Birthday Blog Candy Countdown - Day 15

I hope you've been commenting on each of the daily posts upto now - if you've not, the link is below for Day 1.

You can never have enough beads in your stash and I use these either as extra embellishments or on hat pins. And all those can be yours!

Don't forget - you need to comment on each post up to and including day 21 - Day 1 is HERE - and to add the blog badge to your sidebar with a link back to me to be in with a chance of winning! Good luck!

Polkadoodle Challenge 13 - Easter & BLOG HOP!

It's time for another Polkadoodle challenge but this week we have a bit of a twist! We still have our regular challenge but we also have a blog hop which is also part of the challenge!! And you know what that means - LOADS of candy!!

CHALLENGE STAGE 1: Now, we know not everyone like to do a hop for whatever reason, so we still have our normal challenge for the week which is EASTER themed - you must make a card or project which is Easter themed.

But that's not all...

CHALLENGE STAGE 2: Our second challenge is the blog hop - if you hop along with us this week you will find that the Easter Bunny has arrived early and left some hidden goodies on some of the Design Teams blogs - but you have to hop though the whole list to find who the Easter Bunny has visited!

You need to complete both the Easter themed challenge and the blog hop to be in with a chance of winning one of the fantastic prizes on offer! You need to go to the challenge blog to see what is on offer but it is fabulous! There will be one grand prize winner and two second place winners!

The Easter Bunny has arrived early at my blog and I'm giving away a copy of the brand new (and very fantastic!) Sugarplum Daisy cd (image kindly 'borrowed' from Polkadoodles!) To be in with a chance of getting your hands on the cd, simply leave a comment on my blog! It's that easy!

And now onto my project for the week! I've used one of the decoupage images from Paper Boutique Vol 1, using foam pads to layer up the different elements. The pouch is a template I found on the internet and I've used papers from the same Flopsie Bunny collection and printed on both sides.

The bunny has then been added with a strip of acetate so he boings around! For a bit more interest, I've added some Marianne Creatable die cuts around the pouch, colouring them with Promarkers to match.

Right, back to the blog hop! If you have arrived at my blog from Lana then you are on the right track! The letter you require from me is

A

Keep it safe and now hop to Claire!

Good luck! If you get stuck, please go back to the Polkadoodle Challenge blog where you will find the full list of Polkadoodlers. Don't forget to leave a comment on each blog as you pass though!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Charisma Cardz: Easter
Cute Card Thursday: Happy Easter
Delightful Challenges: Easter
Paper Play Challenges: Easter

• Bunny and paper: Paper Boutique Vol 1
• Dies: Marianne Creatables
• Pouch template: Waltzing Mouse freebie

Simply Create Too - Challenge 10 - Eggs / Bunnies

Welcome to another Simply Create Too challenge! We've got a rather apt theme for this fortnight:

Eggs or Bunnies

Perfect for Easter! I've used a template from Wendybird Designs to make the cute pouch and the tags on each have been made from the aperture which I've then glittered around the edge for a bit more sparkle!The cute bunny images are from Jellypark and I've coloured them with Promarkers. Really quick and easy to make and I'm sure Niamh and Harrison will love them (especially when they see whats inside!)

Good luck with the challenge - for more details and inspiration please see the Simply Create Too blog!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

4 Crafty Chicks: Easter
Charisma Cardz: Easter
Paper Play: Easter
Fab n Funky: Easter
Sisterhood of Crafters: Easter
Whimsy Inspirations: No Patterned Papers
Creative Craft Challenges: Anything But A Card

• Template: Wendybird Designs
• Images: Jellypark
• Everything else: My stash
  

Birthday Blog Candy Countdown - Day 14

A sheet of Daisy and Dandelion decoupage toppers and a matching backing sheet are today's giveaway - all being added to the box!

Don't forget - you need to comment on each post up to and including day 21 - Day 1 is HERE - and to add the blog badge to your sidebar with a link back to me to be in with a chance of winning! Good luck!

