Pollycrafts Blog Candy - A Little Sherbert

The wonderful Paula over at Pollycraft has some lovely Blog Candy Sherbert up for grabs, go take a look as its too good to miss. Some seriously gorgeous stamps are up for grabs up until Sunday 2nd February.

New Stamps/Valentine Cards

Good morning ladies, well this is something a little bit different to me. Some wonderful papers and stamps available from my friend Jany. I had not seen these stamps before, but just adore these cute images, and what gorgeous bright and cheery papers. It certainly helped lift my mood, working with these! These stamps are by a company called The Angel Company.

So just to give you some background information the wonderful Jany has asked me along with the ladies below to do some dt work for her. I believe at present these stamps and papers are not readily available in the Uk and Jany wants to get as many people aware of them as possible. We will each be posting one card every Friday, hope you will enjoy the cards that we have come up with and that it may tempt you to try them for yourselves.

These wonderful and talented ladies are my DT companions. Please go over and take a look at their wonderful work, you are sure to be inspired by their creations.

Dianette: http://dianets7.wordpress.com/
Jill: http://jillscards.blogspot.com/
Linda: http://www.linda-wright.blogspot.com/
Mada: http://www.madarom.blogspot.com/
Karin: http://www.karinhoeve.blogspot.com/

So after all that waffle, here is my card for this week.

The image has been coloured using my copic markers and you can see glittered highlights to the flowers and scalloped border if you double click onto the image. The sentiment has been diamond glazed. I have used a selection of prima flowers with prima diamantes in the centres. The scallop is a fiskars punch with the martha stewart punch used along the bottom scallop.

Hope you love these papers and images as much as me. Hugs Linda x

VALENTINE CARDS FOR OUR VALENTINE SWAP

Over at the yahoo group that i belong to we have had a valentine mingle. These are the cards i made for my 3 swap partners.


These cards were all made using my cuttlebug embossing folder and one of the lovely Faith designs by my very talented friend Debbie.

As some of you will already be aware, i am trying to put together a collection of valentine cards for a friend, its proving much harder than i anticipated!! i don't really do valentine cards normally and the inspiration has completely run dry.

These next two cards were made using my cuttlebug dies and some heart confetti, very simple.

Another card using one of Sally-Anns gorgeous downloads. I adore this little ouse. The red background is embossed with the cuttlebug swiss dot folder, not obvious from this photo im afraid. I have to say this is one of my favourite cards.

These two cards have been made using downloads from the fabulous Pink Petticoat website. I love these papers and the text is also from the downloads.

The hearts have been die cut using my cuttlebug dies.

This card is again made using the pink petticoat papers and the cuttlebug dies and embossing folders. I have glazed the embossed hearts which is not clearly visible from this photo, sorry.

So ladies, i hope to be back over the weekend with the final batch of valentine cards, but wish me luck!! and send some inspiration my way if you have some spare!!

Finally i want to say a big thank you to everyone who left such lovely comments on my last post. I appreciate each and every one, and special thanks to two special ladies who emailed me with kind words and some more thoughts! I am looking to the future, and hope this time with my son will soon pass!!! certainly before my youngest son gets to his age!!! at which stage i could be going through all this again, not a happy thought, by hey, i should be an expert by then!

Again im amazed by such kindness and compassion that you have shown, so hugs to you all Linda x

SPECIAL CARDS FOR SPECIAL PEOPLE

It's Thursday again and the sun is out. All in all its turned out not to be a bad week. I have had several personal issues, that clouded the beginning of the week, but they seem to be lifting, or at least i hope so.

I have my beloved tumble dryer mended at last, and am managing to catch up with the mound of laundry that has built up over the last fortnight!! Now for those ladies who know me, you know how much i love housework!! well i have been busying myself with the dusting and hoovering and the house is looking half decent now, at least i wont have to answer the front door with my foot jammed in it to stop it opening further for people to view the mess!!!

