Hello World

Hello world. 

Now don't faint lol, I know it has been a long while since I last posted but I firstly want to say thank you for all the lovely get well wishes I received whilst I was flat on my back in that awful body brace. I am now totally free of that awful thing but don't find out until the end of the month if it worked!!

Hence, I don't have much to show you except a couple of things I started beforehand which are now finished and something I made during which helped to keep me sane.

My mother in law asked me if I could put names on a couple of baubles for her great grandchildren which of course I said I could but I did not expect them to be 5" in diameter lol. So I added a little more to them.

Sorry the photo's are not the best my MIL took them at her home as I had forgotten to take any (it has been a long time lol)

This is the front of one of them. I used glittered vinyl in red, blue and green on this one. I cut all the lettering on my Cricut using the SCAL2 programme. I also added some holy and berries to the back from an SVG I found on the net (see in picture below).

My mother in law had also seen shadow boxes at a craft fair and wanted two of those too. 

I created the base of the boxes in SCAL2 and used a Cricut cartridge for the frame, I think it was Accent Essentials (I will have to check though). Inside the boxes I have placed chipboard tree's which I coloured with Promarkers and then added bling to plus it has an acetate window. The sentiment on the front is from Crafty Sentiments and the oval and scallop were both cut from the Cricut.

A closer look at the shadow boxes.

Now while I was flat out it was difficult to do much but I had seen a tutorial on Sam And Hailey Designs for a flower ball which I really liked and so my son set about cutting all the pieces on the Cricut from the free SVG they offer, then I lay and folded every single one. 

Each flower has 5 petals and there are a total of 12 flowers per flower ball that makes 60 pieces of paper to fold. Well I can tell you my finger hurt after all that folding. My hubby hot glued them all together as instructed and then I added the pearl middles. I think these are really effective and they lovely when they spin around. I actually made two of these as you guessed it my mother in law wanted one once she saw mine. They are definitely best made with double-sided cardstock. You could make this without a cricut if you wanted because it is basically 60 pieces of cardstock cut at 2.6" square.

I would like to enter these into the Fantabulous Cricut 'Deck The Halls Blog Hop Challenge'.

That's all from me but hopefully I will be back in the New Year if not before with more cards and projects.

Just To Let You Know....

Hi all this is Kim's husband, I just wanted to let you all know that she will be missing for a short while yet as she has been flat on her back in a body brace for two weeks now trying to rectify the numbness she has in her legs and hand.

Please pop over and see the Crafty Sentiment Design Team who have a blog hop going on and Ellephantastic Challenges who have a new challenge up today. (Sorry I don't know how to do the linking).

I will update if anything changes.

Ellephantastic Challenge 15 Guest DT Card

Good morning all, here I am again. I hope you are all having a lovely weekend. 

As I said in my last post I have been asked by Helen who owns Ellephantastic Challenges to be one of her guest design team players from now until the new year so look out for more cards using these cute little characters. I would like to say thank you to Helen for having me and to Angie aka Lilacanglia who nominated me to be part of the team. 

This week the challenge has been set as 'Anything Goes' and I chose the image of 'Rory & His Football' to play with as I am always short of little boys cards and thought this was the idea time to make one. 

Just to note the image comes with a football attached to it but as my goal was quite large I decided to place the die cut ball over the image to make a little more in proportion. 

Sorry but the photo is a little blurry for some unknown reason.

Supplies:-

6" Square Card Blank - Craft Superstore

Backing Paper - Cuddly Buddly 'Freebie'

Image - Ellephantastic 'Rory & His Football'

Sentiment - Computer Generated

Medium - Promarkers

Goal, Trophy & Ball - Cricut 'Everyday Paper Dolls' Goal cut at 5", Trophy cut at 2" and Ball cut at 1".

Crafty Sentiments Week 38 Challenge DT Card & Create 4 Fun Challenge Card

Wow, where did the last week go, it seems you blink these days and a week goes by!!!

This week our Crafty Sentiment Designs Challenge has been set by Jo and she has chosen the challenge to use 'Fall Colours'. Please do join us as there is always a great prize on offer, hop on over and have a look for yourself.

I have again used the sketch from the Create 4 Fun Challenge which I really enjoyed using.

Supplies:-

6" Square Card Blank - Craft Superstore

Cardstock - Paper Mill Shop

Designer Papers - Costco

Stamp - Crafty Sentiments 'Daisy'

Medium - Promarkers

Flowers - Stash

Please pop by the Crafty Sentiments Challenge Blog and join in with this weeks challenge, we would love to see your 'Fall Colours' and whilst your their wish Jo a Happy 30th Birthday.

