Meet little Lola

Its been a bad few weeks in my household lately so it has been a refreshing change to welcome our new little kitten into our home.  Her name is Lola and she was a stray kitten rescued by the RSPCA.

My beautiful old cat, Muffin, passed away last month at the grand old age of 19 years and we missed him so much.  Lola has helped to fill the huge gap that Muffin left behind.

After several weeks being very poorly in hospital, my grandad passed away last week and we had his funeral yesterday.  The sun shone down on us and, all things considering, it was a nice day.  He would have been proud. 

With everything that has been happening lately I am so disorganised for Christmas this year and my blogging has been seriously neglected over the past few weeks.  I will be running around on Christmas Eve like a manic.  Goodness knows what the kids will find in their Christmas stockings this year!

The kids put the Christmas tree up last night, while I listened to my new Michael Buble Christmas CD and stopped Lola from eating the tinsel, chewing the tree lights and diving in the box of decorations.  There's nothing like a new little kitten to make you forget your worries - they will keep you running around after them all day!

Have a great day!

Amanda



Craft Your Days Away DT card #35 Snowmen

This is my second post of the day - my Blogger posts are like a bus .... you wait ages for nothing and then 2 turn up together!

I'm back to show you my DT card for today's challenge at Craft Your Days Away albeit a bit late. It was my turn to choose the challenge this time and I decided on SNOWMEN so let's see your last minute Christmas cards or decorations featuring snowmen.

We are being sponsored by our regular monthly sponsor, Simon Says Stamp, who are offering one lucky winner a voucher for $10 to spend in their store.

I chose a digi from Pink Gem designs for my cute snowman picture, called Snowman Soup, and coloured it with promarkers.  The papers are from the Christmas Stack from DCWV, as are the candy cane and button stickers.

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

Sweet Sketch Wednesday - I used their sketch

Card Makin' Momas - Christmas

Glitter Geeks - Let it snow

Crafty calendar - cold and frosty

Hotshot Crafts - pro markers

Moving along with the times - last minute Christmas

Paperplay - Snowman

Thanks for visiting today,

Amanda

Cardmadfairy DT #23 Tags

Oops, I'm a day late posting this - better late than never though!

The new challenge over at Cardmadfairy's Digi Days Challenge is TAGS.  You've got loads of time to enter this challenge because we are taking a little break over Christmas and will be back on 6th January 2012 with our next challenge.

We are sponsored this time by A Day for Daisies, who have some lovely digis on there site.  They are offering one lucky winner a voucher for 3 digis from their shop.  Pop over to our challenge blog to have a look at what the rest of the DT have made.

I've cut my tag shape out with a Sizzix Originals die and the image, from A Day for Daisies, is coloured with pro markers.  I must get some more of the butterflies when I see them - I think they were from a pound store - £1 for four butterflies.

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

A Day for Daisies - Anything goes
Crafty Catz - Anything goes
Hotshot Craft - Promarkers
Samuel Taylor - Anything goes (Check out their prize - Kasiercraft Mini Albums and a wonderful Jillibean Soup 6x6 Paper Pad!!!)

Thanks for visiting today,

Amanda

Ruby's Rainbow DT card #18

It seems like it has been ages since I made any cards - somehow I finally managed to get this one finished off in the nick of time.  Ruby's Rainbow have set their new challenge today and it is MONOCHROME so let's see your cards just in the one colour.  I did have to add a bit of brown for the hair - somehow I don't think purple hair would have suited!

This will be our last challenge before our little Christmas break - we will be back on the 4th January 2012 with our first challenge of the new year.

Pop over to the challenge blog to join in with us.

I've used the Dancing Willow rubber stamp and I've coloured the image with pro markers.  The papers are some old Papermania ones and I've used a MS border punch.

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

Creative Craft Challenge - real or faux stitching

Drunken stampers - monochromatic

Sweet Stop - I used their sketch

Papertake weekly - Anything goes

Thanks for looking,

Amanda

A winning night

I think that last night must have been my son's lucky night because look at all of the goodies he won at his school's Christmas fayre!  Okay, mom and dad had to keep supplying him with money for the various tombolas and stalls but I'm sure we will enjoy drinking the various bottles of wine and the whiskey that he won!

In the hamper was this cute hand knitted Father Christmas that someone must have spent absolutely hours knitting and he's been really well made.  He will be taking his place, sitting under our Christmas tree this year.

Can't believe I'm so disorganised this year for the big day - must get a move on,

Amanda

Cardmadfairy's DT card - Winter Wonderland

I've had to use the fabulous Xmas Owl digi again for this week's DT card because I think he is adorable.  You can find him HERE in Cardmadfairy's Digi Stamp Shop for a bargain 99p!

