My 5 Favourite Cards This Year

Hi,

The lovely Debby has decided to do a 'My Favourite 5 Cards from 2010' (and is offering a fabby prize of 2 PB transparent stamps too) and this was even more difficult then the Christmas Cards - in the end i chose cards or images that had a meaning to me :

I couldn't not include this one, as it was the first card i ever put on my blog and entered a challenge with, way back in April and i have never looked back

My first ever DT card for Valentines Monthly Challenge - thanks Clair for asking me to do the challenges

I bought this stamp when it was half price from Crafts U Love. I also love those Bo Bunny papers - Love Bandit, a well used MS Valentine lace punch and my new toy Tim Holtz distress inks, that i've used.

I managed to buy this stamp from a friend who no longer wanted it - but i do i just love the cuteness of it. I have also used vellum, which is an item i don't use very often, but i loved the subtle effect it produced, so will defintely use it again and also those fabby Basic Grey papers - Wisteria.

I love this cutie of a stamp, and i had been after it for a while - i already had it in a transparent set, but it was far too small. I also loved using the Basic Grey papers - two scoops and the colour for the cup and saucer are so far out of my comfort zone, but i think it works really well together.

Thanks for looking, Luv Sam x

.... Micey Day!

Hi,

I hope you all had a fabby Christmas and didn't eat or drink too much !!! Mine was quiet just myself, son and OH - i only got 1 pressie and it was a token gesture from son, it was the Michael Buble CD, as OH is banned from buying me pressies, as the first year we had son, he bought me a white dressing gown !!!, eer how daft was that - so instead before Xmas, when Debenhams had 20% off everything, i went in and bought myself a Radley handbag and purse and told him that was the present, he would have bought me, if i had allowed him.

Right onto the Card - Yipee, this is my last Mothers Day card for SOS (Support Our Soliders), so next week i will be sending all 10 off, so that they can be sent to our troops and then they can send them back here in readiness for Mothers Day.  For this card i'm also using an image that i've had a for a while, but never used.

I'm sorry about quality of photo, only it's really foggy here and therefore it's not very bright indoors - I've updated photo from earlier on, as i was so not happy.

Right on to the Card and Challenges :

Sketch and Stash - where they are up to Challenge No: 51, where they are holding a blog hop and also you can choose a sketch - i have chosen Sketch No: 13 - i hope it's not unlucky for me !!!

Moving Along With The Times - where their Challenge is : 'Anything Goes - As Long As It's Not Xmas'

Top Tip Tuesday - where Challenge No: 15 is 'Frame it and Embellish it'

Sew Many Challenges - where Challenge No: 37 is 'Anything Goes'

Papersundaes - where Chalellenge No: 49 is 'Cut It Out' - I've used my scissors to cut out the image (have decoupage it) and the flowers

Image - Penny Black - '....Micey Day'

Papers and Flowers - My Minds Eye - 'Pretty Please Spring Papers' free with a magazine

Corners - Sizzix Die - Architectual Accent No: 4

Gems from stash

Thanks for looking, Luv Sam x

Merry Christmas Everyone

Hi,

I just thought i would pop up here and wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and show you the card i made with the help of 3 year old son ( who helped daddy punch out the circles and he stamped all the greetings himself - but please don't ask me what my rubber stamp looks like now though !!!) for his friends at nursery.

Son also decided he wanted mummy to put a picture of him on my blog !!!

Son got up at a very respectable 8am this morning, so we were well happy and he is now happily playing with 'Morgans Mine' - it's to do with Thomas The Tank Engine - take along track.

Thanks for looking, Luv Sam x

My 5 Favourite Christmas Cards

Hi,

Debby is running a great little idea, of showing off your 5 favourite Christmas Cards, then you link back to her blog, where you could win 2 LOTV stamps, how cool is that, - i thought this would be easy, but now i'm not so sure !!! so these are my favourites :

I was always going to pick 'Snowy', as he is a sweetie, my favourite and so versatile and it also gave me a chance to use some fabby DCWV papers - Winter Mat Stack - as because of the size 4.5" x 6.5", don't get used very often

My first try, at all 'White' and i really like how it came out and i won't be so hesitant about doing another one next year.

