Challenge Cards Again oh yes and Rain Again Too!!!

The last of my challenge cards you'll be pleased to hear, im now working on something a little different for me, back with them later on this week hopefully. This is the first week ive managed to get so many challenges done, i am rather pleased with myself. Alot of the cards are very simply done, but im loving this more simplistic look at the moment.

Hope you all had a fabulous weekend, and that you have some nice things planned for the week, hope to do some more blog hoping later in the week.

So onto the challenges.

Stamp with Us - Sketch Challenge

I love the sketch challenges particularly as it takes the thinking out of my crafting when my MOJO is lacking. I have used this fabulous sentiment stamp that i so love. Papers are HOTP and the flowers are little sequins, i believe its the last of them now, finally !

Mo-s Digital Challenge No 20

Don't you just adore Mo's fabulous images? i love this one so romantic for the older friends/relatives in your life. I have used some more HOTP papers and also my water colours for a subtle effect.

This week at Mo's Challenge blog there is a fabulous sketch to work with.

Create4fun Challenge Week 09 and a Sketch

What a wonderful sketch this week, such fun to use. Again using one of those die cut images, im determined to get them used up and thoe last of my doodlebug pink papers from this set!

Its stopped raining and the sun is out, not sure how long for, but its looking good so far, fingers crossed it stays like it, the ground needs time to dry up a little.

Hope you all have a wonderful week, back tomorrow with the CCC challenge and our birthday celebrations, be sure to join us this week.

Hugs Linda x

More Challenges

Happy Sunday morning, im really trying hard with my crafting at the moment, but as my MOJO is at an all time low, i have decided to do more challenges to try and get me inspired. Made these this morning, and so pleased with myself as im using up all those scrap of papers and ready coloured images too!

So here are the challenges ive managed to enter today.

Christmas Stampin All Year Long

This weeks theme is lets see some pink!

Using some doodlebug papers ive had in my stash for a long time, and been saving for a special occasion, finally decided to cut it up, aren't they gorgeous? Loving this cute Gillian Roberts image and coloured with my pro-markers.

Really wanted to take part in this challenge as i so need to be on top of my christmas cards for this year. No last minute panic like last year, what about you? Those who know me, know my favourite colour is pink, so this was a pleasure to do. Go check out the challenge blog here for some fabulous inspiration by the DT members.

Scrap Pile Challenge

Week 1 at Stampin Inspirations

The lovely Maria has a challenge to use up all your scraps of paper that you have hoarded somewhere. I am sure you all have piles of the stuff tucked away safely somewhere.

The rules to this challenge are as follows:-

1. Other than your card base, the face of your card MUST be created using ONLY designer paper and card stock from your scrap pile. Do not cut up any new card stock or designer paper.

2. Embellishments added to your card MUST be from "opened" packages. Do not open up a new package or roll of ribbon, brads, buttons, etc.

This is the sketch to use for this weeks challenge.

Friday Sketchers
Another great sketch from Friday Sketchers, an absolute j0y to work with. Have used up some HOTP papers ive had for years. An image from the Joanna Sheen woodland critters coloured with pro markers and the background shaded with my distress pad. The sentiment from stash and the sentiment frame die is one of the spellbinders shapeabilities.

Sketch Saturday

Decided to use one of my die cut toppers again for this weeks sketch saturday challenge. These die cut sheets are just perfect for quickie cards. Using more of the doodlebug papers and a sentiment from my stash.

Penny Black Sketch Saturday

and

One Stop Craft Challenge -Optimistically Pink

Have had this cute little mouse image coloured for some time, so was thrilled to finally get to use it. Finishing the last of my doodlebug papers and enjoying this weeks sketch at Penny Black Sketch Saturday! and combining it with One Stops Craft Challenge this week titled Optimistically Pink. pink as you know is my favourite colour!

Well you wont be surprised to hear that its raining here still. I am not planning anything outside, even the dog is unlikely to get a walk, unless hubby decides to brave it. Me, im staying tucked up indoors, i have a post to schedule for tuesday and then some dvd's.

Hope you all have a fabulous sunday, big hugs Linda x

More Challenges

Good evening, its Friday and the weekend is ahead. I have managed to get quite a few challenge cards done today. Only my DT cards to do now, so will have a much less stressed weekend. So many gorgeous sketches this week, and im trying to use up some stash that ive had sitting around for ages.