Our challenge over at Cardmadfairy's Digi Days Challenge for the next fortnight is Winter Wonderland and we are being sponsored by Meljen's Designs who are offering one lucky winner 4 digis from their shop.  Some of the team have being using Meljen's images so pop on over to the challenge blog to have a look.

The image has been coloured with pro markers and liberally applied with Cosmic Shimmer Glitter.  The papers are all from DCWV.  The snowflake is a Sizzlits die and the scallop circle die is from Spellbinders.



Can't wait to see your Winter wonderland cards for our challenge!

Amanda

Ruby's Rainbow - DT card - Music

Firstly I must apologise for being such a bad blogger lately - life hasn't been the best recently AND I've just started working full time which is a bit of a shock to the system after 11 1/2 years working part time!  Its a good job that its only temporary - my card making would suffer otherwise.

Today's card is for the new Ruby's Rainbow challenge which has been set by DT member Silvi.  She has chosen MUSIC.  At first I was a bit stuck with this challenge but then I found some vintage Christmas music paper which I cut into little pages to make a panel.  I thought that the Secret Crafter digi of the angel looked like she was singing too.   After rummaging through my box of stamps, I found the perfect sentiment stamp by Personal Impressions saying "Have yourself a merry little Christmas" - anyone else singing the song now too??

I have coloured the image with pro markers and the various flowers are from my stash.  I've added a few clear dew drops and some snowflake confetti and then added lots of glitter sparkles! 

I need to get cracking with my Christmas cards now - I recently sold all of my stock of Christmas cards at a charity event at work to raise money for Wear it Pink day.  I wasn't expecting them all to sell, I thought I'd be bringing some home but I'm glad that the charity has benefited!

Don't forget to come and join us at Ruby's Rainbow to share your music themed cards too.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

I love pro markers - Anything goes

Crazy Craft Challenge - Free for all

Daisy doodles - Christmas + digi

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Music

Wags n Whiskers - Christmas

Winter Wonderland - cute Christmas image

Thanks for stopping by,

Amanda

Craft Your Days Away DT card - A Recepie

I've made today's card for our new challenge over at Craft Your Days Away.  We've got a great recepie challenge for you this week with some great lines for you to choose from.

Simon Says Stamp are our sponsor for this challenge and are offering a $10 voucher for one lucky winner.

It's not very often that I make a card without a coloured image - but I thought that it would be a bit too much on this one one I'd put it all together.  The gingham paper is from My Mind's Eye and the animal paper is from the Nursery pad by DCWV.  I've used my new MS punch around the page punches - I think these will be used quite a lot, I love them!  So the line of Bingo that I've gone for is Gems, Ribbon and Buttons. 

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

4 Crafty Chicks - Baby

Dutch Dare - Punch time

Crafts and Me - Birthdays

Thanks for stopping by today,

Amanda

Cardmadfairy's Challenge and a DT call

First of all, apologies for the slightly dark photo - that's dull Autumn days for you! 

We have a new challenge at Cardmadfairys Digi days challenge blog - for the next 2 weeks we want to see TEXTURE.  We have a prize of 5 great digis from the shop for one lucky winner.  We are also looking to add to our team and the details of the DT call are on the challenge blog.

I have used a lovely one of Jenni's digis called Buttons available HERE.  I've cut him out and added him to a polka dot background paper to make it look like snow.  The embossing folders are from Cuttlebug.



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

Crimbo Crackers - Make it sparkle

Delightful challenges- snowflakes

Samuel Taylors - Christmas cards

One Stitch at a Time - Use a digi

Thanks for visiting,

Amanda

Ruby's Rainbow DT Card

Today was my turn to pick the theme for the challenge for the next two weeks over at Ruby's Rainbow Challenge blog!  Hope you like my choice - I went with:

Things with wings

So we want to see your birds, butterflies, angels, fairies,dragonflies or any other winged thing you can think of!  Come and join us at the challenge blog.

I have chosen a beautiful Wee Stamps digi called Silver Fairy and I have coloured her with pro markers then added a bit of distress ink around the edges.  I have used a "Happy Birthday" stamp from Hot Off The Press.  The paper is from an old Kay & Co pad and the roses are also some that I've had lying around for ages.  I've used my MS punch around the page set to make a frame for the image.  (By the way, my new set of MS punches has just arrived - can't wait to have a play!!!)  I've added a bit of ribbon, a pearl ribbon slider and a couple of Prima paper flowers to finish off.

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

Digital Tuesday - Anything goes

Creative Stamp Friends - Orange & Brown

Daisy Doodles - Anything goes

Heartsong Inspirations - Anything goes

Crazy Challenge - Something with wings

Birthday sundaes - Birthday sentiment on card

One Stitch at a Time - Use a digi



Thanks for looking today - can't wait to see your winged designs!