This one, as he is such a sweetie and i love those Cosmo Cricket - Jolly By Golly papers too

I wasn't sure about Santa not being in red in the beginning, when i read Squirrels challenge on ABC Christmas, but once i got my head round it and found these fabby K & Co - Peppermint Twist papers, i rather fell in love with him

This image is a little bit special, as i won her in a blog candy and also my Christmas Cards are usually PB stamps and she is a LOTV, plus also it was an honour for me to get a comment from the lovely Dawny P

Thanks for looking, Luv Sam x

Naughty Or Nice

Hi,

Firstly i must apologise for the photos of my cards at the moment - i know they look a bit rounded !!! - well the reason is i have lost the lens of the front of the camera (it's somewhere in the house, but with a 3 year old, it's probably in a place that it shouldn't be !!!), but i'm on the case have contacted olympus and they have put me in touch with a someone who can send me a new one, yipee, but probably won't be here till the new year !!

Boiler got finished on Wednesday, so i'm now living in a 'Ready Brek House' - we had a slight mishap on Tuesday night - we had a gas leak and had to call out British Gas, who came and changed the meter, thank goodness.

Right on to todays card - i know i said i probably wouldn't make anymore Xmas cards - but when i saw ABC Christmas Challenge had a blog hop, then i couldn't resist, as i have entered a few of their challenges over the year and absolutely loved them - it also gave me an excuse to use this really cute image, that i've had for a while, some fabby doodlebug papers and to have a play with my new MS deep punch border.

Todays Card and Challenges :

ABC Christmas - where they are up to Z for Zero time left and blog hop - you had to pick challenges from the past year and i have gone for :
F for Frosty, I for Ice and W for Wonderland

Simons Say's Stamp - where the Challenge is 'Silver / Blue and White'

Moving Along With The Times - where the Challenge is 'Let It Snow'

Stampin For The Weekend - where Challenge No: 53 is 'Christmas'

Creative Inspirations Challenge - where Challenge No: 49 is 'Anything Goes Christmas'

Bunny Zoes Crafts - where Challenge No: 7 is 'Sparkle and Shine'

Docrafts - Snoflake Challenge Week No: 51 - sorry hun i nearly got there !!!

Image - Penny Black - 'Naughty Or Nice' - covered in Stampin Up Heat & Stick powder, then Dazzling Diamonds

Papers - Doodlebug - Doodlecharms - taken from a 6"x 12" pad

Punched - Martha Stewart - Deep Edge Snowflake Punch

Silver Snowflakes - from that well know craft shop 'Matalan' !!!!!

Thanks for looking, Luv Sam x

Purrr-fect Time

Hi,

Well as i type this i have 4 men in my house (and none are that good looking either !!!) 2 plumbers and 2 electricians putting a new boiler in for us- we coped ok last night without any heating - but it was the no hot water and kitchen covered in brick dust that did my head in !!!

Ms Savage (Paul O'Grady) was brilliant in 'Aladdin' and it was really good as we managed to meet up with an old friend (Jane) after, that we haven't seen for 18 months.

Right onto todays card - it's using a PB stamp that i managed to get in a half price sale (along with a few others) earlier in the year and i thought it would be purrrfect !!! for this sketch and for some paper piecing too. This is also my 9th Mothers Day card for the troops, so only 1 to do.

The Card and Challenges are :

Marks Finest Papers - where Speedy The Cats Friends Challenge No: 33 is 'Paper Piecing' - i've done the cushion  the cats are sitting and the rug on the floor.

Totally Papercrafts - where Challenge No: 33 is 'Paper Piecing' - see above where the paper piecing is

Sketch and Stash  - where they are up to Sketch No: 50

Delightful Sketches - where their Challenge is 'Embossing' - orange section - leaves

Image - Penny Black - 'Purrr-fect Time'

Papers - My Minds Eye - 'Bloom & Grow'

Sentiment - Woodware - 'Tiny Phrases'

Flower - Wild Orchid Crafts

Distressed Flower and Sentiment - Tim Holtz - 'Shabby Shutters'

Ribbon from stash

Thanks for looking, Luv Sam x

Snow Trot

Hi,

Well boiler man didn't start job yesterday, so i'm still lovely and warm, but he will be coming Monday instead and OH is bringing home an electric heater from work and hopefully it will only be for 1 night.

