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

Ruby's Rainbow DT card from Wee Stamps

We've got a lovely challenge this fortnight for you over at Ruby's Rainbow challenges - I'm sure it will be a very popular one.  DT member Tracey has chosen the challenge:

C UTE AND CUDDLY

Straight away I knew that I just had to use one of Sylvia Zet's images from the Wee Stamps store and I chose Sweet Blossom as the digi for this card.  

Here's what else I've used today:

Image - Sweet Blossom coloured with Pro Markers

Papers - My Mind's Eye

Sentiment stamp - HOTP

Butterfly punch - Tonic

Card cards, pearls and button from stash together with organza ribbon coloured to match with pro markers

So, don't forget that you've got 2 weeks to join us in this challenge!

I must apologise that the photo is a bit on the dark side - that's Autumn for you!  It was dark when I tried to take a picture before I went to work and it was dark when I came home too.  I must try to make my cards earlier so I can chose a nice bright day to take my photos!

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

Crafty Cardmakers - Anything goes

Creative Stamp Friends - Autumn colours

Birthday Sundaes - Fall colours birthday card

One Stop Craft - Anything goes

Robyn's Fetish - Anything goes

Thanks for visiting today,

Amanda

A Stamp fairy Card

I have far too many rubber stamps with teddy bars on, but I still keep buying teddy bear digis too!  I convinced myself that this pair of cuties would be perfect for wedding or anniversary cards and this was the card I made for my aunt and uncle's wedding anniversary.

I bought these lovely glitter and jewel heart brads a while ago and this is the first chance I've had to use them on something.

Here's what I've used:

Image - Lenny and Linda in Love by Stamp Fairy coloured with pro markers
Brad - Martha Stewart
Papers - Back to Basics by Dovecraft
Ribbons and bling - from my stash

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

4 Crafty Chicks - monochromatic

Crafty Purple Frog - lots of layers

Simon Says Stamp - Sparkle and bling

Papertake weekly - anything goes

Ribbon Carousel - anything goes + ribbon

Thanks for stopping by,

Amanda

Craft Your Days Away - Tag it!

I can't believe how many Christmas cards I've been making lately - very unlike me!  This one is my DT card for the new Craft Your Days Away challenge.  The challenge has been set by DT member Sarah and she has chosen:

TAG IT

So we want to see your tags or a project with a tag on it for this challenge.

We are being sponsored for this challenge by the lovely Meljen's Designs - so that means some fantastic digis up for grabs for the lucky winner of this challenge.

I have used another image from Cardmadfairy called Imogen in the Wings.  This image was just crying out to be glittered up and blinged!  I've coloured Imogen with pro markets and added some Stickles glitter.  The paper is from a new My Mind's Eye pad that I had free with a magazine.  I've used some Sizzlits dies to cut out the glitter card (from DCWV) and added some flower accents from a £ shop and some ivy leaves from my stash, all of which I've added extra Stickles to.

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

Crafty Catz - Things with wings
Fun with shapes and more - Shabby/Vintage
4 crafty chicks - Anything goes
Colour create - lime, aqua and white

Thanks for looking today!

Amanda