Paper Crafting Journey

The new challenge at Paper Crafting Journey is sponsored by Jellypark and the Jellypark DT were asked if they fancied making a sample. The theme is a picture inspiration (for some reason I can't get it added to this post!) and here is my sample:


I've used the Wedding Cake digi and coloured it with Promarkers plus a smidge of glitter glue. My new X Cut die has been used - I had a bit of a time with the larger size using it to cut the card blank with my rather ancient red Sizzix machine as it wouldn't go through with two card thickness. I managed in the end though!!

The papers are Nana's Nursery - Baby Girl 8x8 stack which I shamefully admit, rediscovered in one of my drawers and its first time I've used it! I bought it in The Range a few years ago in the sale and I can't resist a bargain!

The ribbon and embroidery thread are from my stash. I've added a line of dotted liquid pearls around the edge of the card to finish it off. And the heart charm is from a necklace from the Poundshop!

Head on over to Paper Crafting Journey as you could win two Jellypark digi's!

Oh, and I'd like to say thank you to all the team at Paper Crafting Journey as I have been the random winner for the last two challenges! I've been advised to pick the lottery numbers this week as you just never know!!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Waste Not Wednesday: Use Forgotten Stash
Ribbon Carousel: Anything Goes with Ribbon
Lollipop Crafts: Anything Goes
Make My Monday: New Beginnings
Whoopsie Daisy: Use Your Stash

• Image: Jellypark, coloured with Promarkers and glitter glue

• Papers: Nana's Nursery - Baby Girl 8x8 stack
• Dies: X Cut fancy one
• Ribbon and Embroidery Thread: My stash
• Charm: Poundshop necklace

Crimbo Crackers Challenge 12 - Families

It will teach me to leave things to the last minute! I had no power this morning and because I'd not written the Crimbo Crackers challenge post, nor this one, everything is a few hours behind!

There is a new Crimbo Crackers challenge this fortnight and the theme is

Families

This can be humans or animals but as long as more than two people / animals are depicted and that it is Christmas or Festive related then it can be entered!

I have a new sponsor to Crimbo Crackers - Crafty Sentiment Designs who are offering 3 digis to the winner of this challenge!I got to play with one of their images - Snowman Couple - which I have coloured with Promarkers. The papers are from Funky Hand - Dreams Come True cd and I've added glitter glue around the edges plus a very sparkly Christmas tree decoration which I found lurking at the bottom of my Christmas box! The ribbon bow at the top looks a bit of an odd colour in the photo but it actually matches the colour of the paper in real life! I printed the sentiment on the pc.

Good luck with the challenge! For more details pop over to the challenge blog. Closing date is Sunday 8 April at 12noon GMT.

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Digi Stamps 4 Joy: Blue and Water (Snow is made from water!)
Paper Pretties: Bling
Waste Not Wednesdays: Use Old Forgotten Supplies (the Snowflake)
Craft Room Challenge: Glitter, Bling and Sparkle

• Image: Crafty Sentiments, coloured with Promarkers
  Papers: Funky Hand - Dreams Come True cd
  Embellishment: Tesco Christmas Tree decoration
  Everything else: My stash
  

Birthday Blog Candy Countdown - Day 13

Day 13 already! And here are the matching chipboard elements to yesterday's paper pack. All in the goodie box!


Don't forget - you need to comment on each post up to and including day 21 - Day 1 is HERE - and to add the blog badge to your sidebar with a link back to me to be in with a chance of winning! Good luck!

Blue Bird

A quick post as I nearly forgot to blog this card! I've used a freebie from the A Day for Daisies blog and coloured it with Promarkers. I've used my new X Cut die and then layered the image onto some navy blue card and cut around it.


Spotty paper is from my stash, I'm not sure of its origin but I have a feeling it is Polkadoodle! I've added a faux stitch around the image and then dotted a line around the layers. Ribbon is from my stash along with the half pearls.

