Saturday 29 December 2012

Cabinet Is On Order!

Following on from his surprise podium finish a few weeks ago, Samuel, last Sunday, was presented with the second place Cadet Championship trophy from his indoor season at Daytona Manchester at the Festival race.

Basically, there were 11 rounds (each counted) and Samuel had 9 podium finishes and therefore 9 trophies.  He also collected points for each round and following the final race in November, he finished the season in second place overall in the Cadet class.

He also came third in the Festival race (there was a parents race too but we had a substitute - Tom!) and was presented with a trophy for that too!

Here he is after just receiving his second place 2012 Cadet Championship trophy - it is rather large!

 And with Tom (he came second in the 'Parents' race) - three trophies between them!


So yes, the trophy cabinet is on order and will be home to the 12 trophies from 2012! Samuel will be more or less karting exclusively outdoors during 2013 and hopefully, his form will continue!

You can see a video of one of the heats in the Festival race and read in more detail on the boys' karting blog HERE!

Friday 28 December 2012

Jellypark Challenge - Old and New

It's time for another Jellypark challenge and the theme this fortnight is:

Old and New 

You need to be clear on your entry what is old and what is new!  I've used the fab Couple Kissing Under Mistletoe digi stamp and coloured them with Promarkers, cut out and then added to the card base with foam pads.

I've used papers from Dovecraft Let It Snow 12x12 pad, glittered the edge and added a vellum circle.  All the ribbons are from my stash.

My something new was because the card was for one of my cousins who was spending his first Christmas with his girlfriend in their own house and I've added a little handwritten tag which is partly hidden with all the ribbon, but it says To You Both!  And the something old is the papers (at least 2 Christmasses old and the blue satin edged organza ribbon is around 6 years old!) Oh, and I've added some tiny half pearls for the mistletoe.

Good luck with the challenge and don't forget to look out for the two new digi stamp releases from Jellypark this fortnight - great for those teenage cards!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Creative Belli:  Christmas
Digi Stamps 4 Joy:  Something Magical About Christmas
I Love Promarkers:  Anything But Square
Top Tip Tuesday:  Anything Christmas
Try It On Tuesday:  Lucky Dip (Die Cuts, Ribbon, Sentiment, Pearls)

Image:  Jellypark, coloured with Promarkers
Dies:  Spellbinder circle, Sizzix small tag
Papers:  Dovecraft Let It Snow 12x12 pad
Everything else:  My stash

Wednesday 26 December 2012

Florist Shop

I'm a little late with blogging this card as it was one of two new release digi stamps from Jellypark almost two weeks ago!  However, in my defence I've had a rather busy two weeks - the last week of school had to be organised with military precision due to so much going on - plays, carol concerts, parties.  Then a Birthday party to go to, four days of karting (and three trophies!) then Christmas and now today, Boxing Day.

But here it is!  This one is called Flower Shop and its available to buy from the store for £1.25.  I've coloured it with Promarkers - the sky and grass are watercolour pencils but not wetted.  I printed the image quite large as I didn't want to add anything other than the three half pearls to it. The layers are bits of card I found in my stash.

Apologies if the photo is a bit blury - husband took the photo as I can't remember the last time I saw daylight!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Digital Tuesday Challenge:  Layers
Everybody Art:  Anything Goes
Digi Makeover Challenge:  Anything Goes with a Digi

Image:  Jellypark, coloured with Promarkers
Everything else:  My stash

Tuesday 25 December 2012

Happy Christmas!

Wishing you a very Happy Christmas!


Monday 24 December 2012

Fetch A Sketch Challenge 40

Good morning and Happy Christmas Eve!  It's time for a new Fetch A Sketch challenge and here is the sketch for this fortnight:

And I've made not one but two samples!  I bought some rather lovely felt Christmas tree decorations from Sainsburys when they first got all the Christmas stuff in - there are 16 different items and two of each and some can be used for other occasions so I just had to buy a pack!

All the papers are from Printable Heaven - Christmas Vintage set for £2.75 (38 papers!) and I've had the set for quite a few years and its always one I like to use!  I've added a faux running stitch around the edges and attempted a swish folding thing with the papers but didn't quite get it how I wanted on either card so I'll need to practice that a bit more!

I've added some chocolate brown ribbon across the centre and then some fancy gold braid which I got free with a magazine I think last year.  Two half pearls to the top of the card and one to each of the felt embellishments (hides the little hole where the string was!) and the cards are complete!


