Happy 19th birthday Muffin - cute cat pics!

I love looking at other pets in Blogland so I thought that today would be an ideal opportunity to share some pics of my feline friends! 

Today is my old boy, Muffin's 19th birthday and as you can see from the picture, he is now a fragile little thing (with a slightly insane look about him!).  He is also very deaf - or does a really good job of ignoring me!  He had a little plate of smoked salmon last night as a treat and there may be a little bit more for today - if he's good!!!

He doesn't wander any further than the back garden now - this is his favourite spot, sunbathing by the rhubarb.  Can you spot him?

And, its not his birthday, but my other cat always likes to steal the limelight.  Here's the beautiful Monty ....

He is an indoor cat and is terrified of being outside, especially of walking on grass (I wonder if this is a real phobia??).  At 9 years old he is a total big baby and this is what he spends most of his day doing - lying down making himself look pretty!

His second favourite past time is sitting by the fish tank watching for hours on end, trying to catch the loaches when they swim by.  He never quite succeeds though, I wonder why???



Hoped you liked to see my little kitty pics!  I'll be back tomorrow with another card.

Thanks for stopping by,

Amanda

Card for a Beer Monster ...

... actually, he's more of a "Red Wine Monster" than a Beer Monster but I couldn't find a digi suitable!

This card is a quick and easy one for my OH whose birthday is soon.  He never looks at my blog so there's no problem posting this before his birthday.  And as I type, he is far too interested in the magical world of Harry Potter, killing death eaters and finding horcrux's (via his PS3) to even notice that I've just made his card just a few feet away from him!  A typical chill-out Bank Holiday in my house - me crafting, him on the PS3.  We tend not to go out on Bank Holidays as it is too busy everywhere.

Anyway, the papers I've used are from a Kay & Co pad and the digi (from Pollycraft) has been coloured with pro markers.  I've kept the embellishments simple and just hand cut a star, added a button and a bit of baker's twine.  The sentiment stamp is from Hot Off the Press.



I am going to enter this card into the following challenges:

Challenge up your life - Something for a man

Crazy 4 Challenges - Card for a man

Card Mad Fairy - Buttons

Do you stack up? - For a boy/man

Craft us Crazy - Anything goes

Thanks for popping by,

Amanda

Cupcakes at Craft Your Days Away

Gaynor has set our new challenge today at Craft Your Days Away and it is a great one:

CUPCAKES

So, its time to make some delicious craft projects to enter into the challenge - remember, we are a multi-craft site so we look forward to seeing your cupcake creations.

Simon Says Stamp are sponsoring us for this challenge and they are offering a $10 voucher to one lucky winner.

I have used the image Kiki Cakes from Pollycraft available HERE and I have coloured her with pro markers and added a bit of extra sparkle with Stickles glitter.  The paper is from the Tea House collection by Dovecraft, as is the cute little cupcake brad.  I've added a little bow from baker's twine and the sentiment stamp is by Cat's Life Press.  I'e also used Spellbinders and Nellie Snellen dies.

I am going to enter this card into the following challenges:



Card Making Momas - Pink

Digis with Attitude - Anything goes

Poodles Parlour - Anything goes

Divas by Design - Birthdays

Simon says stamp - Food and Drink

Thanks for visiting today,

Amanda

He Passed!

Just a quick and easy card for my son today.  He passed his driving test, 1st time, earlier this week!  We were all very proud of him.  I found a great digi over at The Clip Art Fairy called Driving Test - you can find it HERE and it was a bargain 25p!  I coloured the image with pro markers - trying to make the car look like my son's little silver Honda car (although I ddin't think he would appreciate any sparkle, hence the grey colour).

I am goingto enter this card into the following challenges:

Paper crafting journey - Anything goes
Cards for Men - Anything goes

Thanks for stopping by today!