I shall be back on Saturday with a card I have made as guest designer for the  Ellephantastic Challenge Blog so please do come back and join me.

Sorry this post is short and sweet I am still suffering with my back and to make matters worse I now have pins and needles in my leg arm and hand and guess what I am left handed!!!

Crafty Calendar Challenges DT Card & It's Our Birthday So Lots Of Prizes

Good morning everyone, who forgot there is only 30 days in September lol. Today being the first Friday of the month means we are celebrating our first birthday over at Crafty Calendar Challenges and we are going to celebrate it with 12 prizes, yes that's right we have 12 prizes on offer this month. So what better challenge to have than a birthday challenge, make a 'Birthday Project' with the added option of 'Autumn Colours' but don't forget you don't have to use the option but it would be great if you could.

Here is my card that was made for an order.

Supplies:-

6" Square Card Blank - Craft Superstore

Designer Papers - Unknown they came in a bulk buy from Costco

Cardstock - Paper Mill Shop

Image - Whiff Of Joy 'Kneeling Willow'

Lace - Boyes

Border Punch - Xcut 'Flowers'

Sister & 21 - Cricut 'Plantin Schoolbook'

Flowers - Cricut with SCAL2 Penny Duncan Creations '2 Layer 5 Tip Flower'

Now don't forget to hop on over to the challenge blog not only to see all those gorgeous creations the other design team girls have come up with but also to join in with the challenge and be in with a chance to win one of the 12 prizes on offer.

Thanks for popping by today, have a great weekend.

Crafty Sentiments Week 37 Challenge DT Card & Create 4 Fun Challenge Card

Good morning all, not sure it is so good though with this awful weather just lately. 

I hope you are all keeping well, I am struggling at the moment with my back and legs, I have that nasty pain in my bottom which becomes unbearable at times and my legs just don't want to work (can't blame them though on these cold, wet days!!). However I know I am not alone with this, at least three of my blog readers are also suffering with pain at the moment, perhaps I have come out in sympathy with you ladies lol. The big difference is I am lucky enough to have the high powered drugs to help me (even if they do turn me into a zombie!!), I just wish I could help you ladies with it. Keep your chins up and hope that your medication's works soon.

Anyhow enough of my rambling on, I have a card to show for this week's challenge over at Crafty Sentiments Designs Challenge Blog, Claudine has set us the challenge to 'Use A Border Punch' this week so it's nice and easy and there is no excuse for you lot not to join in!!! 

I used another sketch from the Create 3 Fun Challenge Blog this week, I love their sketches they nearly always have more than one layer.

Supplies:-

6" Square Card Blank - Craft Superstore

Designer Papers - Papermania 'Summer Bloom'

Stamp - Crafty Sentiments 'Sally-Ann With Flowers'

Sentiment - Crafty Sentiments 'Just A Note'

Medium - Promarkers

Lace & Flower Ribbon - Local Craft Store 'Craftmania'

Border Punch - Xcut 'Flowers'

Please pop by the challenge blog to see all the other creations you won't be disappointed.

My Pink Stamper Challenge Using K Andrew SVG.

Here is a card which my son asked me to make for his friend's birthday whom is 'owl' mad. I used an SVG file which I won from Getting Cricky With K Andrew, this file is called 'Hooty Owl'. 
The card fits into two challenges both over at My Pink Stamper, the first is a challenge set by Robyn for hitting 5 million hits on her blog and which is to make something incorporating a bird and the second challenge is set by Karlee (Robyn's BFF) which is to make something incorporating an envelope. 
So here is my card and matching envelope....

The top owl was cut at 5.5" and the bottom owl at 3", the font was all cut at 2" on SCAL2. I added stickles to the centre of the eyes and beak instead of another colour cardstock.

Thanks for stopping by, hope you all have a great week.

Crafty Sentiments Week 36 Challenge DT Card

Good morning all, I hope you are all keeping well. Today I have a card to show for this week's challenge at Crafty Sentiments Designs Challenge Blog, Heather set us the challenge to 'Use Our Scraps' and if you are anything like me I have plenty of them. 

For my card I never used a single whole sheet of patterned paper it is all made up of off cuts, even the lace is two pieces which I hid behind the image lol.

I used the sketch from the Create 3 Fun Challenge Blog because it fitted perfectly with all those little sections to fill.