So here we go:-

Moving Along With the Times # 35 Babies and Children

What a gorgeous sketch this week, i will be using this one again for sure.

I just adore the Lili of the Valley stamps, this is one of my favourites, ive coloured it with my pro-markers and used my metallic rub ons round the edge. These gorgeous papers were send to me by a friend, they are just lush.

Using the martha stewart border punch and the flowers have brad centres that ive had in my stash for years. Im trying to use up all those tiny embelishments i thought i needed at the time!!!

Totally Papercrafts Week 5 - Sue's sketch

Great Sketch Sue, i just adored this sketch to work to.

Again using one of the ready coloured Lili of the Valley die cut images, and this is a very favourite one of mine.

Using the cuttlebug embossing folder for the script background panels.

Die cut flowers and martha stewart leaf punch. I am loving the cleaner lines of these cards!

Firdays Sketchers No 91

Another great sketch to work with, this time i am using a free download from docrafts for the wonderful Daisy and Dandelion bear.

My Time to Craft Challenge No 80 - In The Frame

"In the Frame" i have decorated my frame with some flower sequins with pearl centres and added one of the fabulous dandelion and daisy decoupage images. Tried to keep this card simple.

Sophisticat Challenge no23 - Embossing

This weeks challenge is to use some embossing, i have used one of my favourite cuttlebug embossing folders - the script, along with one of the fabulous Joanna Sheen critters!

Trying to build up my stock of male cards, i never find them easy!

Coloured using pro-markers and distressed the edges and sentiment.

Winter Wonderland Week 39 - Pascales Sketch

What a great sketch Pascale, will be using this one again. Once again image and papers from Lili of the Valley.

Enjoy your weekend, see you again Sunday, big hugs Linda x

Some Challenges

Friday again, and guess what? its raining!!!! My daughtter has some kind of sports tournament at school today, im keeping my fingers crossed they will cancel it in this weather. Certainly don't need her catching a cold. Some of the family are already suffering from some kind of stomach virus! touch wood im managing to bypass it at the moment.

Well have been busily joining in with some of the fabulous challenges this week, desperately trying to keep myself motivated with my crafting. Looking forward for some more crafting time over the weekend. We have nothing planned this week, other than Rocky Bears booster vaccinations.

Will be doing some serious blog hopping over the weekend, to see what you've all been up to. Sorry ive fallen behind again x


Sugar Bowl Challenge - Sketch from Kathy

What a great sketch to work with this week Kathy, thank you! Have used my distress inks and perfect pearls to creation the back ground to try and incorporate the shabby chic, not sure ive managed it?? A simple image only highlighted not actually coloured.

Distress stickles around the edge of the circle and highlighting the flower, with a diamante centre.

The sentiment was printed on my printer (before i ran out of ink!)

Cute Card Thursday Challenge - Ribbon-Tastic

Completely different to my last card. I love these easel cards and this is for my sons girlfriend Kelly, who is celebrating her 18th birthday today.

They are going away for a two night stay in a hotel in Chelmsford this afternoon, wish i was going, could do with a break myself!

These Lili of the Valley die cut images are invaluable for quick cards, im using them more and more these days, and i just adore this bunny and that delicious cupcake.

Sentiment printed on my computer, decorated with my new flower punches and some handmade flowers sent via a rak from my lovely friend Amy.

And finally a couple of cards for Donna's Cards for Men Challenge.

Cards for Men - Green

More of these Lili of the Valley Die cut images, using some distressing and some K & Co Papers.

Sentiments done on my PC

So thats it from me for today, back later maybe with some more challenge cards, fingers crossed!

Some Male Cards and its stopped Raining!!

Yey its Friday tomorrow and another weekend ahead. Looking forward to a restful weekend with some extra time to craft. As many of you know i have had a bad week, it hasn't improved any but im looking forward and trying to stay positive! Its finally stopped raining, for how long i dont know according to the weatherman we are in for a pretty lousy weekend weatherwise.

I am always struggling with male cards bit i have found these gruffy bears perfect , reminds me of my eldest boys, pizza and coke, their dream dinner! The papers are from basic grey the christmas figgy pudding pack i believe. It was the last couple of sheets i had left, so thats one pad done tons more to go.

Am also try to build up a stock of boys cards, basically as i have far more nephews than i do nieces!!! I love this Sally-Ann digi download, which comes ready coloured, perfect for a quick card. I have distressed the edges and used some of the papers from the Greeting Farm. Stars embossed and cut out using my nestabilities.