Jasmine has suddenly felt better, which means she will be going back to school full time tomorrow.

I have made a start on the dreaded valentine cards!

Finally i am managing to catch up with my "To Do" list! i have managed to catch up a bit with some thank you's and some RAKs that im late in sending also im nearly finished with the stamping up of images for my swaps! So if you are waiting for some, they will be with you by the weekend!

So now you can see, im feeling pretty pleased with myself! How long it will last im not sure, but its good while it lasts!

Blogging has brought me in contact with some very special people. I wont name you, but you know who you are. These are cards that i made to send to some special friends for various reasons. I think im safe to post them as i know most have been received already. For those that havn't apologies.

The first three cards are using my favourite whiff of joy image. Im sure its hot chocolate and cream that is being enjoyed here!!

These two cards were made with papers from Doodlebug the gorgeous paper Potpourri papers. I have to say it was very hard cutting these papers up! but i did it! im very proud of myself!!!

Flocked papers and velvet ribbon, luxury itself!!

Here is another one of my favourite images, the wonderful Sugar Nellie designs! I made this card for a special someone too.

I just adore the Hanglar images and this one was sent to me by a special friend in a RAK thank you Karin. The papers are from one of the Basic Grey ranges, and the flower i brought from the florist wholesalers down the road.
This gorgeous hanglar image again was sent to me via a RAK. The gorgeous papers are from the Pink petticoat download site. I just adore the colours.


Then finally a card for the Card Swap challenge that was this week themed snow and ice. These gruffy bears are just the cutest!

So its off to the supermarket for me this morning, arrrghh!! hate the grocery shopping but i've left it too late to order it over the internet. I will treat myself to a nice cream bun, after all i will have deserved it!!!!

On a Serious Note

I want to say a big thank you to a few special friends as i have been having yet more personal problems this week with my eldest son. I have felt very isolated until i had some very comforting words yesterday and this morning from very caring and understanding friends. It was not easy talking about what has been happening, but i confided in three friends who have been very supportive to me over the last 6 months. Their response has been again of support and understanding and non-judgemental. I realize im not the only one going through what i've been going through, and as a result i am feeling far more optimistic for the future. You ladies know who you are and i will never be able to thank you enough.

I have not been blogging for that long, and i can honestly say its the best thing i've ever done. Apart from the ladies above, i have met so many generous, kind and thoughtful people to whom i am grateful for their friendship. I hope that i will always stay in contact with them and build on these friendships in the year ahead. I've recently been reminded that it is important to tell those we care about just that, life is too short and its important we let people know how special they are. So i want to take the opportunity to say to all my blogging friends, just how special you are to me. Each and every one of your comments brightens my day. So thank you!

Well enough of that sloppy stuff, i must get on, i hope you all have a wonderful day, speak soon. Hugs Linda x

Another award

This award was passed onto me by the lovely Tracey, thank you hunny. I have to link her to my blog and then list five things im addicted to.


So ladies here goes



1. Blogging

2. My children, bearded dragons, chickens and husband

3. My internet friends

4. My crafting

5. Hot chocolate and whipped cream, marshmallows and chocolate sprinkles optional!



I now have to pass it on to 5 others, so here goes

1. Karin
2. Amanda
3. Carol
4. Jo
5. Tracey

Sorry ladies!

PINK PETTICOAT HOPPY WISHES

Due to my recent move from craft room to craft space in the conservatory, i have had to downsize my crafting stash. As a result i have decided to invest in some downloads. I adore the downloads by pink petticoat, Grab a Doodle and also Pollycraft.

Isn't this frog a cutey? and he has a delicious cupcake to tempt those of you with a sweet tooth!

And this adorable bear, is perfect for a thank you card. Made this for a special someone, who should have received it by now

This award was passed on to me by my lovely friends Heather and Marcea. Please go take a look at their blogs as they are both lovely. Thank you Heather for all your kind words you are such a sweetie and Marcea for being a great friend.

