ONLY JOKING

Another glorious sunny day in Weymouth.....so sorry but this lovely weather is playing havoc with my crafting! We've been making the most of the sunshine and spending time with the kids in the garden, however, do have a couple of cards to show you. Just lately, the boys seem to have been invited to so many parties so had to make this one for a friend of Lewis's. He went to her sleepover on Friday and had a great time.....so good in fact, that he slept all of Saturday afternoon!! When I made the card, thought I'd be a really good girl and use up the rest of the supplies on a very similar card so I don't get caught out in the future! I've used my Penny Black elephant and coloured him/her with Brushables and added some Glamour Dust to the petals on the flowers. Cardstock is Bazzill, DP is from HOTP, sentiments are from Craftwork Cards, sticky gems are from Papermania and ribbon is from my stash. Embossed the c.s. on the second card with my Cuttlebug embossing folder...

Hi everyone! Sorry I haven't posted anything for a little while but life has been so hectic and I have been finding it very difficult to get inspired to make anything. However, it's Friday which means it's time for the Stamp Something challenge and this week the very talented Melissa has set it! The challenge this week is a two parter - to create something in red, white and blue, and have it be ANYTHING BUT A CARD! This challenge is based on the fact that it's Independence Day in the States very soon so I have taken my inspiration from the Stars and Stripes, plus Lewis, my eldest Son, has been nagging me for ages to make him a book so this is what I came up with..... I've used my Bind It All to make the actual book and covered it with Pink Petticoat papers printed onto lightweight card and stuck some Doodlebug ribbon across the join. The image is Magnolia (which was a RAK from someone) and I've coloured him with Prismas and Sansodor adding Glamour Dust to his...

It's my nephew's birthday today.....well actually Freddie is my Gt Nephew but I don't mention that too often as it makes me feel old!! Anyway when I had my new papers/card out from My Mind's Eye, I thought they would be ideal for this card. I have also made an effort to start using all the uninked stamps I have and these are two of them. I seem to have so many I have bought and never used that I thought it was about time I stopped buying anymore and started using them! Both images are Magnolia, which has been coloured using a mixture of Prismas, Sansodor and Marvy, and the sentiment is Autumn Leaves (I think!). DP is My Mind's Eye and c.s. is Bazzill. Used my SU slot punch to make the holes for the ribbon which was from my stash. Finally, added a little Glamour Dust to his wings and to the leaves on the branch. This card was relatively quick and simple.....I say relatively as the longest part was cutting out the swing....very fiddly!! Have just found out that an...

As promised, I'm back with the other card I made yesterday. The challenge on Stamp Something this week is a sketch by the talented Emily , one of my fellow DT members, and there's some more wonderful candy up for grabs! I've used an image kindly sent to me by Heather and I've kept her simple and coloured her with Marvys and added some Glamour Dust to the gift and ribbon for a bit of added sparkle. The DP is from My Mind's Eye which I bought a month or so ago and fell in love with immediately....I just love this colour and managed to find some shades of Bazzill c.s. in my stash which matched it perfectly! I've embossed the lighter strip with the Swiss Dots folder and added a sentiment from Pink Petticoat and a flower brad from Papermania. Have decided this card will be ideal to give to Lewis's friend tomorrow.....she's at that age where she's growing out of cute cards so thought a more "grown up" one would be appropriate! Also glad I don...

I've actually made some cards today!! Tony has had to go to Newcastle for an interview and has been gone all day (still not back!!) so got started on some cards which needed to be done. This one is for one of Sam's little mates who's having a party on Saturday and thought it would also qualify for the CCT challenge this week which is to make a birthday card! The image and sentiment are both Whipper Snapper and have coloured the monster with Brushables and layered them both onto Bazzill green and blue cardstock. DP is Daisy Bucket and ribbon and brads are from my stash. Quite a quick and simple card! I will show the other card tomorrow as it's my DT work for Stamp Something. One thing which I should have done last week but didn't because of all the excitement of Tony coming home is to let you know about a new blog. I have finally persuaded my good friend Jose to start up a blog of her own and she's done it!!! Well done Jose!! So pop on over and take a look at...

Morning all and what's happened to our gorgeous weather? We've had beautiful sunshine for the last few days and now it's overcast and quite cold! Anyway, at least it gives me a chance to try and catch up with my blogging and crafting. I'm afraid that when Tony walked in the front door, my mojo went out the back door! I just haven't wanted to make cards at all which is very unlike me! Anyway, I wanted to show you some more birthday cards I received but never had chance to load on my blog..... Maureen Debby Richelle Thank you so much girls, they're gorgeous and sorry I was late loading them....I hope you forgive me!! I also received the following award from Iris Thank you so much, it's nice to know that there are people out there who like my work and please, if you visit my blog, leave a comment even if you don't like my work....just say hello so I know you're there!! I'm going to have to think about passing this on so I'll get back to you on...

Sorry I've been a bad blogger recently.....still trying to adjust to having Tony back!! Anyway, thought I would share some cards I made last week. When I made my card for the Stamp Something challenge, it took me a little while to decide on which image to use as Jilli had sent me a whole collection of Rubber Romance images, so I thought I would actually make a few on the same theme but with slightly different layouts and these were the results....... All images are courtesy of Jilli and are Rubber Romance. Cardstock is Bazzill, sentiments are from Craftwork Cards and other embellishments are from my stash. Really need to get on and make some more cards but finding it difficult to find the time at the moment. Hope to have some more to show you soon :)

Well, it's Friday already which means there's a new challenge on Stamp Something today! The theme this week is monochromatic and decided to stick with black and white. The image is, I think, Rubber Romance, and was courtesy of Jilli. It was this image which decided the colour of the card for me! It has been layered onto black and white Bazzill c.s. and did the same for the base of the card. Used some white grosgrain Dovecraft ribbon, a sentiment from Craftwork Cards layered onto black Bazzill c.s., and some sticky gems from Papermania to finish. Must admit, I do like the simplicity of this one! Sorry I haven't been around but I'm sure you all understand why. Will have some more cards to show tomorrow.....I promise! Make sure you pop on over to Stamp Something and take a look because there's some scrummy candy on offer!