Amanda

Ruby's Rainbow News and Challenge

I've some exciting news to share ... I have been invited to be part of the DT over at Ruby's Rainbow Challenge blog.  When I was asked, it took me about half a second to say yes!  Today is my first challenge card with them as part of the DT and the challenge is:

STITCHING

Ruby's Rainbow challenges are set every other Wednesday morning - so don't forget to join us with your stitched card for this challenge (either real or faux).

So, for my card I have used a Whiff of Joy stamp - Willow Shopping - and I have coloured her with pro markers.  The papers are from DCWV and the flowers are from the Fizzy Moon collection.  I just added a little metal brad as the centre of the flower and the brilliant sentiment was a freebie from Claire Curd's lovely blog.  I just love all of the "Keep Calm" things that are about at the moment.  I cut the sentiment out with scallop scissors and stitched around it with my sewing machine.  I also did a zig-zag stitch all around the edge of the base layer.

I am going to enter this card into Samuel Taylor's August challenge as I used their sketch for my design.  They have a fantastic Martha Stewart punch and Gorjuss rubber stamp as a prize!

I'm also going to enter the following other challenges too:

A Spoonful of Sugar - Birthday card

Try it on Tuesday - Anything goes

Paper Playtime - Anything goes

Don't forget to join us over at Ruby's Rainbow - I look forward to seeing you there!

Amanda

Fizzy with flowers

I had made a little pact with myself not to buy any more papers as I have so many already.  These bright Totally Tropical papers are a freebie with this month's Card Making and Papercraft magazine - so I didn't really buy any more papers, did I?  They've got a lovely Christmas papers pad with next month's magazine so I may have to buy that one too!  The papers are certainly bright and very Summery with the tropical shades of jade, orange and hot pink.

I've coloured the Fizzy Moon stamp with pro markers and added some stickles glitters to the centres of the flowers.  I think the papers say it all on this one so I've kept the embellies to a minimum, using only a bit of ric-rac ribbon and a few gems.



I am going to enter this card into the following challenges:

Paper playtime - Anything goes

Creative Inspirations Paint - orange and pink

One Stitch at a Time - Anything goes

Crafty Calendar challenge - August hot colours

I love pro markers - sketch and must use pro markers

Thanks for stopping by,

Amanda

Penny Johnson - "Looking Chic" card

Two Christmas cards in just over a week - that must be a record for me!  I love this stamp - and it always stamps really nice.  It is "Looking Chic" from Penny Johnson.  The papers are all from DCWV - I'm still trying to use up a DCWV set that I purchased from QVC a couple of years ago.  They were in 2 drawer boxes - I bought all 3 sets of them and I've still got loads left!!  Do you know the ones I mean?

I've coloured the image with pro markers and added some Glamour Dust glitter and a few gems in the corner.  The circular sentiment stamp is from Cat's Life Press and I've used my new Marianne's Poinsettia die.  As you can see, I'm still practising photographing glittery things - trying to capture the sparkles!

I am going to enter this card into the following challenges:

Passion for Promarkers - Divas with Glam and Glitter
Sweet Stamps - Bling it Up
Ruby's Rainbow - Gems
Ooh La La - Christmas Card
Stamps & Fun = Creativity - I used their sketch
Gingerloft - Make it Sparkle

Thanks for visiting today,

Amanda 

Craft Your Days Away - Our first birthday!

Our challenge blog over at Craft Your Days Away has been running for a whole year now and so our challenge this time is a nice and easy one for you:

BIRTHDAYS



Crafty Emma's Store are sponsoring us for our first birthday celebrations and we have lots of amazing prizes for this challenge.  Pop over to Craft Your Days Away to see the lovely prizes we've got on offer for you.  Also, if you fancy being a Guest Designer for a future challenge, just add GD after your name when you enter the challenge.

I have used one of my favourite LOTV rubber stamps on my card, coloured with pro markers.  The sentiment stamp is also by LOTV.  The papers are from the Quite Contrary pad by My Mind's Eye and the flowers were from a £1 store pack.  I've also added a touch of Cosmic Shimmer glitter to the fairy wings and around the card.  I still can't manage to photo the glitter to catch the sparkle though!  Any tips are welcome!!

