Daring Cardmakers

A little mid-week challenge from Daring Cardmakers called Tempting Template Tuesday.
Create a card using the sketch " shrink it, twist it, turn it on its head". I used papers from Pink Petticoat - Little Fleurs Collection and an image that I got in a lovely bundle of blog candy, a little bit of ribbon and some punched out daisy flowers. Couldn't resist that little bit of doodling adding some dots around the mats.

Bitten by the Bug

The new challenge on Bitten By the Bug is to use the "and or ampersand" sign from Plantin Schoolbook or George cartridges anywhere on your card with the chance to win a fab prize from Scarlet Lime. I have made a Get Well Card for a very special lady on the Funky Hand DT who has just undergone major surgery thinking of you lots and wishing you a speed recovery - hey the team is one man down!!!! I used papers, chipboard letters and accents from the Cherrywood Collection by Heidi Grace - they are gorgeous. I have had these papers for absolutely ages and never really used them - they are too beautiful so I take them out from time to time, look at them, stroke them and then put them back.....does that sound familiar? Heidi will be appearing on QVC Craft Day on 8th May at 12pm....gotta watch - there will be some fabulous stuff....date for the diary girls.

Lots of Goodies

Parcels are a bit like buses - you don't see any for ages and then they all arrive at once. Lots of parcels to open today - I am sure my postman thinks I am a mad woman - I open the door and launch myself at him grabbing all the parcels.
Lots of goodies - parcel from QVC with 10 packs of Chippies; Handbag Chipboard Book and 2 Tag Books. The handbag book is for someone special's birthday but I can't say because she reads my blog......it's a secret.

Blog Candy from Sharon and Lainy - thanks girls you are both so generous...So much to play with.......could someone please invent days with more hours in them.

It's been a busy day.....

Wow it's been a busy day ....lots of card orders finished and one or two challenges posted as well.
Why do I always end up in such a mess...start with great intentions putting all the mess in a container on my desk and then hey ho...before I know they are all over the floor.  Am I worried....no.....it's nothing a cup of coffee, a bin liner and the hoover won't sort out.

Beth's Blog Candy

Beth is giving away the most gorgeous blog candy to celebrate her 100th post and in my fav colour .....pink. All you have to do is make a card following the sketch, post a link on your blog and leave a comment before midnight on 11th May. Still plenty time girls...pop along and take a look.
Here is Henrietta - my fav image from Pink Petticoat along with the sentiment "Does My Bum Look Big in This?"...don't answer please ..and using papers from the "Little Fleurs" CD.

Arty Girlz Challenge #32

This week's challenge from Arty Girlz is an "Open Theme" sponsored by Trimcraft who have given some fab Laura Ashley goodies as a prize for the lucky winner. Trimcraft are launching their new website on 1st May - definitely a date for the diary.

I love the new range of Laura Ashley and have used papers from both the Contemporary and Traditional paper packs.

Is it just me?

Is it just me or does anyone else have problems reading the "Word Verification" letters when posting comments...I can sometimes sit for ages just trying to make them out. As it's a special week for me with 5000 hits on my blog please tell me if you too are a sufferer and at the end of the week I will pick someone out at random and send them a little goodie bag. Please tell me it's not just me!!!!!

DCM Challenge - Most Distressing & Tag You're It

The challenge this week from DCM was set by Keryn and is to make "a card for any season, any holiday, any occasion but you need to use either a fingernail, curled edges, sandpaper, tearing, anything you like really as long as looks like it's had a fair bit or wear and tear". I used papers from "Paper Blossom" which is available on the Funky Hand website as a download. I distressed the backing paper with an emery board which I think works just as well as some of the fancy tools and then inked the edges with a brown inkpad. Tore a strip of pink and then cut out the letters from the Paper Blossom alphabet and placed them alternately on little torn strips of white card. Cut out a flower from another paper with Cricut George and Basic Shapes inked the edges and finished with an antique looking brad. Hope it looks suitably shabby but chic.

And using the same papers a tag for the "Tag You're It" Challenge.
I have a whole box of slide mounts but it's sods law that when you need them you can't find them. I did find one in the bottom of a drawer but it was a bit damaged so I cut in two ...so hope this still counts girls.

Fab's Big christmas Challenge - April

Well it's time for Fab's Big Christmas Challenge - where does time go - can it really be a month since the last one and yikes I wonder how many days it is until Christmas.

