Monday 22 December 2008

2 More Days to Go

I've not really had any time for crafting as there's so much else to do - I just wanted to wish all my readers and anyone else who comes across my blog a Very Merry Christmas and a very peaceful and healthy New Year.





Tuesday 16 December 2008

SKINNY CHALLENGE


The thing about waking up early - before anyone else is about - is that I seem to get some time to craft and my mojo kicks in. I love being up early when its dark outside and I have the Christmas lights on inside - something very peaceful and magical about it all.


So I managed to get a Skinny done - I've been wanting to do one for ages to support Carole's challenge blog - this week the theme is Party so I've chosen Party Animal. I'm not one by the way! LOL! Couldn't you just cuddle this bear though!

I've used twinkling H2O's - not sure they show up very well though. Tim Holtz distress inks for the background again.


Objet D'art Challenge blog


I found a new challenge blog thanks to Julie of Scrapping Away as she is their Guest Designer this week. The theme is Tags. You'll find it here

I used Cherry Pie Stamps to create my Tag Oh Christmas Tree. Oops - not very straight is it? The inks were Tim Holtz distress inks.


Monday 15 December 2008

INCHY BY INCH - LAST ONE THIS YEAR

The last challenge of the year for InchybyInch is now up and running. We will start again in 2009 with a Guest Designer.

If you've been meaning to have a go at Inchys now's your last chance for 2008. They don't take long - honestly.

This week's theme is GIFTS:



Friday 12 December 2008

CHERRY PIE - YULE


This Yule card is for a special forum friend of mine who gives me inspiration in her art, she picks me up when she knows I'm down, and she offers support from afar - and I've never even met her. I hope she likes it.

All stamps - Cherry Pie - apart from the swirls in the background which is actually the lower half of the Father Christmas stamp I used a few postings ago. The inks are Tim Holtz distress inks.


Friday 5 December 2008

Not a Christmas Card! LOL!


I've been spending some time tidying up my craft room - mainly cause I could hardly move for bits of paper and ribbon and there was hardly any space left on my table - only about enough to make an inchy!

It always looks so inviting when its all tidy and I know where everything is and I find it is a great motivator. I even found a Cherry Pie stamp I haven't used yet - so I sat down and made a non Christmas card!


BLOG CANDY

There is some gorgeous unusual blog candy up for grabs over at Pollycrafts - you can find it here



Thursday 4 December 2008

Christmas Door Hanger

Wow - time goes quickly when Christmas is around the corner - I've been busy doing a few craft fairs with Stampin Up and making Christmas cards till they're coming out of my ears!

Thought I'd make something a bit different though and I made a Christmas door hanger for the kids to hang outside their doors or maybe me!!! LOL! This is the front:


This is the reverse:



Monday 24 November 2008

LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW!!!!

The theme over at inchy challenge blog today is snow - well some of the UK has had snow lately - but we haven't yet down here in the South - flipping cold though.

Whilst rummaging through my stamp boxes - I found an old Christmas stamp I haven't used this year yet. Its called For The Memories and is made by Stamps Happen, I think. The eagle eyed among you will note my inchy from the challenge - I've used the spotlight punching technique and included the inchy.








The words on the image say:

Make the moments matter - for the memories you give,

will be with them forever, for as long as they may live

Thursday 20 November 2008

STAMPIN UP LOVELY AS A TREE


The inspiration for this card came from Ellie's blog. I did mine with Silver embossing powder and added the sentiment and the stars from the Wondrous Gifts set. (This is one of the sets you can choose free if you book a workshop in December and reach your targets.) The trees are from Lovely As A Tree.

I love the way this card has turned out - I think I'll be doing some more on a similar theme. Doesn't it give it a lovely wintery feel?


Wednesday 19 November 2008

UPDATE ON TARA

Just to let you all have an update on Tara, my dog. She had her operation on Monday and I'm so relieved to say it was a success. She didn't need to lose her leg and the surgeon thinks he's got all of the fatty lump away. Thank goodness we went for a second opinion. We should get her back home with us tomorrow and I can't wait - the house has been so quiet and empty without her.

Thank you all for your good wishes - I'll post a picture of her when she's feeling more like herself! LOL!

Now - on to some crafts. I'm at a Craft Fair on Saturday with my Stampin Up goodies and have been busy trying to get some cards and boxes and gift ideas together. I'll post them on my SU site later.


In the meantime - here's another example of that Rubber Stampede Santa Collage stamp - with SU papers.



Friday 14 November 2008

SANTA COLLAGE


I'd seen this stamp whilst blog hopping and was lucky enough to get hold of it - I didn't realise how rare it was and how popular. Its made by Rubber Stampede and is known as Santa Collage.

I've used SU's papers and ribbons and some of the new SU Felt flowers. The word stamp is from Imaginisce stamps - I reallly love the word Believe on Christmas cards.

Hope you like it!


Monday 10 November 2008

SALLY'S ONE A DAY GIVEAWAY

SALLY, CREATOR OF BOOTIFUL STAMPZ - IS BEING VERY GENEROUS THIS MONTH - SHE'S GIVING AWAY A STAMP A DAY IN NOVEMBER - ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS VISIT HER BLOG AND ADVERTISE HER GIVEAWAY ON YOUR BLOG. YOU'LL FIND THE DETAILS HERE




Saturday 8 November 2008

GREAT ORMOND STREET



Kate on her blog here is asking for help from card makers to send a card to a child in Great Ormond Street Hospital so that they can send it to their helpers or family members. If you could spare a card you'll find all the details on Kate's blog.



BLOG CANDY

Julie has some great SU blog candy up for grabs! You'll find it here









Thursday 6 November 2008

THURSDAY'S THOUGHTS

I found a great new site - if you like Christmas cards that is - you'll find it here. There was a great example of a pocket card with bookmark. Here's mine:



I've used Holiday Treasures from the latest SU catalogue. The stamps are old SU stamps - from the Etruscan set.