Supplies:-

6" Square Card Blank - Craft Superstore

Designer Papers - Papermania 'All odd bits'

Stamp - Crafty Sentiments 'Candy Time'

Sentiment - Crafty Sentiments 'Holiday Happiness'

Medium - Promarkers

Lace - Local Hardware Store

Charm - Local Craft Store

Flowersoft - Polar White

Stickles - Lace

Embossing - Cuttlebug 'Snowflakes'

Poinsettia - Penny Duncan Creations SVG cut on Cricut.

Please pop by the challenge blog to see all the other creations you won't be disappointed.

The Sugar Bowl Challenge

Good afternoon ladies. Having been playing with my Cricut for a few days now it was nice to make a stamped image card for The Sugar Bowl Challenge although this card did not got away without being cricuted lol, The circle,  pinked circle and the poinsettia were are cut on the Cricut machine.

This weeks there is a great sketch to use as well as the option to use 'Buttons' which I normally find quite difficult to use but this card has a massive 54 buttons on it, do you think that will be enough to cover the option lol.

This is the whole card from the front

This is the card from the side

Finally here is a closer view of the front showing 43 of the 54 buttons

Supplies:-

6" Square Card Blanks - Craft Superstore

Cardstock - Paper Mill Shop

Designer Papers - Papermania 'Summer Bloom'

Sugar Nellie - Daisy

Medium - Promarkers

Lace - Boyes

Button - ?Papermania

Gems - Papermania

Whilst I am posting for the sugar bowl I thought I would add the cards I have made for the last 2 challenges also but forgotten to upload in time to be entered!!

Challenge 41

Supplies:-

6" Square Card Blanks - Craft Superstore

Designer Papers - Forever Friends

Cardstock - Paper Mill Shop

Sugar Nellie - Belle

Medium - Promarkers

Gems - Papermania

Challenge 42

Supplies:-

6" Square Card Blanks - Craft Superstore

Designer Papers - Dovercraft

Cardstock - Paper Mill Shop

Sugar Nellie - Santa With Tree

Medium - Promarkers

Bauble Ribbon - Boyes

Chipboard Tree - Candy Prize

Stickles - Diamond

Flowersoft - Diamond White

Thanks for stopping by.

Button Up For School Challenge

Over at Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog they have been having a blog hop going on this week to celebrate the new school year. To go with the hop they have set the challenge 'Button Up For School' where the idea is to make a school themed project that includes a button somewhere.

I started out making this pencil case, I cut my god daughter's name with a flower on Stix 2 adhesive glitter paper but my Circut didn't like it much and this was the best I could get of 3 tries (It doesn't look too bad in the photo but it is quite bitty around the edges). I used SCAL 2 to weld the flower and name on the shadow layer. I added a button as the flower centre, I was going to add thread to this but I forgot and went ahead and stuck it on.

I decided to make a card too as I wasn't totally happy with the pencil case.

I used the school bus from Cricut Everyday Paper Dolls with the font is from Plantin Schoolbook. I added black buttons to the wheels. 

I decided on the school bus because although our school buses don't look anything like this one in the U.K when my daughter who is now 21 first started at our local village primary school aged just 4 all the children were collected by the bus and for the first week of school all we heard about was the bus ride nothing about school or friends just all that happened on the bus lol.

Even though the buttons are flower heads I thought they looked cute!!

Have a great weekend all.

A Halloween Project For A Halloween Challenge.

I was sent some pictures a couple of weeks ago and was asked to make something with them for a friend, now as most people know we in the U.K don't really celebrate Halloween like you do in the U.S but I thought I would have ago and see what I could come up with. I converted all the pictures into SVG cutting files so that I cut them on my Cricut machine. My friend is going to use what I made to place on a scrapbook layout of her children's first time trick or treating and here it is:-

This is the whole thing laid out and to give you and idea of size this is 24" wide and below are some close up's.

I would like to enter this into the challenge that Kristal is running over at Getting Cricky With K Andrews Designs. where she would like us to make any project with a Halloween theme.

Thanks for stopping by.

Crafty Sentiments Week 35 Challenge DT Card

Good morning all, it's time for another Crafty Sentiments Designs Challenge and this week we are asking that you use the colours 'Blue, Yellow & Grey'. Now if you are like me I was a little daunted by these colours but I actually liked them once they were put together.

For my card I used a 6" square card blank, backing paper from DCWV adhesive stack, yellow cardstock from Paper Mill Shop and the grey I found in an old box of random papers so don't know whose it is. I coloured with my Promarkers the image of 'Gardening Kitty' because I was trying to think of what I could possibly colour grey and the kitty fitted in nicely lol. I used Tracy's aka Scrap Happens Martha Stewart border punch and some flowers and a brad from my stash. The sentiment is from a fairly new set that I cannot see on the website at the moment but will let you know once it is.