This was using images from Pink Petticoat "Simply Christmas" adding some self adhesive gems - my favourite style of the moment - monochrome.

The papers for this one came from a pack of Christmas papers by Papercraft 4 You and I used Pink Petticoat "Playful Monograms" for the wording.

Well that 2 cards made.....hope to get another 2 done to complete my 4 for this month challenge.

Big Blog Candy Mountain

Well I've had a root around in my stash and there are lots of goodies up for grabs to celebrate 5000 hits on my blog. There's such a pile of stuff, I've decided to have 3 prizes.
1. "Now That's Funky" CD from Funky Hand.
2. Wire Winder with 6 design sheets from Fiskars.
Big thank you to Anice from Funky Hand and Jill from Fiskars for giving me these items for my blog candy.

3. Brenda Pinnick Pocket Page Album Kit with papers and ribbon; chipboard alphabet stickers; self adhesive ribbons; flowers, gems and lots of extra papers and embellishments.

All you have to do is leave a comment on this post and I will randomly select 3 winners on 10th May. If you post a link to my blog candy on your own blog, I will enter your name twice in the draw. I will leave this post at the top of my blog until the winners are selected (don't know quite how to do that yet) to save you trawling through my blog to find it.
GET THOSE COMMENTING FINGERS BUSY....GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!!!!

I've been Tagged...Oh Help

I've been tagged by Vicky...thanks a bunch Vicky. Not that I am ungrateful for you thinking of me but although I have nearly knotched up 3 score years, my life hasn't been all that interesting and my first thought was " oh help...what on earth am I going to say." I need to tell you all 7 interesting facts about myself and I tell you it's been "racking my brains" time. Well here goes....

1. I adore chocolate (nothing interesting in that, I hear you say) but my teeth don't. If I eat too much my teeth ache and it so painful...roll on dentures.
2. I won a card competition a few years ago with Simply Cards & Papercraft. The prize was £100 of Docrafts products.
3. I passed my driving test at the first attempt at the age of 50. I thought I would never get the hang of the changing gear malarkey but hey I did it and now can't imagine not being able to drive.
4. The proudest moments in my life were when my two grandsons Brodie and Oliver were born...it's the best feeling in the world being a Grandma.
5. I hate....ice cream...don't know why but even as a child I couldn't eat it.
6. I once sang "My old man's a Dustman" on stage with (wait for it) Lonnie Donegan....who the **** is Lonnie Donegan, I hear you ask. Well you probably have to be over 50 to remember him, he wasn't exactly the Robbie Williams of his day either.
7. And last but not least, apart from cardmaking, I am also addicted to crosswords. My idea of heaven is curling up on the sofa on a Sunday afternoon with all the crosswords from the Sunday papers.

Well that's me and now I have to tag five other people...let me see if I can choose folk who have had more interesting lives than me. Here goes.... Anice.........Karen......Queen of Camelot or Maj as I like to call her.....Fran and Tracy.

WOW!!! 5000 Hits on my Blog

Wow... I can't believe that folk are that interested in my ramblings but the counter tells me that I have reached the giddy heights of 5000 hits on my blog...wow....that is a reason to celebrate........may even toodle off and have a little drinkie.
Now as a little thank you to you all, I have to come up with something special.....let me have a think for a couple of days and a root around in my stash....I do know that there will be one extra special item in there....no I'm not telling you yet......so watch this space.......be back soon.

ArteyPico Award

I have just been given the "ArteyPico" award from Vicky...thanks Vicky it's very much appreciated.As I have already been given this award and it's very difficult to choose just 5 people who deserve to win this, I have decided to award it to a great bunch of gals...who inspire me.......who make me laugh and who are all as nutty as I am......have you guessed yet......they are.....

Anice and the FunkyHand Design Team

Consider yourselves awarded girls - what have I done? ....scenes of much merriment in the camp spring to mind!!!!

Mojo's working overtime

My mojo's definitely working overtime today and I am taking full advantage because who knows when it will desert me again. These are 2 of my favourite designs and this time I have used the Enchanted Collection papers ...Magic Forest and Illusion from Craftwork Cards... one of my favourite places to shop - they are gorgeous papers flittered with glitter and in my favourite colours too - pink and black.
It's amazing how different papers can entirely change the look of a design. Did you notice there are quite a few favourites going around!!