  

I'm going to enter this card into the following challenges:

Card Makin' Mamas - birthday cards
Charizma Cards - embellishment bingo (flowers, gems, circles)
Craft us Crazy - Anything goes
Crafts and Me - Anything goes
I love pro markers - Things with Wings
The Pixie Cottage - I used their sketch

So, don't forget to Craft Your Days Away with us!

Thanks for visiting today,

Amanda

Christmas in July

I've seen so many of you out there making Christmas cards in July, it has inspired me to make a start on mine too.  Seems strange to be making Christmas cards though on such a lovely day when we've had a barbecue in the back garden and drinking Crabbie's ginger beer (yum!).  If I looked back to my blog in January I probably said that I was going to make one Christmas card a week to stock up - well, I failed!  This is the first one in ages.

Here's what I've used:

Teddy stamp - Lili of the Valley, coloured with pro markers + a bit of Stickles glitter

Papers and card - all by DCWV except the gingerbread paper which is from a Forever Friends pad

And just a bit of added bling from my stash

I am going to enter this card into the following challenges:

Crafty Catz - Christmas

Fussy and Fancy - Christmas in July

Sassy Studio - Christmas in July

Christmas Challenges -I used their sketch

Crafty Creations - Christmas

I love pro markers - Anything goes

Thanks for looking - less than 5 months 'til Christmas now, best get on with the card making!

Amanda

Thanks

Thank you cards are something that I never have enough of (as well as male birthday cards).  So, it was no surprise that there was nothing in my stock when I looked for one yesterday.  I had to make-do with a blank one and decided that it was time to make a few to keep by me.  "Thank you" is something that we don't say enough of - we are far too quick to point out errors or to criticise, but it can make someone's day just to take a little bit of time to say "Thank You".

I have kept the design fairly cleam and simple, which is something I'm favouring at the moment.  The digi image is from Meljen designs and the paper was from a Forever Friends magazine freebie pad.  I've coloured the image with pro markers and added a little bit of sparkle with a clear Sakura Gelly roll pen.

I am going to enter this card into the following challenges:

I love pro markers - Anything goes (must use pro markers)
Papercraft Star - Anything goes
Anything goes challenge - flowers
Simon say stamp and show - Anything goes
Sketch and Stash - I used their sketch and my new Meljen's Digi

Hope you like my card and a big "Thank You" from me for visiting my blog,

Amanda 

Craft Your Days Away #25 Summertime

I can't believe that we are up to challenge #25 already at Craft Your Days Away - we've almost been running for a year now.  Our newest challenge has been set by Donna and she has chosen:

SUMMERTIME

I'm not sure where the British Summertime has gone - lets hope it returns soon.  Anyway, we have our regular sponsor, Simon Says Stamp, who are offering a prize of $10 to spend in their shop.





 I love the image that I have used on my card - it is the current July freebie over at Digi Stamp Boutique.  I've coloured it with pro markers - isn't it just a perfect image for Summer time?  I have used some neglected DCWV papers and stickers that I had in a kit from QVC a couple of years ago.
 



I'm going to enter this card into the following challenges:

Digi stamp boutique - July competition, their image

Sweet Sketch Wednesday - I used their sketch

Bloggers Challenge - Summertime

Daring card makers - Wish you were here

Fairy fun Fridays - on holiday

Fussy and Fancy - Summer

Samuel Taylors - Summer - Check out their prize - some fab Molly Blooms stamps!!!  (I need the beach side huts stamps)

Don't forget to enter into our challenge at Craft Your Days Away!

Thanks for looking,

Amanda

At last - another card!

I've finally managed to get a bit of crafting done today!  There's no chance topping up my suntan with the dreadful weather we are having at the moment, so a great opportunity to get a little bit of card making started after my little break.