I moved offices yesterday at work and I now have my very own office! It's rather snug (I couldn't fit all my furniture in!) but the layout suits me for what I need and I can shut my door!! The celings are very high (it is an old hospital building) so my typing echos but its my space!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Digital Tuesday: Favourite Colour
A Day For Daisies: Shades of Blue
Ribbon Carousel: Anything Goes
Top Tip Tuesday: Animals
Crafty Bloggers Network: Happy Bird-day
Hippity With Ippity: Things With Wings

• Image: A Day For Daisies freebie, coloured with Promarkers
• Papers: From my stash
• Dies: X Cut
• Everything else: My stash

Birthday Blog Candy Countdown - Day 12

Day 12! Today I've added this 6x6 Kate Knight 'Spring Fling' paper stack - 36 papers in the pack - perfect for spring projects!

And as an added bonus I will draw a name from all the comments on this post and the prize is this selection of printed Lily of the Valley images.

Don't forget - you need to comment on each post up to and including day 21 - Day 1 is HERE - and to add the blog badge to your sidebar with a link back to me to be in with a chance of winning! Good luck!

Dude Time Doodles - April New Release & Blog Hop!

It's the last Wednesday of the month so its time to reveal the new Dude Time Doodles images and as it is customary, we have a blog leap for you!

One of the Dudettes will be the hostess with the mostest and one lucky commenter will win a digi image! So make sure you leave me a comment - as you've got to be in it to win it!

If you've arrived at me from Michelle then you are on the right track although there is no start and end point, just make sure you've visited us all! From me you need to hop to CG and leave a comment there too!!


I've used the Boxer image, coloured with Promarkers and glossy accents on the hearts and added it to the circle card with some string - so it swings! The papers are from Dreams Come True cd from Funky Hand which I've had in my stash for ages from a previous project and I was lucky as I had just enough for the circle card base and the letters are from Kirsty Wiseman - Patti Picklicious cd. I've simply inked the edges and it's finished!

Good luck with the hop - and don't forget to leave us all a comment!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Digital Tuesday: Favourite Colour
Party Time Tuesdays: Anything Goes
Shopping Our Stash: Circles or Dots
Digi Makeover: For The Boys
The Crazy Challenge: Add A Sentiment

• Image: Dude Time Doodles, coloured with Promarkers and glossy accents
• Papers: Dreams Come True cd from Funky Hand
• Letters: Patti Picklicious cd from Kirsty Wiseman
• Everything else: My stash
  

Get Funky Challenge - Celebrating Spring

It's my turn to hopefully provide some inspiration for the current Get Funky! challenge which has been set by the very talented Kathy and the theme for the month is:

Celebrating Spring

And as always the main rule is that you MUST use a Funky Hand product in your creation. If you don't have anything Funky Hand (why not?!) there is always the Funky Freebie to be snagged each month that fits the challenge theme perfectly.
I made my Mum a gift bag and matching card with the offcuts. And she was rather impressed! The papers are all from Retro Fun download - this is a wordbook download but it comes with some A4 sheets which I've used. Plus the Flutterby Flowers download.

A Martha Stewart punch has been used for the strips and I cut the lettering with my Cuttlebug Baby Face alphabet dies. I actually stuck the strips upside down on my card by mistake and by the time I realised it was too late. Ah well!

Good luck with the challenge - you have until midnight GMT on 14 April to enter and please don't forget to use a Funky Hand product!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Kathy's Waffle Sketch File: Sketch Followed
My Grafico: Easter / Spring
Paper Creations Ink: Things With Wings
Truly Madly Crafty: Colour Inspiration
Always Something Creative: Spring Awakening

• All papers: Retro Fun download
• Butterflies: Flutterby Flowers download
• Punches and Dies: Martha Stewart; Cuttlebug Baby Face alphabet
• Everything else: My stash
  

Birthday Blog Candy Countdown - Day 11

Added to the box today is this selection of pretty Prima fabric flowers - yellows, greens, oranges and lilacs!

Don't forget - you need to comment on each post up to and including day 21 - Day 1 is HERE - and to add the blog badge to your sidebar with a link back to me to be in with a chance of winning! Good luck!

Craft Juice Tuesday - Week 110

Welcome to another week of Craft Juice Tuesday! This week I'm celebrating Easter and hope you like my selection! For more details on each item, just click on the picture and you will be taken to their Craft Juice listing.