Another quickie using one of the fabulous Lili of the Valley die cut images. These are pefectly coloured and went with the gingham papers perfectly. That the last of the gingham too!

Well this is just a quickie post, have a 18th and 40th birthday card to make this afternoon. Trust me to leave it to the last minute again.

Have a wonderful afternoon, hugs Linda x

Quick Cards and Totally Fed Up !

What have you been up to this week? hard to do much at all with all this rain, it rained all day on Monday, had a break yesterday morning and has returned this morning with vengeance! I am sick of it, that along with other things going on in my life just now are leaving me feeling very sorry for myself indeed.

Wont bore you all with details, im sure you are sick of my moaning and groaning, and according to the book ive been reading, you make your own luck in life and positive thinking can change your life. Well that has just made me feel even more of a failure, i cant even change my own good fortune! What kind of failure does that make me???

Moving on, i have decided to sell off more of my crafting stash. I will be lisitng lots of house mouse, crafters companion, penny black, and miscellaneous stamps. Also selling some of my nestabilities, border punches, sizzix and brads, eyelets, etc. Need to motivate myself to sort through things but will at least start listing on Friday if not before, so pop back if your interested.

So firstly a card for a friend, loving the blue and brown combination, and the penny black stamp.

As you know ive been trying to use up some of my older papers, these papers were some papers from papermania. The image is another one of the bargain toppers i brought.

Have glossy accented the letters for extra dimension.

Another topper and those gorgeous gingham papers.

Anyone notice a colour theme going on here? love purple and mauve, these toppers are perfect!

A gorgeous image from the very talented Sally-Ann. I havn't used these nearly as much as i should!!

Well now ive bored you all to tears, off to try and make a card. Have a wonderful day, big hugs Linda x

A new Challenge Blog Opening on the 10th March

Just when you thought it was safe im back again! sorry about that. Just wanted to let you know about a new challenge blog starting on the 10th March. The lovely Becky who is one of my Creative Cottage Sisters has started up a new challenge blog. Us ladies on the DT will be using the fabulous downloads by our lovely Tracy to give you inspiration, but although it would be great if you could use some of the Creative Cottage downloads, it is not necessary to take part in our challenges.



To highlight the launch of our new Challenge Blog, we have some candy up for grabs. You could win all 4 of the fabulous digi download kits.

All you need to do to be in with a chance of winning these fabulous kits is

. Become a follower of this blog
. Leave a comment on this blog
. Spread the word about our new challenge blog and blog candy on your blog

Well ladies hope you will be joining us back later with a card! hugs Linda x

A Challenge Card and More

Good morning its Tuesday again and back to the school. Luckily for me my dear hubby took Jasmine this morning, as i didn't want to spend too much time away from the telly and the QVC craft day!!

I have already been naughty and ordered the Tim Holtz TSV. I have been on a tight budget, but just could not resist this fantastic buy. Will be stalking the postman for the rest of the week now, till he brings my longed for package!

Hope you all had a fabulous half term break. I did notice blog lad was a little quieter than usual. I myself had very little time to play. Am hoping to get back into the swing of things now, with maybe some inspiration from some of my favourite challenge blogs.

I found this Moving with the Times Challenge blog this morning and decided to make a card with it. Because i wanted to do something quickly i used a topper i already had. A naughty cheat i know, but i have so many toppers i brought in a sale that i really need to use them up! I have decided i need to have another clear out of my crafting stash, so will be selling off some more stamps and other bits and pieces, so watch this space !

Enough rambling from me and onto firstly the

Moving Along With the Times Challenge No 34 - A Sketch from Heidi

An image from a pack i brought from Create and Craft in their sale. Great for quick cards, and no colouring!! Papers from my box of Scraps i believe they were Joanna Sheens ginghams. I just love gingham!

A Card for a Special Friend, just because........

I've been trying to use up some scraps of paper and all those embelishments that are sitting in rows of jars on my shelving!


This script embossing folder is my favourite and one i use over and over, which is more than can be said for so many others!

Christmas Card

Using up the rest of my Basic Grey pad from before - ive used it all now, onto the next pad, but which one????!

I just adore the Lili of the Valley die cut images, they are just perfect for quick makes!

Back to QVC for an hour or so, have already walked the dog, but havn't started on the housework yet!

Enjoy your day, big hugs Linda x