Daring Cardmakers Mid Week Dare

Daring Cardmakers are introducing a new series to their little mid week dares based around traditional anniversary gift themes..it can be for any occasion but should be inspired by the gift theme of the chosen year. They have decided to pick the year at random....so we start off with 7th Anniversary which is.......Wool or Copper. Here is my attempt....I doodled two sheep and covered them with white wool which I teased until it was fluffyand then 3D'd them ...is that a word.....onto the card and finished off with some dots and doodling. Didn't get much chance last week to take part in many challenges so am getting myself in the swing again...they are so much fun and it's great to see what everyone else comes up with.

ArtyGirlz Challenge # 31

This week's challenge from Arty Girlz has been set by their talented Guest Designer Paula from Mini Book Pixie blog who says:

"I love patterened paper very much but it is far too easy to whack on cards etc. So for my theme, I want to see handmade backgrounds. Get those fingers inky & painted & make a custom piece of paper/card for your design"

I am in my element with this - I love messy. Cut flowers from white linen cardstock in various shapes and sizes with Cricut George and Basic Shapes. Stuck them down with repositionable glue. Using Hero Arts Friends Background and Versamark ink stamped all round the flowers and then embossed with white. With the flowers still in place I inked all over the flowers and embossing with Pink and then removed the flowers. Using kitchen roll buffed the embossed wording to remove any excess ink and the white really shows through. Then stamped with a flourish stamp from HOTP with a light charcoal ink pad. I then stuck the flowers down but a little offset from their original position, punched circles for their centres from cardstock I inked with Ruby. To finish off edged the card with the same inkpad. Really enjoyed this challenge. Sorry about the photo - I think a little bit of glare from the flash.

Back to the Day Job

Well the fun and frolics at the weekend are over and it's back to the day job...cracking on with the samples for Funky Hand but it ain't a chore when you're working with gorgeous papers and such high quality artwork ....need to send them off this weekend ready for the Create and Craft Show on 9th May - be sure to watch .....there are some really talented folk on the design team and you will just love the papers. Do I sound like a long playing record?........Sorry....

This one was using the "Misty March" papers from "Now That's Funky" and the male card was using "Winter Skating" papers from "Funky Seasons".

Happy Birthday Karen

Sending birthday hugs and kisses to my very special friend Karen who's 34 today..hey that's just a babe. You ain't over the hill yet, matey.
Sorry I can't be with you to celebrate your special day.
"Don't be despondent, do not despair
At least you've still got your teeth
And all of your hair."
Love you just the way you are.
From your ancient,wrinkly,been round the block a few times, friend.
Pay Karen a visit and wish her a Happy Birthday.

Great Blog Candy

You can't miss out on this one...Anice from Funky Hand is offering some great blog candy on her blog to celebrate 10,000 hits.

"In there are some Funky Hand acid free papers, a few wire embellishments, chipboard flowers, a collection of various Prima Flowers, some ribbons and some double sided pads. I've also included my latest CD Now that's Funky. If you are the winner of the candy you can choose any one of my CDs if you already have Now that's Funky or just fancy a different CD..it's completely up to you! Take a look at my website to get an idea of what's on each different CD. http://www.funkyhand.com/"
All you have to do is leave a comment and Anice will randomly select a winner next weekend - there may even be a few surprises.
Go for it.......you won't be disappointed.

Fiskars Frolics

Just arrived home from the Fiskars Training Day in Nottingham - well it's called "Training" but to us crafters it's just being allowed to play all day - trying out all the new products and fab goodies - great fun and a crafter's dream - 2 things we love to do...play and chat. Great to meet up with friends old and new and catch up on all the goss in the craft world.

A big thank you to Jill for another wonderful day.

Sorry didn't have time to take pics when the craft mojo got going but believe me when Fiskars Fillies get crafting the tables disappear under piles of stuff... can you believe there is such a thing as messy crafters!

Some pics from the rogues gallery and believe me some are bigger rogues than others - you know who you are - no naming names here.

My favourite Fiskars Fillies or 2 - Mad Mares - my crafty mates Karen & Lorraine - thanks for looking after the old girl, for all the laughter and fun and thankfully no little accidents this time.

More Inspiration

This card was inspired by an article by Emma Beaman in the May issue of Crafts Beautiful. A great way of using up the little scraps of paper that us crafters just won't throw away. A bit fiddly to make but effective, I think.

Using "Mans' World" collection from "Now That's Funky" CD.