Bright and breezy patchwork bag from Antique Basket Lady
A pdf pattern for crotched egg cosies from AnneMariesBries Blog

A beautiful springtime bird from ClootieLugs

See you next Tuesday for more Craft Juice Tuesday!

Fetch A Sketch - Challenge 20 Midway Extra

It's time for the Midway Extra inspiration (we hope!) at Fetch A Sketch. A reminder of our sponsor - the very generous Digi Doodle Shop who is offering two winners $5 gift certificate each to spend in the store!

And here is a reminder of the sketch:

I've used the Special Delivery digi from the store and coloured him with Promarkers. All the patterned papers are from Cosmo Cricket - Early Bird Paper pack and the black paper is from my stash. I've used my fab X Cut dies for the stars (oh how I used to struggle to cut out stars before - now its a doodle!) A little bit of faux stitching around the edges and the card is complete!

Good luck with the sketch - I hope you can join us! The challenge is open until Sunday 1 April at 12noon GMT and all the rules (not many!) can be found over on the challenge blog!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

One Stop Craft: Clean and Simple
Catered Crop: Stitching
Gingerloft Challenge: Birthday
Crafts 4 Eternity: In The Kitchen
The Poodles Parlour: Anything Goes

• Image: Digi Doodle Shop, coloured with Promarkers
  
• Papers: Cosmo Cricket, Early Bird paper pack
• Dies: X Cut stars
• Everything else: My stash
  

Birthday Blog Candy Countdown - Day 10

It's Day 10 of my Birthday Blog Candy Countdown and today I'm adding these two acrylic Papermania stamps to the box.
Don't forget - you need to comment on each post up to and including day 21 - Day 1 is HERE - and to add the blog badge to your sidebar with a link back to me to be in with a chance of winning! Good luck!

How Proud Am I?! (Again!)

Earlier today was the third round in the Daytona Manchester Inkart Championship - Samuel finished third in round two. He was 7th on the grid for the first qualifying session and unfortunately took a black flag so he ended up loosing the places he gained during the 10 lap race and finished eighth.

Second session he was first on the grid (all random placings to ensure all competitors have same advantage) and he kept the place throughout so maximum points.

For the final qualifying he was placed fourth on the grid and managed to retain the place. So then it just depended if he was in the A or B final. Luckily he'd scored enough points from the three rounds to be placed fourth on the grid for the A Final. So he was in with a good chance of a podium finish.

Samuel had a fantastic grid start and managed to get past the second and third placed drivers on the first corner after the grid as they had a bit of a tangle and Samuel neatly sidestepped them and was behind Saul (the eventual winner) to the point that he gave him a little nudge to let him know he was there around lap 3 or 4.

Saul normally races away and no-one catches him so he was rather surprised to see Samuel right up his rear and couldn't shake him off for the remainder of the 20 lap race!

Samuel finished in second place behind Saul with only 2 seconds difference (and he pulled a few faster laps than Saul too!) and he set his fastest lap time of 26.010 seconds - just over the magical 25 second barrier!

So we are more than pleased and Samuel has been bouncing off the walls since we got home! We think he has now moved up to third place in the overall points for the Cadet Championships and if he keeps this up, well, who knows?!

Here he is shaking Kevin's hand (who afterwards told me that Samuel had raced a perfect race - and he's only 8!)
The Cadet and Junior first, second and third place finishers - Samuel is nearest camera

And here he is with his trophy!! It actually comes upto just under his chin - you can't see it too well in the photo!
We thought he would be getting a kart trophy again like last time so we were really surprised when he was presented this huge cup!!

And the sun is shining - the boys have new super soaker water pistols so they've had a water fight and now they are watching the F1 Grand Prix...... who knows - it could be Samuel in 10 years!!

Birthday Blog Candy Countdown - Day 9

It's day 9 and added to the box today is a pack of three cute Forever Friends sticker pack which are great for when you need a quick card!


Don't forget - you need to comment on each post up to and including day 21 - Day 1 is HERE - and to add the blog badge to your sidebar with a link back to me to be in with a chance of winning! Good luck!

