ONLY JOKING

As I mentioned before, I found alot of images I had already coloured so made this quick card from one. I suppose I'm trying to start one of my resolutions early - to have cards made in advance for birthdays! Anyway, it's one of my favourite stamps and is coloured with Brushables and mounted onto Pink Petticoat card with foam pads, after being layered onto Bazzill c.s. Sentiment was stamped directly onto card. Haven't got much further with sorting out my craft stuff but had a great time this afternoon - blitzed Lewis's bedroom - crikey what a mess! and ended up with a full bin bag full of rubbish. The good thing about it was that he was out with a friend so I didn't have him leaning over my shoulder saying "please don't chuck that"! Tomorrow is Sam's turn - he's got a small bedroom so I've got to be ruthless, especially with all the new toys he got for Christmas. This is the one thing I enjoy about New Year - the spring cleaning. I hate hous...

Have started to tidy my craft area up bit by bit and found a folder with a load of toppers in it - by that I mean images which I had stamped, coloured and layered but had not made into cards. So, thought I would use one of them for the Daring Cardmakers Challenge. Haven't done this challenge for a little while so thought I would make an effort to get back into the swing of things. The challenge is: "...The four top dares are 'buttons', 'ribbons', 'and cut' and 'frames'. We would like you to use this week as many of those dares as you like to make your card in any theme and any style.." Thought I would use this Penny Black stamp - it seemed ideal for a New Year card bearing in mind the amount of food and booze we have all stuffed over Christmas. Trouble is I'm going to have to think VERY carefully who I give it to otherwise I could end up with a black eye!!!! I've used Pink Petticoat papers printed straight to the card, Bazzill c.s. ...

The challenge on Papertake Weekly Challenge is: "....Anything to do with shopping this week, what with the sales around the corner lol!! Handbags, shopping bags, dollar/pound signs etc etc!!....." Had a rummage through my stamps and found this one. I have hardly used it and I know why now - it's so fiddly to colour in!! Anyway, decided to colour it in daylight because my eyes do not seem to focus at night now - old age creeping on!! I used Pink Petticoat papers with some Doodlebug ribbon. The stamp is a Dolly Mamas from Stamps Happen which was coloured with Marvy pens and layered onto Bazzill red c.s. The sentiment is from a See D's collection and was also mounted onto red Bazzill c.s. with two small red brads. Two larger red brads were fixed to the top right-hand side of the card and the image and sentiment mounted with foam pads. It really was nice to have a break from Christmas and make a card!! Had a nice Christmas but as usual ate too much and now all I want to d...

Thought I'd just post this birthday card as I shall be busy tomorrow and then it's Christmas yippee!! This is a design from a lady called Vivienne who has a gallery on Do Crafts and Pink Petticoat. I've made this card before but thought it would be ideal for my SIL plus it's also very quick and easy to make. I printed Pink Petticoat designs straight onto the card (on both sides). Printed out the image onto card and coloured with Marvy, then layered onto Bazzill c.s. Mounted this with foam pads and added some sticky Papermania ribbon and a bow. Took me all of ten minutes!! I'd like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Peaceful New Year. Let's hope 2008 proves a great year for us all!

Early start today even though it's a Sunday, but to be honest, now the boys have finished school, I've lost all track of what day it is. They're off to their nativity dress rehearsal at the Church so I'll have a couple of hours to try and wrap their presents while they're out of the house(!) so thought I would post this now while I've got the chance. Don't mean to be morbid, but this time of year does make you think about the people who are not here and thought I'd post this scrapbook layout of myself and my best friend Anny. Unfortunately, Anny died of cancer in May 2006 but rather than dwell on that, I like to look through this scrapbook I made her for Christmas 2005 and have a giggle! This page really does make me chuckle - we used to have such a good laugh on holiday together. I haven't got a photo of me on my blog yet but if you knew me, you would realise that this photo was taken a long time ago before babies!! I wish I was that size now! Never...