This award was passed onto me by the lovely Michele thank you so much hun.

The rules to accepting my award are as follows:

A) first list 10 honest things about yourself - and make it interesting, even if you have to dig deep!

B) Pass the award on to 7 bloggers that you feel embody the spirit of the Honest Scrap.

Okay...so the 10 HONEST things about me are

1. I generally have an easy going nature, but become someone different behind the wheel of my car.

2. Im a huge Westlife fan, yes, i know, im old enough to be their mothers, but i can help it!

3. I love my children and husband more than life itself.

4. I have a truly addictive nature, can't you tell from my craft space?!

5. My favourite tipple is coke!!! afraid so, nothing exciting there!

6. I can't eat any desert without a generous helping of fresh cream!

7. I can not wait to be a grandparent!

8. Blogging has been a life line to me, seriously, i don't know how i would have got through last year without my internet friends, thank you to each and every one of you.

9. I am a living nightmare every fourth week of the month!

10. Im a fast food junkie!

So ladies a few facts on me. So now im going to pass this onto these lovelies.

1. Jill

2. Maria

3. Emma

4. Joanne

5. Cheryl

6. Sally-Ann

7. Debbie

I've also been tagged by Louise and the lovely Donna .

The instructions are to go to where you keep your photo's on your PC, choose the 6th folder, then the 6th picture.....post on your blog and explain.
So, this picture was taken about six months ago, at home when we first got my new babies. Meet Snowball and Sandy, my adorable bearded dragons. It's not a very good photo but i was following the rules of the photo tag, sorry ladies!

Ok, I have to pass this on to four people. Its hard to find someone who hasn't already been tagged, so im passing this on to

1. Simone

2. Anita

3 Tracey

4. Tina

So i think thats me done for now. I apologise if i have missed any awards, its taken me a while to pick these up.

Hugs Linda x

B-Day, X-mas card Challenge Week 16 and a Bonus Prize

Good morning and welcome to another week at the JCBC challenge. This weeks sketch is by our lovely talented Mada. It has been an absolute Joy to work with, thank you Mada.

The birthday cards I made this week is using one of the fabulous pink petticoat downloads. I have coloured it in using my SU brush markers, and hightlighted the flower on hippos bum with diamond glaze. " Does my bum look big in this?" how many times have i asked my OH that question????!!! far too many to keep count. If my bum looked as cute as this i wouldn't care about the size of it!

My christmas card is using an image that was sent to me via a RAK unfortunately i can not remember who sent the RAK so sorry! I've coloured in the image using my pro-markers and the papers are from a DCWV stack i believe. The sentiment is from craftwork cards and the brads are from Elements by American Crafts. I have about 10 christmas cards done now, at this rate ill be done before June, great, as i will be sick of them by then!

So why don't you give it a go this week and follow this fab sketch with the chance of winning another fabulous prize!

The Dt and myself all enjoy visiting your blogs and seeing your wonderful creations.

As a bonus this week for everyone who enters the challenge you will be put into a draw and the winner hand picked by my daughter will receive a wallet folder containing some stamped up images of the new "Smirk" images available from Trimcraft. A gift from me to you.

This is the prize on offer to this weeks winner.

So i've been trying to build up a stock of cards so im ready for birthdays this year, this is a card using my favourite Melianda image.

Another card using a fabulous image by Rubber Romance. I adore this up to date images, very girly and fabulous for those special friends.

Some of you will know that i've been struggling to come up with valentine cards, well you'll be pleased to know, im still struggling, i just can't get myself motivated, and the MOJO has completely run dry.

With alot of sitting, and staring into space, these are a few cards that i scraped together. I adore this cute stamp that came free in one of the monthly magazines, newton bear is adorable, dont you think? i paper pieced the heart, what do you think?

This is another one of the fabulous Sall-Anns downloads. I adore this cute dog, where can i get one of these??!