Tomorrow we are taking 3 year old to his first Panto - oh no we're not, i hear you cry, oh yes we are !!! - we are taking him down to Southampton to see Paul O'Grady and he's bringing Lily Savage (i so love Lily, so we are really going because of me, but you need an excuse to go and ours is Son ) back to life for the very last time in Aladdin.

Right, i hoping this is the last Christmas card i'm doing this year, as i have 2 Mothers Days cards to do for mid January and as it's son's birthday on the 3rd and his party on the 9th - so i can't forsee me being able to get on with making cards for a while !!!

I chose this sketch as it enabled me to use the DCWV papers that i love, but they are 4.5" x 6.5", so you are limited on the sketch / design you can use !!!,  plus i love the bright and funky colours and so does son.

Todays Card and Challenges :

Simon Say's Stamp - where the Challenge is 'Christmas but NO Red or Green'

Top Tip Tuesday - where Challenge No: 13 is 'Use Ribbon on your creation' - i've used my Ribbon Strook, that i bought at Ally Pally last year for the very first time - shame on me, but i like it's effect, so will use it again, promise.

The Secret Crafter - where Challenge No: 112 is 'Christmas'

Crazy 4 Challenges  - where they are up to 'Crazy4 Challenges C4C66'

Papertake Weekly - where this weeks Chalellenge is 'Red and Green must not be seen'

Fab n' Funky - where Challenge No: 52 is 'Christmas For the Children'

Docrafts - Snoflake Challenge No: 50

Image - Penny Black - 'Snow Trot'

Papers - DCWV - 'The Winter Matstack'

Sentiment - Three Bugs In a Rug - 'Tis The Season'

Punched Edge - MS - Snowflake

Distressed Image - Tim Holtz - Milled Lavender

Ribbon thread done using - a Ribbon Strook

Ribbon from stash

Thanks for looking, Luv Sam x

Tea Cozy

Hi,

Gee we may have no snow, but boy is it cold !! and in this house it's going to get even colder starting tomorrow, as we are having a new boiler fitted and that means no central heating for 1 night Brrrr - i know stupid idea, but we did try and sort it out in the summer, but the plumbers who came round to give us a quote never followed up with a piece of paper, urgh.

Well todays card is all about Recipes - and as i was a cook for 15 years, i thought it would be easy - oops wrong kind of recipe, well it did feel like that about 3 hours ago, when i couldn't find 3 small pink buttons and the flower punches !!. I've used papers today that i have never used before, and i don't know why not as i'm loving the colour combination and it's the first outing for this wooden stamp too - i have the same image on a transparent set, but that's a bit small.

This is also the 8th card i've made so far for SOS - to send out to our troops for their mums for mothers day, i have 2 more to make before i send them out in January.

Right onto todays Card and Challenges :

Basic Grey Challenges  - where Challenge No: 34 is a 'Recipe' - 3 papers / 1-2 images or sentiments / 4 embellishments - mine are : ribbon, gems, buttons, flowers

Crafty Calendar - where Challenge No: 15 is a 'Sketch'

Moving Along With The Times - where Challenge No: 75 is 'For Someone Special' - for one of our troops in Afghanistan to send back for their Mum

Stampin For The Weekend - where Challenge No: 52 is a 'Recipe' - 2 Circles / 2 Squares / Buttons and Bling

One Stop Craft Challenge  - where Challenge No: 109 is 'Tea or Coffee Inspiration'

Image - Penny Black - 'Tea Cozy'

Papers - Basic Grey - 'Two Scoops'

Sentiment - Personal Impressions

Flower Punch - X-Cut

Ribbon - American Crafts

Buttons and Gems from stash

Thanks for looking, Luv Sam x

Nose To Nose

Hi,

Yipee the snow has all gone bar a huge mound at the end of my road - now i'm really busy catching up on all the things i wasn't able to do last week as OH (got sick too) was home all week and son for 3 days - just spent 30 mins in post office posting cards , 3 were for Australia, so i'm sure they now won't get there in time !!!, at least we now have all of son's Xmas and Birthday (3rd Jan) pressies, yipee - thanks to Amazon and Toysrus.

