ONLY JOKING

I'm still here! Sorry I haven't been around for a long while but I've now got myself a job so don't have much time to craft at the moment until I get myself a bit more organised!! However, it's Sam's birthday next week so had to make a few invitations for his party. We're going back to basics this year because of the credit crunch etc! so it's a party at home for a few of his friends. Wanted to make a very quick and easy card because I was so late with them, however, they did take me a little longer than expected because I decided to decorate the insides as well. The paper is from the Cricut birthdays pad and just used some MAMBI die cuts from my stash. For the insides, I used some Bazzill cardstock in pink and orange and used a stamp from MFT. I doodled around the edges and then added a matching MAMBI sticker. Put another sticker on the envelope as well, but didn't photograph that lol!! Finally, the bottom corners were rounded with my SU punch. Was ...

It's my blogging buddy, Jilli's birthday today and a VERY BIG one it is too pmsl!! God Jilli, wish I was that age again! Happy birthday sweetie and hope you are having/had a great day. Here's the card I made her....... .....and here's the inside..... I used the gorgeous Penpal stamp and coloured with PM's. Cardstock is Bazzill and papers are My Minds Eye which have been distressed and sewn. Don't ask me where I got the stamp sentiment from as I got it years ago - I stamped the top half for the outside of the card and the bottom half for the inside and cut them with my Nesties Labels dies. Flowers and brads are from my stash. I've got big apologies to make now for I haven't done any crafting in a while and I'm way behind on my blogging. I've been extremely busy with my personal life and it looks like I've secured a part-time job - just got to sort out the hours and childminding etc. Still trying to keep up with my college work as well ...

I needed to make a quick Easter card this morning for my MIL as we will be visiting her this afternoon. Unfortunately, she will be spending Easter in hospital as she has pneumonia so get well soon Sheila! Wanted to keep this one as simple as possible to try and achieve an elegant effect so went right back to basics and must admit I'm pleased with the result as I do like the clean and simple effect. The image is called Close as A Memory from SU and I've stamped it in Bashful Blue ink and used a co-ordinating cardstock from SU. Added some sparkle on the flowers with my Sakura glitter pen and a greeting from Woodware. Cut and embossed the image with my rectangular Nesties and then embossed the plain white c.s. with a Cuttlebug strip embossing folder. Finally, added some Doodlebug striped ribbon and a couple of Bazzill brads. Not sure how much I'm going to be around this week as I've got some important things to sort out once the Easter holidays are over so hope you al...

This is going to be a VERY quick post as I've got to go out in five minutes! Sorry I haven't been around but had alot on, however, did manage to make some Easter Bags for my nieces and nephews using brown paper bags, some toppers and scraps from my stash! Many apologies again for the rush but will be back soon!

The challenge on Stamp Something this week is Easter or Happy somethings. I'm in a bit of a panic because I didn't realise how close Easter is and haven't done a thing for it, apart from this. Also realised it's the last day of term today so wanted to make something for Sam's Teacher. It's a triangular gift bag which is on the Scor-pal site and have used it to put a little pressie of mini eggs in. Here's a better view of the shape....... I just adore this image - it's from Elzybells and it's the first time I've used it. Coloured it with PM's (what else?!) and cut it and embossed it with my circles Nesties. The bag is made from Bazzill c.s. with some DP layered onto the front and ribbon threaded through to make a handle. The sentiment is from the Just Hatched set at Papertrey Ink. Finally added a little heart gem from my stash to the bottom. The challenge this week is being sponsored by Digital Stamp Oasis so some scrummy candy on offer. Hop...

I made this card very recently for someone who was having to do alot of cleaning and was not enjoying it! I bought this stamp set a few months back and have been waiting for the chance to use it! The image and sentiment are from MFT and have been coloured with PM's. Cardstock is Bazzill which has been run through the Hearts Cuttlebug folder and paper is Doodlebug. Ribbon is from my stash. Kept it as simple as I could as it was meant for a man......now that should keep you guessing lol!! Must apologise for the serious lack of blogging.....I'm way behind with all my chores.....college work, housework etc., don't know what's happened to me this week....just seem to have been distracted. Hope to catch up very soon. Got a postcard from Lewis yesterday and he's having a great time. He did make me giggle though as he said "they haven't killed us yet, which you'll be pleased with"!!! That's so re-assuring!!!

Just a very quick post to show a couple of photos of Lewis on his way to London last Monday. He should be having a fantastic time by now and I can't believe how quiet the house is without him! I've also had tears from Sam because he's missing him dreadfully......bless him! Lots to do today but hope to be back with a card tomorrow.

