CRAFTY CALENDAR CHALLENGE - JULY - ANYTHING GOES

Hi there - hope it's as warm where you are as it is here!!!   Lovely sunshine and no rain or blustery winds thank goodness!  Anywobble,  here's my card for a mid-month reminder in the Crafty Calendar Challenge.  My image is from Bugaboo and she's a real cutie.

We have two sponsors this month so that means two very lucky winners!

Stamping Studio

Bugaboo Stamps



Our challenge is open until 28 July and as we have an 'Anything Goes' theme - the world is your lobster!!!  Please join in 'cos you know how we love to see your creations.

Ingredients

Image - Bugaboo 'Ava Swing'
Elisabeth Craft Designs Dies - Accordian Oval Card 772 die
Anna Marie Designs papers - 'Blissful Green' 6" x 6" pad
Green/Peach paper - Bazzill Basics Cardstock
Flowers - Unbranded
Leaf die - Unbranded
Sentiment - Penny Black 'Happy Snippets' Clear Stamps
Flexmarkers and Copics

Must add a note here to say that I love these Anna Marie Design paper pads, they are all 'shabby chic' with a distressed feel and there are six different colours - so of course I had to have them all.  Totally pretty!  As for the die to make the accordian card, I bought this ages ago but had never used it and when I was tidying up a few dies I 'found' it so had the sudden urge to try it out - what a shame it isn't a little bigger.

Whilst I'm here I thought I would give a couple of updates, first one is about Biscuit - I may have mentioned (a few hundred times) that he was born with kidney problems and whilst the disease is progressive we have regular checks - including blood tests and urine tests to see how he's doing.  We went last week and he'd managed to put on 400gms which is really good 'cos he had lost some weight prior to his diet change and medication.  His other results weren't too bad either so we are hopeful that the progression will slow down a bit now.

The second update is about the cavity I have left after my tooth extraction.  That was the most painful experience ever but thankfully it is now getting there, it's 6 weeks tomorrow since I had the bloomin' thing removed and the hole is still evident but at least it doesn't hurt - bliss!

I'll be going now, hopefully you are still awake and haven't nodded orf - so I'm sending lots of hugs and cuddles to you, please take care.


Love Suexxx

INTERNATIONAL ART AND SOUL - CHALLENGE NO 12 - NATURE

Good afternoon everyone - I must admit it's nice to be back (just in case anyone has missed me - lol) my tooth sorry socket is finally starting to heal and the pain has faded to an ache all along my lower jaw which gradually fades during the day - thank goodness!!!   I've had teeth out before but this is the first time I have ever encountered 'dry socket' - and hopefully the last, I might add.

Anyway here's my card for the 'Nature' themed challenge this fortnight and it's the first card I've made since the beginning of June - the last card I posted had been one I'd made for a friend's son so all I had to do was write it up.

I've only just started crafting again so this is actually an LOTV topper from one of their Art Pads.  A really quick card which doesn't have a sentiment on it because it will go in my card box for use later on.

Ingredients

7" x 7" Ivory card blank - Anna Marie Designs
Topper - LOTV Art Pad - Set 25 'Magical Fairies'
Paper Adventures - 12" x 12" 'Yellow Wild Rose' paper
Butterfly/flower dies - Concord and 9th Floral and Flutter Dies
Leaf die - Unbranded Dies
Pearls - Unbranded

I hope you can enter this one 'cos there are lots of things you can do within this theme.   Although our Challenge is JFF we do have some very smart badges for your sidebars.  'Scuse me if I keep my post short, I have a little more catching up to do so...... must get on!!!

Big hugs to you all, take care.


Love  Suexxx

INTERNATIONAL ART AND SOUL - CHALLENGE NO 10 - FOR MEN

First of all I have to say that I am really sorry that this is so late - I'm not punctual at the best of times but I have a really valid reason which you can read about further down my blog!  