Good luck with the challenge - for more details, please pop over to Fetch A Sketch!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Dream Valley Challenges:  Christmas
Gingerloft:  Christmas or Winter
Pile It On:  Embellishments
Quirky Crafts:  Last Minute Christmas
The Squirrel and The Fox:  Christmas
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge:  Christmas
Craftymess:  Vintage Christmas
Winter Wonderland:  Wish Upon A Star

Papers:  Download from Printable Heaven
Felt Embellishment:  Christmas decoration set from Sainsburys
Everything else:  My stash 

Friday 21 December 2012

Polkadoodle Challenge 51 - Happy New Year 2013!

It's time for a new Polkadoodle challenge and the theme this week is:

Happy New Year OR 2013

So you can make something that says Happy New Year or use the numbers 2013 (3 of something etc) and here is my creation!  I've used the fab cupcake template from Paper Boutique Vol 3 cd and printed off the A5 version, cut out all the elements and then layered up with foam pads.

I've glittered parts of the cupcake and around the edge of the star with a line of liquid pearl dots around the inner edge.  The stars have been cut with an X Cut die and the number 30 is a Sizzix die which I've added to some wire so they boing around!

The ribbon I found in my stash and it was a perfect colour match!  I made this for my cousin who was 30 over the weekend - which makes me feel really old as I remember her being born!!  And she is a real girly girl so will love this card!

Good luck with the challenge - for more details on how to enter and closing times pop over to Polkadoodles!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Diva's By Design:  Anything Goes
Fab n Funky:  Ribbon or Lace
Bearly Mine:  Winter Birthday
Digital Tuesday:  Layers
Bunny Zoes Crafts:  Celebration
Cupcake Craft:  Cupcakes

Template:  Polkadoodles - Paper Boutique Vol 3 cd
Dies:  X Cut stars, Sizzix Round A Bout alphabet
Everything else:  My stash

Thursday 20 December 2012

Crimbo Crackers Challenge 31 - Sentiment As Focus

It's time for another Crimbo Crackers challenge and the theme this fortnight is:

Sentiment as Focal Point

I'm sponsored by Funky Hand but I forgot to take a photo of the prize so you'll just have to trust me on that one!!


I've used the fab Blue Christmas wordbook download - simply printed out the letters that I wanted and then printed one of the A4 papers on the reverse, laid it out so that the letters could be seen, trimmed it and then glued the pages together to form a book.

I've glittered around the edges of each letter - you just can't see it on the photo then added some pale blue gems to some of the letters.  Although its a bloke card, I had to add some ribbon but its partly covered by a manly silver snowflake.

I add a plain panel to the back of the wordbooks that I make so you can write a message - makes life a little easier with it!

Good luck with the challenge - its open until 12noon on Wednesday 2 January - pop over to Crimbo Crackers to link up your entry!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Celebrate The Occasion:  Christmas Anything Goes
Digital Tuesday:  Layers
Ladybug Crafts Ink:  Christmas Anything Goes
Tip Top Tuesday:  Anything Christmas
My Craft Spot:  Shaped Christmas Cards
Squigglefly:  Anything Goes with a Sentiment

Papers:  Blue Christmas wordbook download from Funky Hand
Everything else:  My stash

Wednesday 19 December 2012

And I Wasn't There To See It.......!!

Samuel took part in his fourth outdoor race of the year on Sunday - he wasn't originally going to be there as the Daytona Manchester Inkart Festival should have been on the same day but its now this coming Sunday, so it meant Samuel could race at Hooton Park.

He had a really good test day the day before (so I was told - wasn't there either as Jacob had a football match but it was cancelled last minute due to illness!) and was feeling confident going into the qualifying round on Sunday.

He qualified with the third fastest time from 18 drivers so that placed him 3rd on the grid for heat 1.  He finished that in second place, so he was 2nd on the grid for the second and final heat.  And finished second in that too.  So he was second on the grid for the final race!

If you want to see some short videos of his three grid starts (heat 1, heat 2 and final) then click here to go to the boys' karting blog.

Anyway, I was kept upto date on his progress during the afternoon as Jacob had a Birthday party to attend and I decided to brave Asda and then popped to Staples as they were having a closing down sale.  I was in the middle of Staples when I got the call to say where he'd finished in the final race and must have looked like a right nutter!

So here he is on the podium - he took third place and his first ever outdoor trophy (he has 9 from indoors plus on Sunday he gets the second place Championship trophy too!)  The 4th and 5th placed drivers also got trophies too and first and second stood on the same step!  Samuel is the one in all black in the centre of the three stood together:

And here he is with Ryan who runs CKSUK team of which Samuel is part of with Samuel in second place on the grid.