I had some more of this wonderful paper left on my desk so thought I would make use of it and put another card together. Used another image from Sugar Nellie, coloured with PM's with some Sakura glitter pen added to the flowers and doodling around the edges, then matted it onto SU cardstock. Used My Mind's Eye double-sided DP and my Fiskars border punch to create the scalloped edge. Layered the sentiment from Cuddly Buddly onto a scalloped circle made with SU punch and attached it to the card with a piece of gold cord. Finally, added a couple of Bazzill brads. Can't believe the weekend is gone already! Lewis is off to London today for five days - I've actually scheduled this post because we have to be up the school at 7.30 am so it will be quite hectic this morning so he will have already left by the time you read this {big tear}. Things are going to be soooo quiet with just me and Sam - guess I'd better make the most of it as it will be back to arguing and quarre...

I've finally managed to make a card without using green......or at least not much!! Don't know what came over me recently as I've never made so many green cards in my life! Found this paper in my stash and I love it so made up a very simple card. The image was a RAK from Vanessa which I've coloured with PM's and added some doodling around the edge. I think it's a Sugar Nellie (minus the cat!) but please let me know if I'm wrong. Papers are My Mind's Eye which have been distressed and stitched using my sewing machine. Added a piece of lace to the bottom edge of the patterned paper. Cardstock is SU. Sentiment is Papertrey Ink. Layered some flowers together with a fancy brad from my stash and embellished it with a couple of heart clips which I pulled apart. Finally, added a little star charm which I got from Ebay. Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend!

Friday at last! which means time for another challenge on Stamp Something . This week our fellow DT Member, Emily , has provided us with a sketch and it's just up my street! I've used a stamp from Spiral Whisper which hasn't seen ink before (!) and coloured him with PM's. I'm afraid I'm not sure what papers I used as they're scraps on my desk. However, plain green c.s. is Bazzill Bling and has been run through the cuttlebug with Stylized Flowers folder. Ribbon is from SU and brads are from Poppicrafts. This week's challenge is being sponsored by Layers of Colors so please pop over and take a look.

Had an hour to spare yesterday before an appointment, so decided to put a card together to keep my mind occupied. Got all my favourites out for this one - my Daisy stamp (coloured with PM's), My Mind's Eye papers, distressed and sewn and a little charm which I bought from E-bay fixed onto the card with some fibres. Got to do some shopping today as my eldest is off to London on Monday for a week with the school, so must make sure I've got everything for him so we can get him packed at the weekend. Will be back tomorrow with my DT work.

Had another attempt at a card when I got back from school yesterday and much happier with this one. Decided to go for a very basic layout and this time, didn't use so much green! I've mentioned before that I'm really out of my comfort zone with the colour green, however, seem to have been making quite a few green cards recently. I already had this Panduro image coloured in so just matted her onto red Bazzill c.s. Layered some SU DP and covered the join with some Certainly Celery and Bashful Blue grosgrain ribbon. Sentiment is from Cuddly Buddly which was layered onto red Bazzill scallop using SU punch. Finally, added two brads from my stash. I recently received this fantastic award from Erin ......... The rules of this award are:- This fab award is given to blogs which - inspire you, make you smile and laugh, or maybe give amazing information, a great read~ has an amazing design and any other reasons you can think of that makes them uber amazing! The rules of this award ...

I've been a bit pre-occupied this morning and tried hard to make a card which I've managed, however, not sure I really like it. Don't know what it is exactly as I love these Panduro images and I love the SU paper but feeling that maybe it's a bit "cluttered". Anyway it's done now! The Panduro image has been coloured with PM's with some Sakura glitter pen added to the flower. Flowers are SU but were a gift from my good friend Denise, ribbon is from Hobbycraft, brads are from my stash and all the rest is SU. Lovely sunny day again today so must try to get more washing out. Hope the sun's shining where you are.

Had to pop back again to let you know about some candy! Firstly, Katharina who owns Whiff of Joy has a new release coming out which you can see on her blog and she is offering a set of them for a prize - wow! Secondly, Zoe has some gorgeous candy up for grabs - Doodlebug.....my favourite.... to celebrate her blogoversary, hits and birthday all in one so pop on over and take a look.

I already had this image stamped out so thought I'd better make use of it so decided to team it up with some of the papers I've been using recently. The stamp is from Penny Black and is called Chitchat and I've coloured it with my PM's. Papers are a mixture of DCWV, Papermania and Basic Grey (I think) and flowers and brads are from my stash. Sentiment is from Craftwork Cards. Finally, used my SU punch to round the corners. Would like to mention that the very talented Ila has some absolutely gorgeous blog candy up for grabs to celebrate her number of hits. Ila makes absolutely stunning cards so pop on over and take a look.

My friend and neighbour Clare, is leaving me {tear}. She has lived next door to me for the past year and unfortunately has to move. Me and the boys will be so sorry to see them go. In the short time I've known her, she's become a really good friend and our kids get on so well together. Thought I'd make them a card and there's only one stamp I like to use for new homes. The image is from Whipper Snapper and has been coloured with PM's. Papers are a mixture again from my scraps and have layered them all onto Bazzill Bling c.s. Flowers are Prima and button is Doodlebug and sentiment is from Papertrey Ink. Back to the studying again this weekend while the boys are out although hope to get some time for crafting!