Right on to todays card and 'Beauty' - i picked this image as :

1) To me seeing my 3rd year old Son and Whisper playing nicely in the field - is the best feeling in the world

2) Whisper -  is such a cutie and i love her to bits (although some people may not agree, as they are not  dog people) she's a rescue dog and we have had her 5 and a half years and i wouldn't swap her for the world, so much so that OH is dreading the day anything happens to her.

Right on to today Card and Challenges :

Sweet Sketch Wednesday - where they are up to Sketch No: 78 - they do fabby pratical sketches

Tuesday Throwdown - where Challenge No: 27 is 'Embellish It'

A Spoonful Of Sugar - where Challenge No: 132 is 'A Recipe' - 3 Patterned Papers, 3 Flowers or Buttons and 3 Gems

Penny Black At Allsorts  - where this months Challenge is 'Beauty is in the eye of the beholder'

Fab n' Funky - where Challenge No: 51 is 'Happy Birthday'

Image - Penny Black - 'Nose To Nose'

Papers - Basic Grey - 'Max and Whiskars'

Sentiment - Hero Arts - 'Small Greetings'

Punched Edge - EK Success - 'Paw Prints'

Dog Paw buttons and gems from stash

Thanks for looking, Luv Sam x

Jolly Follies and Snow Dog !!!

Hi,

Thanks for all your kind comments - i'm feeling back to normal now, thank goodness.

Am i the only person who is fed up with the snow !!! - we got well and trully dumped on, on Wednesday night (we now have 12 inches) - before that we had had 2-3 inches - so with the 2 days i had in Yorkshire last weekend and the 3 days i've had back in Sussex, i'm now officially over the snow and want to get out and about again and go to Toysrus and get my son an Xmas pressie, as Toysrus are the cheapest place round here for the V-Tech Storio.

Oooo i went craft shopping in Cas (Castleford, West Yorkshire) market last weekend and bought loads of lace and it only cost me £2.14 - i was shocked, as back in Sussex, it would have cost me probably 3 times the amount !!!, so watch out for me using more lace on my cards now.

With todays card - i thought i would stop stroking my Basic Grey - Figgy Pudding papers (that i've had for a year !!!) and finally use them (i do have the 12x12 papers as well, so it does easy the blow at little), i've layered it up on pearlescent silver card (i hope it shows up) to finish off i've used a snowflake charm (that i bought at the NEC) and some lush Stampin Up ribbon (that i think i may buy a reel of now, as i only have a metre of it, as i bought it in ribbon share).

Right onto todays Card and Challenges

Valentines Monthly Challenge - (my DT card ) where this months theme is 'Snow' and you have to use 1 Stampin Up product - i've used ribbon, sentiment and punches for sentiment

Stampavie and More - where Challenge No: 119 is 'Snow / Snowflakes'

Simon Say's Stamp - where Domi has come up with a Sketch

Top Tip Tuesday  - where Challenge No: 12 is  'Anything Goes'

Totally Papercrafts - where Challenge No: 45 is 'Xmas Punches'

The Crafty Pad - where Challenge No: 99 is 'Snowflakes'

Sew Many Challenges - where Challenge No: 34 is 'Snowflakes'
Docrafts - Snoflake Challenge Week No: 49

Image - Penny Black - 'Jolly Follies' transparent set

Papers - Basic Grey - 'Figgy Pudding'

Punched Surround and snowflakes on image - Martha Stewart - Snowflakes

Sentiment - Stampin Up - 'Best Yet'

Ribbon - Stampin Up

Distressed Image, Sentiment, Papers - Tim Holtz - 'Pumice Stone'

Metal Charm - from stash

I thought you would also like to see :

My 4 Paws and wet nose - 'Whisper' enjoying the snow (she wears the coat as she is 13 and has joint problems in her shoulders)

Thanks for looking, Luv Sam x

Wishing ........