And this one came from me - sometimes we find inspiration from the strangest places and store it away for use later. This was using "Cottage Linens" collection from....yes you've guessed it -Funky Hand - V.Funky CD.

Trying to Multi Task

Trying to Multi Task this weekend - another sample for the DT at Funky Hand using "Chocolate Drinks" collection from the "Funky Seasons" CD. Cut out the circles using Fiskars Shapecutter and outlined them with small circles cut out with the small circle handpunch finished off with a little bit of doodling. The hearts were cut with Cricut George & Basic Shapes. Must give credit where credit is due I got my inspiration for this card from Leonie Pujol - an ATC challenge featured on her blog. Pay her a visit for some great inspiration and lots of giggles. I love watching Leonie on QVC - so natural, lots of fun and very talented lady.

Great Blog Candy to be won

To celebrate 15,000 hits on her blog Enfys - one of my fellow gang mates on the Funky Hand DT is giving away some great blog candy - the complete set of the very latest Studio G stamps (15 in total) and Rhona Farrer Flower and Butterfly stamps. It's a fabulous prize and very generous. Go take a look and leave a comment before 23rdApril....you know you can't resist.

Mystery solved

Well the mystery solved - no more sleepless nights - my PIF candy is from Carol - thanks Carol more gorgeous things to play with. Am having a day off today, no crafting, no blog hopping - off to visit my sister who babysits her little grandson Ben on a Friday. It will be great fun but a lot more tiring than cardmaking. Normal service will be resumed tomorrow.

I'm Smitten

I'm smitten big time...just can't stop making cards with these Funky Hand CD's - printed off lots of papers last night before going to bed. Got so engrossed that I even missed "The Apprentice" - poor hubby thought I was ill. Couldn't sleep for all the ideas running through my head..should have got up and written them down because I got up this morning and they had gone....where..I don't know...the furthest recesses of my mind obviously. This was using "Cottage Linens" collection from the V. Funky CD. The texture effect on the background paper is amazing. I actually stitched around the edge of the card but unfortunately that doesn't show up too well in the photo.




This one is from the "Warm Cocoa" collection from "Now That's Funky" CD.
I think this is probably my most favourite collection and be warned you are going to be seeing lots more Funky Hand cards.

"Daring Card Makers" & "Tag You're It" Challenges

The challenge this week from DaringCardMakers is "Doodling on Patterned Papers" - I have always been a bit of a doodler ..you just have to look at my telephone message pad.
I am really killing 2 birds with one stone with this card. Busy making samples for the Funky Hand Design Team and am having great fun playing around with all the papers. These are from the "Hills of Heather" collection on the V.Funky CD. I adore the colours so soft and muted. Check out the website, you won't be disappointed.
Didn't think I would find the time this week to take part in any challenges but when I saw this card it was just crying out to be doodled on.

Lots of bits of scraps left over...so let's make a tag. The challenge this week from "Tag You're It" is Polka Dots and I couldn't resist a little bit of doodling.

Big Mystery

I received some lovely blog candy in the post this morning but don't know who it's from.

Don't keep me in suspense...hate mysteries and also don't know who to thank...leave a little message for me so that I can thank you properly and add a link to your blog.....don't be shy.....

What a dilemma

My plan today was to get my card orders finished ...what is it they say about the best laid plans and lo and behold it happened.

Two parcels of goodies arrived, the first one - my new Fiskars Demonstration Kit with lots of new goodies to play with... but I have been waiting for this for months and of course, it would arrive today. The second one - some Funky Hand CD's from Anice to get me started with some samples for the design team. Which one do I play with first.....oh no I'm rubbish at decisions.

All work and no play

I had great fun making this card - the brief was a "This Is Your Life" style card for a guy who is retiring and to show all the jobs he had done. The challenge was finding all the clipart that I needed but once I had it all sussed out, the card itself didn't take that long to make. I find that sometimes the design element takes longer to think out than the actual making.

I just hope he likes it!!

Why am I always chasing my tail?

Why am I always chasing my tail? Well the truth of the matter is I get distracted. Lots of card orders to finish and what do I do....just quickly go on the computer to check e-mails and then I think I will have a quick look on my fav blogs to see what everyone is up to and that's it... before you know it an hour is gone and then I have to go like the clappers to catch up.
Well this morning was no exception but...am I glad I did....Michelle at Poppicrafts has just opened her new online shop and wow....you must go and have a peek...have your credit card at the ready....gorgeous ribbons, embellishments, flowers etc all at fantastic prices.
Please don't blame me if you can't resist temptation.

