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

Xmas Crafts

Hi,

Oh i do hate the clocks going back as it feels like i spend my life walking the dog !! (oh well it's good exercise for me, even though i never seem to loose weight !!) - as i try to walk her in the daylight, so my OH doesn't have to walk her in the dark, when he gets home from work !!

Oh well i won't have to do it at all this weekend, as i'm off to Birmingham Friday morning - if we get there early enough we are going over in the afternoon, if not then it will be first thing Saturday morning, yipee i'm looking forward to it, a weekend away in a nice hotel (we are staying at The Ramada, near to the NEC) with an indoor swimming pool and crafting - what more could a girl want !!!

Right onto todays Card and Challenges I've entered are :

Sketch and Stash - where Challenge No: 47 has been designed by Sue - i have rotated it 90 degrees to fit the image

Allsorts Challenge  - where Challenge No: 76 is 'Gold, Cream and a hint of Red'

Top Tip Tuesday - where Challenge No: 8 is 'Christmas Inspired'

Totally Papercrafts - where Challenge No: 40  'Bling It On'

Docrafts Snoflake Challenge Week No: 44

I've also decided to enter it into - due to Brenda and Julie :

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

Image - Penny Black - 'Xmas Crafts' - have added gold stickles glue to snowflake and pieces of snowflake

Sentiment - Penny Black - 'Crystalline'

Punched Corners - Martha Stewart - Photo Punched Corner

DP - Crafts House - 'Plum Pudding'

Snowflakes - Nestabilities - 'Make A Snowflake' - covered in Stampin Up - Heat & Stick Powder, then Dazzling Diamonds

Embossed Card - Cuttlebug Folder - 'Snowflakes'

Thanks for looking, Luv Sam x

For You _ _ _ _

Hi,

Ok for this card i'm officially a 'Muppet' as i entered into a challenge and hadn't read the rules properly - so rightly i was withdrawn !!, i know it serves me right, well this time hopefully i have got it right !!!

I've made this card for SOS to send out to our troops in Afghanistan, so they can send them back for their Mums on Mothers Day, so it was for a worth while cause - decorating the inside of another card.

My Card and the Challenges, I'm entering are :

Basic Grey Challenges  - where Heather has come up with a great sketch for Challenge No: 32

Caardvarks Challenge  - where the Challenge is to decorate the card inside and out

Simon Say's Challenge - where this weeks Challenge is 'Punch Em'

Image - Penny Black - 'For You _ _ _ '

Sentiment and Flowers - Penny Black - 'Sentiments' from a Transparent Set

Papers - Basic Grey - 'Origins'

Punched Edge - Martha Stewart - 'Floral Lace'

Flowers - Wild Orchid Crafts

I've distressed the edges with - Tim Holtz - 'Shabby Shutter'

and stamped the flowers in - Tim Holtz - 'Scattered Straw'

Thanks for looking, Luv Sam x

Poppies

Hi,

Well as today is the 1st of November, then i had better present my new DT card for Valentines Monthly Challenge

Todays card is using a fabby little stamp that i've had for a while and it's only the 2nd time i've used it - the papers i've used were free in a magazine and they so fit this image perfectly.

The Card and the Challenges i'm entering are :

Valentines Monthly Challenge - where this months title is 'Poppies' - at least 1 Stampin Up product must be used - i've gone for punch and ribbon

Just Cute Bears and Friends - where Challenge No: 38 is a fabby sketch

Everybody Art Challenge - where Challenge No: 114 is a 'Photo Inspiration Challenge'

Creative Card Crew - where this weeks Challenge is 'Let's Punch It'

Image - Penny Black - 'Poppy Fields'

Papers - free from a magazine

Poppies - Wild Orchid Crafts

Punched Edge and Ribbon - Stampin Up

Thanks for looking, Luv Sam x