Please pop over to the Challenge Blog and have a look at all the other design team creations you won't be disappointed plus you won't want to miss out on this week prize.

Thanks for stopping by.

A Couple Of Fun Cards That Fit Challenges

When I was asked to make two 'fun' or 'quirky' no stamps required cards I was really stumped for what to make. The person wanted one card for their son who was going off to Police Academy Training and also another card or project for the same person but with a 'Cow' on it (no I did not ask why lol). This could only mean Cricut projects to me if I cannot use stamps!!!

For the card I made I used the policeman off the Cricut 'Everyday Paper Dolls' Cartridge along with a couple of accessories. For the cow I was going the make a bookmark from the 'Animal Kingdom' cartridge but as I don't have this cartridge myself and was cutting it at a crop on a baby bug it came out quite small so decided to go with another card. The person who ordered these decided on the sentiments after I had shown them what I was making.

This card fits into The Pink Stamper Challenge where she is looking for projects that 'Represent The Hero's Of The 9/11 Tragedy' plus it fits in the Create 4 Fun Challenge where they have a colour theme of 'Red, White & Blue'. Also Lorraine over at Crafty Coo has a challenge running to remember those who were involved in the 9/11 tragedy and is asking us to make something in the colours 'Red, White & Blue'.

Thanks for stopping by, have a great day.

Crafty Sentiments Designs Challenge DT Card

Hello and welcome to the first Thursday Crafty Sentiments Designs Challenge and as I said in my last challenge post all challenges will be on a Thursday from now on.

So to start us off our first challenge is to 'Use A Digi Image', nice and easy especially if you have been collecting the freebie one's from the challenge blog.

For my card I used 'Snowman Frame' image, Christmas Delights papers and a sentiment from the Christmas Sparkles set, all of which are available now from the Crafty Sentiments Webshop. I added some ribbon, lace, eyelets, DMC thread and a charm all from my craft box. The image was coloured with Promarkers and I then added some snow shaker to it for a little sparkle.

Please pop by the challenge blog and have a look at all the other design team creations you won't be disappointed and if you can please join us in this weeks challenge.

I used the sketch from Create 4 Fun Challenge and would therefore like to enter this card into their challenge.

Crafty Calendar Challenges DT Card

It's the first Friday of the month and that means it's time for a new challenge over at Crafty Calendar Challenges. The challenge this month is to create something using the colour 'Blue' with the added option of 'Flowers' (September's birth stone is Sapphire and the birth flowers are Forget-me-not, Morning Glory and Aster).

For my card I used this image which I purchased ages and ages ago I think from Sweet 'n' Sassy to make a sympathy card so decided to go along with the same sort of theme here. I really enjoyed making this card even though I thought I would hate it as blue is just not my normal colours lol. I enjoyed it so much I even finished the inside straight off.

For this card I used a 6" square card blank, backing papers are from Papermania, cardstock from Paper Mill Shop, ribbon from Crafty Ribbons and an edge punch from Xcut.

Please pop by the Crafty Calendar Challenges Blog and see all the other creations the design team have made and then get crafting....

Crafty Sentiments Week 33 Challenge DT Card & NEWS

Grr why oh why does my schedule post never works, it says it is scheduled but come the day it is back to a draft, any ideas?
Good morning all, I hope the weather is good where ever you maybe, it seems to be a little unsettled here on the East Coast of England.
I have some news for you with regard to Crafty Sentiments Designs but first I will do the challenge details which this week has the theme of 'Summer Inspirations'.
For my card I chose to use another of the August release stamps, this one is called 'Garden Kitty' and is available from the webshop now. I used a 6" square card blank with all papers from the DCWV 'Citrus Stack'. I cut my image layer and mat on my Cricut using SCAL2 and then the 'sun' was also cut on my Cricut but from 'Accent Essentials' I think lol. My image was coloured with my Promarkers and I used the blender pen to achieve the effect on the kitty. The sentiment is from the 'Sweet Reflections' set available in the webshop.
Now for the news.........

I have some exciting news to share with you, there are some changes being made over at Crafty Sentiments Designs.... The Stamp Team and the Digi Team are joining together to became one team over at Crafty Sentiments Challenge Blog!

Please pop by Crafty Sentiments Challenge Blog today and join us for this weeks "Summer Inspiration" challenge....