Update for Tara

Her lump has been confirmed, as much as they can, as a fatty lump and she is going to have surgery on it on Monday 17th November. As I'm singing in an opera next week I couldn't face her going in for the op until the singing was over. Thank you for all your good wishes.

SOMETHING TO KEEP YOU WARM


More Christmas cards and ideas on my SU blog here

Friday 31 October 2008

TARA UP-DATE

Thank you for your messages.

We took Tara to the specialist yesterday and he did a biopsy. His initial findings, he tentatively said, were that he things the lump is a fatty tumour and not a malignant one. We will get the test results back on Tuesday.

If it is a fatty lump - we can operate and he thinks the operation should be successful although it may be interfering with a lot of blood vessels in the leg.

If it does prove to be malignant, then there is nothing we can do and we have to make some decisions.

He seemed hopeful though so we're sticking to that at the moment.

She's fine in herself, although a bit sore and swollen after yesterday, but she thanks you all for your good vibes.

xx

Monday 27 October 2008

CARD HOLDER - A GREAT CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEA


Over on my SU blog - I've put up an idea for a great Christmas Gift. Its actually a girl friend's birthday tomorrow so I've filled this with cards for her - I hope she likes it. All the details are on my SU blog.





BLOG CANDY ALERT!!!!

Juliet is giving away some fabulous blog candy - but while you're there check out her lovely blog too!


Thank you to all of you who have left me messages about Tara - its much appreciated. We are seeing the specialist on Thursday and I will report back then. xx


Sunday 26 October 2008

I'M HEARTBROKEN








DH and I took our dog, Tara, to the vet's yesterday as she has had a lump on her leg for some months - I've been to the vets about it twice and they just kept saying it was a fatty lump. As it had got so much bigger we went back and we were in total shock when the vet said there was nothing could be done because of where and how big the lump was and we should prepare ourselves for Tara not being with us much longer. He mentioned weeks, maybe months. She's only 8 - she'll be 9 on Christmas Day.

We are all devastated - we have had such a difficult year with one thing and another and this is just yet another blow.

We're not taking it lying down though and have asked to see a specialist.

Friday 24 October 2008

Daring Cardmakers


I think I must not have been seeing straight this morning as I've done the challenge for Daring Cardmakers and just realised it was last week's challenge. Never mind - I still had fun doing it.


I used some of SU's Holiday Treasures paper - the flower is from Laura Ashley and I used Fresco Flakes





SIMPLY SKINNIES - FAVOURITE DRINK


Carole has set us a great challenge this week at Simply Skinnies - your favourite drink.

This is an old Stampabilities stamp I found amongst my stash. I used Tim Holtz Distress Ink in antique Linen first to distress the paper, then stamped the image with Versamark and SU Chocolate Chip. I then used SU's clear embossing powder to emboss. The beauty of this powder is you can then emboss any colour ink you have and don't need other coloured embossing powders.

I then coloured in the image using a water brush and SU's Old Olive and Ruby Red inks. Voila!

BLOG CANDY ALERT!!!!

Rachel is giving away some fabulous blog candy. Pop over to her blog and good luck!

There are also some fabulous Stampin Up goodies on offer over at Stampin Mindy's blog

Wednesday 22 October 2008

ARTY GIRLZ BLUE AND ORANGE CHALLENGE





This week's challenge over at Arty Girlz is blue and orange. I've used my SU Tart and Tangy set for these cards. We could almost imagine its summer!

Tuesday 21 October 2008

BLOG CANDY ALERT!!!!

I'm sure a lot of bloggers know the very talented Julie, the force behind Inspirational blog and co-forcee (is that a word? LOL!) behind Arty Girlz.

Well Julie has joined our happy band of Stampin Up Demonstrators and, as a celebration, she's offering some fab blog candy. You can visit Julie's blog here


I've had a face lift - what do you think? You can get your own by clicking on the button on the top left of my page


Monday 20 October 2008

DIANE'S BLOG CANDY CHALLENGE

Diane has a great Challenge running until 25th October with a fabulous prize to win. Here's her challenge:

So, the challenge is that I'd like to see YOU make a card like the one in the other post. A maximum of two stamps, one colour of ink, one colour of embossing powder (can be the same or a tonal one). No pre-printed background papers!





I've used Stampin Up - True Friend - (Again!)

Stampin Up Old Olive Paper/

Stampin Up Old Olive Ink

Stampin Up Old Olive Embossing powder

I was so tempted to add a bit of ribbon! LOL!

MORE BLOG CANDY:

You'll find more blog candy offers at Tracey's fun blog

INCHY BY INCH - CHRISTMAS INCHY SWAP

INCHY BY INCH CHALLENGE BLOG IS HOLDING ITS FIRST INCHY SWAP. IF YOU'D LIKE TO JOIN IN - POP OVER TO THE BLOG HERE AND SIGN UP.

THIS WEEK'S INCHIES ARE LEAVES - HERE'S MINE:


Wednesday 15 October 2008

BOO II


I'm still in a Halloween mood - saw some of these spiders on my internet travels and thought I'd have a go. They're simple to make with the SU scallop punch.

My little spider is hiding a mint sweet so he's not all bad - honest Jo!

Tuesday 14 October 2008

BOO!


I love Halloween! I know its not done as much over here as in the States and I really enjoyed experiencing it when we lived there - but its a special time for me anyway and I still enjoy it. And I love making Halloween Cards. I found a new challenge blog today on my travels Card-a-Licious and they were asking for Halloween Cards as their first challenge so here's one I made earlier! You'll find their blog here