Im Home and an Update

Happy Friday to you all. I can hardly believe how quickly this week has passed. I had a great time at Shepton Mallet, more so because i met with 3 of my lovely blogging friends, Shirley, Mandy and Cazzy. It was a pure pleasure to meet you girls and you are all just as fabulous in real life as you are here in blogland. Just wish I had been able to spend more time chatting to you all.

As you all know I was very anxious about my trip, but you were all right, I did have a fabulous time, despite being homesick and missing a milestone in my daughters growing up (those who have been in touch via email, know what im talking about). However, the break did make me appreciate my home life, and absence definitely made the heart grow fonder. I felt far more relaxed on my return home, and life is looking pretty good just now, despite our problems.

We stayed in a wonderful small hotel called Bawlish House. we were infact the only guests for 2 days. Now you all know what a scatter brain I am and despite taking my camera with me, I forgot to take it out of my bag!!! hence I only got one photo of my time away, and this was the first night in the hotels glorious dining room. I will upload it later. The food was delicious, and any hopes of me losing a few pounds while away were truly dashed when I saw the evening menu!!! so for four nights i had delicious meals prepared for me, which always taste better than those you cook for yourself, true?

I managed to control my spending too, with just a couple of new distress ink pads, and a new Sarah Kay stamp. Are you impressed? well don't be, because on my return, I ordered some more distress ink pads from Oyster Crafts, after being told they were only £3.00 each!!! cheaper than what i paid at the show!

Well I am afraid since being home i've been trying to catch up with my laundry and also spend time with the family. I have not managed any blog hopping or crafting. With the bank holiday weekend I hope to catch up with you all. Please forgive me for my lack of blogging this week hopefully normal practice will resume next week.

Before i went away my lovely friend Ruth celebrated her 50th birthday. I had a tea party for her, and as part of her present brought a rather large teacup and saucer, which i filled with flowers, thought i would show you.

This was the beginning of my set up for the tea party, i forgot to take any more photos - typical of me! but my friend Ruth took some, and i hope ill be able to get some copies to show you later.




I did have to warn Ruth not to put tea in her tea cup, as there is a huge hole at the bottom!!!!

QUICK CARDS
I did make a couple of cards before i went away, firstly this gorjuss girl card for my niece who is 16 today! Happy Birthday dear Zoe xxxx

It was also my brother-in-laws birthday last Saturday, I always struggle with men cards, lets hope he likes owls!!!

Well that's it from me for now, I will be back later with some more ramblings and hopefully some photos of my bluebell woods, now they are in full bloom!!!!

Enjoy your day, big hugs Linda x

Week 8 at the Creative Cottage Challenge - Circles

Its week 8 at the Creative Cottage Challenge and this week we want "Circles". So to incorporate them in my card, i have used a circle die cut for the main image, and paper printed with circles and my circles embossing cuttlebug folder. Not forgetting circle - flat backed pearls!

The image and papers are from the Creative Cottage download kit "Baby Ellie and Family". I have to say this is such a versatile kit, and I absolutely adore it!! have printed off these papers and images, time and time again already, since the release on the 23rd April.

I've used the papers to decorate inside the card too along with one of the pre-printed flowers. I am using up some scrap card given to me, which makes perfect C5 cards lengthwise, I just love these at the moment!

Have used my martha stewart valentine border punch highlighted with stickles, and the flowers have been run through my circle cuttlebug folder to give extra dimension, i am amazed how much better they look like this. Have added paper roses to the centre and of course the fern leaves. Ellie has been decoupaged, these images are perfectly suited for this technique!

Looking forward to seeing your wonderful creations and hope you will join us in this weeks challenge. Remember although it would be nice you dont have to use products from the Creative Cottage, and you can combine your card with other challenges. So what are you waiting for?

Back later with another card, fingers crossed! hugs Linda x

I love Ellie!

Just a quick post from me, again using one of the wonderful Ellie pre-coloured digi images from the Creative Cottage. I love these cuties. I have however used different papers this time, to show how you can use them with papers from the stash you already have! She is incredibly versatile!

The papers inside the card however are from the download kit, but because of the colour variations can be teamed with papers from your own stash!

Using my die cut nestabilities for the greeting panel.

And adding another Ellie inside the card, you can afford to do this as they cost next to nothing to print off.

Challenge 49 at the Creative Card Crew - April Showers

Good morning and can you believe its Challenge 49 at the Creative Card Crew Challenge. This week the lovely Linda has set the challenge - April Showers bring May Flowers and this week our Sponsor is Crafty Addicts.


This challenge had me thinking, and I wasn't quite sure what I was going to do. Whilst sorting through my piles of images, I came across this wonderful Whiff of Joy image, thought it was perfect for April Showers, but left me aghast as to how to incorporate the May Flowers.