The cute little mouse image is from Meljen Designs and is coloured with pro markers.  I've used a cuttlebug polka dot embossing folder and a MS border punch.  The scallop die is from Nellie Snellen.  The sentiment stamp and the pale blue paper were both from magazine freebies.

I am going to enter this card into the following challenges:

Fab 'n' Funky - Animal Magic

Freshly Brewed - Animals

Paper pretties - embossing

Die cut dreams - Animal antics

Thanks for stopping by,

Amanda

A few holiday pics ....

My distinct lack of blogging over the past couple of weeks has been because I've been away on holiday.  The suitcases have now been unpacked, the washing has been done and most of the huge mountain of ironing has almost been cleared.  At least I still have my tan, for the time being.

As I have no crafting at all to show, I thought that I would share a few of my holiday pics of sunny Cyprus.  We had to endure (!) temperatures in the top 30's C so frequently had to cool off in the pool or with a delicious cocktail or two!  It was our 3rd visit to the same hotel and on arrival in our room, had a bottle of wine waiting for us with a "welcome back" message - which I though was a lovely gesture. 

Here's my youngest son, with a new hairstyle - in the form of a strategically placed palm tree!

We had powercuts due to a terrible explosion that occured in Limassol while we were there and so all air conditioning had to be turned off for 2 days to conserve energy, in order for the hospitals and emergency services to have power.  Because it was so incredibally hot, we took a trip out to sea on a traditional Greek fishing boat - that was just about the only place where there was any breeze.  The boat stopped for swimming near Cape Greco - I braved it and had a swim, although I didn't dare snorkel because I may just have seen how deep the water actually was.

There are always lots of stray cats in Cyprus and there was a litter of adorable kittens who lived around the hotel gardens.  We had to buy cat food so that we could feed them ....

If I could have sneaked them in my suitcase, I would have brought them all home with me.

Time to get the brochures to look for where to go next year now! 

Hopefully I may now get time to do a bit of crafting tomorrow.

Thanks for looking,

Amanda



Craft Your Days Away #24 Fancy Folds

A scheduled post from me so, finger crossed, it posts okay!

I'm here to let you know that the new challenge at Craft your Days Away, which has been set by DT member Shelley is:

FANCY FOLDS

 So, show us what you can do with some fancy folds on your craft project!

We have a fab sponsor this time - Meljen Designs.  One lucky winner will win 4 digi images of their choice from Meljen's.  The only problem will be which 4 to choose because they are all so sweet!

I chose to use Ballerina Girl which I just love.  I made a simple stepper card (I will get the measurements put on the blog soon)  and I have just used a new Spellbinders die.  The image has been coloured with pro markers and a sprinkle of Cosmic Shimmer glitter.

The sentiment is from Pollycraft and I've just added a few flowers and bling from my stash.  Almost forgot, the papers were a Forever Friends magazine freebie.

Thanks for looking,

Amanda

Recycling some fabric

Firstly, an apology for not being around in Blogland very much this last week.  I just don't seem to get so much time in the warm weather because I'm always pottering around the garden doing something.  I've also put the Bubbles game widget at the bottom of my blog, which I'm totally addicted to, and every time I open my blog I can't stop playing the frustrating little game!

Quick post tonight - of my work in progress.  Is it recycling or upcycling (which seems to be the new phrase), I'm not sure?  The denim patch has been cut from a pair of my son's old jeans.  The fabric flower is from a pillow case and the trim is new, from Dandelion Designs.

Here's how I made the flower:

Cut a circle of fabric (I drew around a cup to get the shape) and sew around the edge with running stitch.

Gather the stitches together and finish off.  Then flatten the circle with the gathers in the centre, adjust the gathers evenly if necessary.

Cover the gathers with a little disc of fabric and add a button to the centre.  (You could cut out a little felt flower and add some pretty beads to the centre instead).  Hey presto, a simple fabirc flower!

You'll have to pop back in a day or two to see what I've used the heart patch on - its not finished yet!

Thanks for looking,

Amanda