see how it will work at busy times. Where will the endless queue sit when all the comfy red sofas are full - on the floor? Will it develop into a sort of party atmosphere with us all waving our little tickets and cheering when your number comes up? Will the famous British reserve disappear in this Disney-like atmosphere of jollity and friendly smiles? Will we sit on the smart red seats making new best friends................... I'll let you know.

Mermaid and Octopus

These cute ovals are the work of Sam the artist on Lily Boo's printable images. They were such fun to colour. The border punch is Martha Stewart, and the sentiment was a home-made rub on. (look under labels on my sidebar for instructions on making rub ons) I printed the octopus image twice and then cut him out and popped him over the main image for a bit of dimension. Both images were coloured with Copic markers.

This little mermaid is another image from the same download of printable stamps. The waves and starfish on the bottom were cut using the Cricut cartridge Life's a Beach. The sentiment was another home-made rub on. I used glossy accents a lot on this one to give it a watery feel.

Wedding Invitation

Here is the wedding invitation that I was struggling with shortly before going to the USA - if you remember, I had to cut loads of these butterflies (QK die) using the cuttlebug, and the paper I bought was just too thick. Anyway, in the end we got there. The folder is a taupe-brown linen textured heavyweight cardstock, the butterfly was cut in a ivory pearlescent card and the bottom layer run through the cuttlebug using the swiss dots folder. Three pale pink pearls and they were done. The result is a plain, but very striking invitation, just what Lucy asked for, and she is thrilled with them. They are all the more special as she and the rest of the family all got together in a mad conveyor belt of crafting to help make them - we got through a lot of coffee (and wine) that night.....

Memorial Day in the USA

It's Memorial day in the USA today, a national holiday, and a day to remember the sacrifices that men and women serving in the armed forces have made for their country. We remember on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month here in the UK, and wear a poppy with pride. I just had to share with you this lovely email that I got from one of the readers of this blog. Thank you Jan

En,

As I watch the tv and remember my years as a child during WWII and the Vietnam War more recently, I do not only think of all my friends and family members that have and are serving this country. I also remember the devastation and sacrifice of your own country and the other countries also. We did not have instant news during WWII and had to rely on late news in the papers and the newsreels at the movies. We have been so fortunate not to have any wars on own own land except in the beginning of this country and our own Civil War. So please accept my thanks to your fellow country men and women who served so valiantly.

Jan, Bradenton, Florida

I don't know what is going on with Blogger this weekend, I have been visiting my favourite sites and keep getting a page unavailable message, then the annoying windows message page. I have found that if you hit the back button, from this error page, it takes you back to the blog and it works perfectly. Bizarre. So if I haven't visited you, it's not for want of trying my friends x

Monotone for Cute Daisy May and Summer for Whimsy Stamps

Over on the Whimsy Stamps challenge this week, the DT were asked to use the theme of summer for their cards. So here is my BBQ invite. Sentiment is a studio G wood mounted stamp, I used raffia instead of ribbon to give it a rustic outdoorsy sort of feel and the pointy nesties came in handy again. I have to say that the pig looks a bit brassed off at being the main attraction at a barbeque though! The rules have changed over on the whimsy blog and you can now use any image for the challenge, it doesn't have to be a whimsy stamp (although it would be nice if you did use one :)

On Cute Daisy May, the DT were asked to make a monotone card. I coloured this little cutie in on the plane, so she was already to go. The papers are by Craftwork cards, as is the sentiment circle. The yummy embossed flowers are by Prima. Don't forget you don't need a Daisy May image to take part in the challenge, although for $3 (£1.99) why not download a page of cuties and have a go.

Bathtime Card for Daring Cardmakers

Another Loralie fabric card today, these bathtime images are such fun. I added a few gems, the black border is one of the roll on ones that daisy-D makes. She does look as though that bath is a bit small for her though! The dare over on DCM this week is Wet Wet Wet, so this fits in nicely - well you can't get much more wet than in the bath, and she looks as if she is going to be stuck in there for a while. for instructions on using fabric on cards, scroll down to labels, then click on fabric cards. Ooops, if you commented and don't see your comment on this post, I am so sorry, I clicked the wrong button and wiped out 10 comments.

Another reminder for you to get over sharpish to the brand new, all singing, all dancing PolkaDoodle blog and enter your name in the comments box for that yummy blog candy.

I have come down with the mother and father of a head cold, obviously another 'plane' germ, I seem to get one every time I fly these days despite using that airborne stuff that's supposed to stop all germs. It could be worse, there were loads of people around the airports wearing masks, although some of them hadn't quite got the hang of it and were wearing them slung around their chins.....