Yes, i know, i have already broken my new years resolution to buy no crafting stash, but then you all knew i would anyway. Im still working on my other new years resolution though, to get organized. Its a slow process but i think im making progress!!

So this new Smirk range, is quite cute dont you think? and so reasonably priced. Wooden backed stamps at 99p each, i couldn't not buy a couple could i, after all it would be rude not to at that price!! i brought a pack of papers too but i was a bit disappointed in them as they are quite busy, will need to think how to use them best. My hair looks like this in the mornings, and i love a bath, but there is no way you could get someone else in the bath with me these days!

Will be back mid week with more of these cute smirk designs, so as they say "watch this space!"

So thats it from me for today, hope you have a good week ahead. Hugs for now Linda x

Crafty Pad Wk 6 - Mixed Media and More Quickies

Well another week has passed, it is almost the end of January, where does the time go? I keep telling myself get organized! and yes, i am more organized than i have been in the past, but there is still room for improvement. I so need to utilize my time better, if anyone has any suggestions please pass them on.

So with another week gone, it is time for our Crafty Pad Challenge number 5. This week is entitled "mixed media" . As some of you will already know i have struggled with this one. Im completely out of my comfort zone, but here is my first ever attempt at mixed media. I hope i've got it right, as i wasn't even sure what "mixed media" actually meant, so had to ask my good friend Maria to spill the beans!


So the papers are basic grey, I decided to use as many different textures as i could, hence the lace, crocheted flowers, metal flowers and beads, topped off with some scrabble effect tiles. The ribbon lacing is to symbolize friends joined together. I achieved the mirror effect by stamping onto acetate, and paper piecing the dress. Hope you will give your comments as to whether i got this right or not, im open to criticism so don't be shy!

This week we have this fab prize up for grabs, so to be in with a chance to win, you have to enter. We are looking forward to seeing what you all come up with ladies! So post your card on your blog and leave a link on the Crafty Pad challenge blog so we can come and take a look. Its as simple as that, so what are you waiting for? If you don't already have one of the fabulous "Faith" stamps go over to Debbies and place an order. You certainly wont be disappointed!

QUICKIES - FOR THE MEN IN OUR LIVES

This week i had my dads birthday so had to make him a card i decided that i needed to make some more mens or male cards as im always putting it off. I have taken a suggestion from one of my friends on the papercraft Planet site and to make a batch of cards the same. Well i havn't mad the cards the same but i thought it might be quicker to make cards up using the same stack of paper. This certainly did work and here are what i came up with.

This card i made for my dad - happy birthday Dad - love Linda x

Another card using one of those fabulous downloads by the ever talented Sally-Ann.

Edwin looking as cute as always, and the sentiment has been fitting for each and every one of my lovely sons!

A phase that again each of my sons went through - skateboarding. We have the scars to prove it!

Not convinced this would appeal to many boys, but would be suitable for the man in your life that reads the newspaper i suppose! Maybe not, maybe its more of a girly card!

Just because i adore this cute alota stamp sent to me by the lovely Gina from Kraft Cabin. Aren't those wellingtons looking adorable??!

Another adorable alota image, these little boys look so angelic!! its hard to believe my boys did once look like this!!

And doesn't every little boy want to be a pirate, so they can go rounding fighting!!

So thats a bunch of quickies, im definately going to make another batch up like this, but next time it will be the girls turn.

I would like to thank everyone that comes to visit my humble blog. I am sure i have more awards to collect, i will try and get round to doing that this week. Here is one of many i have to collect. This award was passed onto me by the lovely Ilona, and then Jo thankyou ladies i really do appreciate you thinking of me. If you havn't visited Ilonas and Joeys blogs before please go and take a look as they have so many fabulous projects on them.

I always find having to pass these awards on a very hard job, so im leaving this here for anyone who doesn't already have it to pick up. Im sorry if its breaking the rules, its probably the worst rule i've broken in a long time!