I think it's sunk in now with Samuel that he's won a trophy for outdoor karting after collecting so many indoors as its not an easy transition; its cold and wet most of the time!!

Monday 17 December 2012

Simple Tag

Sorry I'm a bit late with this - I've had one of those weekends (but more about that when I blog it!!)  Here is one of two new release digi stamps from Jellypark this fortnight - Tag With Ribbon.  I've simply printed it quite large, coloured it with Promarkers, cut it out and added foam pads to the reverse so it stands proud of the card base.


I've also added some stickles to the dots on the ribbon and also on the two little hearts in the corners.  The very glittery butterfly was sent to me as a prize from a recent challenge at the Crafting Boutique and I thought it was perfect for the card!

The card base is left over from my cousin's Wedding earlier this year (thanks Claire!) and I've rounded the corners and dotted a line of liquid pearls around the edge.

Photo styling by my husband as he saw daylight last week and I didn't so that's why it's not in its usual stand!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Catered Crop:  Tag - You're It
Crafting When We Can:  Bingo (Pearls, Girly, Clean and Simple)
Addicted to CAS:  Sweet
Hotshot Crafts:  Clean and Simple
Sweet and Sassy:  Tag - You're It

Image:  Jellypark, coloured with Promarkers and stickles
Butterfly:  The Crafting Boutique
Cardbase:  Donation from cousin
Everything else:  My stash  

Friday 14 December 2012

Jellypark Challenge - Tag It!

It's time for a new Jellypark challenge and the theme this fortnight is:

Tag It

I've made these really cute little tags with the Toy Giraffe digital stamp which has been coloured with Aquamarkers and a tiny bit of stickles.  I've used my Nesties oval die to cut the shape and then layered it onto some offcuts of card I had and handcut round them (that's why its a bit wonky in places!)

I've added an eyelet to the top of the oval and then threaded some co-ordinating slim satin ribbon through - most of which I think is recycled from the inside of jumpers!!

Cute tags!  For more inspiration and to see what the rest of the Design Team have been up to, pop over to the challenge blog - good luck with the challenge!  I'll be back over the weekend with the two new releases!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Crafty Ribbons:  Tags
DRS Designs:  Ribbon
Creative Moments Bloggers Network:  Anything But A Card
Craft Room Challenge:  Tags


Image:  Jellypark, coloured with Aquamarkers
Dies:  Spellbinder Nestabilities
Everything else:  My stash

Monday 10 December 2012

Fetch A Sketch Challenge 39

Time for another Fetch A Sketch challenge and this fortnight it's one that is perfect for this time of year:

The winner from this challenge will have the chance to be a Guest Designer for a future challenge!  Here is my take on the sketch:

I've used my own star shaped template, layered it with some rather lurid pink card and then layered a sheet of Pink Petticoat paper which I must have printed at least 5 years ago as its on photo paper (I've not printed on that for a long time!) and then added a very glittery and sparkly pink snowflake - from The Range last year and its a pack of tree decorations! 

And then the iridescent snowflakes have been glued to a strip of acetate and then added to the points of the star.  Its a lot more vibrant in real life - the photo doesn't really do it justice due to the naff winter weather we are having!

Good luck with the challenge!

I'd like to enter the following:

2 Sisters:  Snowflakes
My Time To Craft:  Non Traditional Christmas Colours
Crafty Catz:  Shaped Cards
Guylou's Inimitability:  Non Traditional Christmas Colours
CRAFT Challenges:  Christmas
Dutch Dare:  Non Traditional Christmas Colours

Template:  My own
Papers:  Printed - Pink Petticoat
Embellishment:  Christmas Tree decoration from The Range in 2011
Everything else:  My stash  

Friday 7 December 2012

Polkadoodle Challenge 49 - Paper Piecing and Newspaper

It's time for a new Polkadoodles challenge and the theme this week is:

Paper Piecing and Newspaper

I've used the Studio 12 vol 1 Picknix Collection and selected the All Sewn Up collection on the cd, paper pieced the mannequin and then inked it once all cut out.  All the elements that you see with exception to the half pearls and newspaper (more about that later!) are from the cd and I've just added a bit of inking and some faux stitching!

The newspaper is not actually newspaper as I didn't have any - its part of an old car magazine from 1935!!