Hi all, just a quickie to let you know I'm still about and that Tony made it home safely on Monday!! You should have seen the kids faces.....they were a picture!! Lewis saw me first and waved and then looked a bit confused until he realised who the person was with me....his jaw dropped open....literally!!! Sam ran straight past Tony....didn't notice him at all until Tony called out his name and he shot into his arms!! Brought a tear to my eye. Still a bit strange as we all get used to living together again! Haven't really spent any time on the computer and haven't had time to do any blogging, however, hope to visit your blogs soon. Will have some cards to share at the weekend and a few things I've received, which I hope to show before then. Thank you all for your wonderful comments on my photos and all your good wishes. For those of you wanting to know, I joined a Lighter Life group which is a very low calorie diet and which also gradually re-introduces the...

As promised, I'm back to let you in on my surprise for Tony tomorrow! Don't know where to start with this but maybe a little personal history first. When I married Tony in 1996 I was a UK size 14. I've always had to watch my weight and never been naturally thin but was never vastly overweight either. In March 1997 I fell pregnant with Lewis and that's when the trouble started.....the weight piled on and after he was born as well because I wasn't eating properly and just grabbing food out of the fridge when I had a spare five minutes.....oh, the joys of being a new Mum! Then I got pregnant again with Sam and even though I didn't gain much more weight during pregnancy, I made up for it afterwards! Am I boring you yet! It took me ten years and many failed diets to finally get serious about losing weight so I started my diet in January this year and this is the evidence....... please do not show the first photo to small children or animals as it may scare them !!!!!...

Hi all, couldn't believe it, got another four cards in the post this morning. It's so funny because Sam is so intrigued by the postmarks and eagerly waits to hear which country they've come from....he loves it and I love the cards!! But first a card I made for a swap....got to put it first otherwise I'll forget what I've used on it .....I'm desperately repeating it to myself in my head before I forget...well, I am at that age now!! The card base is layered with Bazzill c.s. and Karen Foster DP. The lime green c.s. has been run through the Cuttlebug with Stylized Flowers embossing folder. Oh, I've also added some mirricard (of course!!). Tilda has been coloured with Prismas and Sansodor with Glamour Dust added to her wings and the flower, and then layered onto the same c.s. as before. Flower is Prima, sentiment is from Craftwork Cards and sticky gems are Papermania. Wow, I remembered! Will definitely have to start writing it down in future!! Have been busy tr...

It's Friday already which means it's time for the Stamp Something challenge! This week's theme is "In the Wild" and I knew exactly what I wanted to do with this one. It's Fathers' Day in the UK on 15 June and wanted to make a card for Tony from the boys. Even though he will be back in the UK for Fathers' Day, thought these stamps from High Hopes were very appropriate considering where he's been living for the last 15 months! The Jungle background stamp, Walkabout Wally, and G'day sentiment are all from High Hopes. The jungle background has been coloured with Brushables and Wally has been coloured with Prismas and Sansodor. He was cut out and fixed to the card with foam pads. Used two shades of Bazzill c.s. and K & Co DP for the card base and "lifted" the smaller of the two squares with foam pads. Three brads from my stash were added below the image. Sam has his Tae Kwon-do grading straight after school this afternoon so he's v...

More gorgeous birthday cards arrived in the post today and would like to share them with you! Leann's Card Sue's Card Jilli's Card Jacqui's Card Donalda's Card No 2! (You're spoiling me Donalda!!) I'm running out of space in my conservatory!!! Plus, I also received the following beautiful Thank You cards..... Amy (this is Fairymadjo's daughter!) and both of these from Denise..... My house looks so colourful with all these beautiful cards on display! Will be back later this afternoon with a card of my own to show. See you then.

Well the drawing of the Blog Candy winner went really smoothly.....no arguing between the boys! It was decided that it was Sam's turn to pick the winner, so Lewis held the pot. And the winner is.............FRAN! Well done Fran! I have your address so I'll get the candy packed up and post it off to you. Thank you so much to everyone who took part....all the cards were fabulous :) Off to tidy up the kitchen and then I think I'll have an early night.....I'm absolutely shattered....I know, I know...at my age I need to take things easy! Plan on catching up on my blogging tomorrow and maybe make a few cards before Tony gets home. Awaiting confirmation of his flight details but it looks like he's leaving Australia on Sunday and will be in the UK on Monday!!! Sorry I haven't been around many blogs lately but I hope you understand I've had alot to sort out in the last week, especially with trying to hide my stash!! Will be paying you a visit tomorrow!

...well, almost! For people who know me, it's obvious you can't shut me up for long but I was overwhelmed by the number of cards, good wishes, etc., I received for my birthday....you really are a lovely lot of ladies!!! I've had a lovely day - very peaceful and quiet doing absolutely nothing at all apart from make my birthday cake. I made it for the boys really but did enjoy a piece of it with a coffee this afternoon....lemon cake, my favourite!!! Last Sunday I had to go to Craft Central for some double-sided tape and took Sam with me (he's six by the way). He had a wander around the shop and when it was time to leave told me that he had seen something he wanted to buy me for my birthday which was £3.99!! He assured me that he had enough in his piggy bank and could I phone Vanessa to ask her to take him back to the shop after school the next day!! I tried to explain that it was too far for Vanessa to come but that if he really wanted to spend his money on me, I would t...