So moving on, I dont know if i have mentioned before but my daughter Jasmine is also interested in crafting and this is the latest card she has made whilst sitting with me this week. I think she has done a marvellous job don't you?

Well it would appear this has turned out to be a rather long post, i apologise, and hope you're not all asleep.

Its still blowing a gale outside and tipping down with rain. I am not going to venture out, other than put my beloved chickens to bed later this evening! Hope you have all had a lovely weekend, and will look forward to catching up with you all again soon.

Hugs to you for now Linda x

blog candy

The ever talented Mina has this gorgeous blog candy up for grabs go take a look at her blog you are sure to find plenty to inspire you there.

Special Wishes

Another miserable day, this morning when i went out it was raining, cold and windy, a totally depressing day!!! i didn't think it could possibly get worse, but low and behold, it can and it did!its snowing now too, as well as raining!! Now as you know i all love snow, but there is little chance of it settling with the rain accompanying it! how typical is that!!! My poor chickens didn't think much to it either and have gone into their coup already and clucking away (do chickens cluck?). I know how they feel!!

Just had a phone call from my OH telling me i have to run my son down to the garage as his car is ready to be collected. Again typical, as i had no intentions of braving the weather again!! Hopefully because its so miserable out, there wont be many people about and the roads will be clear!

Jasmine is still poorly, i was up most of the night as she had a fever, and couldn't get warm. She finally fell asleep at 4.00am!!! by which time i was wide awake and couldn't get back to sleep. So by 5.00am i was downstairs with my best friend mr pc. I managed to get my DT cards done and posted on my blog ready for Sunday, and Monday, how impressive is that?!?

One of my lovely friends had a bereavement last week, and i made this card for her. I am sure she would have received it by now so am safe to post it. The flower which tilda is sitting in, was cut from a piece of large lace. I have had it sitting in my stash for a while and had no idea what i was going to do with it, then when the flower became obvious, i decided to cut it out. Hope you think it works well. I have highlighted with some stickles. Hope my friend liked it.

This is another variation on the same idea, only this is a prima flower i believe.

Then finally a card using one of the gorgeous hanglar images that was sent to me by my lovely friend Karin in a RAK. Thank you hunny.

So these are cards that i made earlier this week. I have a few more to post which i will probably get round to doing tomorrow.

So my lovelies, hope you have a great afternoon, see you all over the weekend. Hugs Linda x

Quick Cards

Thursday already, and another weekend looming! I have my daughter Jasmine off school today with a sore throat and soaring temperature. Rang the school this morning and was told there were several children flagging yesterday afternoon, and she suspected that there was some bug brewing! i thought that cold weather would have killed all those nasty bugs off, but obviously not.

You wont be surprised to hear that I havn't done my DT cards yet for Sunday, but i have made some quick cards to show you. I have to make a batch of valentine cards too, so thats my next project.

I thought this card might be appropriate for valentines, what do you think? I love this Melinda image, how adorable is she??


This is another one of my favourite images, but this time its Sarah Kay. It reminds me of my childhood, all these country looking characters!

Have been desperately needing some boys cards so thought i would concentrate on that. These are what i've come up with. Edwin looks very trendy here with his spikey hair, not unfamiliar to my youngest son Ben!

Love these High Hope Dragons and i have actually got round to using my stampin up scalloped punch!

Then lastly another cute little Edwin fishing! isn't he so adorable? doesn't look like he's having much luck though maybe he needs to change his bait.

Now ive recently taken to using downloads. Not only are they extremely well priced, but you don't have to have space to store them!!! with my recent move it seems the ideal solution I love this gorgeous hippos from the Pink Petticoat site.

You can't really see it very clearly but the heart has been glazed. Again my camera is useless!

and finally one of my favourite images! much more grown up and i want a suit like that!

So thats it from me again. Enjoy your evening ladies and hope you are finding plenty of time to craft. Hugs Linda x