Good luck with the challenge!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Creative Moments:  Anything Goes
Penny's Paper Crafty:  Anything Goes
Craft Room Challenge: Ohh La La
Ooh La La:  Spots and Dots
The Pink Elephant:  Make It Girly


All paperbased items:  Polkadoodles
Newspaper:  My stash
Everything else:  My stash 

Thursday 6 December 2012

Crimbo Crackers Challenge 30 - Wooden

It's time for another Crimbo Crackers challenge! And the theme I've set for this fortnight is

Wooden

I'm also joined by a Guest Designer who was a previous challenge winner so please pop over to Crimbo Crackers to have a look at what she's made!

I've used a kraft card blank which I've layered some red and white dotty paper (Polkadoodles Britannia download) and then more kraft card.  I've used a Nesties die for the layering shapes and I simply cut around a dark brown card layer for a thinner look.

The wooden bit is the reindeer which was a Tesco's tree decoration for the last few years - I bought a few packs of these (and other shapes!) 10 for £1 is a bargain!

I've added some flat backed pearls (they were not supposed to be that close together but I dabbed the glossy accents too close to each other!) and some bakers twine.  Oh, and some faux stitching too.

Good luck with the challenge!  For more details pop to Crimbo Crackers!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Christmas at Sweet Stamps:  Anything Goes
365 Day Cards:  Day 278 - Pick A Pattern - Polkadots
Deep Ocean Challenge:  Christmas
Die Cuttin' Diva's:  Holiday Spirit


Printed papers:  Polkadoodles, Britannia download
Decoration: Tesco
Dies:  Spellbinder Nestabilities
Eveything else:  My stash

Wednesday 5 December 2012

Very CAS!

I've been leaving all the Christmas cards that we'd received in a pile and earlier tonight I decided to open them with Jacob.

He'd added a card to the pile and here it is:

A rather clean and simple design don't you think?!  He said, very seriously that the card is green and that's Christmas enough!

And inside he's written this message all by himself

Not bad for a seven year old!  He's already written Santa's Christmas card (he found it really funny that it has a picture of Santa on the front too!) as we're going to see him on Sunday at the Football team's Christmas party!

Tuesday 4 December 2012

First Christmas

I've made a first Christmas card for my little niece Amy who was born at the end of February and I've used the Santa Baby wordbook download from Funky Hand and it's part of the Oh Come All Ye Crafters collection.  I printed on the reverse too and used the Santa Baby papers for that - so when you open the pages there is colour everywhere!

Really simple to make - print out the letters you want, glitter them (of course!) around the edges, layer up so you can read what you've printed then glue the 'pages' together!

I've added Sizzix Round-a-Bout die cut letters to spell out Christmas and added a rather large amount of fine glitter over the top!  I first coated the letters with glossy accents and then went a little mad with the glitter!  Same treatment on the Marianne Creatables snowflakes!

And to pretty up the spine, I've added some pink organza ribbon, tied into a bow and then a star charm which was actually donated to me by Amy's mum when she had a clear out!!

The left over parts from cutting the wordbook letters I used to make the die cuts so nothing went to waste!!

I'm actually in the process of making another of these as one of my cousins had a baby girl at the start of November, and well, the cards are so easy to make, it seems rude not to!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Creative Card Crew:  Star (its a bit tiny though!!)
Digital Tuesday Challenge:  Non Traditional Christmas
Die Cuttin' Diva's:  Holiday Spirit
Ribbon Carousel:  Holiday Spirit
ABC Challenges:  Holiday Cards with Bling
Top Tip Tuesday:  Christmas (My tip is to use glossy accents rather than glue when glittering as the glitter stays put a lot better and it has a nicer finish!)

All papers:  Santa Baby wordbook download from Funky Hand
Dies:  Marianne Creatables snowflakes and Sizzix Round-a-Bout alphabet
Everything else:  My stash (or donated!) 

Monday 3 December 2012

You're A Star Bookmark

Here is the second of the two new releases from Jellypark.  And it's called You're A Star!  I've made it into a book mark as I fancied doing something a little different and I had a look through my plain card to see what colour I should go for.  And as I've got some sheets of lilac that I've had for ages, that was the colour I picked!

I've used an X Cut die for the digi shape which has been coloured with a mixture of Promarkers, liquid pearls, stickles and watercolour pencils.

I then layered it onto the lilac card and cut out round it so that it was layered.  The velvet brad and ribbon I've had in my stash for quite some time too - I have a feeling that the ribbon was a donation from someone at work - a hoop thing from inside a jumper (never say no to ribbon donations!) and the glass chunky bead is from a cheap bracelet from the poundshop.