Ice Cream Van

And here is the second of the two new releases from Jellypark - Ice Cream Van! I've coloured it with Promarkers and a tiny bit of glitter and it just reminds me of the ice cream van in Southport!



I've used coloured card from my stash to layer the image and also to create the different sized stars - used my new X Cut nesting dies. The patterned backing paper is from the Beautiful Baby Boy papers from The Clip Art Fairy

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Scrapbook Sisters: Anything Goes
Kaboodle Doodles: How Cute Is That?!
Crafty Purple Frog: Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday: Anything Goes
Do You Stack Up? Plaid

• Image: Jellypark, coloured with Promarkers
• Patterned papers: The Clip Art Fairy - Beautiful Baby Boy Papers
• Dies: X Cut Nesting Stars
• Everything else: My stash

Spring Is Sprung - Funky Hand New Release and Blog Hop!

Anice has worked her magic again and there is a brand new download released this weekend over at Funky Hand! The download is called Spring Has Sprung and to celebrate some of the Design Team are having a blog hop!

If you have arrived at my blog from Anice then you are on the right track. If you get stuck just go back to Anice and she will list all the links. The letter you want to collect from me is

S

Keep it safe, leave me a comment and then once you've hopped round us all, leave a comment at the end with the unscrambled word. There is a download of Spring Has Sprung for the winner but you have another chance to win if you do the Facebook thing too!

This is a lovely fresh download and I've had a bit of a mad time with the pinky lilac papers as you can see! I get an urge every now and again to create a layout as I like the idea of using more space and not worrying about trying to get it all in an envelope at the end!

All the papers you see are from the download and I've used various dies plus chunky ribbon from my stash along with half pearls, seed beads (flower centres) and some vellum here and there. I've handwritten the sentiment onto an X Cut fancy rectangle die (oh how I am loving this new purchase!)

I've edged all the papers with a silver gel pen but its not shown up too well in the picture. Photo is of my two nieces - Niamh is two and Amy was 12 days old when the pic was taken by my Dad - when we saw her she did nothing but eat and sleep!

Don't forget to leave me a comment and your next stop is Kathy! The hop will stay active until 9am GMT Monday 26 March - happy hopping!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

The Paper Girls: Layout Followed
Delicious Doodles: The Wonder of Life
Guylou's Inimitability: Monochromatic
Hotshot Craft: Ribbons
CRAFT: Handmade Flowers
Dutch Dare: Cute and Cuddly

• All papers: Spring Has Sprung download from Funky Hand
• Photo: Taken by my Dad
• Dies: Cuttlebug Baby Face Alphabet, Cuttlebug Flowers, X Cut fancy rectangle
• Everything else: My stash
  

Birthday Blog Candy Countdown - Day 8

Today I'm giving a pack of Polkadoodle exclusive papers which came with a crafting magazine some time ago. As a member of the Polkadoodle Design Team I have access to all of Nikky's designs so I thought I'd pass the wonder of Polkadoodles to someone else with this paper pack


Don't forget - you need to comment on each post up to and including day 21 and to add the blog badge to your sidebar with a link back to me to be in with a chance of winning! Good luck!

Dancing Fairies

Here is the first of two new releases from Jellypark - isn't this such a cute image?! I've coloured it with Promarkers and added glitter glue to their wings and also around the edge of the image.

I've made the card shape by drawing around a new X Cut die I bought over the weekend - I can't remember what it is called but it's nice!



I used a Spellbinder Nestabilities to cut out the image and then used that as a template for the backing paper (from my stash and I can't remember where it is from as it was an oddment!)

Charm and embroidery thread from my stash. The second new release will follow!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Flutterby Wednesday: Open Theme
Little Red Wagon: Clean and Simple
Craft Room Challenge: Bling and Glitter
The Stamping Boutique: Clean and Simple
Incy Wincy Designs: Things With Wings

• Image: Jellypark, coloured with Promarkers and glitter
• Dies: X Cut and Spellbinders
• Everything else: My stash