Hi all! Sorry, couldn't do a posting yesterday - Sam was off school with a bug. Poor little chap was like a rag doll - fever, no energy, loss of appetite - I'm sure you're all familiar with it. Trouble is where he is so little, I always worry because he can't tell me exactly what's wrong. Anyway, he seems alot better this morning - chatting and hungry!! Just hope Lewis doesn't catch it now. Haven't made any cards but when we were putting Lewis's birthday cards away, we found the one I made him last year so thought I would share it with you - I just love the baby photo I used for it - so cute!! It's my SIL birthday straight after Christmas (there's always one, isn't there?!!!) so will have to find time to make her a card. Have a good Saturday and for those of you who have to go shopping.... good luck!!

This week's Papertake Weekly Challenge is: "Food for thought! Please use something yummy on your cards! Any food will do! Chocs, sweets, cakes, dinners (?!?)......" Managed to cook up (!) two cards this week. The first is using that cheeky puss Fluffles and I imagine this is how I will look by the end of Christmas Day!! Coloured him with Brushables with a little glitter on the cake, and mounted on Bazzill c.s. and some mirriboard, Fixed him on the card with foam pads. Papers are Pink Petticoat, ribbon is Dovecraft, sentiment is a rubber stamp and brads are some odd ones I had in my craft box. The second card is a Penny Black stamp coloured again with Brushables and a little glitter for the ice-cream. The image is punched out with a Woodware punch and fixed to a layer of pink Bazzill c.s. which has been punched with a scalloped punch. Papermania sticky jewels have been added to the edges. I printed a Pink Petticoat design straight onto card and mounted the image onto this ...

Well, they finally arrived! The Sugar Nellie and Magnolia stamps I ordered a little while ago turned up yesterday. I knew they were on their way but they obviously got held up with the Christmas post. Hope you can see them OK. You may have to click on the photo to get a better view. Just waiting for my Penny Black stamps to turn up from the States. They usually take 7-8 days to get here but are really delayed - again, I'm hoping it's the Christmas post. Won't be able to make any cards today. I've got to wait in for a TV engineer but must get on with some housework (BORING!) and then tonight we're out for Tae Kwon-do which takes up the whole evening. Hope to produce something soon.

The challenge on Daring Cardmakers this week is "I dare you to take the design of your card to the inside as well as the outside. Add a little finishing touch to match the theme on the outside, or surprise the receiver with a flap, foldout, decorated journale block to write on, or one of those pop-out delights......." Because of the time of year and the lack of time I have (and as we all have I suspect) to make cards, I've cheated a little on this one by posting a card I made a little while ago for my Dad's 80th Birthday. Hope this is OK. It's a concertina card. The main stamp on the front is Tim Holtz (I think!) which has been triple embossed but doesn't show too well in the photo. The stamps inside the card are from Rubbadubbadoo. I was tempted to use one of my star cards I've already posted but decided on this one because it hasn't been on my blog before!

Crikey it's cold! Had a lovely day though. My friend Jose, came down to visit so we enjoyed a scrummy lunch (thanks again Jose!) and lots of chatter! I persuaded her to open her present early so am now able to share it with you. It's a craft wish list book. It' purposes is to list all the the stash you want, either by writing it in the book, sticking in a picture or maybe, the address or website of where to buy it. Only trouble is, I don't think I've put in enough blank pages for you Jose!! I used one of my Magnolia stamps I got a couple of weeks ago but hadn't used because of all the christmas cards I was making. She's coloured with Brushables and a little glitter added to her wings. Other ingredients: Bazzill c.s., Dovecraft ribbon and brads, Prima flowers, Papermania sticky jewel, Doodlebug button, George & Basic Shapes Cricut Cartridge and paper (sorry don't know the make of this). Finally I put it all together with Bind It all. This was the firs...

Another chilly morning today although we have seen a little glimpse of sun, but not for long. Very peaceful in my house this morning - the boys have gone to Sunday School and then they have their nativity practice so I've got another hour before I pick them up! This will be another quick posting as it's Grandma's birthday today (my mother-in-law) so when I've picked the boys up, we have to have a quick lunch and then off to see the birthday girl(!), so thought I'd post the card I made for the boys to give her. It's Penny Black's sweet little elephant and I've coloured it using Brushables and added a little glitter to the daisies. It's mounted on pink Bazzill c.s. with foam pads and has some East of India ribbon, a prima flower and a Dovecraft brad attached to it. I can't remember what make the grey paper is on the card as I've had it for ages! Hope to be able to share something else very soon but because it's a little pressie for a friend...