Hi,

Firstly i would like to apologise for my lack of comments in the last week !!! only from last Wednesday till Sunday night i was in Yorkshire - fortunately we left then, as there was already 3 inches of snow from Saturday, but when we rung OH's dad he said he had another 3 fell Sunday night and 5 more last night making a total of 11 inches !!! (thinking of all those poor people up and down the country cut off by the snow at the moment and i hope you are keeping warm) anyway the main reason for going up to Yorkshire, was that we went to see 'Peter Kay' on thursday night at Sheffield Arena and he was absolutely SUPERB, if you haven't seen him and you get a chance go.

Also since Saturday lunch time i've been struggling with griping stomach pains and my OH got it Sunday - apparently we both have something called 'Stomach Flu' !!! and it's gripping now, while i'm typing this, so please excuse me, if i only stay long enough to upload my card.

I've gone for Monochromatic on todays card and to start with i wasn't sure until i remembered this cute little image and now i think it's good, it also gave me a chance to play with my new MS Snowflake punches !!!

Right on to todays Card and Challenges :

Allsorts  - where Challenge No: 80 is 'Monochrome'

Craft Your Passion  - where Challenge No: 34 is 'Monochrome'

Penny Black Saturday Friends - where Challenge No: 129 is 'Monochromatic Christmas'

The Sweet Stop Sketches - where they are up to Sketch 'SSS84'

Christmas Stampin' - where Challenge No: 72 is 'Anything Goes'

Crafty Catz - where Challenge No: 60 is 'Christmas'

Crafty Sentiments - where Challenge No: 45 is 'Christmas'

Totally Gorjuss - where Challenge No: 58 is 'Oh Christmas Tree'

Docrafts - Snoflake Challenge No: 48

Image - Penny Black - 'Wishing .....'

I've put glossy accents on the baubles, but not sure if they show up in the photo !!

Papers - DCWV - 'The Christmas Stack'

Sentiment - Three Bugs In A Rug - 'Tis The Season'

Distressed Image and Sentiment - Tim Holtz - Shabby Shutters

Punched Edge - Martha Stewart - Snowflakes

Ribbon - Stampin Up

Thanks for looking, Luv Sam x

Birthday Balloons

Hi,

Aah todays card - firstly my lovely friend Kay who goes under the name of Incy on Docrafts and whom i was fortunate enough to meet, when we holidayed in Somerset earlier this year - set a challenge a PB challenge on Docrafts - which was to make a card using circles !!!, so i decided to play with me new Go Kreate Large Frames (that you can buy from Samuel Taylor - no relation just a happy customer, they are also designed and made in the UK, which makes a change), that i bought at the NEC and made a circle easel card.

Right onto todays Card and Challenges :

Papertake Weekly - where this weeks Challenge is 'Cut It Out'

Crazy 4 Challenges  - where Challenge Crazy4Challenges C4C64 is 'Circles'

Marks Finest Papers - where Speedy The Cat's Friends Challenge No: 30 is 'Have A Circle On Your Card'

Everybody Art Challenge - where Challenge No: 118 is 'Use Shapes'

Image - Penny Black - 'Birthday Balloons'

Sentiment - Penny Black - '. ...... to you'

Papers - Wild Rose Studio - 'Polka Dots'

Card cut with - Go Kreate - 'Large Frames / Plain Circles'

Distressed Ink - Tim Holtz - 'Shabby Shutters'

Thanks for looking, Luv Sam x

Toadily Yours

Hi,

Brr it's cold outside and inside (if like me at the moment - no heating on, as i'm the only one home !!) - but it could get even colder by the weekend, if like they say and the snow comes !! - well i'd rather it come now then December like last year - otherwise we won't be able to take son to see Santa !!

While i was walking Whisper yesterday in a huge field near to where i live a woman was running towards me with 2 brown labradors and it was only when she got closer to me and said Good Morning - i realised who it was !!! - none other than an ex olympic hurdles winner - Sally Gunnell, i know she lives near to my village, but didn't expect to quite meet her like that.