Amanda

A bit more buying

I haven't managed to get to the Hobbycraft show at the NEC this time but I am starting to get serious withdrawal symptoms knowing that there is so much crafty stash for sale just a short drive away!!!  QVC must have known this would be the case with lots of other crafters too, so it was perfect timing yesterday to have a Martha Stewart TSV.  I just fell in love with those border punches and had to order them - oh yes, and the "3 further auto deliveries two months apart".  It wasn't my fault - the presenter said they were a MUST for all crafters!  I'm seriously beginning to think that I need to re-think my MS punch storage because it is going to seriously grow over the next few months!

Got some of my current MS punches out to make today's card - I really should use them more, they are superb quality.  I'm still on my mission to use up some of my old stash  and this little Forever Friends decoupage went well with some spotty paper from a neglected paper pad.  Maybe if I make a new card every day - I'll actually need some new stash from the next Hobbycraft show next Spring!

I shall be looking on with envy at those of you posting your new Hobbycraft stash onto your blogs!  Jealous?   Moi?

Thanks for looking today,

Amanda

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween! 

Here's my youngest at a Halloween party this weekend.  Do you like his face paints?  Yep, that's down to me again!  Fortunately my son will sit for ages to get his face painted by me without complaining once and the reason why ...... he is so totally competative and he will do anything to win!  I try to teach him that "It's the taking part that counts" but he is of the opinion that there's no point doing something unless you plan to win. 

He spent about 3 hours, before the competition, without eating or drinking for fear or ruining his face paints.  He hardly cracked a smile all night (very unlike him) because he needed to stay in character!!!



Anyway, he got 2nd place in the fancy dress competition at the party - but should have been 1st, although my opinion is biased isn't it?  He was happy with his 2nd place, as he won the same prize as 1st place - a big bucket of sweets.  I did remind him that it was fun just to take part but he said "No, it's all about the winning!" - oh dear!

We just need to get the red liner marks from round his eyes still - anyone would have thought I put it on with permanent markers.  He looks like he's had no sleep for days!

Anyway, have a spookily Happy Halloween!

Amanda

Our smashing pumpkins!

Here's this year's carved pumpkins that we've done this weekend.  The one on the right was done by my eldest son.  The one on the left was done by my youngest, with a little help from mom.  We tried to make it look like Jack Skellington from A Nightmare before Christmas. 

The one in the middle is my little witch tea light holder.

My OH has bottled some of his home made wine today - we have XXX Very Deadly Tonic, Rat Poison and Embalming Juice.  The "rat poison" tasted very nice - we sampled it this evening!!!



Thanks for visiting today,

Amanda

Craft Your Days Away - Autumn

Here's today's DT card for Craft Your Days Away's newest challenge which has been set by Shaz.  She has chosen AUTUMN as the challenge for the next two weeks.  One of our other DT members, Shelley, will be sponsoring this challenge with a great prize from her lovely shop One Stop Card Crafts.

I have gone all clean and simple again for today's card but I did think that it would be great for a man's card, something I always struggle with.  The neutral paper is from DCWV, as is the coloured card.  I used a Kanban stamp kit that I've had for a while - I really like this tree image now and I've just used a smaller version of the stamp to make a matching border.  I did try and add a few more bits on the card (buttons or card candy) but it just wasn't working so I left it as it was. 

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

Crafty Ann's - Clean and Simple
Charizma cards - Anything goes
Crafty Creations - leaves

Thanks for visiting,

Amanda

Cardmadfairy Digi Days DT card - Friendship

I've gone really Clean and Simple with today's card, which is my DT card for Cardmadfiary's Digi Days Challenge.  The challenge for the next two weeks is FRIENDSHIP  and we can't wait to see what you make.  There are 5 digi images up for grabs for the lucky winner!  Don't forget that you must use a digi image on your card.  I love this image that I have used today - it is called Imogen in Hat  and is available for a bargain 99p in the digi shop HERE but you will see that i have flipped my image (don't you just love how you can do that with digis!).

I have paper pieced my image for a change, using some papers by Dovecraft.  The rest of the image has been coloured using pro markers.  The rubber stamp, which says "I cherish your friendship" is from Anna Griffin.  The ribbon rose is from Papermania and the paper ones are from my stash.  Just a simple bit of layering using the paper I cut Imogen's coat and hat from and a bit of faux stitching to finish.  

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

My Time to Craft - Quite white
Charizma Cards - Anything goes
Digi Doodles - Anything goes
Papercrafting journey - Use a digi
Less is More - Polka dots

Do pop back and visit again soon!

Amanda

Ruby's Rainbow DT card - Metal

The new challenge has been set over at Ruby's Rainbow Challenge blog.  The challenge has been set by DT member Ang and for the next two weeks is:

METAL

I have used a metal snowflake eyelet and some diamante pins on my card for the challenge.

Pop over to the challenge blog to join in the fun and to see who our spotlight winner is from the last challenge.