Back again with a couple of birthday cards. These are both made from the Pink Petticoat CDs/downloads and are just so quick and easy to make - ideal for a last minute card! Off to watch a bit of TV now - must try not to fall asleep again!!

Sorry, didn't make it back last night, instead fell asleep on the sofa in front of the TV - why is Christmas so exhausting!! Well, at last we've got our tree up and also took the boys to see Santa today. Thought I'd share the photos. The first shows them waiting to go in, excited or what!! Luckily we didn't have to queue. The second photo shows them walking through a little forest to get to Santa's Grotto and the big white spots on the photo is snow!! Not real, of course, although it has got really cold down here even though we're right by the sea! and finally the last photo is with the great man himself. Must go and feed the boys now as we're running late but promise I will add a couple of cards later.

Had a day off from cardmaking today. Managed to finish the last of my Christmas cards last night and they are now all written and sealed and some have even been delivered! Had a lovely day. This morning was spent watching Sam's nativity play and he was the donkey!!! and what a gorgeous donkey he was! The pictures didn't turn out very well in that every one of them has red eye and I can't get rid of it with the tool on Paint Shop Pro - never mind, he still looks cute! This afternoon was the turn of Lewis. He's at Juniors and they don't do nativities any more (shame!), however, his Year had a Christingle service and it was very touching, especially when they turned out the lights and all the children were sat holding their oranges with the candles lit and singing the Christingle song - I must admit I did have a tear in my eye! Unfortunately, the school won't allow you to take photographs or video the service and they don't take any photos so I've got nothi...

The challenge this week is "Black Tie! This week's challenge is to make a black and white card! It can be for any theme/occasion but black and white only please!!" I've got two entries this time. The first is using an Anita's rubber stamp and this has been mounted onto black Bazzill c.s. and a little glitter added to the falling snow. Two small pieces of AMM ribbon have been added and the image was then mounted with foam pads onto the main card. I've used Pink Petticoat papers together with black Bazzill c.s., Papermania brads and sticky jewels and some Dovecraft ribbon. The second card I had already made a few weeks back and thought it fitted the bill literally! It's a template I got from Create and Craft a few years back - very simple to make, but ideal for a man's card.

Just finished this card tonight and thought I'd share it with you. It's for my friend's baby girl and yes, you've guessed it, it will be her first Christmas (she's only eight weeks old - aaah!). It's taken me nearly three hours to make from start to finish because of all the die cutting and fiddly sticking together but I'm pleased with it. Have used a pale pink and white Bazzill c.s. with some mirriboard for the background with the top most layer of pink c.s. being embossed with Cuttlebug snowflakes folder. The snowflakes and "1st" have been cut using my Cricut, George and Basic Shapes from white and a slightly darker shade of pink Bazzill cardstock. The bear is die cut from brown and black Bazzill cardstock and the face drawn by hand and his hat is a Quickutz elf hat with a little bit of glitter. The sentiment is part of a Merry Christmas stamp by Doodlebug and finally, I added a couple of little jewels to the snowflakes. I do like making baby car...

Wednesday already - where is the time going?! Had a look on the DCM blog and the challenge this week was "...create a card featuring stripes of some kind, the occasion is up to you but you must use some form of stripes on your card.." With all the Christmas cards I've been making lately (and still am!) thought I'd use the Teachers' card I made but with a different paper. The stamp is Penny Black, coloured with Brushables with a little glitter on Santa, the papers are Blonde Moments, sentiment is Pink Petticoat, ribbon is Dovecraft and brads .............. yes, you've guessed it, I can't remember! Hope this fits their requirements as I've never done this challenge before.