Circles from Lily-Boo

I so love these printable circle stamps from Lily-Boos Boutique. They are bold, fun to colour and only cost £1.99 for a sheet of 6 (about $3). The pointy nesties are growing on me now, and I love that bobble braid a friend gave me. The belated birthday sentiments are from a acrylic set by Inkadinkadoo. Both the cards were coloured with copic markers.

I printed the butterfly out twice, and decoupaged just the wings on the bigger butterfly, and the large sunflower. Added some glitter, and put a few fibres behind the nestability frame.

Back in the UK there seems to be a lot of sickness about here, everyone I talk to seems to have, or be getting over a strange bug which gives them horrible nausea. They have probably been reading too much about our wonderful politicians and their expense accounts............

Launch of Polkadoodles Challenge Blog

Today sees the launch of Polkadoodles brand new challenge blog, look at this fabulous blog candy that's up for grabs, worth over £80, so well worth joining in to be in with a chance to win. The design team samples are fantastic and I am a bit star-struck to be joining the mega talented bunch.

Here is my first DT card, the downloadables were a joy to work with, and the bold designs are so up-to-the-minute.
I used my new pinking edge nestabilities on this one, the jury is out about whether I like them or love them, but they do make a change from the scallops which I have done to death over the past six months. I was short of time with the long haul from the US looming, so printed out the birdhouse (already coloured) twice, and did a bit of paper piecing. I cut out the branch and suspended it over the house with silicone glue, adding a gingham loop and bow.

We made a rather jet-lagged dash down to London yesterday to pay homage to the new little man, who is totally delectable. Max is rather unimpressed with his new baby brother though, and clearly thinks that this baby business is greatly overrated........

The winner of the blog candy for the BBTB blog hop is

Janie in Canada

Congrats Janie, you win the candy box template and some fabric ladies for you to play with. Email me with your address/email

Introducing you to Baby Milo

Just a sweet little baby card for you to see today, the image is by Hampton Arts, coloured with copics, and the sentiment label was cut with nestabilities in the cuttlebug. Here is the reason why I posted this today -

Introducing you to baby Milo, the newest addition to our family, born on the 18th May at 11am. He is the baby brother of Max and weighed in at 7lbs 13ozs. Isn't he perfect? He was just two hours old when this photo was taken. We fly home to the UK on Tuesday and will be dashing down to London on Thursday to have cuddles and hugs with both Max and Milo. Thank you Edward and Lidia for this precious gift and sending love to you all

BBTB Blog Hop and Cute Daisy May Challenge

Today we have a blog hop going on over at Bitten by the Bug, hop around all the design team blogs, and every time you leave a comment you will be entered in a draw to win the download shown on each blog from the Cutting Cafe. The download to win here is this sweet Candy Box, it takes 12 mini chocolate bars, and the download even has the little wrappers on it. You can make it with a window aperture, or as shown here, plain. We all had to use this label from the Storybook cartridge as well, it's the one on the page with the number 3 on it. I used chipboard cherries from Heidi Swapp, and the sentiments are by studio G.

In addition to the download, I am going to send my winner 12 fabric cats/ladies as seen on my fabric cards. I know that some of you have had a hard time finding the Loralie fabric, so here is your chance to win a few. I will draw the winner by random org on Friday, 22nd May so leave your comment by thursday night to be in with a chance.

Now hop over to Heather's blog to see her take on the challenge, and to follow the blog hop

Cute Daisy May

Here is my card for the Cute Daisy May challenge this week. The theme is Springtime/flowers. I paper pieced Daisy (printed her out twice, once on white cardstock, then onto a pattern paper with a tiny floral pattern, cut out her outfit and pieced it onto the white base. I thought she looked a bit pensive, so I turned it into a Thinking of You card. The sentiment it from my faithfull studio G acrylic stamps.
I would be so thrilled if you can take part in the Cute Daisy challenge, Linnie the artist is such a lovely person and it would be so great to have entries from you. You don't even have to use a cute Daisy image, and you can combine it with another challenge or two. The winner each week gets the cute blinkie on my sidebar, and a free download of their choice. Hope to see you there....

Just A Note for DCM

On daring cardmakers this week the dare is to use anything musical. The paper here is Que Sera by K & Co which I only bought today, couldn't wait to try it. The music paper has been hanging around waiting to be used for ages, I tore it and inked the edges. I found a tiny metal music note, and the truly gorgeous flowers are by Prima. The crushed velvet ribbon was a dollar bin find at Michaels. The sentiment stamp was a cheapie from Walmart.

We are starting the big pack-up here. Mike has been and bought a ladder and all of a sudden is obsessed with doing stuff six feet in the air, so all the air-con filters have been changed, the light fittings washed etc etc, the trouble is all these jobs need two people and I just don't have the same fascination with the new ladders as he has. Maybe tomorrow he'll move on to a new toy.

Funky Hand Word Books and stuff.............