I love this new digi that I've used - you may be seeing lots more of it on my blog!  Here's what I've used on my card:

Digi - Winter Fairy by Wee Stamps, coloured with pro markers

Papers - Winter Wonderland, My Mind's Eye

Snowflakes dies - Sizzlits

Snowflake eyelet - part of my Crop-a-dile kit

Flowers, pins, ribbon - from my stash

Lots of Stickles glitter!

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

Partytime Tuesdays - Anything goes

Make it Monday - Anything goes
Ooh La La - Let it Snow

Christmas Card Challenges - 2 Papers, Ribbon, Bird

Crafting when we can - Christmas

PanPastel - Glitter and Glitz

Thanks for stopping by today,

Amanda

Forever Friends - for some charity cards

I've been putting together a box of cards to sell at work in aid of Breast Cancer Campaign "Wear it Pink" day on Friday 28th October 2011 as my collection of cards has been growing and this is a charity that I would like to support.  I've sold almost half of the box of cards already in one day  - I was really pleased as I don't sell many of my cards and I was not sure if people woud like my style.  All of the money has gone into the charity box and I'm just happy that I can help this charity, even if only in a relatively small way.  I'm sure I'll be doing it again now.

 I used a freebie Forever Friends decoupage image and kept the remainder of the card plain and simple using just white.  The background is embossed with a Country Companions embossing folder and the sentiment was from the freebie too.

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

My time to Craft - Quite White
Crafty Sentiments - No design paper
Karen's Doodles - Emboss it
Simon says stamp and show - one colour, any colour
One stop craft - No designer paper
Crafty Ann's - Clean and simple

Thanks for visiting,

Amanda

Something different from me .......

........ also known as Using up the Old Stash.  I really must use up some of the old stash, if only to make way for more crafting goodies for Christmas.  My OH has bought me a Grand Calibur for Christmas so I need to get a little space ready for that.  I can't wait for Christmas now - but it also means that I need to buy some large dies too for the GC!

I have used an older Forever Friends decoupage sheet for today's card.  The circles were the wrong size for my nesties and I can't cut a perfect circle no matter how hard I try - so I cut the base circle with a smaller nestie and decided it would be a 1 layer image with the rest of the decoupage landing in the bin!  I can't remember the last time I made a card without colouring the main image. 

The paper was part of the FF kit too and the border punch is by Martha Stewart.  I've just added a bow and a few blue pearls to make a quick and simple card for today.

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

My time to Craft - Punches and Dies
Forever Friends - Anything goes

That's it for today - off to sort out some more old stash to use up!

Amanda

Craft your Days Away DT card - Halloween Colours

We have a colour challenge for you over at Craft Your Days Away this time.  It is a colour challenge based on Halloween colours - although you don't have to make a Halloween item.  So the colour challenge is:

BLACK - PURPLE - ORANGE - GREEN

We are being sponsored by our regular sponsor, Simon Says Stamp, who are offering the lucky winner a $10 voucher to spend in their store.



For my card I have used a digi called Hazel from Wee Stamps - I am so loving these images at the moment.  I've coloured Hazel with pro markers.  The polka dot paper is from the Back to Basics pad by Dovecraft and I have used a MS border punch.   The Trick or Treat ticket is from Sentiments 4 You and I've just added a little swirl. Papermania flower and a button.  I think I've got a bit of a bow-thing going on at the moment too because I keep adding them to the cards I've made recently!!

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

Hanna and friends - Autumn or Halloween
The House that Stamps Built - Halloween or Fall
Paper Pretties - Halloween inspired
Simon Says Stamp - Halloween or Goth

Thanks for visiting today,

Amanda

Cardmadfairy Digi Days Challenge DT card

I just love the cuteness of this fab owl digi which is why I chose to use it for the new challenge over at Cardmadfairy Digi Days Challenge blog.   You can buy Jenni's fabulous Xmas Owl digi here.  The challenge for the next 2 weeks is:

SPOTS and STRIPES

You don't have to use a Cardmadfairy digi to enter the challenge but we'd love it if you did.

Whimsy Stamps are sponsoring this challenge and are offering one lucky winner 5 digi images from their shop.  Pop over to our challenge blog for more details.

Here's what I've used:

Image - Xmas Owl, coloured with Pro Markers, by Cardmadfairy

Papers - Wild Orchid (magazine freebie pad)
MS deep edge punch
Sentiment digi - Sentiments for You
Spellbinders dies
White ribbon - colour matched with pro markers
Stickles glitter and a bit of pink bling from my stash



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

Charizma Cards - In stitches

Cute Card Thursday - Tree-mendous

Meljen Designs - Use a ribbon

Stampin' B's - use a bird

Passion for pro markers - Christmas Critters

Ribbon Carousel - ribbon + sparkle/bling

Thanks for stopping by,

Amanda