I've got a mountain of books that are on my reading list just I never have enough time just to sit and read and I fall into bed exhausted each night.  My Mum suggested a Kindle (as she's got one) but it doesn't look the same nor feel the same.  And how would I use my bookmark?

Mind you, it would cut down, drastically on the dusting...!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

ABC Challenge:  C is for Clear It Out (card base, ribbon, brad, bead)
Anything But A Card:  Anything But A Card
Live and Love Crafts:  Anything But A Card
That Craft Place:  No Squares Allowed
Crafty Catz:  Recycle / Upcycle (ribbon from a jumper, bead from a bracelet)

Image:  Jellypark, coloured with Promarkers, watercolour pencils, stickles and liquid pearls
Dies:  X Cut star
Everything else:  My stash (or donated)


Sunday 2 December 2012

Bear With Star

Here is the first of two new releases from Jellypark this fortnight - this one is called Bear with Star and he's yours to own for just £1.25!  I've coloured him with Promarkers and handwrote the sentiment as it was a special card.
The shaped panels are from an easel card kit from The Clip Art Fairy - I can't link to the actual product as the new store is not totally up and running yet but I changed the purpose of the shape to make this card.

The papers are also from the kit and I made the letters in wordart and then cut them out, adding stickles around the edges.  I also added a line of liquid pearls to the edge of the panels and then blue organza ribbon finished off with thin satin blue ribbon to hold everything in place.

As this was for the second grandson, I made it in a similar style to the first grandson's card - if you see what I mean!  Cute digi stamp isn't it?!  He comes with some sentiments but I've not used them.

The second new release will follow tomorrow!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Digi Galore:  Anything Goes
Mema's Crafts:  Anything Goes
Ready, Teddy, Go:  Clean and Simple
Corrosive Challenges:  Anything Goes
Joanna Sheen Challenge:  Anything Goes (Excluding Christmas)
Kenny K:  Frosty Hues

Image:  Jellypark, coloured with Promarkers
Sentiment:  Handwritten
Papers:  The Clip Art Fairy
Everything else:  My stash 

Saturday 1 December 2012

Get Funky and Craft - Jingle Bells!

I hope you're liking our new look at Get Funky and Craft; Anice started the ball rolling on Wednesday, and here I am with the weekend post.  Allison will be along on Wednesday with more papercrafting inspiration for you. Here is the card I've made for my brother and his girlfriend this Christmas:


I've used the wordbook download Christmas Tree and simply printed out the letters I wanted onto thick card (I think its 240gsm) and then put the card back into the printer and added one of the plain colours from the backing paper collection so that the 'pages' are not blank on the back.

I then cut round each letter and layered them up so that you can see each letter.  I then cut each page so that it lined up as a book would at the spine.  I used a corner rounder punch to keep it looking nice and then added red glitter glue around the edge of each letter (it's Christmas after all!) and finally simply glued each page together and when once dry, I scored so that each page can be opened.

The word 'bells' has been cut with a Sizzix alphabet die - Round-A-Bout and I've used some of the offcuts of card from the wordbook letters and then went to town with some green glitter glue!

And to finish it all off, I found some green satin ribbon in my stash but not enough to make a fancy bow, so I threaded some red, gold, and green jingling bells onto some thin red ribbon and tied it all together.

If you're wondering just how big this card is and if it will fit in a normal envelope, then wonder no more as you can buy wordbook envelopes to fit!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Lady Anne's:  Sentiment Anything Goes
Crafts 4 Eternity:  Christmas Chaos
Emergency Crafters:  Anything Goes
Fussy and Fancy:  I Love Christmas


PapersChristmas Tree wordbook download and backing paper collection from Funky Hand
Dies:  Sizzix Round-A-Bout alphabet
Everything else:  My stash

Friday 30 November 2012

Jellypark Challenge - Stars Shining Brightly

Today is being a rather busy day for blog posts! But this is the last one of the day!! If you're looking for the Funky Ink blog hop then its underneath! And Simply Create Too is beneath that!

It's a new challenge at Jellypark plus there are also two new digi releases too but those will be blogged over the weekend (3 posts in one day is enough for anyone!!) but if you can't wait to see them, have a look at the Jellypark blog - some wonderful designs from the girls!!

The theme this fortnight is:

Stars Shining Brightly

And I've gone literal and made a star shaped card.  The template is my own (basically, a star shape and then add a fold (taking care not to fold one of the points) and then trim where it meets the other side!  The papers I found in my stash although I have a feeling they are from a Polkadoodle cd and I've added stickles to the edges.