Ingredients

Digi - 'Aiden' from Mo's Digital Pencil
7" x 7" White Card blank - Anna Marie Designs
Graphic 45 'Le Cirque' Paper pad
Tattered Lace Dies - Decorative Edge Square die
Die-namics Dies - Stitched Fishtail Flag Stax die
Marianne Designs - Metal gems
Sentiment typed then foiled on my Minc machine
Copic markers

I really do love this image and is one I could use over and over again, especially with my Graphic 45 papers - which as some will know - I only use on special occasions!  It's normally there just for stroking and looking at!

You know our challenges are JFF but we do have some super badges for the side bars of the DT Favourite and Top 3, so although I'm late posting there's lots of time left for your creations.

Talking of being late here's my really good reason for it!!!  On Tuesday it was confirmed that I have a dry socket - well I knew at my age all sorts of things happen but I was still  totally surprised!!  Nooooooooooo .... it's not what you think ... it's worse - last Wednesday (7 June) I went to the dentist to have a tooth out - one right at the back, naturally, and for various reasons I now have the above condition which is more painful than the initial toothache.  I'm dosed up on strong painkillers and even went back to the dentist Tuesday for a 'clean up' and a dressing in the canyon sorry socket!!  The pain is excruciating and goes from the middle of me chin right up to my inner ear.  So I have earache in both ears - one medical and one husband (only joking)!!!  It seems as if it's going to be like this for about two weeks - aren't I the lucky one.  Anyway Jordan - yup I'm on first name terms with me dentist now - has promised that I will get me sparkle back soon - I'm counting the days. 


Must be going now 'cos the painkillers are starting to wear off, (you are all yawning)  and there's another hour before I can take any more - not that I'm counting!  There's another little story I have to tell you (not quite as boring as the above) about Biscuit, his friends and trips out in the car but that's for another day!

Hugs to you all , especially friends and those of you who need a special cuddle!


Love Suexxx

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges -

Cards in Envy Challenge - You're the Man 
Craft Rocket Challenge No 38 - For the Men/Boys
Crafty Addicts Challenge No 37 - Anything Goes (option Summer Colours)
Inky Chicks Challenge No 84 - Use 3 Patterned Papers
Inspiration Destination Challenge No 130 - Anything Goes 
Little Miss Muffet Challenge No 165 - Anything Goes
Mo's Digital Pencil Challenge No 276  - Facebook
Star Stampz Challenge - Make it For a Man

Tuesday Throwdown Challenge No 347 - For the Men
Unicorn Challenge No 22 - For the Guys

CRAFTY CALENDAR CHALLENGE - JUNE - 'BOYS WILL BE BOYS'

Hi there - today is the start of a new challenge over at the Crafty Calendar blog and our theme is 'Boys will be Boys' sooooo we need to see your creations for the men in our lives and you don't have to stick to paper-crafting.  We've been sponsored by Dr Digi's House of Stamps and they have some wicked stamps that go really well with this subject.

This poor chap has been out there building his sandcastle and has forgotten his suncream (naughty boy) so he has sun-burnt shoulders, v-neck (lol), head and nose!  Oh and don't forget his Baywatch shorts together with his sandals and socks - eeew!

I hope you can join in our challenge this time, we love seeing your creations on the blog.  Why not pop over and check out the work created by my teamies - we have four brilliant new ladies joining us this month.

Talking about new ladies - I'm so pleased to see that I have two new followers on my blog, welcome to you both.   I hope you like my cards and the little stories about our cat and other things that tend to happen to me - I'm not known as Planet Susie for nothing!

Ingredients

Image - 'Seaside Stanley' from Dr Digi's House of Stamps

7" x 7" White card base - Anna Marie Designs

 Graphic 45 - 'By the Sea' 12" x 12" paper pad

DCWV - 'Jewel' Coloured Mat Stack paper pad

Unbranded Dies - Wave die

Copic and Flexmarkers

Stardust Stickles

Gems - Unbranded 

We're off to the Stamp Magic Show at the Dome in Doncaster tomorrow where we are meeting up with Sue J (Olliesmam) and her hubby Paul.  We aren't daft, the men chat to each other while we chat and shop - I think it will probably be more chatting than shopping 'cos we haven't seen each other for aaaaaaaages.  So looking forward to this.