Now, I really had to think about the flower side, and decided to stamp my own background using my distress inks (surprise, surprise!), but then was left wondering how i could incorporate the rain. I cut out the image so needed to add my own rain drops. Found the perfect stamp in a "My Favourite Things Stampset called Rain or Shine.

Stamped a series of raindrops onto some acetate, and stickled and glossy accented the rain drops. Domed the acetate to add extra dimension.

Hope you like it! The matting is done with core-dinations cardstock and use of my favourite script embossing folder.

Well i hope you will join us this week with our Challenge, I am really looking forward to seeing what you come up with this time!

Have a lovely day, and hope you are not having any April Showers!!!!

Hugs Linda x

Just Christmas and Birthday Cards Challenge - Sketch #61 Andrea - April 26

It's week 61 and this week we have a wonderful sketch by Andrea. I loved working with this. I have used some Basic Grey papers from the Euphoria range, which i love, and used a ready coloured die cut from Lili of the Valley for a quick make.

Have added stickles and glossy accents to the flowers and butterflies for dimension.

This weeks sponsor is Simon Says Stamp and we have a $10 gift voucher for one lucky winner. You will definitely find something you love at this shop!

We hope you will join us at the JCBC challenge this week.

Hugs Linda x

Sweet pea Stampers - Under the Sea

Good morning my lovelies, and here we are again another week at the Sweet pea Stampers. This weeks challenge is "Under the Sea". I have used one of the fabulous decoupage papers from The Crafty Purple Frog. This beauty is called "Red is My Passion" and is available to buy here for £2.00. These decoupage images were a delight to cut out and I have added highlights of stickles to the hair. I kept this card simple as I wanted the decoupage to be the main focal point.

We hope you will join us again this week, enjoy your day, hugs Linda x

Baby Ellie and Friends - Another Card!

As you will have guessed by now, i just love the latest Ellie and Friends download kit by the Creative Cottage, I have enjoyed using these images so much, I keep making more and more cards!!

Here is the latest card. I have used my cuttlebug embossing folders and one of the pre-printed digi images. The flowers are also pre printed, i've just cut them out, layered them and run them through my cuttlebug script embossing folder for extra dimension. I love the effect this gives. The centres are diamantes.

I've used a sentiment from a pack i've had for ages, but can not remember where from.

Ellies bows have been glossy accented for added dimension and ribbon is from my stash.

You will not be surprised to know i will be back later with yet another card using these images.

Have a great day big hugs Linda x

Tag You're It Challenge 4 - With a Flourish

Its week 4 at Tag You're It. This week our theme is "With a Flourish". So i decided to stamp my own background with my distress inks, a rubber stamp and added glimmer mist and stickles . Then i used my die cut flourish BIGZ for sizzix, added some die cut flowers and hearts.

Candy added to the flower centres, and some more stickles.

This tag making is still new to me, and i think i need plenty more practise. Hope you will join us this week.

Hugs Linda x

Ellephantastic - Rosaline Rabbit

Happy Saturday morning, as you know im at Shepton Mallet still, so I have scheduled this post. I hope you've all had a great week, I shall look forward to telling you all about mine on Monday.

I am posting today the new release from Ellephantastic - Rosaline Rabbit. Isn't she a darling? and such a pleasure to colour in.

I have teamed her up with some Stampin Up papers and some card embossed with my cuttlebug folders. A simple layout with the addition of some simple embelishments.

If you would love to get your hands on Rosaline, then please go over to see Helen and purchase your image now, at the fabulous price of just £0.75.

Unfortunately Jilli had to leave the Ellephantastic Design Team due to personal commitments, we will miss you hunny. However, to replace Jill we have the wonderful Angie, who i'm sure will inspire you!

Have a lovely day and sending you all big hugs Linda x

Launch Day at the Creative Cottage

I can not believe the lovely Tracy has produced yet another gorgeous download kit, this time a superb selection of gorgeous papers combined with the most gorgeous elephant images!!! These are just adorable - introducing the lovely Ellie and Friends!

The cute little Ellie images and the delicate papers make this kits a dream to work with, and little effort needed to produce fabulous cards!

There are ready coloured images like this little Ellie, which is perfect for a quick card, and absolutely lends itself to be decoupaged! have added three layers to Ellie to give her extra dimension.

Have added glossy accents to her bows and some googly eyes too to finish her off!

What an adorable couple here, perfect for an anniversary card, or maybe a birthday card for a loved one?

Added some embossing to a small piece of the plain coloured paper and glossy accented Ellies hair bows. With the addition of some flat backed heart pearls, its finished!

Hope you will love this new kit and look forward to seeing what you make using it.

Hugs Linda x

Week 7 at the Creative Cottage Challenge - Going Green

Good morning its week 7 at the Creative Cottage Challenge, and the challenge is "Going Green!". You can either use green in your card or use something recycled,interpret this whichever way you wish!