The image is part of the set drawn for the recent Papercraft Essentials magazine and it's available in the shop to buy for only £1.25!  Boy Playing With Train has been coloured with Promarkers and layered onto the card with foam padsThe banner is a Sizzix die cut and I've handwritten the sentiment, shaded it with Promarkers and then added stickles around the edges.

And finally added a string of tiny little lights!  I find that glossy accents are the best at sticking things like this as they dry clear and quick too!!

Good luck with the challenge and pop back over the weekend to see the two new release stamps and what I've made with them!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Charisma Cardz:  Christmas - No Red, Green or Gold (only a titchy bit - is that ok?!)
Pixie Dust Studio:  Winter Holiday 
Divas By Design:  Glitter and Sparkle 
For Fun Challenges:  Christmas With Sparkle 
I Love Promarkers:  Anything Goes 
Ruby's Rainbow:  Shaped Cards 

Image:  Jellypark, coloured with Promarkers
Template:  My own
Papers:  Suspect it's Polkadoodles
Dies:  Sizzix banner
Everything else:  My stash 

Funky Hand and Tiddly Inks Blog Hop!

I hope you are sitting comfortably!!  And welcome to my little part of the very first Funky Hand and Tiddly Inks blog hop!!!  This is where the creative talents of Anice and Christy come together along with both Design Teams and we can show you just how well the papers and digi images complement each other!

We were all lucky enough to work with a Tiddly Inks image (although I have a fair few to be going on with!) and of course some of the fab Funky Hand paper!  For my sample I went a bit plain and simple on the outside because I just love the image and I didn't want her being overshadowed by pretty papers!

So I've used Minnie's Lights and printed her directly onto the card blank then coloured her with Promarkers and added stickles to the lights (making them sparkly!) and glossy accents to her glasses.  The sentiment stamp (slightly wonky despite it being clear acrylic!) is a Studio G 99p set which I do use quite a lot!

So if you're wondering where the Funky Hand papers are - look no further!  I've done a first for me and decorated the inside of the card!!!  The photo shows it on it's side - the plain panel is the bit you'd write on.  Papers are from the Christmas Tree download which is part of the Oh Come All Ye Crafters collection.  I've printed them as A5 - so two to a sheet of paper so that the pattern was not too large.

Apologies if the photo overhangs the side bar - it was a bit titchy as 'large'!

So, back to the blog hop!!  You'll need to start at Anice so that you don't miss anyone on the hop - miss one of us and you'll miss out on being in to win one of two fab prizes!  But if you've landed on my blog from Leah then you're on the right track - hope you left her a comment?!  Don't forget to leave me a comment before you hop over to Lou Mac who you'll need to leave a comment for too!

Right, I think that's it!!  You'll need to be quick with the hop - you have until 12am CST on December 3 to get your comments on our posts!!!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

For Fun Challenges:  Christmas Sparkle
I Love Promarkers:  Anything Goes 
Paper Pretties:  Girly Card 
Paper Shelter:  Christmas 
Whimsy Inspirations:  Traditional Christmas Colours 
Crafty Sentiments:  Red, White and Green 

Image:  Tiddly Inks, coloured with Promarkers, Stickles and Glossy Accents
Papers:  Funky Hand, Christmas Tree download
Sentiment:  Studio G acrylic stamp  

Simply Create Too Challenge 27 Midway Extra - Give Thanks

We're at the Midway part of our Simply Create Too Challenge and its also our First Birthday!!  And to celebrate we are having a little online party and have some fab blog candy up for grabs!  There are three parts to being in it to win it, so pop over to Simply Create Too to find out more!!

The theme for the last week is:

Give Thanks

And I'm lucky enough to be part of the very fab Funky Hand Design Team and I asked Anice if she would consider a prize for our First Birthday and she said yes!  So there is also a Funky Hand download of the winners choice, and I've used a download too to make this funky word book:

I've used the Retro Fun wordbook download, printed the letters off that I wanted onto some 220gsm card, cut them out and then arranged them like pages in a book.  Glittered around the edges of the letters and added some funky ribbon tied in funky bows and two beads from a rather pretty (but very cheap) bracelet from the Poundshop!

The cards look really effective but are pretty quick to make - probably about 45 mins in total plus drying time for the glitter.  Not bad eh?!  In the download you get the full A to Z alphabet plus numbers 0 to 9 plus 7 matching A4 sized papers! I use the A4 papers on the reverse of the letters so it all looks 'finished'.