Just a quick posting before I go to bed. This is such a quick and easy card to make with a little bit of humour. Trouble is I can't remember who makes the stamp - could be Rubbadubbadoo but not sure, the paper is Pink Petticoat, I've used Woodware punches and the big brad is ............... Dovecraft I think! I'm terrible, when I get new craft stuff I keep it in its packaging for a couple of days and keep going and having a look and feel, then I'm like a kid at Christmas and tear off all the packaging to get at it and use it and especially with embellishments, I forget which make they are!! Talking of new craft stuff, um, well, um, OK I've been naughty again! Just ordered three Sugar Nellie stamps and two more Magnolias! I've been trying so hard not to buy any more before Christmas but I've failed miserably! My other Magnolias arrived two days' ago - all four of them - but I haven't used them yet, I've been a good girl concentrating on finishing ...

Well, I'm still going on the Christmas cards but got a bit fed up doing the same ones so I had a rummage through my stamps and found this Elzybel fairy which I bought a year or two ago and can you believe it? this is the first time I've used it! I coloured her in with Brushables and added a bit of glitter to her wings and halo, then mounted her onto silver card and pink Bazzill card. I used the same coloured c.s. on the main card and then layered some white Bazzill c.s. which had been put through the Cuttlebug snowflakes folder. The fairy has been mounted with foam pads to lift her off the card a little. The sentiment is from Pink Petticoat. Finally a snowflake brad was added to the corner of the image. Must put the boys to bed now and then it's back to finishing the other Christmas cards!

Couldn't help but load this picture of Lewis......after all it is his birthday - have I mentioned that!!!! Anyway, the cake turned out fine and was delicious and Lewis has had a great day. Can't believe my beautiful baby has turned into this handsome young man No cards to show tonight I'm afraid - I have made half a dozen but they're all repeats on previous Christmas cards. I've still got twelve more to make so I'm trying not to panic. I'm just getting a bit cheesed off with Christmas cards, however, have got a birthday card to make by next Sunday so that should make a nice change!

Thought I'd quickly share this special card with you whilst I'm waiting for Lewis's birthday cake to cook! Can't believe my little boy is ten already - only seems like yesterday I was in agony trying to push him out!!! Anyway, Lewis is very keen on cardmaking and scrapbooking and always asks me to make him a card rather than buy one so I do try to push the boat out a bit for him. This was my first attempt at a star card and I was pleased with how it turned out. I do love my Penny Black stamps but was pushed for time so cheated and bought the PB Stickeroos! Have also used Bazzill cardstock, some scraps of patterned paper (I knew they'd come in handy one day!), Cuttlebug embossing folder, Cricut George and Basic Shapes cartridge (for front cover) and Pink Petticoat sentiments. I haven't shown each individual page but basically, there's an image and sentiment on each one. He was chuffed as nuts with it! Better go and check on the cake.....I can smell something...

Well, I've finally got 'round to finishing the card I was talking about yesterday. Liz at Pink Petticoat has a blog competition to make a card using the new Tree designs so here's my attempt. It didn't specify to use PP papers so I decided on this one from Blonde Moments because of the link with the hearts on the paper and the tree. It's very simple but I don't like my cards too cluttered! Absolutely exhausted today - those little tinkers didn't stop talking until three in the morning (eek!) and I had to get up at 7.00 am, needless to say, the bags under my eyes are down to my knees! The good news is, they both passed their gradings at Tae Kwon-do. Sam who is five, got his yellow belt and a badge for "outstanding kick/punch" and Lewis, who will be ten tomorrow, passed his yellow stripe with credit. I was so proud of them because they were both really focused and worked extremely hard. Hope to have a photo of them to load later in the week, all bein...

It's been a busy old day today (again!) - my boys had their Tae Kwon-do Christmas party which they thoroughly enjoyed and also my eldest son, Lewis has got his cousin round for a bit of a party and sleepover for his birthday. Needless to say, I haven't quite had time to finish a card - I am halfway through it and hope to be able to share it with you tomorrow or possibly Monday (they've got their Tae Kwon-do gradings tomorrow!!). In the meantime, thought I'd load a christening card I made a few weeks back - I adore this stamp and always tend to go for it when I have to make a baby card. Now to clear up the party mess and then off to bed as soon as they go to sleep....... if they ever do! Don't you just love 'em, little sweethearts!!!

