INSPIRATIONAL BLOG - SWAP

Inspirational blog is hosting its first International Swap. Click on the Inspirational Swap Banner to find out all the details.

INSPIRATIONAL TEAM MEMBER

Woohoo - I'm a member of the fab blog inspirationalcraftblogs.blogspot.com This was started by Julie as a showcase for all the blogs that inspire her. What a fab idea. Pop along to see my first posting on who has inspired me.

I'm back

Hi fellow bloggers - I'm back from my mini trip to Rome - the trip that very nearly didn't happen as we were cancelled at the last minute by BA out of Terminal 5 and had to re-book ourselves, at extra cost, to fly EZJet out of Gatwick. Still fighting BA now for compensation as they say it wasn't their fault!




Still - Rome was lovely and I'm hoping seeing all that art will inspire me in the next few days. Got some serious scrapping to do!









Here's my tag for the TAA blog challenge - this week's challenge is flowers and circles.



Here's also a Card I did before I went away - the Stamp is one from Emma's website Sassycrafts - such a great stamp I can see I'm going to be using it a lot! The papers and friend stamp is Stampin Up.

TOPPERS TAGS AND ATC'S

TTA's challenge for this week is up and running - you have to use glitter on your TTA. I did a Wedding one for a change. The glitter can just be seen on the rings. It was my idea to use Glitter and then I realised I didn't actually have any! LOL! I did find some glitter glue though!

I'm away in Rome for a few days now and won't be back until Saturday so my blog will be going quiet.

TGIF CHALLENGE - FACES

The challenge over at TGIF this week is faces - I've used all my lovely Cherry Pie Art Stamps for this one.

Tag - you're it Challenge

Tag You're It have set their first challenge - and its Shades of Blue. The tag is actually a tag stamp - which I love using.

8 x 8 CARD

Now that's what I call a challenge - Ratty Tatty has some great blog candy up for grabs - and her extra challenge this week to gain you some points is to make an 8 x 8 card. Wow - they are HUGE - to go from working on an inchy (itty bitty little working space!) to an 8 x 8 is a real shock.

If you use Dovecraft products and mention them you get extra points - I'm a real teacher's pet (LOL) and I've used Laura Ashley stamps too!

Here's my first example - I've used Dovecraft embellishments for all the embellishments from one of their embellishment kits - I love these kits - they are so versatile. I'm not sure whether the paper is Dovecraft either. The Stamp is a Laura Ashley stamp I bought when I lived in the States - it always used to make me homesick when I used it, although being a Welsh girl I would have liked to have changed one of the words! LOL!!!!!

ARTY GIRLZ CHALLENGE

Arty Girlz challenge this week is Triangles - I've done a Gingerbread House - all ready for Christmas - or one of my Rudolph days LOL!

There is a gorgeous set of stamps on offer so hurry over and good luck!

SEE WITH THE HEART

This seems to be one of my favourite SU stamp sets as I keep coming back to it all the time.

I've tried a slightly different style here - a card on top of a card -hope the pictures show the idea well enough.

For more SU ideas or products - check out my SU blog - www.fionastampinup.blogspot.com

CMUTD CHALLENGE - BLOG CANDY!!!!

This week's challenge over at CMUTD is all about Ribbons and Buttons - let's see some of your creations - Remember there are always some goodies up for grabs!

TOPPERS TAGS & ATC'S

Today is the first day of our challenge over at Toppers Tags and ATC's blog - you can find it HERE. Pop along to the challenge and come and join in as there are some goodies up for grabs.

I am delighted to be a Design Team Member over at the blog and here's my contribution for this week's challenge. Looking forward to seeing all of yours! I chose to do a masculine themed one - as today is my DH's birthday -(I know, April Fools!) and he's had his MG since he was 21!!! And its still as good as new 26 years later!

Theme Thursday Challenge

Another new challenge blog I've just found on my travels - Theme Thursday - their challenge this week is to use pink and brown in your projects. :

This week’s theme is the color combo “pink and brown”. Use these colors as the main colors in your creation this week! You may use other colors as well, but have pink and brown as your main colors in your art! Use collage images, rubber stamps, fancy paper , embellishments or any other art supply to give your art a “pink and brown” look. Make an ATC, 4 x 4, card, inchie, altered tag, skinny or whatever you fancy! Add your art to your blog, then post a direct link under the comments! Please include a link to Theme Thursday on your blog! Have fun and make art!