Good luck with the challenge and don't forget to answer our questions over on Simply Create Too!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Craft Us Crazy:  Give Thanks
Crafty Ribbons:  Use At Least Two Ribbons
Do You Stack Up:  Thanks
Milk, Coffee, Stamps:  Thankful
Paper Play:  Pink, Green and Cream
Crafts and Me:  Ribbon or Trim
Diva's By Design:  Glitter and Sparkle

Wordbook:  Retro Fun wordbook download from Funky Hand
Ribbons:  My stash
Beads:  Poundshop

Thursday 29 November 2012

Number 9

I know that this is not a card so strictly I shouldn't be adding it to A Card A Day blog list, but it is something I've created!!  And I'm determined to blog every day in November and December, just so I know that I CAN do it!!!

Samuel won his 9th trophy of the year on Sunday at Daytona Manchester in the Cadet Inkart Championship.  He finished 3rd in the final race and therefore ended up on the podium and got a trophy!  There are 11 rounds across the Championship and November was the final round.  And he's come 2nd overall in the Championship too and he will be presented with the 2nd place trophy just before Christmas!

So here he is with his trophy - second from the right (the bigger boys are the Juniors!) 

 
He's the youngest on the photo by at least 2 years (he's only just turned 9) and he's the highest placed rookie in the Cadet Championship - 18 months ago he'd never even sat in a kart let alone competed!!

If you want to know a bit more about what he's doing and how he's doing along with Jacob, have a look at their karting blog

I promised him when he got his first trophy back in February that if he got 10 I'd buy a cabinet......... guess who's eating her words now?!!  Me and my big mouth!

Wednesday 28 November 2012

Dude Time Doodles 28 November New Releases and Blog Hop

The time has come for the very last Dude Time Doodle New Release (cue sad music) and as its New Release Time we celebrate with a Blog Hop.  So please pop round the team to say your final goodbyes to us as a DT although no doubt you'll come across us somewhere in blog land again!

I've used Tree Topping Tim and coloured him with Promarkers - he will be available in the store to buy real soon so make sure you do because after 15th December, the doors will close and you won't be able to get him!

If you've arrived at me from The Dude Time Doodles Blog then you are on the right track although there is no start or finish point - just as long as you work your way through each of the blogs and leave us a comment at each point then you'll be in with a chance of winning! After you have left me a comment, pop over to Dawn.

I've used a freebie paper from The Clip Art Fairy and layered my image and sentiment (Studio G acrylic stamp) onto some random red card I found in my stash.  The star is actually a chipboard tree ornament I bought from Tesco last year - 10 for £1 and because the pattern didn't match, I covered it in some more offcut paper and then inked the edges.

Good luck with the hop and thank you to Dude Time Doodles, Boni, Anne and Tammy for all the help, support, laughs and giggles behind the scenes!  I'm following all the DT so I keep in touch!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:


Party Time Tuesdays:  Anything Goes
ABC Challenges:  Anything Goes
Cards For Men:  Merry Christmas


Image:  Dude Time Doodles, coloured with Promarkers
Paper:  The Clip Art Fairy freebie
Sentiment:  Studio G acrylic stamp
Star:  Tesco Christmas tree ornament, covered with red card and inked

Tuesday 27 November 2012

MMMmmmmm! Gingerbread!

Although I'm not a huge biscuit and cake fan (although have been known to demolish almost a full box of French Fancies just prior to giving birth!) I am rather partial to Sainsbury's Jam Doughnuts and also Gingerbread men!!

So you can imagine my quandry when making this:


All the papers are from Here Comes Christmas cd from Polkadoodles and I've used a fancy X Cut die for the top part of the bag then layered the sentiment topper over the top.  The ribbon is from my stash and I've used a card cello bag for the gingerbread men.

Really quick and easy to make.  And the other two gingerbread men that came in the pack got eaten!  By the boys too.......!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Crazy Amigo Challenge:  Gifts
Crafty Boots:  Anything Goes
Digi Makeover:  Christmas
Lexi's Creations:  Christmas
Ooh La La:  Spots and Dots
Stamping Sensations:  Traditional Christmas

All papers:  Here Comes Christmas cd from Polkadoodles
Gingerbread men:  Sainsbury's (and long gone!)
Everything else:  My stash

Monday 26 November 2012

Fetch A Sketch Challenge 38

It's time for a new Fetch A Sketch challenge!  And here is the sketch for this fortnight:

We are sponsored by My Creative Classroom who are offering a lucky winner a place in an online class!