This card was made with the papers from the new Funky Word Book CD from Funky Hand. It was a sell out when it was first shown on Create and Craft TV a couple of weeks ago, and now here is your chance again, Anice will be live on Create and Craft TV on tuesday 19th May at 12 noon, with this fab CD, and the whisper has it that they are selling the Bind-it-all machine on the same show. those of you in the USA or Canada, can order the CD direct from Funky Hand and you get free shipping to anywhere in the world.

This is quite a big card - 5" x 7", when they are shown on TV I have learnt to my cost that little cards just don't have an impact, and the bigger, bolder designs work best.

Here is my word book - I had to get these done in a hurry, as there was a deadline for the first TV show, the CD had to arrive from the UK, then the finished products had to be parcelled up and sent back to the UK. I decided to print out the words OH NO! 50! for my book. It was before I got my bind it all, so I used keyring chains to hold it all together (can't wait to make another one now that I have all the fancy binding thingies). The book is to a fictional chap called Tony, so called simply because I had all these left over letter epoxy stickers in exactly the right shade of blue, and the only name I could make was Tony - I could have called him xyont but didn't think that would look great - or I could have used the sensible option and printed out a totally coordinating alphabet from the Funky Hand CD - what was I thinking?
On the subject of Funky Hand, we are all excited that Dolly is joining our team, welcome Vicky (aka Dolly). Go and have a peek at her blog and you will see why Anice felt she would fit right in. There were many fabulous entries though, so hugs to all of you who didn't make it this time.

Take a peek at my sidebar, notice a new logo on there? I am chuffed with this one - click to find out what Polka Doodles is all about.......................................

Teenage Girls Cards

I found these images on a site called lily-boosboutique, they are downloads and only cost £1. 99 ($3 USD)
and are perfect for those teen girl cards. Lots of cute images over there, so hop on over and take a look.
For the first one I used a fancy stitch, as I am soon going to have withdrawal symptoms from my oh-so-easy-to-thread sewing machine here in the States, and go back to my lonely little mini Janome which takes me hours of squinting just to thread to needle. I think they look quite sassy these girls. The second one looks in the photos a bit as though she has footballers wife syndrome and has overdosed on the fake tan, but she doesn't look like that in real life, just my rubbish photography! For the detail on the second card I layered up a button on top of another slightly larger button.

Bathtime Fabric

I found some more fabric called bath time again by Loralie. Go to labels, fabric cards to see how I prepare the fabric for my cards. For this one I ran a piece of vellum through the cuttlebug using the tiny bubbles folder, it came out all frosted on the reverse side which I loved, so this was the side I used for the card. The sentiment is by MFT stamps (time for the bubbly set). I added a few rain drops and a couple of gems.
Yesterday we watched as the last space shuttle streaked across the sky, we have seen a few shuttles since we have been here, the most spectacular being a night time launch a couple of years ago. I was once with my friend Barbara by the pool here as we watched the shuttle on it's journey into space, Barbara and I whooped, clapped and hollered and all the Americans watched us in amazement. What a fantastic feat the space programme is, not just for America, but for mankind.

BBTB, Cute Daisy May and Whimsy Stamps.......

Why is it that a lot of the design teams I do work for all publish their challenges on the same day? Anyway, after a bit of a weekend scramble here is the latest group. Firstly for Bitten By The Bug, we were asked to use the smiley face, which is the icon on the triangular card. Regina has a knack of chosing cuts that you would totally overlook, and boy, this one was the most difficult ever for me. I cut the face BIG, I cut it tiny, I cut it in every colour under the sun, and still no inspiration. Then I remembered the 'Oh Happy Day' circular card on the same cartridge and it all fell into place. So the card was cut at 5" in pale lemon, then again in some chatterbox papers, and the oh happy day circle in peach, which I stitched on with pink thread.

I threw everything at the bow, a cute stick pin (thanks Cheryl), flowers and ribbon, then dangled a tiny smiley face as a charm. I covered the letters and the charm in glossy accents. Pop over to Bitten by the Bug to see all the different interpretations of this cut from the design team, it makes fascinating viewing!

CUTE DAISY MAY

This little chap is so sweet, so I decided to turn him into a 'grandma' card. The little stickers are making memories, and I stuck them onto a Heidi Swapp ghost flower. Don't forget to go over to Cute Daisy May - the sketch this week is lovely. You get the cute blinkie on my sidebar and a free download if you win and you don't need to use Cute Daisy images, so you can combine the sketch with another challenge if you like.


WHIMSY STAMPS

This one is for Whimsy stamps, where the challenge this week is flower power. I used the cute duck, and stamped him twice, once on white, then on yellow spotty paper and cut just his bill out of the spots. The flowers were a cheap spray of flowers that I pulled apart, and the DAY letters are thickers by American Crafts.