With todays card i've used a stamp that i bought about 18 months ago, but have only used it 2 or 3 times - why i don't know, as it really is quite a cutie !!, plus i needed another image to make another Mothers Day card for Joy at SOS (sending cards out to our troops) - i will be sending 10 in January and with this one is makes 7, so only 3 to go.

Right onto todays Card and Challenges :

Fab'n Funky - where Challenge No: 49 is 'Forget Me Not'

Crafty Emma - where Challenge No: 13 is 'Lovely Lace'

Wags n' Whiskars - where Challenge No: 40 is 'Lavendar and Lace'

A Spoonful Of Sugar - where Challenge No: 131 is 'Anything Goes'

Penny Black Saturday Friends - where Challenge No: 128 is a 'Sketch by Pauline'

The Shabby Tea Rooms - where Challenge No; 37 is 'Pick A Cause' - mine is SOS for mothers day, the UK equivillant to 'Operation Write Home'

Image - Penny Black - 'Toadily Yours'

Papers - DCWV - 'Floral Prints' - have used papers to make flowers too

Lace - won in a blog candy

Flowers - Tim Holtz - 'Tattered Florals'

Sentiment - Inkadinkadoo - 'Happy Everything'

Distressed Ink - Tim Holtz - 'Milled Lavendar'

Gems from stash

Thanks for looking, Luv Sam x

Water Lily Skiing

Hi,

Aaah favourite things !!! - where do i start and i'm sure if i put on everything that i liked my card would be 12x12 in size !!!, so instead i had to compromise and settle on just a few things, and i hope you like what i have chosen ? maybe some of my favourites are also yours ? - these are a PB image, Basic Grey papers, gems, Wild Orchid Crafts flowers (so wish i had ordered them sooner), Nesties, MS punches, Tim Holtz distressing inks  - -  - -

I also used Vellum on this project, which i don't use very often, but i loved the effect it gave with both the embossing of it and stamping on it for the sentiment - so watch out for more vellum on my projects !!!

Ok anybody else having major problems with Google, so will have to wait till OH gets in to upload the other challenge, as it won't let me get into my bookmarks - why don't they just leave things alone ????

Right onto the Card and Challenges :

Allsorts Challenge - where Challenge No: 78 is a fabby sketch - that i have flipped over, to accommodate the butterfly !!, i hope that's ok

Basic Grey Challenges  - where Challenge No: 33 is 'Wings'

Papersundae - where Challenge No: 44 is 'Pick Your Sundae Topping' - you have to pick at least 2 out of blue, embossing, punching and ribbon - I chose Embossing (D'vine Swirls on Vellum) and Punching (MS punched edge - Doily Lace)

Penny Black Saturday Friends - where Challenge No: 127 is 'All My Favourite Things'

One Stitch At A Time - where Challenge No: 39 is 'Your Favourite Colour' - mine is purple

Wags N Whiskers - where Challenge No: 39 is 'Acetate, Vellum or Tissue' - I went for vellum - embossed it and stamped greeting on it.

Image - Penny Black - 'Water Lily Skiing'

Papers - Basic Grey - 'Wisteria'

Sentiment (stamped onto vellum ) - Stampin Up - 'Best Yet'

Embossed Vellum - Cuttlebug Folder - 'D'vine Swirl'

Distressed - Tim Holtz - 'Milled Lavender'

Flowers - Wild Orchid Crafts

Punched Edge - Martha Stewart - 'Doily Lace'

Gems  from my stash

Thanks for looking, Luv Sam x

Gone Fishing

Hi,

A man's card i hear you groan - well when i saw this i went yipee as it gave me a chance to play with my new MS punch ( i used this in a class with Jackie Huckstepp at The Glitter Pot, a while ago and loved it so much, wanted to buy it there and then but it was £30 for the border and corner punch / as they were sold seperately, then i found Oyster Stamps / no relation just a happy customer doing it for £19.50, so i snapped it up before it sold out !!!), my new LOTV image, my new charm and chain, mind you my card nearly didn't end up having any ribbon on it, as Whisper (the dog) decided to scrag my bag of ribbons, as i had been annoying her with a piece of ribbon - she decided she did not want to play with ribbon like a CAT !!!, serves me right i guess :-) !!!