I am so chuffed

Well now that it's official I can put you out of your misery - you didn't have that long to wait did you......I have been asked to join a new Design Team at Funky Hand. I still can't believe it...am walking on Cloud Nine. I love their CD's, the quality of the graphics is second to none, the detail on the papers when they are printed is excellent and I adore the soft muted tones of the whole range. You can tell that I am a big fan and am so honoured that I will be working alongside Anice who is a very talented and funky lady.
Now I know how it feels if you have been awarded an Oscar!!!!! Congrats to all the others and I bet they are just as excited as I am.
Back to reality....I'm afraid, lots to do today so it's back to work.

New Kid on the "Blog"

Excuse the terrible pun but we have a new kid on the block.
Vicky has recently had her cards featured on the Pink Petticoat Customer Gallery and decided to create her own blog. Another mad blogger!!
Please pay her a visit and welcome her to the wonderful world of blogging. I did tell her that it is even more addictive than card making but great fun.

Another Jaunt Away

It's Sunday - but where is it written that us crafters work Monday to Friday. Another busy week ahead - since I started this crafting malarkey what other kind is there?
Lots of card orders to finish, ironing to catch up on (wouldn't tell this to just anyone but my ironing pile looks like Mt Everest) house needs a little bit of TLC and some meals to cook to tide my "Billy No Cook" husband over while I'm away and most important, blog candys to send out.
Off to Nottingham on Sunday for a Fiskars Training Day - goody goody...lots of new products to play with and a chance to catch up with my Fiskar Filly mates, Lorraine, Karen, Ros and Margaret. Only thing is there are never enough hours in a day to play with all these new things.
I am going to be VERY NAUGHTY now but later in the week I hope to be able to share with you all the latest news in my crafty life...I am cock-a-hoop, over the moon and like a kid in a sweet shop. WATCH THIS SPACE......

Grandad's Birthday Party

Totally no crafting today - grandsons Brodie and Oliver arrived to help Grandad celebrate his birthday - we had a real fun day. Brodie and Grandma made Chocolate Crispies in the afternoon and to be honest, he made less mess than his Grandma.

Brodie obviously thinks that Grandad doesn't have enough puff to blow out his candles and is lending a hand. But all too soon it's time to go home and Grandma and Grandad crash out for a rest.

Clever Dog

It's Buddy's Dad's birthday tomorrow and this is the card he made all by himself with a ....teeny.... bit of help from his Mum.
Oh how I wish that were true...he has been flat out on the sofa snoring his head off for the last 2 hours after running around like a mad thing chasing rabbits on our forest walk. If only he could make cards, what a help and hey he would be happy to work for some dog biscuits.

Blog Candy

Congratulations to Tracy; Lainy and Sharon for winning my PIF Blog Candy.
Rather novel method of selection - wrote the names on pieces of card, threw them on the floor and let the dog select them - he loves bits of paper but I did have a chore getting them out of his mouth again and it's just as well I used permanent marker as the card was rather wet by the time I retrieved it. Just as well it was only 3 as he did get rather fed up of the game towards the end.
Send me an e-mail with your address and I will pop them in the post for you. You can find my e-mail in my profile. Hope you have fun playing with it and I will be interested to see what you can do with it - you talented people. Apologies to the folk who didn't win - maybe next time.

"Men" are difficult

Cards for men can be a challenge just like the species themselves but I find Get Well cards the most difficult - football and sporty doesn't seem to fit the bill. Why can't they be like us girlies when flowers seem to fit every occasion.

Here I decided to go "cute" and used a couple of images from Paper Nation.

Arty Girlz Challenge

The challenge this week from Arty Girlz is Black and White - my absolute favourite - I love monochromatic cards - they are so elegant, clean and crisp and it took no time at all to make which is just as well as I am still racing against time with the order list.
Once again when pressed for time, my Pink Petticoat box comes to the rescue.

Winter's Back

Wow....winter returns to the North East of Scotland - think it snowed all night...so magical with the trees flittered with snow - the wonders of nature.
Not so magical when my doggy friend is desperate to go for his walk...why do dogs love snow so much? He's having great fun and I'm freezing. Never mind home soon for a hot cuppa.....