Anyway I must be off now, next door are having a barbecue and I have a feeling Biscuit has invited himself - little devil!  They don't feed him 'cos they know he has a special diet but he does love entertaining and rolls on his back for a tummy tickle!

Catch you again soon.

Big hugs to you all.

Love Suexxx

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges

Colour Crazy Challenge Wk 22 - Anything Goes

Crafting with an Attitude Challenge No 28 - Anything Goes

Crafty Girls Creations Challenge No 37 - Anything Goes

Creative Ladybirds Challenge No 27 - Anything Goes

Scrapbook and Cardmaking Challenge No 53 - For Men/Boys

Scrappers Delights Challenge No 67 - Anything Goes

Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers Challenge No 85 - B is for Beach!

INTERNATIONAL ART AND SOUL - CHALLENGE NO 9 - STITCHING (REAL OR FAUX)

Oh blimey - I had totally forgotten to put this on my blog until today - I really am getting too flippin' old!  Anyway now that I have remembered (miracles do happen) here's my card for the IntAAS challenge this fortnight.   Our theme is 'Stitching - Real or Faux' so as I have some new dies (yup more new ones!) I decided to do 'faux' stitching.  I love the wonky stitches on here and am hoping to get the round set too.  A while ago I bought some coloured muslin on Ebay and thought it would go with my design - had to choose this purple of course!

The wording on the image says 'Dream' but I wanted a watery feel to my card - don't know why!! - so I used a seaweed and seashell backing paper with the muslin, flowers and aurora borealis gems.

Ingredients

7" x 7" white pearl card cut into a circle - Anna Marie Designs

Digi - 'Dream' from Digi Stamps 4 Joy (I won this one)

Spellbinders Dies - Grand Circles die

Spellbinders Dies - Grand Decorative Circles die

MFT Die-namics Dies - Wonky Stitched Oval die

Flowers, leaves and swirl die - Unbranded dies

Kay and Co papers - 12" x 12" 'Best of Kay and Co Too' pad

LOTV Art Pad Sentiment

Coloured Muslin from Ebay

Copic Markers

Gems - old stash from Create and Craft

I hope you like this one, we would really love to see your creations on our Challenge blog (here) this fortnight, as usual this is such a lovely theme!

Before I go, I must tell you a bit more about Biscuit's door bell - yup that's right he has his own bell now.   The maestro had said he was really fed up with having to get up and down to check if Biscuit wanted to come back in - I couldn't do it 'cos I was in me craft room! 😉😉😉- so he had decided to see if he could make a door bell for pussycats!  Now I thought that this was a good idea but he could think again if he expected me to teach buggerlugs to press it - duh, just like the time I told the vet to be careful when she took our first cat's temperature 'cos he would chew the thermometer !!!!!!!!  To cut a really barmy tale shorter - he actually found one on t'internet that detected movement and we duly bought said wonderful invention!  All has been well since installation although ..... and this is hard to believe ..... we honestly think that Biscuit knows exactly what the detector on the door does and he tends to do a dance on the mat if the door isn't opened immediately, so we then get an elephant trumpeting in the dining room, loudly!  There are several sounds but this one is the loudest - so the maestro can hear it properly when he's watching his F1 etc etc.  It really is good though, especially if you don't want to install a cat flap!!!  This ginger tinker is totally spoilt!

Take care all of you and thank you for any comments you may leave on my blog, I know I don't deserve them 'cos I tend to forget about commenting on my blog friends' sites once I've done my DT commenting.  Such a bad blogger!!!

Hugs to you all and lots of love

Suexxx

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges -

CHRISTMAS CARDS ALL YEAR ROUND - MAY - PRECIPITATION!

Hello there!  This month over at the CCAYR blog our theme is 'Precipitation' soooo we are looking for snowflakes, rain, snow, icicles or even snowmen - use your imagination!   Anyway here's my mid-month reminder card and I used this lovely pre-coloured image from an LOTV Art Pad, all I did was add some Stardust Stickles to the snowflakes.  This little Christmas fairy has a basket and 'crown'  of pine, ivy and holly so I chose the same sort of dies for the embellishments on my card.

This is another card to go towards my Christmas 'stash'.