Not in my house it isn't! I don't think I've mentioned that my husband is working in Australia at the moment and won't be home for Christmas (big tear!!). It's the only time we have been apart at Christmas and frankly, I'm not looking forward to it much. At lease I've got my two lovely boys which should lighten the mood. After all, Christmas is for kids Back to the cards, these are two wedding cards I made for a friend of mine. She wanted a personalised card for her niece who was getting married abroad and I love using the teddy bear die cut. All she told me was their names, the date of the wedding and where they were getting married. The second card is a slightly unusual card for me as I tend to use this stamp for Valentines cards. I got the idea for the layout from Michelle at the Card Grotto and decided to go for a red theme rather than the usual pastel for weddings. Hope you like!

Thought we'd have a little bit of a break from Christmas! This is a scrapbook layout which I entered into the DoCrafts competition. I did make it to the last 30 but think that is as far as it goes! Anyway, I like it!!! I do love scrapbooking but find it takes me so much longer to complete a page than a card. I also tend to make quite a few scrapbooks for my family's "special" birthdays and don't get time to scrap my photos, which reminds me, it's my sister's 50th in February so I'm gonna have to get started on one for her in the New Year - trouble is, I always leave it until the last minute and end up in a panic LOL. Hope to be back later with a couple more cards.

Wow! Would just like to say a big "thank you" to everyone who has left comments - I was very touched, and there was me thinking I was talking to myself! Another very wet day in Weymouth and a very busy one as well! Seem to have spent the whole day driving from one place to another but with good results, cause I got alot of jobs done. Was just a teeny weeny bit naughty - had to pop into Craft Central to buy a voucher for my sister and I just couldn't do it ................ I just had to buy some card and paper for me as well!! I have absolutely no willpower at all when I'm in a craft shop! Anyway, have just finished a couple of cards for my kids' teachers - what happened to there being just one teacher per class - they now have three per class (including TA's)! I've made a couple of this one. It's a Penny Black stamp again (!) with Blonde Moments paper, Bazzill cardstock embossed with Cuttlebug snowflakes folder (again!), a Pink Petticoat sentiment, Blo...

Well, I've finally plucked up the courage to enter this weekly challenge - a first for me! The challenge this week was White Christmas. "To make a white Christmas card! You can use an accent colour or two if you like, but lots of white this time please!!" This is my contribution - I've used blue and white Bazzill cardstock, the latter embossed with Cuttlebug snowflakes folder, silver card, Dovecroft ribbon and snowflake brads. The image is Penny Black coloured with Sakura and just a bit of glitter(!) and this is attached onto the sentiment with foam pads. The sentiment (Doodlebug) has been cut out with Woodware punches.

Just a quick one while I take a break between jobs - have been tackling my Dad's Christmas shopping this morning and feel quite pleased with myself that I managed to get all, but one, of his presents for him! Thought I'd quickly share this card I made recently for Lewis's Birthday - he'll be 10 on Monday - where have all the years gone?!! It's going to be from his little brother Sam (who loves animals) so was an ideal choice. Hope to be able to pop back later to load another one on.

I've got absolutely no willpower! I promised myself that I was going to batch produce some more christmas cards cause I'm so behind with them so, being a good girl, I make four of the same card and then ..... I give in and start playing with one of my new Magnolia stamps - I just couldn't help myself! Thought I'd share it with you, it took me a while to decide on the papers and card but I got there in the end. But that's not all ....... halfway through I took a break and bought four more Magnolia stamps on e-bay - slap wrists!! They are cute though! I've used Bazzill cardstock and paper from Blonde Moments. The image is coloured with Brushables with a little bit of glitter on her hat and the sentiment is from Docrafts. Ribbon is by Dovecraft.

Hi and what another horrible day - weatherwise that is! Thought I would take a break from loading Christmas cards and show a birthday card I made recently for my Dad to give to my son. I just love these cheeky chappies!

Here's a selection of some more of the cards I have made from the Pink Petticoat Christmas CD's.