I have decided to get a head with my christmas cards, and used the fabulous "O Christmas Tree" kit which is available to buy here. A gorgeous set of papers and images which are just perfect for quick christmas card makes!


I have added some flat backed pearls to add dimension to my tree and glossy accents on the star.


The Merry Christmas sentiment is from papertrey sentiment selection.

If you love the Creative Cottage Downloads, watch out later this week for the launch of a new kit, which i have to say is one of my all time favourites. Im sure you will love it too, so come back later!

Enjoy your day with plenty of crafting time, hugs Linda x

Week 5 at the Sweet Pea Stampers- Alice in Wonderland Inspired!

Happy Tuesday morning, and welcome to another Sweet Pea Stampers Challenge. This week it is called "Alice in Wonderland Inspired!". We would love to see your creations using these fabulous Alice Inspired stamps or decoupage/pyramage papers, that are available to buy here. My DT pal Amy has lots of gorgeous decoupage/pyramage Sweet Pea images, please go take a look for yourself at the Crafty Purple Frog.

I decided to use the pyramage to make a little gift booklet/keepsake. Have used one of the images on the front with some glossy accents and stickles.

Just one layer and the use of some acetate.

The inside is the negative and positive pyramage that fits into each other when the booklet closes!

These pyramage sheets are a doddle to use just print, cut and stick, its as easy as a, b, c!!!

I am enjoying the challenge of the Sweet Pea Stampers, its such a dream to be able to use these beautiful Sweet Pea Images. We hope you will join us again this week, and we look forward to visiting your blogs and seeing what you have made.

Now I am off to Shepton Mallet tomorrow, I am very anxious about it, being away from my lovely family will be hard, but i hope to meet up with some of my blogging friends. If you are reading this and planning on visiting the show, please pop by and say Hello to me, i will be on the Anna-Marie designs stand, which will be selling a gorgeous selection of templates! great samples too by my talented friend Anna!

I have a few more posts scheduled while im away, but i dont return till late Sunday evening, and I expect to be away from my PC at least until Tuesday. Look forward to catching up with you again then.

Big hugs Linda x

Tag It Challenge No 3 - Spring into Spring

I hope your having a good weekend so far. I am not looking forward to the return of the school run tomorrow morning. I can not believe how quickly the holidays went. Of course im off to Shepton Mallet Wednesday to set up with my friend Anna. I have several posts scheduled for the time im away, but will not be back online until at least after the 26th May.

Without further to do onto the point of my post.

It's week 3 at Tag Your It, and the challenge this week is "Spring into Spring". I have used a bird punch from Stampin Up for my tag this week along with some gorgeous papers which i believe to be MME, but not sure, so if anyone can enlighten me that would be treat. Have decoupaged the bird for extra dimension. Hope you will join us this week.

Look forward to seeing your creations, thank you for your visit, enjoy your week, hugs Linda x

Scrap Pile Saturday Challenge 8 - Something Orange

Wow, what a fabulous day, the sun has been out, and its very warm outside. So much so we have decided to have our first barbeque for this year. I have been trying to get ahead with all my DT work, and scheduling all my posts ready when im away next week.

We had breakfast at Frank and Benny's this morning as a special treat, and walked Rocky Bear in the bluebell woods. Thought I would share a few photos with you that i have taken, in my special place! The bluebell woods is about a 10 minute walk from where we live, and since the beginning of last week, i've visited it, pratically every day, I just love it there. Some of the bluebells are out, but by next week they should have produced a sea of blue flowers, I can't wait to get back from Shepton Mallet and go take a visit, along with my camera!

This is my lovely daughter Jasmine and Rocky Bear, looking for some wild deer!!

Me and rocky bear taking a much deserved rest, the dog felt a need for a more comfy seat than the log I was sitting on!!

Three of the 5 special males in my life, typically - they are all sitting down again!!!!

Hubby and Bear looking for the birds. Bear is spooked out by the birds singing when its all quiet!

With me going away in the week I decided to spend my time with the family, however, they had different ideas, so I did manage to make a card for one of my favourite challenges!

Its challenge 8 at the Scrap Pile Saturday Challenge. I love this challenge, its a great way to use up those bits of paper sitting in your scrap pile. The lovely Maria from Stampin Inspirations have challenge us to use something Orange this week from our scrap pile. I have had several bits of orange card in my pile and found some oddments of ribbon too. I have used my Penny Black stamp - "Flying Stars" and my distress inks.

I am still loving the easel cards at the moment, and thought it would be perfect for the retirement card i have been commissioned to do.

With the addition of some stickles and glossy accents, this was a very quick card to put together.

The sentiment was done on my PC and the mats are cut from my nestabilities.

If you havn't seen this challenge before go take a look, its a great way to clear your scrap pile.

Enjoy your weekend, look forward to catching up with you soon, Hugs Linda x