Ingredients

Image - 'Christmas Angels' LOTV Art Pad Series 16
7" x 7" White Card blank - Anna Marie Designs
LOTV NitWit collection - 'Snow Princess' 8" x 7" paper pad
Scalloped Circle Layering dies - Tonic Dies
Trailing Ivy dies - Finishing Touches at Creative Expressions 
Holly dies - Festive Collection at Creative Expressions
Sprig with Berries dies - Elizabeth Craft Dies
Merry Christmas die - Apple Blossom Dies
Large Doily die - Unbranded dies
Copics/Flexmarkers

We'd love to see your 'precipitatious' cards entered into our challenge this month, so why not join us over on the blog, and while you're there check out the cards that my teamies have made.

Take a look at the prize we have for the winner -

So - that's it for today I'm just off to finish my ironing (should have done it all yesterday but my back was really hurting so I gave up!).  

Hugs to you all and please take care of yourselves.


Love Suexxx

I would like to enter my card into the following 10 challenges - 

A Bit more Time to Craft Challenge No 44 - Anything Goes

Christmas Card Challenge No 12 - Anything Christmas

Classic Design Team Challenge No 14 - Anything Goes (3)

Colour Crazy Challenge (Wk 19) - Anything Goes

Crafty Hazelnuts Challenge Extra (May) - Anything Christmas Goes

Cut It Up Challenge No 121 - Wings

Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge (May) - Anything Christmas Goes

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge No 57 - Anything Goes

Love to Craft Challenge No 10 - Anything Goes (4)

Merry Christmas Challenge (May) - Anything Christmas Goes (option Gingerbread)

INTERNATIONAL ART AND SOUL - CHALLENGE NO 8 - HOT COLOURS

Good afternoon peeps - here's my card for the IntAAS fortnightly JFF challenge.  Our theme is Hot Colours and I found some gorgeous hot pink card in my stash so I just had to use it!

I love this Sassy Cheryl image and I've probably used it before but it is such a cute image and so nice to colour.    There are two ladybirds in the picture so I thought I would use my ladybird die on here.  It's one of those dies that just begs to have a bit of shaping to it (on the underneath so that it doesn't lie flat).  I made the bugs out of the same hot pink card, 'cos I could!

Ingredients

Image - 'Avery's Big Flower' - Sassy Cheryl
7" x 7" white card - Anna Marie Designs
Hot Pink Card - DCWV 'Christmas Card Stock' stack
Floral Paper - Tonic Studios 'Simply Nature' 8" x 8" paper pad
Ladybird die - Elizabeth Designs Dies
Flower/leaf border die - Unbranded dies
Double Stitched Frame die - Unbranded dies
Leaf die - Unbranded dies
Copic Markers
Gems (absolutely gorgeous irl) - unbranded

I hope you can join  us in this challenge - we are getting closer to summer (sorry, you'll have to forgive my sense of humour) so how about some nice hot colours.  We'd love to see all your creations.   You know we are now a 'just for fun' challenge but we do have lovely badges (designed by our Jane) for you when you win!!!

Take care of yourselves - must go now 'cos the doorbell is trumpeting - Biscuit has his own infra-red doorbell and when he stands at the back door there's the sound of an elephant trumpeting in the dining room telling us he wants to come back in.   Will tell you about it next time - in the meantime just let your imaginations run riot!!

Take care of yourselves and your families.

Love Suexxx

I would like to enter my card into the following 10 challenges -

Classic Design Team Challenge No 14 - Anything Goes (2)

Craftaholics R Us Challenge (May) - Spring Colours or Flowers (2)

Crafts and Me Challenge and Inspiration (May) - Anything Goes

Crafty Awesomeness Challenge (May) - Anything Goes (3)

Crafty Purple Frog Challenge (May) - Fabulously Floral (2)

Creative Ladybirds Challenge No 26 - Anything Goes (3)

Happy Little Stampers Challenge (May) - Anything Goes with Dies (3)

Love to Craft Challenge No 10 - Anything Goes (3)

Paper Creators Crafts Challenge No 10 - Bright and Bold (2)

Perfect Time to Craft Challenge No 5 - Anything Goes (3)