As from September we will be changing our challenge day, it will now be THURSDAYS with the first challenge on 9th September 2010 meaning there will be no challenge next Sunday.

For those of you who follow over at the digi blog, I hope you will join in with us on the Crafty Sentiments Challenge Blog now and don't panic because the Digi Blog will become our new Tutorial Blog, as I know you all like the fab team's tutorials, so please still pop over as we appreciate your comments.

We also have our own forum over at PCP, I hope you can join us there, where I'm sure Pinky will welcome you and there are some fab hints and tips, things you can do with your make-up and use for crafting you won't believe, even nail varnish and eyeshadow......

Lisa has a Facebook page too, to keep you updated on what's happening at Crafty Sentiments....

Suzette is also re-vamping our Web Store too, so watch this space for the news.....

Crafty Sentiments Week 32 Challenge DT Card

Grrrr why oh why does this schedule posting only work when it feels like it.

Good morning all, this week our challenge over at Crafty Sentiments is to use 'Lace' on your project. I have used one of the new Christmas stamps to be released today and made it in unusual (for me) colours and I really love them.

This is a 6" square card blank, the beautiful backing papers are of unknown origin as they were a gift from Mandy aka Crafty Fox Cards. I have used the stamp and coloured it with my Promarkers, adding polar white flowersoft to the hat trim and bobbles with some stickles to the ponsettia. I embossed the blue cardstock with the Cuttlebug 'Snowflakes' folder. I threaded velvet ribbon through the lace then finally punched the edge of the papers with my scallop border punch.

I would also like to enter this into the Passion For Promarkers Challenge where their theme this week is 'Winter Blue'.

Just before I leave I would like to ask you to pop over to the Crafty Sentiments Challenge Blog to see the other design team creations and whilst there don't forget to check out the new digi image blog, there are some freebie digital images floating around if you look.

Crafty Sentiments Week 31 Challenge DT Card

Warning this is a long post!!

Good morning on this bright Sunday morning. Another week has passed already I just don't know where they are going but I am still resisting the urge to buy Christmas presents as yet lol. We are onto our 31st week of challenges over at Crafty Sentiments Challenge Blog and the challenge this week is to use the colours 'Tan, Light Blue and Olive Green'. I found this really difficult at first (well it is a challenge lol) but eventually came up with this card using one of the new Crafty Sentiments Digi Images called 'Flopsy In The Rain'.

I used a 6" card blank and matted coredinations cardstock along the base having scalloped the edges with an Xcut punch. I coloured my stamped image with Promarkers and then used the blender pen on his fur. The image was matted on two more lots of cardstock with just one corner rounded on each layer. The umberella was cut on my Cricut using the Everyday Paper Dolls cart at 3" from olive green cardstock.

I haven't added a sentiment as yet and will do this upon use.

Please hop on over to the Challenge Blog and have a look at the other design team projects, I know you won't be disappointed.

Also did you know we now have a seperate challenge blog for the digi images, pop over to Crafty Sentiments Digital Designs and see what they have been up to.

Lastly before I go I wanted to give you a few sneak peak's at some new digital papers and Christmas stamps that will be available in the Crafty Sentiments Shop soon so watch this space.

Well that's it folks thanks for stopping by, enjoy the rest of your day.

Crafty Sentiments Week 30 Challenge DT Project

So sorry all this post was put on schedule for yesterday but as you can see it did not post, my apologies but here better late than never is the Crafty Sentiments Challenge.

Good morning to you all, can you believe it is week 30 challenge already for us at Crafty Sentiments Challenge Blog. This week our challenge is to use 'Chipboard or Cardboard'. I did not have any chipboard so I used a Crunchy Nut Cornflakes box lol, it worked just as well too. I cut the tag base on my Cricut using the Plantin Schoolbook cartridge at 5" out of the cereal box then twice more out of patterned paper and then again but slightly smaller out of white cardstock.

Here is the front of my tag. I made this to go with the 'Ahoy Birthday Boy' card I made a couple of weeks ago. I used three different colour pieces of blue Coredinations cardstock to make the sort of wave effect at the bottom. The stamp is called 'Sailor' and is available via the link, I have coloured it with Promarkers.

On the back I added this white layer onto which I computer generated the wording. I then threaded a piece of rope through the hole to use to tie it to the gift.

Well you have seen all I have to offer today so now hop on ober to the Crafty Sentiments Challenge Blog and see what the other design team ladies have made as well as checking out the prize for this weeks challenge.