Right on to the Card and Challenges :

Lili Of The Valley - where Challenge No: 73 is 'Anything Goes'

Simon Say's Stamp - where this weeks Challenge is 'Prince Charming' - make a mans card and add a charm

Pixie Dust Studio  - where Challenge No: 48 is 'All About The Men / Boys In Our Lives'

Sweet Sketch Wednesday - where the lovely ladies have come up with another fabby sketch for Challenge
 No: 75

Crafty Creations - where Challenge No: 93 is 'To Add Buttons

Image - Lili Of The Valley

Papers - Dovecraft - 'Masculine'

Punched Edge - MS - 'Modern Garland'

Distressed Image with - Tim Holtz - Broken China & Tumbled Glass

Buttons, Charm, Chain and Ribbon - from my stash

Thanks for looking, Luv Sam x

Roses

Hi,

This is a rather long post - as it also includes photos of my goodies i bought at the NEC !!!

Why is it sometimes you see a sketch and the DT's take on a sketch and think 'Wow' that looks good, i'm make a card using it - now i know why some people are in DT teams for these challenges and i'm not !!!, as this card nearly ended up in the bin at least 3 times !!!, so in future if i see a sketch that is really for a scrapbook page - then i will leave well alone !!!, as it is i had to make an  8 x 8 card to fit all the elements in, oh well i guess that's what Challenges are all about.

This card by the way is being sent to Joy at SOS, for our troops to send back home for Mothers Day.

Right onto the Card and Challenges :

Cuttlebug Spot - are taking part in a blog hop this weekend and the idea is you go along picking up bits of each blogs to make a card / scrapbook page - Cuttlebug want you to emboss /show texture - i've used 'Roses' CB folder

Sassy Lil Sketches - this is the bit i found the hardest incorporating everying from this fabby Sketch

Scrapfit - use 3 of something - I've chosen 3 roses, 3 different coloured card for sentiment and embossed section

Crop Suey  - where they want you to use ink, paint, mist or all 3 - i chose Twinkling H20's paints and Tim Holtz Distressing Inks

Scrap Tiffany - want you to add some lace - mine was won in Helens blog candy.

The other challenges i'm entering that are not in the blog hop are :

My Time To Craft - where Challenge No: 114 is 'Rapsody Of Roses'

Images - Penny Black - 'Hugs'  & 'Critter Party' both from Transparent Sets

Papers - Papermania - 'Rose Garden'

Embossed Section - Cuttlebug Folder - 'Roses'

Leaves - Sizzix - 'Flowers, Branches & Leaves'

Tags - Stampin Up - 'Punch Jewelry Tag'

Stamped Letter on Tags - EK Success - 'Image Tree - Antique Alphabet'

Distressed Lace, Edges, Images, Tags - Tim Holtz - 'Spun Sugar'

Right as promised photos of my goodies from the NEC :

The only thing I was disappointed not to get was the new LOTV sentiment stamps, as they had sold out by Saturday and as i refuse to pay postage, as their address is only 20 mins for Father In Laws house - i guess i will be looking for some other ones !!, mind you they aren't the only ones Craftwork Cards are 5 mins from Father In Laws house also and again you have to pay postage !!!

Thanks for looking, Luv Sam x

Merry Merry Xmas

Hi,

And a good dry morning to you all - i seem to be jinxed this week, everytime son has gone into nursery it has rained and i've got soaked taking Whisper (the dog) out !!!

As a few of you have asked i will photo my goodies i bought at the NEC hopefully tomorrow and upload them over the weekend for you to view.

