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