4 x 4 CHALLENGE

This week's challenge over at 4 x 4 is Kings or Queens. Well, for me it had to be The King - Elvis. I can still remember that day in 1977 when my mum woke me up with a cup of tea and told me Elvis had died. I suppose its a bit like people remembering where they were when Kennedy was shot (I was too young!) or when Diana died - for me I remember Elvis dying. Its quite strange really isn't it with celebrities when they die because they are as real to us as they ever were - I mean its not as if I were ever going to meet him but it still affects you sometimes.

Enough blurb - on with the crafting ! LOL!

TGIF!

I've found a new challenge thanks to Rosie - and she's guest designer!! WTG Rosie!

Its called Thank God Its Friday and this week's challenge is TAGS. Tags are one of my favourite things so I had to join in. I've just got these wonderful chipboard pieces from Emma at Sassy Crafts and they arrived yesterday so I was keen to use them. Thanks Ladies!

4 x 4 CHALLENGE

The challenge this week over at 4 x 4 is to use Leonardo Da Vinci's ladies, but not Mona Lisa.

Thanks to my Cherry Pie Art Stamps for the inspiration for this one, otherwise I would have been stumped!

BLOG CANDY

Check out this fab new blog and support Emma in her new venture - she is giving away some gorgeous blog candy - you will find her blog here

Good luck with it all Emma xx

Wednesday Stamper's Challenge

The challenge over at Wednesday Stamper's this week is First Name :

This week’s challenge is to make some artwork with the first letter of your first name. That should provide us with very many different things. You are completly free to use this letter as you want, for example make a feature of the letter itself, or use a word that starts with the same letter as the first one of your name. We are very curious how this challenge will turn out.

I've used F for friends and flowers!

INCHY CHALLENGE

Inchy Challenge this week is Words - what word inspires you - it has to be friends because my friends mean a lot to me.

I'm thinking of hosting an inchy swap so if you are interested in swapping some inchies - pm me and we'll see what we can work out.

NEW BLOG FOR YOU ALL TO CHECK OUT

There's a new blog on the block - you'll find it here - and if you love doing toppers and atc's its the place to be.

I'm excited and honoured to be on the Design Team so come and check us out and be challenged!

ITS A DOODLE!!!!

Doodle time over at Arty Girlz challenge this week - doodling is something I find quite difficult so this was a definite challenge for me - although I know Julie loves here doodling.

I used some Stampin Up stamps for some of the images and doodled the rest. Black isn't a colour cardstock I use very often but it seemed to work well against the doodling.

CMUTD CHALLENGE - BLOG CANDY!!!!

The challenge over at CMU for the next two weeks is now up and running. The challenge has been set by Susie this week and she wants you to

make a New baby Card in NON traditional colours!!

There's a chance to win some blog candy - so come on over - all you need to do is submit a card in keeping with this weeks challenge

My card is up - you'll have to pop along to view it!!!!

I'VE BEEN BUSY

I've been busy baking today as well as crafting. This is my first time for baking Hot Cross Buns and I'm very pleased at how they've turned out - they even taste good too!

Did you know that Hot Cross Buns were originally a pagan treat - and the cross on the top was to signify the four quarters of the moon!

ARTY GIRLZ CHALLENGE

I'm on a roll today - lots of crafting getting done thanks to all these challenges!

Arty Girlz this week is to use STARS on your project and there's a prize up for offer!

INCHY CHALLENGE

Inchy Challenge this week is to use numbers on your inchy. I must admit I'm always surprised at how old I am so I used that as my inspiration!

4 x 4 CHALLENGE

The Challenge this week at 4 x 4 is fairies. I've used Cherry Pie Art Stamps for the images, Tim Holtz distressed ink for the background and mulberry paper and some bling!

BLOG CANDY

Katerina is offering some blog candy - some fab rubber stamps - so check out her blog and good luck!

INCHY CHALLENGE

The challenge over at Inchy Challenge this week is to use Green and Silver on your inchies

SPRING HAS SPRUNG

Well, over at Arty Girlz challenge it has - although looking out of my window I'm not so sure - its quite cold and chilly here this morning. Making this card though made me feel as though spring was just around the corner - in case you hadn't guess it - the challenge this week for AG is Spring. I've used some old SU stamps here.