Right onto today's Card and Challenges :

Sweet Stop Sketches - where they are up to Sketch 'SSS81'

Crafty Cardmakers  - where the Challenge is 'Spotlight On Dry Embossing'

One Stop Craft Challenge - where they are up to Challenge No: 105 'Embossing'

A Spoonful Of Sugar  - where Challenge No: 129 is 'Snow or Snowflakes'

Stampavie and More  - where Challenge No: 116 is 'Use A Tag In Your Project'

Papersundaes - where Challenge No: 43 is 'Let It Snow'

Penny Black Saturday Friends - where Challenge No: 126 is 'Let It Snow'

Anything Goes  - where Challenge No: 24 is 'Embossing'

Docrafts - Snoflake Challenge No: 46

Penny Black At Allsorts - where their Challenge is 'It's Begining To Look A Lot Like Christmas' - I wasn't going to enter this challenge as well, as i felt i was being greedy as i had already entered the challenge twice, but the lovely Brenda left me a comment.

Image - Penny Black - 'Merry Merry Xmas'

DP - Dovecraft - 'Let It Snow'

Embossed on Pearlescent Blue Paper and highlighted with distress ink - Cuttlebug - Both Snowflakes

Sentiment / Tag - Stamps Away - 'Traditional Christmas Tag-Its'

Distress Ink - Tim Holtz - Tumbled Glass

Ribbon and Star Brad - from stash

Thanks for looking, Luv Sam x

Bee Costume

Hi,

Well i made it to Birmingham and back in one piece just (well via a services where we had to call out the RAC, but that's another story) !!! - the trip was great, it would have been brilliant but i gained a runny nose, sore throat and blocked sinuses on Friday evening !!!, so most of the time i didn't know what planet i was on !!

I went with a list of 15 items and only managed to find 6 of them !!!  I told myself before i went i was not going to buy anymore PB stamps and i came home with 4 wooden ones (well they were 4 for the price of 3) and a transparent sentiment set that were reduced.

Right onto todays Card and Challenges :

Crafty Catz - where Challenge No: 57 is 'Spots and Stripes'

Taylored Expressions - Sketch Challenge No: 133

Just Cute Bears and Friends - where Challenge No: 39 is 'Black, White and 1 Other Colour' - I went for yellow

Fairy Fun Friday - where Challenge No: 39 is 'Make Your Own Flowers'

Crazy Challenge - where Challenge No: 40 is 'Things With Wings'

Image - Penny Black - 'Bee Costume'

Distressed Image and Flowers with - Tim Holtz - 'Scattered Straw'

Papers - Doodlebug - 'Beetle Black Boutique Assortment'

Punched Edge - Martha Stewart - 'Doily Lace' - I have a love / hate relationship with this punch as 90% of the time, it will not go through bazzill card, but it did today - shock horror !!

Punched Flowers - Stampin Up

Gems - Doodlebug

Ribbon from stash

Thanks for looking, Luv Sam x

Cool Company

Hi,

Well this will be my last posting until at least Tuesday - as tomorrow we are driving up to Birmingham and on Saturday we are going to the NEC craft show - so all those lovely people that have been there today and tomorrow, please leave some nice things for those of us going on Saturday, please :),  - i'm sure there will be, otherwise i'll be coming home with money in my pocket, now that would be a novelty !!!

I have never done an all white card, but i enjoyed doing this one so much, that i will definetly do it again, especially for Christmas.

Right onto todays Card and Challenges i'm entering :

ABC Christmas Challenge - where they are up to 'W for Wonderland' with an added option of white

Simon Say's Stamp - where this weeks Challenge is 'Are You All White ??'

ABC Challenge  - where they are up to 'G for Glitter'

Craft Your Days Away - where they are up to Challenge No: 7 - 'All White'

Critter Challenge - where they are up to Challenge No: 38  'Christmas ----- Anything Christmas'

Penny Black At Allsorts where Novembers Challenge is 'It's Begining To Look A Lot Like Christmas'

Docrafts - Snoflake Challenge Week No: 45

Image - Penny Black - 'Cool Company'

Sentiment - Penny Black - 'Each Friend' - both are covered in Stampin Up - Heat & Stick powder, then Dazzling Diamonds

Embossed Pearlescent White Card (but not sure if it shows up very well) - Cuttlebug - Both are called Snowflakes

Punched Edge cut on glitter card - Martha Stewart - 'Icicles'

Pearls - from stash

Thanks for looking, Luv Sam x