We've also got a Guest Designer for the challenge too, but you'll have to pop over to Fetch A Sketch to see who it is!

I've kept my card quite simple and I've managed to use up another of the Christmas tree decorations that I seem to have collected (you can never have enough pretty sparkly things that are intended for Christmas decorations but would look even better on cards!), although I have a feeling that these were generously donated by Lynsey!

I've glittered the edge of my card base and then added an acetate panel that I'd embossed with a snowflake Cuttlebug folder after cutting it out with an X Cut fancy die.  Bit of a nightmare to get it to stick to the card blank but I was determined it was going to.  And it did!


I've added the peel off sentiment - I know!  But it was the best thing I had as stamping looked terrible and actually, I think the peel off doesn't look too bad!  Just have to think of how to use the other million that I have hehehe!  Anyway, the sentiment has been added to an offcut of vellum.

Good luck with the challenge!

I'd like to enter the following:

Eclectic Ellapu:  Celebration with Sparkle
The Crafty Pad:  Add Some Glitter
Allsorts:  Bring On The Bling
Unstampabelles:  Monochromatic
Less Is More:  Glitz and Glamour

Christmas Tree decoration:  Donated by Lynsey
Dies:  Cuttlebug snowflakes embossing folder, X Cut fancy die
Everything else:  My stash

Sunday 25 November 2012

Santi Beaches

As you may have noticed on my Dude Time Doodle post from earlier in the week, Dude Time Doodles is closing its doors on the 15 December.  I've been with the Design Team since the first challenge and have loved the wackiness that is Dude Time Doodles and the support given from the rest of the team.

So here is one of my favourite Dude Time Doodle images - Santi Beaches:

He's one cool Santa!  Papers and tag are from Here Comes Christmas cd from Polkadoodles and I've added some layered snowflakes cut with Marianne Creatables dies.  The red felt snowflakes are actually ribbon (sort of) and I bought it from Marks and Spencers a few weeks ago when me and the boys were having a breakfast treat in the cafe!

So if you want to stock up on Dude Time Doodle images you better be quick as the 15 December will be here before you know it!

Oh, and Samuel won his 9th trophy of the season earlier today!  He came third in the November Cadet Inkart Championship at Daytona Manchester.  And with the points he collected during the heats and final, it places him firmly in second place overall in the Championship!  Not bad for his first year kart racing!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Hiding In My Craft Room:  Christmas
Little Claire's Designs:  Christmas
Paper Creator:  Christmas
Marianne's Design Diva's:  Gentlemans Hour
Sparkles Forum:  Christmas is Coming

Papers and sentiment:  Here Comes Christmas cd from Polkadoodles
Dies:  Marianne Creatables
Red snowflake:  Marks and Spencers
Everything else:  My stash

Saturday 24 November 2012

Nephew

I've been busy making baby cards recently - one of my cousins was due (and arrived early!) but we didn't know if it was to be a boy or girl so I made a variety of each and some in lemon and cream too!  And a good friend was about to become an Aunty to a little boy (and he arrived early too!) so here is the card I made from her:


And yes, its a wordbook!  I've used papers from The Clip Art Fairy - Beautiful Baby Boy papers but the Printables Store has closed so I don't know if the papers are still available.  I've made the letters in word and then cut them out, layered onto some plain paper from the download and then layered again onto the 'pages'.  I've glittered around each letter - I actually print the letters in a colour similar to the papers so its not too visible, but enough so I can see where I'm cutting!

I've added some ribbon, embroidery thread and a little silver charm from my stash.  Some of the stars on the letters (the darker ones) have had glossy accents applied over the top to give it a bit more texture.

Jacob's football team lost again this morning - 8-4 despite leading at the start 2-0.  He was in goal for the whole match and made some cracking saves (despite letting 8 in!  Although one was an own goal from one of our mid-fielders) and was named Man of the Match by our Coach!

Samuel has the final Inkart Round tomorrow morning at Daytona Manchester.  He's currently in second place in the Cadet Championship and hopefully a decent finish tomorrow will ensure that placing.  It's all go in our house!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Ladybug Crafts:  Monochrome
Daring Cardmakers:  Twinkle Twinkle
Fussy and Fancy:  Feeling Blue
Dutch Dare:  Fancy Folds
Little Red Wagon:  Boy oh Boy

Papers:  The Clip Art Fairy (think they are retired)
Letters:  Wordart
Everything else:  My stash